Comments on: Matt Smith named as 11th Doctor Who

By: Christophe

Christophe — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:53:12 +0000

I’ve never head of this guy, he’s too young and he looks really weird…

…is what people said in 1974 when Tom Baker took over from Jon Pertwee.

By: Doctor John

Doctor John — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:00:12 +0000

I think I will give the positive reaction, once you see him as The Doctor everyone is going to think this guy is brilliant!!!!!!!!! I don’t think it matters how The Doctor looks as long as he’s The Doctor and the show is still running.

By: monkey-duck

monkey-duck — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:31:18 +0000

im so sad david’s leaving…he was great. :’( oh well… matt? never heard of or seen him before! hope he’s good!

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:24:58 +0000

Maybe the emotion is due to the dearth of good television, therefore when it looks as though something you love is going to drastically change it provokes extreme reactions.

I agree that this casting is inexplicable, I was in a room with 30 people of varying ages when this was announced and not one person said anything other than “mistake”.

I excused myself from the Peter Davidson years, I’ll do the same for this one. The Doctor has to have gravitas.

By: Kristian Barry

Kristian Barry — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:55:50 +0000

Look I’m perfectly willing to give this guy a break. He does look older than Tennant did when he started already. LOL. More importantly I remember everyone reacting in much the same way as they have with Smith so its all a storm in a teacup.

Just a note to those who have said otherwise, however, it doesn’t matter how old the Doctor is or even how young its about whether an actor can give the gravitas neccessary to pull it off. His performances seem to indicate a mercurial quality so I reckon he’ll either be good or bad. LOL. Still thank god it was him. The one thing I was absolutely clear on is that The Doctor is not a woman and he is not black. He’s a white anglo saxon hero for the multi generational. He isn’t something you can chop and change whenever you feel the need to be controversial. If someone wants a female Timelord then they have Romana if they want a Black Timelord then they need to write to Stephen Moffatt and demand a character be created that they can identify with. LOL. There has only been one black Timelord IIRC and that was an extra in Season Three’s flashback on Gallifrey.

Sorry but there you are.

Personally I applaud Paterson Josephs calm and decorum in attempting to keep the running open and not spoiling all the fun and speculation. I personally loved him in Neverwhere but as I said earlier the Doctor is not black, or, a woman.

By: Martin Hoscik

Martin Hoscik — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:48:28 +0000

JJ – I’m not convinced youth is as big an issue as race would have been in an historical context.

Indeed, due to illness and wars 26 would have been considered quite an age for much of history – in the Early 20th Century age the average lifespan was 30-40

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_expectancy

and a man living in Swaziland today would be lucky to see 32.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy

In truth the whole ‘too young’ line is just the latest in a long and tired line of attacks by fans who want to second guess whatever comes out of Cardiff and who want to assert their views on what the show could/should be over those of the Bafta winning production team.

It’ll be the same when the companion is cast and again when it’s time for Matt’s replacement.

By: mdp

mdp — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:50:40 +0000

The Black thing is a good point… you can’t dodge issues like that unless they came up with some techno-babble plot device to explain it all away

By: Angus Leigh

Angus Leigh — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:46:23 +0000

It’s not taboo I think he’s a little young too… but

have you ever thought that maybe you’re taking this all a bit too seriously… it is afterall a tv show, a tv show aimed at a family audience.

Comments like yours remind me of the comments others made about Tate and even Tennant when he was cast… and look how terribly that turned out.

By: JJ

JJ — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:37:59 +0000

@Angus: I’m p****d off, simple as that. And I talk too much. You’re easily scared. Kinda glad I scare you though
@Martin – good point. Paterson Joseph would have the same in-story credibilty issues. But at least they would have been interesting ones.
Why is it so taboo to dislike this guy?

By: Angus Leigh

Angus Leigh — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:25:16 +0000

“That’s it from me, rant over. I’ve been a Who fan since I was 6, I’ve seen every surviving episode, but it’s dead to me when Tennant leaves.”

You’re scary… seek help.