Regarding...
...that Doctor Who casting spoiler which yesterday it was impossible not to run into, what with it being on various news websites in addition to the blogging world - my two Euros.
I like Eleven (who may or may not be Twelve already, given Recent Relevations *g*), and I like Matt Smith, who has done a great job, especially in conveying that age-in-a-young-body factor. But I'm not sad, partly because of my general state of zen re: all things Doctor Who these days. I do think it would be a good opportunity for Stephen Moffat to wrap up things and leave as well, because while Smith's performance is as good as ever, there is no getting around - for me, it's a personal opinion, as always, I'm not claiming to speak for anyone else - that the last season had a sense of neither excellent nor bad, just pleasantly tagging along, and coupled with that, a sense of repetiveness when it comes to the Moff's narrative tricks. Of course, there is only so much you can do within the format. But I suspect that in addition to Patrick Througton's legendary advice to Peter Davison - to play the Doctor for three years, and then to get out - which Matt Smith evidently is obeying, there should be a similar advice for DW show runners. This isn't Moffact specific. The current production conditions, as detailed here, sound terrible, and who ever is the headwriter has to deal with them. But, you know - just coming in with new ideas and not yet exhausted strength could make a difference.
Which Moffat did with the start of season 5. Undoubtedly whoever succeeds the Moff, whenever such a succession takes place, will be praised as exactly the kind of change that was necessary and be seen as the avenger of fannish wrongs (except for the fannish faction who mourns for the past era), just as Moffat was... for the first year. After which the unlucky fellow or lady will be seen as the epitome of wrongness more and more, or at any rate as fair game for scathing reviews, on the familiarity breeds contempt principle, whatever faults she or he has, and they will have them, will be examined in detail, etc. And thus it will ever be. I know that. I still think this would be a good idea for Moffat to leave. He's wrapped up River's story, he's wrapped up the Ponds' story, he's freed Clara from her Impossible Girl mystery so she can be a character in her own right. And it looks like the big Anniversary special will have the Doctor confront his past in several ways. So, once that's done, go out on a high note, let a new team in and tell the next story.
As for who will play Twelve-who-may-be-Thirteen: I have no idea. Paul Cornell amusingly suggested Damian Lewis on twitter, because ginger. (Which I could see, and it would freak out everyone who's only heard him with an American accent and never with his own.) Several friends of mine still want Patterson Joseph, which would be terrific, as would Idris Elba be, but I've given up hope the BBC will go there. I also suspect, unfortunately, that
londonkds is right in saying that none of the previous Doctors would have a chance of getting cast today with the exception of Paul McGann.... but then again, at least for the Anniversary special, there will be Kilgarrah John Hurt. Who definitely could have been an old style Doctor. As for the next one? It'll probably be someone no one has ever heard of before. Just like Matt Smith.
This entry was originally posted at http://selenak.dreamwidth.org/904230.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.
I like Eleven (who may or may not be Twelve already, given Recent Relevations *g*), and I like Matt Smith, who has done a great job, especially in conveying that age-in-a-young-body factor. But I'm not sad, partly because of my general state of zen re: all things Doctor Who these days. I do think it would be a good opportunity for Stephen Moffat to wrap up things and leave as well, because while Smith's performance is as good as ever, there is no getting around - for me, it's a personal opinion, as always, I'm not claiming to speak for anyone else - that the last season had a sense of neither excellent nor bad, just pleasantly tagging along, and coupled with that, a sense of repetiveness when it comes to the Moff's narrative tricks. Of course, there is only so much you can do within the format. But I suspect that in addition to Patrick Througton's legendary advice to Peter Davison - to play the Doctor for three years, and then to get out - which Matt Smith evidently is obeying, there should be a similar advice for DW show runners. This isn't Moffact specific. The current production conditions, as detailed here, sound terrible, and who ever is the headwriter has to deal with them. But, you know - just coming in with new ideas and not yet exhausted strength could make a difference.
Which Moffat did with the start of season 5. Undoubtedly whoever succeeds the Moff, whenever such a succession takes place, will be praised as exactly the kind of change that was necessary and be seen as the avenger of fannish wrongs (except for the fannish faction who mourns for the past era), just as Moffat was... for the first year. After which the unlucky fellow or lady will be seen as the epitome of wrongness more and more, or at any rate as fair game for scathing reviews, on the familiarity breeds contempt principle, whatever faults she or he has, and they will have them, will be examined in detail, etc. And thus it will ever be. I know that. I still think this would be a good idea for Moffat to leave. He's wrapped up River's story, he's wrapped up the Ponds' story, he's freed Clara from her Impossible Girl mystery so she can be a character in her own right. And it looks like the big Anniversary special will have the Doctor confront his past in several ways. So, once that's done, go out on a high note, let a new team in and tell the next story.
As for who will play Twelve-who-may-be-Thirteen: I have no idea. Paul Cornell amusingly suggested Damian Lewis on twitter, because ginger. (Which I could see, and it would freak out everyone who's only heard him with an American accent and never with his own.) Several friends of mine still want Patterson Joseph, which would be terrific, as would Idris Elba be, but I've given up hope the BBC will go there. I also suspect, unfortunately, that
londonkds is right in saying that none of the previous Doctors would have a chance of getting cast today with the exception of Paul McGann.... but then again, at least for the Anniversary special, there will be Kilgarrah John Hurt. Who definitely could have been an old style Doctor. As for the next one? It'll probably be someone no one has ever heard of before. Just like Matt Smith.
This entry was originally posted at http://selenak.dreamwidth.org/904230.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.