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What they're all talking about
I went to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
galactic_jack's birthday party last night and now (as predicted) I basically want to die. I should probably wait until the worst of the effects have passed off before attempting to communicate with the internet, but I'm just happy my fingers still work.
So. To prove it, here are my thoughts on Doctor Eleven.
Ok, so. I wanted it to be Paterson Joseph. I wanted it to be him so much. I've been a fan of his for ages, and I think he would have been great. About halfway through yesterday, I realised I was basically setting myself up for a huge disappointment, because it probably wasn't going to be him after all. And then I was inadvertantly spoiled by Jonathan Ross on Twitter, which gave me about half an hour to get the wailing and gnashing of teeth, the Googling and the going "who?" and "26?" out of the way before the announcement was made.
I was surprised to find I actually liked what I saw of him, though. He's not who I would have chosen. But there was something about his manner that really appealed to me. I like the fact that he's got kind of a weird face. I like that he's come out of nowhere! And at one point his hands went all Wallace-and-Grommitty. Somehow, I feel that bodes well.
With regards to the casting decision, I'm in two minds. Moff and co seemed to be saying they cast him despite his age, not because of it, which seems a hopeful sign. Asgalactic_jack said last night, though, they could have taken a risk and they didn't. It seems like a missed opportunity. I'd like to think it's as they described -- he was just the best they saw, and too good to pass up. But galactic_jack said something I thought was interesting: "As soon as they said 'He just looked like the Doctor, and he had the right hair', I knew he wasn't going to be black." To me, that does point to the idea that (I'm sure unintentionally) they had an established idea of who the Doctor is, and this was a safe option. Same old, same old...
But the casting process and the end result are two different things. On a personal level, I can't help feeling a bit sorry for the poor guy. He can't really win. He's too young, too white, too male, too obscure, too pretty, not pretty enough, too thin, too tall, too floppy-haired, too emo-kid, too southern, too posh, too estuary, too like David Tennant, not David Tennant, not Christopher Eccleston, not Paul McGann, not Sylvester McCoy, not Colin Baker, not Peter Davison, not Tom Baker, not Jon Pertwee, not David Troughton, not William Hartnell, not Who, too who?, too young, too young, too young, too young. All valid opinions, of course, but it's not like he can actually help any of it.
On the other hand, he does get to be the Doctor, so I don't feel that sorry for him.
I'd have loved it to be Paterson Joseph. But I hope Matt Smith turns out to be really great. Because like it or not, he is the Doctor now. And there is a pathetic part of me that's still just happy they're actually making Doctor Who, and putting it on television for us to watch, and like, or not like, or whatever. And I'm looking forward to that!
galactic_jack's birthday party last night and now (as predicted) I basically want to die. I should probably wait until the worst of the effects have passed off before attempting to communicate with the internet, but I'm just happy my fingers still work.So. To prove it, here are my thoughts on Doctor Eleven.
Ok, so. I wanted it to be Paterson Joseph. I wanted it to be him so much. I've been a fan of his for ages, and I think he would have been great. About halfway through yesterday, I realised I was basically setting myself up for a huge disappointment, because it probably wasn't going to be him after all. And then I was inadvertantly spoiled by Jonathan Ross on Twitter, which gave me about half an hour to get the wailing and gnashing of teeth, the Googling and the going "who?" and "26?" out of the way before the announcement was made.
I was surprised to find I actually liked what I saw of him, though. He's not who I would have chosen. But there was something about his manner that really appealed to me. I like the fact that he's got kind of a weird face. I like that he's come out of nowhere! And at one point his hands went all Wallace-and-Grommitty. Somehow, I feel that bodes well.
With regards to the casting decision, I'm in two minds. Moff and co seemed to be saying they cast him despite his age, not because of it, which seems a hopeful sign. As
galactic_jack said last night, though, they could have taken a risk and they didn't. It seems like a missed opportunity. I'd like to think it's as they described -- he was just the best they saw, and too good to pass up. But galactic_jack said something I thought was interesting: "As soon as they said 'He just looked like the Doctor, and he had the right hair', I knew he wasn't going to be black." To me, that does point to the idea that (I'm sure unintentionally) they had an established idea of who the Doctor is, and this was a safe option. Same old, same old...But the casting process and the end result are two different things. On a personal level, I can't help feeling a bit sorry for the poor guy. He can't really win. He's too young, too white, too male, too obscure, too pretty, not pretty enough, too thin, too tall, too floppy-haired, too emo-kid, too southern, too posh, too estuary, too like David Tennant, not David Tennant, not Christopher Eccleston, not Paul McGann, not Sylvester McCoy, not Colin Baker, not Peter Davison, not Tom Baker, not Jon Pertwee, not David Troughton, not William Hartnell, not Who, too who?, too young, too young, too young, too young. All valid opinions, of course, but it's not like he can actually help any of it.
