eldritchhobbit

I think he's an amazing actor and hot as heck (although people are already squalking that he has no sex appeal). I'm not sure how I feel about him being the Doctor - It's difficult for me that he's appeared in the show before and while he is charismatic, it's in a quiet, mellow, thinky kind of way... I'm used to a bouncy, seductive Doctor. I would have preferred an unknown actor - I already have favorite performances of this one embedded in my head that will tint my appreciation of his personification of the Doctor.

I'm more grateful for the list of people who *weren't* chosen than the fact that he was. :::shudder:::

EDIT: This is funny... In World War Z he played "W.H.O. Doctor". LOLZ

EDIT AGAIN: Ok, I've watched the special and heard him speak and I feel really, really ok with the decision. He is definitely coming from the right place and I'm sure he can bring something valuable/new to the part. In fact, I think I'm already a little in love with him. :)))

Edited Date: 2013-08-04 07:33 pm (UTC)

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Wait, what special? Is there an announcement? I'm so clueless!

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litlover12.livejournal.com

They did a special today to announce it. It ran simultaneously on the BBC and BBC America.

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Bah! I'll have to look for it later when I have more time.

I am really not ready for this! At least with Nine and Ten there seemed a longer waiting time to adjust. Ten took forever to leave. (Not that I wanted him to go! But I was well prepared.)

This kid just got here, made me love him against my will and now it's, "I'm done. See ya!"

Bah, humbug!

[insert DT shaking fist icon here]

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morningapproach.livejournal.com

Yeah. now that I remember that was already in Who in the past, I am not sure how I feel. And he was in Torchwood as well it appears!

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What you said. I mean, seriously, ditto. (And you know better than I about all things Whovian, anyway, so I bow to your expertise.)

That's the short answer. My long answer is as follows, LOL:

I'll be honest, I was hoping TPTB would use this anniversary as a chance to do something risky and inventive - that is, to cast an actor who isn't a white man. (A woman, a man of color...) So I'm rather disappointed at an opportunity lost.

That said, if they're going to go with a safe option, he certainly seems to have the goods. Just from what I know of him from Who and Torchwood, he seems talented, and, like you say, what he said about Who proves that he's "coming from the right place" with respect to the role. So I'm disappointed in the abstract, but not with him per se - I'm ready to be excited about and behind him, and to enjoy his interpretation. Should be fun!

(I know different people watch Who for different reasons, but wow, the criticism about his sex appeal boggles my mind. Have these people looked at the past Doctors? Mainstream looks/appeal have been the exception, not the rule. ~~The Doctor hasn't been hot since Nine, anyway. And he wasn't handsome.~~ <-YMMV)

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You probably saw below that yes, I too wish they had gone with a woman or POC - I don't think the timing could be any better than now. I choose to believe it was that they simply couldn't find the right person, not that they weren't considering it.

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xtrustisyoursx.livejournal.com

A bit disappointed it wasn't a woman or P.O.C., but he's a good actor.

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Yeah, while I've always been interested in seeing it, for some reason this particular time I really was really invested in seeing a woman and am a little disappointed they didn't go for it.

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byslantedlight.livejournal.com

Really? See - that would just be a completely different show all of a sudden for me. The Doctor is a bloke, he just is...

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I feel kind of ready for it, myself... The part would have to be cast very, very, very carefully and it would (I won't deny it) be super-risky, but the odds are on the side of me really liking what they would have done with it.

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I was hoping for River Song! (Impossible from the storyline I know. But still. I've adored Alex Kingston since her 'ER' days.)

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She is brilliant. Have you seen that her Lady Macbeth (opposite Kenneth Branagh) will be given an encore showing at cinemas via National Theatre Live?

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How did I not know about this?!
I WILL find a theatre that's showing this and I WILL go.

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*fistpump of victory* Woohoo!

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Kenneth Branagh is the best, he's one of the few actors where I'll watch a movie simply because he's in it.
Alex Kingston also the best.
And it goes without saying that Macbeth is the best.

It's showing at a theatre a few hours from my place, so I know what I'm doing this November.

Edited Date: 2013-08-05 11:57 pm (UTC)

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AAAAIIIEEE!!! I didn't even know about this! I have to find out how to see it or I will die!

