Howling:Eleventh is Leaving

The Howling → Eleventh is Leaving

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Matt Smith is leaving. Opinions? - User:StevieGLiverpool

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OK, the boring stuff out of the way, I think it's about time. One of the things I like best about the show is the constant change in Doctor/companions. As much as I like the Fourth Doctor and Third Doctors, by the end of their runs I was ready for someone new.

My only concern is who will Moffat choose for the next Doctor. I'd prefer it be someone in their thirties or forties, and preferably not a major star like Daniel Radcliffe, for example, whose name has apparently come up before. Shambala108 ☎ 23:24, June 1, 2013 (UTC)

I second that. We've had some younger Doctors, now time to switch it up a bit with somebody older. Not too old (I don't think somebody around 1 or 3's age would work as well in the show as it is now), but enough to give some contrast. Also, I like it when they don't choose somebody overly well-known. If they get Daniel Radcliffe in, sorry, but I won't be able to see him as anyone other than Harry Potter. But it's deffinitely time to change. I just hope they don't announce when beforehand, so we can have some surprise! Imamadmad (Contact me) 01:32, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

I thought I had read that he signed through 2014. I never knew if that meant inclusively or not. Apparently, now we know! Yes, I too, would really struggle seeing Radcliffe as The Doctor.Boss MD ☎ 01:53, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

The last time they decided to look for someone older, they ended up choosing Matt Smith! Other things being equal, older -- but not too much older -- would be a good idea. I also agree that it ought to be someone not closely identified with another role. That wouldn't necessarily mean avoiding "big names", only avoiding anyone who's known primarily for a single character.

This time, it looks as if we'll get a regeneration with a companion who already knows about it, since Clara has seen the Doctor's various incarnations & she's not likely to leave after only half a series. Unless there's another new companion (possible, if additional to Clara), Moffat will have managed to avoid the "Are you really the Doctor?" routine entirely. If there were a new (second) companion, it could be left to Clara to do most of the explaining -- especially if regeneration trauma puts the Doctor out of action for a while. That might be quite fun. --89.241.74.205^{talk to me} 02:19, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

Although I'm REALLY sad about Matt Smith leaving (11 is my Doctor), I am interested to see who they cast next. Of course Benedict Cumberbatch crossed my mind first, but given how menacing he managed to be in the new Star Trek, I think he might make a better Master. If they were to go older, I think David Thewlis would make an interesting choice. Memnarc ☎ 02:30, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

You never know, Moffat might get really adventurous & cast a woman. Any good ideas for that eventuality? --89.241.74.205^{talk to me} 02:45, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

Well, Moffat did write the Curse of Fatal Death, and later used references from that in his later episodes. And whilst I trust his judgement, at least casting-wise, I don't think others would be ready for it, and it might seem like a bit of a gimmick for publicity, as would casting "known" actors. If I could decide right now, I'd have Damien Maloney from Being Human, but I saw a clip of the rumoured Ben Daniels, and all I could remember thinking was "Oh, he's GOOD!" Either way, both are older than Matt Smith, which is really the only way go. If we keep getting younger, it'll start getting weird. Gallifrey102 ☎ 13:31, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

Gallifrey102: What do you mean "start getting weird"?

More seriously, if Moffat (or his successors) were to wait until "others would be ready for it", casting a woman will never happen. Yes, that or casting "known" actors might seem like a bit of a gimmick but, if the actor (of either sex) is good, that'd be forgotten very quickly. --89.240.253.132^{talk to me} 14:03, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

Well, last night, I felt like someone had punched me in the gut. Just two weeks ago, the media reported (in detail) how Smith had signed on for Series 8 and he even discussed the production schedule and when filming would likely begin. So, either:

a) The whole article was fabricated by the reporter,

b) Smith intentionally was misleading people, or

c) Smith changed his mind at the last minute, before his contract was signed.

None of these options are great. But I don't know how that article from mid-May can just be explained away. I know I certainly used it to defend my position against people who were predicting a regeneration in the near future. I just feel like the rug was pulled out from under viewers and it's remarkable to me how cheerful Steven Moffat and Jenna are, like it wasn't a surprise to them at all. That might be understandable if it just wasn't for that damn article! How could Smith go on the record and say all of that?

As for future Doctors, I'd love for Felicia Day to be cast. She's got geek cred, she can act, she's a redhead, in the right age range...the only negative is that I don't know if Moffat would hire an American to play The Doctor. Badwolff ☎ 19:04, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

As a girl geek though, the prospects of Day's Doctor, Clara and River Song sharing a few scenes gives me goosebumps.

And think of what Moffat has already done...he's had a married couple as Companions, had them conceive a baby on the TARDIS (yes, sex on the TARDIS!), killed the Doctor (apparently), then had the Doctor get married and rewrote history to place echoes of Clara in the storylines of every previous incarnation. Could any of these plotlines been foreseen in 2009? I don't think so.