On the other hand, he does get to be the Doctor, so I don't feel that sorry for him.
I'd have loved it to be Paterson Joseph. But I hope Matt Smith turns out to be really great. Because like it or not, he is the Doctor now. And there is a pathetic part of me that's still just happy they're actually making Doctor Who, and putting it on television for us to watch, and like, or not like, or whatever. And I'm looking forward to that!
Matt.
I rather think they've made a good choice. Judging by the interview showing the 'real' Matt (as much as anybody can really be themselves with a camera shoved in their face) seems to be gifted with that slight eccentricity that bodes well for a good doctor (Tom Baker, Sylvester McCoy) and something about his face, which is both good-looking and strange-looking at the same time, has an alien quality as though the regeneration hasn't got something quite right (assuming the aim is to look human, of course.) Perhaps a younger doctor leads the programme into an older companion territory. Evelyn, in the Colin Baker audio adventures, is massively successful and while I wouldn't expect a direct copy of her someone more mature might make 'the mix' (shudders at the expression) interesting.
His youth, of course, means that if he enjoys the role and a)is popular and b)the BBC can afford it he could go on for a very long time as the Doctor. I wonder, though, whether he might want to get his hair cut for another job (or personal choice) which, since it is quite distinctive, could present a problem.
I also wonder whether we might see this 'one full year, one year of specials' cycle repeated. It means money could be spread between fewer episodes and that Matty (see, I'm getting more familiar by the moment) could go off and pursue other projects decreasing the likelihood that he'd get bored or tired.
To sum up, it's all a bit of a chin-strokingly, thoughtful "Hmmmm." But not in a doubtful way.
In the meantime I hope you don't die. Drink lots of tea, eat chocolate/toast/both and find something soothingly naff to watch.
Re: Matt.
You may. And I think you should.
gifted with that slight eccentricity that bodes well for a good doctor
Yes, that's exactly what I thought!
the regeneration hasn't got something quite right
Ooh, I love that idea! And I really hope they go the older companion route. Not sure they will, but I do hope so.
With regards to hair, maybe he should shave his head? Ha!
In the meantime I hope you don't die. Drink lots of tea, eat chocolate/toast/both and find something soothingly naff to watch.
This is exactly what I have planned. :)
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Shame about Paterson. I wanted gay Paterson Doctor of Homosexyness. And you thought YOU were setting yourself up for disappointment. ;-) x
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And you thought YOU were setting yourself up for disappointment.
Ha! :) Oh well... maybe Paterson of Homosexy could be Twelve?
(love that icon, btw, it always makes me laugh)
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It's very entertaining for some reason! Even though I didn't know many of the rumored candidates, except of course for Eddie Izzard and Stephen Fry. And Dexter Fletcher!
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All i could think was "26"??? That's a fantasy toyboy age, not a playing Doctor Who age!!
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I'd have loved Paterson Joseph, too, but now that we've got Matt Smith, I'm willing to get excited about him, because he's GOING to be the Doctor, and isn't it more fun to get EXCITED about Eleven than whinge about him? :D (That's not directed at you, btw, but to some of the generic WTF I AM LEAVING FANDOM FOREVER posts I've seen around lately.)
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he's GOING to be the Doctor, and isn't it more fun to get EXCITED about Eleven than whinge about him? :D
Well, that was my feeling, too. I do roll my eyes at fandom sometimes, some people just seem so willing to hate every single thing that ever happens in the show, you wonder how they've managed to make it this far. I seem to remember Catherine Tate caused a similar reaction, but it seems a lot of people who were going to leave fandom forever changed their minds and stayed on to whinge further. I've only myself to blame though - I have a bad habit of going looking for it.
According to Paul Cornell's blog, the internet as a whole has been rather more positive than a glance through LJ-based fandom might suggest. I really must get out more...
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OH THANK YOU ABSOLUTELY. The idea of casting on those grounds rather than He Just Clicked is crazy to me.
and isn't it more fun to get EXCITED
Yes yes yes! *bounces*
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