Thanks!

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That's exactly how I feel. I was hoping TPTB would use this anniversary as a chance to do something risky and inventive - that is, to cast an actor who isn't a white man. So I'm rather disappointed at an opportunity lost, but that's disappointment in the abstract, not disappointment with him. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does with the part! Should be fun and interesting.

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byslantedlight.livejournal.com

Yes! I wondered if anyone was going to post about it - I've just found out myself. *g* I was a bit surprised it was him - the actual "favourite" to be the next Doctor - because he's so well known. I think he totally looks like the Doctor though (which, since he's regenerating, is fairly contradictory, I know... *g*), so he works for me. It probably helps that I've somehow managed to avoid seeing him in much else at all, at least in concentrated doses - The Thick of It is still On My List. I was a bit worried about the idea of some of the other names on the "possibles" list, but Peter Capaldi gets a thumbs-up from me. *g*

What do you reckon?

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First of all, I totally agree about some of the names on the "possibles" list. Some were very exciting to me, but others... YIKES. Not good at all.

It probably helps that I've somehow managed to avoid seeing him in much else at all, at least in concentrated doses

Yes! That's my situation, too. I know him and I've seen him, but never enough in another role for that to define him for me. A good starting place, I think.

I was hoping TPTB would use this anniversary as a chance to do something risky and inventive - that is, to cast an actor who isn't a white man. (A man of color, a woman...) So I'm rather disappointed at an opportunity lost.

That said, if they're going to go with a safe option (he does seem "safe" in a lot of ways - like you said, he somehow looks like the Doctor), he seems to have the goods. So I'm disappointed in the abstract, but not with him - I'm ready to be excited about and behind him, and to enjoy his interpretation. Should be fun and interesting!

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I've never heard of him and haven't seen him in anything. (At least, I don't think. I'd have to look up more info on him.)

I have no preconceived ideas/opinions one way or the other. I like things that way! I've only watched DW from Nine onward, and I am still not used to this constant change. I've been pleasantly surprised so far and have loved Nine, Ten and Eleven. Hopefully it'll end up being the same with Twelve.

Though I admit, I'm really getting tired of it. Do we know who had the role the longest time? I can't deal with this every few seasons thing, especially when "seasons" are so ridiculously short. I just can't seem to get used to it. The only way I can handle it is to trick my brain into seeing it as a Brand New Show with a Brand New Character. Otherwise... my poor mind can't cope.

Can't help it. I'm American and didn't grow up with this show!

Edited Date: 2013-08-04 07:38 pm (UTC)

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litlover12.livejournal.com

Yeah, this is going to be my very first switchover. Definitely feels pretty strange and sad!

I hear the guy's a good actor, though, so that's good to know.

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wellinghall.livejournal.com

My first was Troughton -> Pertwee in 1970; the first I can remember was Pertwee -> Tom Baker in 1974.

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Oh, that's right! I've only done it twice, and I found it all quite traumatic. But then, Nine was my First and Ten was Emo!Doctor. I wonder if they do any HAPPY regenerations?

The only way my brain can cope is to think of it as a death. Yes, I get way too involved in my TV watching.

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wellinghall.livejournal.com

Tom Baker, the fourth Doctor, seven seasons, 1974-81.

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Thanks. I... guess I could've Googled it. Didn't think of it at the moment. Sorry! I blame it on fandom-brain overload.

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wellinghall.livejournal.com

No problem!

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If you watched the Tennant years, you saw Capaldi as a guest star in "The Fires of Pompeii" (Donna Noble era). It's enough to get a taste of his work without identifying him too much with any one role.

I first encountered Who via PBS syndication (the Tom Baker years, mostly) as a young-ish thing. Like you, I "have loved Nine, Ten and Eleven." Here's to the next regeneration! *hugs you and raises glass*

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I caught that on ONTD and realized I had seen him and just did not remember!

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Capaldi was also in Torchwood: Children of Earth. He played a bureaucrat sort, and I'd say more if there was more to say without spoiling it.

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corbyinoz.livejournal.com

The moment I saw his name, I just felt that it was a good fit. I know him from a wealth of shows over the years, and he's an excellent actor.