Moffat is all about his curiosity taking the show to new places. The only thing I'm 100% sure of is that whoever is cast as the next Doctor will be a surprise. Could be someone old, young, black, white, Asian, man, woman, straight, gay, I think he is open to considering all of these possibilities with the priority of NOT what has been done in the past but what can be the best impetus for storytelling in future series. Moffat isn't a Doctor Who preservationist, he is not conservative, protecting the canon. Yes, he's brought back some old enemies from the past but he is chomping at the bit to create new stories, new characters, not resolve old loose ends from the past. He'll make use of the Classic Who material if it helps him to tell the story he wants to tell. I definitely don't believe he feels duty-bound to uphold aspects of the Doctor Who Universe that would limit where he wants to take it. Badwolff ☎ 19:04, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

Moffat started by flagging up the possibility of a female Doctor. RTD left it to Moffat to write the Eleventh's scene at the end of The End of Time & he included the "I'm a girl!" bit. Moffat also approved the reference in The Doctor's Wife to the Corsair having been female a couple of times (if he'd not approved it, it wouldn't have been there). That doesn't mean he'll actually go for a female Doctor but he has made sure that he could, if he wanted to.

What matters most isn't "old, young, black, white, Asian, man, woman, straight, gay". What really matters is having the ability to project the presence of a Time Lord who's now well over a thousand years old & who has seen & participated in so much, both terrible & wonderful. Despite his (lack of) age, Matt Smith could. That, I assume, is one of the reasons he was cast when the showrunners had initially decided they wanted to go for someone older. It's not just us that Moffat & co might surprise -- they could surprise themselves, too.

Like Badwolff, I "don't believe he feels duty-bound to uphold aspects of the Doctor Who Universe that would limit where he wants to take it" & I don't think he ought to feel duty-bound to do that. What he ought to feel duty-bound to do is to cast someone who -- even if in unexpected & unprecedented ways -- is credible as the Doctor. --89.241.77.88^{talk to me} 19:34, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

Badwolff, "the prospects of Day's Doctor, Clara and River Song sharing a few scenes": Based on the personality of the character, I'd think River could cope with a female Doctor (that one or another) without any difficulty -- once the production crew could get Alex Kingston to stop laughing! I reckon Alex would like the idea but would also find it hilariously funny. --89.241.77.88^{talk to me} 19:49, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

I agree (once again) with all you say, @89. It's just over the past 24 hours, I've visited other DW forums and news sites with stories about this and I find it humorous how absolutely horrified many commentators are by the mere suggestion of a female Doctor. Truthfully, I don't think it's going to happen. But the fact that the possibility was even being considered sent some folks into the stratosphere...if they were cartoon characters, they'd have red faces and smoke coming out of their ears. I think Moffat must find this extreme reaction terribly amusing which is why some fans dislike him, the fact that he is not afraid to play around with people's expectations.

But Moffat isn't sadistic and while I think he'll have a very open mind on actors up for consideration, I don't think he will drag out the decision-making. He must have had, in the back of his mind, candidates in mind for the character for years now (just as a thought exercise) and I'm guessing we'll know around July who has been cast as the next Doctor. The casting of Smith was done months and months ahead of time and I think there will be an even shorter lag time between Smith quitting and casting the next Doctor than there was between Tennant quitting and Smith getting cast.

I see what you mean by casting an "old soul". It's a tough part to cast because they need someone who can have that childlikeness and manic energy but also the weariness of a being who has lived a long life, lost people he loved and fought battles. Those are almost contradictory qualities to try to simultaneously embody and I can't even imagine what the audition process is like for such a unique part. Badwolff ☎ 19:54, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

Exactly, @89! I think some folks (okay, guys) would focus on the sexual aspects of this kind of encounter. But that's not it, it would just be amazing material for Kingston to play, such a strong personality who discovers her beloved husband is now a woman, knowing that she still embodies every aspect that she fell in love with. I also think Kingston, who can be so intense in her portrayal of River, would find the whole situation very amusing. Regardless of whether Moffat casts a man or woman, they need to bring River back just to see her trying to adjust to a new regeneration of her husband. I mean, the comedy just writes itself. Badwolff ☎ 20:00, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

I don't think having a female Doctor would phase River much. I mean, she did spend a lot of time around the 51st century, which we all know is when Jack's from. I think it would be harder to calm the viewers. Personally, I would find it weird to have the Doctor cast as anyone other than a British male. If nothing else, what pronouns would we use when referring to the Doctor in general if we were to have a female incarnation? But I really wouldn't be surprised if Moffat wants to change things up a bit. But still, whoever they are, please let them be British. Preferably with a cool accent. Doctor Who just wouldn't be the same with somebody not British in the main role. Imamadmad (Contact me) 21:00, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

Imamadmad, "Preferably with a cool accent": Choose the wrong British accent & you could mislead people. There's a London (in fact Cockney) accent that sounds Australian -- because that's where the Australian accent originated.

Badwolff, "if they were cartoon characters, they'd have red faces and smoke coming out of their ears": Are you sure they don't have those anyway?

It was partly mischief -- knowing the way some people would react -- that led me to point out the possibility that Moffat might cast a woman. Only partly, though. As a male who's been a DW fan since the early evening of 23 November 1963, I'd be entirely happy to see a female Doctor, provided she was good in the role. I'd far, far rather watch a good female Doctor than a mediocre male one. --89.241.77.88^{talk to me} 21:33, June 2, 2013 (UTC)

I hope that Eleven goes out in a heroic way like Five did.