The 12th DoctorWho? by Lauren Cates
August 8, 2013 7:51 am | 2 Comments
Peter Capaldi.
Who?
Yes.
All right, I’m not going to try and play “Who’s on First?” with this article space, but I admit, I’m fascinated. I’m not someone who sucks in trivia for regurgitation, since I kind of have a day job and an involving nighttime hobby; and so, while I have Netflix but not cable, my following of most television shows is sporadic at best, unless I really want to see them.
I fell off the wagon at some point for Doctor Who sometime around The Wedding of River Song.
In fact, in terms of NuWho, most of the companions at one point or another have had me rolling my eyes. River Song was at least interesting up until the point she started whining about not being able to kill him because it would be so much worse for her foreverandeverandever.
And so like many other relationships throughout history, a man was finally nagged into submission to say “I do”.
On a related note, I was largely fed up with the “Amy Pond is super-duper special!” show. Not that Saint Rose Tyler was really that much better.
Nor that I was a big fan of the Doctor back-in-the-day – for the record, David Tennant was My First Doctor. But I can’t imagine that back in the early days such a to-do was made about the Doctor’s love life.
Yes, I am well aware of the Fourth Doctor and Romana II. I gots the internet ‘round these parts. So there.
Matt Smith up front was kind of disappointing. Being a younger guy was probably going to foster the idea of girls going mad for the Doctor even more. Not that he was a bad Doctor (he wasn’t), just that the need by the writers to bolster romantic relationships as vital part of the Doctor Who story tried my patience on more than one occasion.
And now, here we are, Peter Capaldi. What should I know about this guy?
Born 1958. Well into his 50’s. So, maybe the shipping-ship has sailed for a while? Then again: Hugh Laurie. ‘Nuff said.
Won an Oscar. For making, rather than starring in, a movie. But then again, Ben Affleck was claiming he was an Oscar winner for movies he starred in, when he previously won an Oscar for writing a script. So…even draw.
Is not a “name” actor. At least, I didn’t know who the hell he was, which doesn’t count for much these days.
Is not black or female, which, apparently, the fandom is itching for. (And no, I’m not among them. All of us minorities should create our own iconic characters, not hitch stars to pre-existing ones.)
Has – and apparently this is most important – already been spotted in the Whoniverse. Both in Doctor Who and Torchwood (kind of redundant, I guess. Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who, but I’m just being pedantic), which is par for the course.
I guess my verdict on Capaldi is that I didn’t outright groan at the announcement, but with this turn, they may be headed for more story and less ship-bait. And that I can get behind.
See you this Christmas, Doctor.
by Lauren Cates
Tags: Doctor Who
Categorised in: Television Reviews
This post was written by David Griffin
Leftover Brian
This arrival confused me a little. It seemed a little jumbled. I think the title should have read “The 12th Doctor”. Peter Capaldi will be the 12th Doctor. I think someone in the latest episode said he was the 11th too.
But being a huge fan if the show I’m overly excited that the Leftovers are getting into the show and liking it!