I've grown up with DW (bon in 1960s, so...) and regeneratins are just how things are. And as for previous roles - I adored Peter Davison as Tristan, and yet I coped with him as DW because he played it so differently.

Hee! Be funny if PC brought some Thick of It to the role...
Edited because it's too early in the morning for typing, apparently.

Edited Date: 2013-08-04 09:01 pm (UTC)

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LOL! I'll admit I was hoping for a dramatic change (that is, not a white man) in the role, but that said, I'm very happy with him and excited about where he'll take the Doctor. Everything I know of him confirms your point that he's an excellent actor.

Hee! Be funny if PC brought some Thick of It to the role...

LOL! That would be worth watching, for sure...

I'm excited!

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lizziebelle.livejournal.com

I'm pleased with the choice, and hopeful he'll bring good things to the role. A bit more maturity, perhaps (although I've loved Matt Smith's manic youthfulness). I've liked him since I saw him in Local Hero about 30 years ago, and was pleased to see him on both DW and Torchwood. This isn't the first time they've taken a one-shot guest and turned them into a regular in a different role!

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This isn't the first time they've taken a one-shot guest and turned them into a regular in a different role!

Great point! And those choices have seemed very successful.

I'm excited. I especially agree with your point about maturity; I really have enjoyed Matt Smith, but I'm glad to see things shaken up a bit with an older actor.

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cookiefleck.livejournal.com

What do YOU think? I was idly hoping for Nighy.. since I don't know this actor, I probably won't tune in on a regular basis. I watched a little of him on youtube - in character - saying the F-word every other word, and you know it reminded me of my favorite actor who does that, too, but NOT in character. Gave me a laugh.

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I'll be honest, I was hoping TPTB would use this anniversary as a chance to do something risky and inventive - that is, to cast an actor who isn't a white man. (A woman, a man of color...) So I'm rather disappointed at an opportunity lost.

That said, if they're going to go with a safe option, he certainly seems to have the goods. Just from what I know of him from Who and Torchwood, he seems talented, and I loved what he said about the role and how he'll approach it. So I'm disappointed in the abstract, but not with him per se - I'm ready to be excited about and behind him, and to enjoy his interpretation. Should be fun!

LOL re: your laugh! ;)

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penfold-x.livejournal.com

He wasn't what I was expecting, that's for sure! I've only seen him in a couple of small roles so I don't think I have a fair basis to say what I think of him as an actor, but I am pleasantly surprised that the PTB went for a more mature and experienced actor. Given the age and body type of the last two actors cast for the Doctor, and the flirtations the PTB have been writing for his mostly young female companions, I was expecting another young hipster.

The casting gives me hope that the Doctor/companion dynamics will be shook up a bit; I feel like the PTB could go in almost any direction, with a companion of almost any age, gender, species or experience.

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First, I love your icon.

Second, I love your point about shaking up the Doctor/companion dynamic, given Capaldi's age and vibe. I second that heartily. I've enjoyed Matt Smith's portrayal a great deal, but it is lovely to see that the next incarnation won't be more of the same.

I'm excited to see where he takes the role!

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It's that Roman guy!
I'm glad they cast an older fellow this time around, the Doctor has been getting younger and younger lately, which isn't a bad thing of itself, but I was noticing it and I'm getting older and ... this all made sense before I started typing.
Anyway, I can't wait for the next season.

Edited Date: 2013-08-06 12:09 am (UTC)

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It is that Roman guy! :D

I'm glad they cast an older fellow this time around, the Doctor has been getting younger and younger lately, which isn't a bad thing of itself

I'm with you 100%. I've enjoyed Matt Smith's portrayal a great deal, but the whole point of a new incarnation is to shake things up a bit, and I'm anxious to see what Capaldi's age and demeanor do for the Doctor - and the relationship with his companion(s).

I'm excited!

From: (Anonymous)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-season-a-day-keeps-your-friends-away/227443584071401?hc_location=stream

A fanpage for fandoms run by a fangirl.

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witchcat07.livejournal.com

Totally agree with the last two comments: The Doctor was getting too young and cute and *shudder* hipster, so I was kinda relieved that they chose an older, but still attractive actor. Will be interested to see his interpretation, though first I have to catch up with Matt Smith.

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