We have a new Dr Who!

POSTED BY: whozit
UPDATED: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 08:07
VIEWED: 7532
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WHOZIT

Sunday, January 4, 2009 10:20 PM

www.zap2it.com reports that Matt Smith will be the new Dr Who! He will take over the roll in 2010.

I'm going to microwave a bagel and have sex with it - Peter Griffin

CORNCOBB

Monday, January 5, 2009 6:13 PM

What a horrible choice.
I usually resist prejudging but there's a lot of factors preventing me from seeing how Smith could possible do the role justice. He's far too young. He actually looks older than 26 in still photography (due to his strange face) but in interviews and acting roles he comes across as a teenager. He's sooo green, and that's something you can't hide. I don't agree with people who say he's got an old soul, or a look or knowledge and experience in his eyes, I didn't get that from him at all. I don't think there's any chance he'll be able to convey the Doctor's presence, wisdom, otherworldliness, experience or authority. That final look he gave at the end of Confidential - what was that even meant to be? Mysterious? Creepy? Manic? Smug? Whatever it was it fell flat and, to me, prompted the same reaction as a bad xmas cracker joke - half-laugh, half-groan. Embarrassingly unconvincing.
He comes across as a bit of a middle-class yob, posing as an emo. I think it was quite telling that one of the things Moffet liked about him was his hair. I used to respect that guy for his intelligent writing but in Saturdays Confidential he came across as an idiot. As for Smith's appearance, his hair contributes so much and that could've been replicated with anyone if the producers are actually crazy enough to want a look like that. Under the hair he just looks like a bit of a lumpy-faced neanderthal, like the former footballer he is.
I can't think of a single thing I like about him, or a single reason they might've cast him except to appeal to the Twilight/Demons audience (who will see right through him)or a single way they could make him an interesting doctor. If they try to play on his strange appearance by making him all alien and 'dark' it's going to really stretch his acting ability and the further they push it the more he'll overact and come across as false. Same goes for if they try to make him seem like an old man in a young man's body. If they play to type he's just going to be an annoying yuppy, probably running around snogging every girl in range.
And what about in-story considerations? How is a teenage doctor going to command respect? I know he's not a teenager - he's 26 same as me but I can't even see him as an equal, he seems far less mature than I am, with much less life experience. And what about companions - older won't work and neither will younger. I'm worried they may have cast him on impulse or under pressure from forces higher up in the BBC, and overlooked a lot of inevitable problems. In his extended interviews he's admitted that he had trouble learning all the scenes for his audition and is daunted by the thought of filming taking over his life, and that he's hoping for advice from David Tennant. No, no, no - if he can't figure things out for himself he's not ready for the part. I don't want to watch some kid playing at being the Doctor and I don't think he will even cope with the pace of filming on this show.

Don't get me wrong - I accept that they might be able to make him popular, to make him into a popular doctor - just because he doesn't appeal to me, doesn't mean no-one will like him. This si all my opinion - the shows over for me but that's just me and I don't expect everyone to agree. I also realise that this is primarily a kids show and if the kids like him that's the main thing.
But I do have concerns for the show in general because from reports I've heard so far kids don't like him. He's not going to appeal to adults either. There's going to be a very narrow demographic of people who're going to find Who NVQ appealing. Surely the casting people realise this. Why cast someone who's going to encourage so much doubt rather than some one people will have confidence in and be pleased to see in the role? Doesn't have to someone truly famous just someone with a proven track record. Paterson Joseph was seemingly used to distract attention from their true casting - a crass tactic and woefully misjudged considering the politics involved and how great a choice Paterson Joseph would have be

CYBERSNARK

Monday, January 5, 2009 7:35 PM

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We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

HOBBLEIT

Monday, January 5, 2009 8:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cybersnark:

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We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

that made me laugh

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http://www.myspace.com/muddy_waters
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CORNCOBB

Monday, January 5, 2009 9:01 PM

LMAO
Gotta admit, you've covered all the bases there. Funniest thing I've seen in a while

"Gorramit Mal... I've forgotten my line."

CORNCOBB

Monday, January 5, 2009 9:10 PM

By the way, I know my rant was a bit over the top and overwrtten. I just needed to express my annoyance and thought it would be better to try and give a detailed rational explanation for why I'm so unhappy than just go 'yuck I HATE him waaah!' which wouldve come across as a kneejerk reaction, and theres been too many of those already. Not trying to turn anyone else against this guy, if other people like him and the show remains popular thats great, but unfortunately I can't see it appealling to me any more :(
Anyone else here have any strong opinions on this either way?

"Gorramit Mal... I've forgotten my line."

JAKE7

Monday, January 5, 2009 9:13 PM

I just saw a picture of this new guy.

As an adult (41) I *instantly* got the creeps.

I guess I won't feel too bad about missing new episodes while he's the doctor!

What *were* they thinking?

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MAL: Everybody's makin' a fuss.
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"They just float out there, sending out raver breeding parties..."

HOBBLEIT

Monday, January 5, 2009 9:20 PM

Meh, I'm going to take the old wait and see approach.

He might be great, he might be crap but I'm not going to say until I've seen him just like I didn't form an opinion on David Tennant/Freema Agyeman/Catherine Tate until I'd seen them.

From the interview I saw he seemed all right

******************************

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http://www.freewebs.com/hobbleit

IMNOTHERE

Monday, January 5, 2009 9:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Corncobb:
He actually looks older than 26 in still photography (due to his strange face) but in interviews and acting roles he comes across as a teenager.

OK, so he looks as if he's going to have to show ID in order to buy a drink (thank God for psychic paper!) and the next time the Daleks arrive they'll ask him whether his daddy is home, but...

There's all sorts of things to do with (a) having a script, (b) a director (c) proper makeup and (d) a costume which might make the effect when he gets into role more acceptable. I think Moffat and co could get some good mileage out of the "old soul in a young body" idea.

It doesn't actually make sense that, if you had the power to regenerate, you'd turn into a 50 year-old when you could turn into a 26-year-old instead (even allowing for the slight danger that your daughter might hit on you).

CYBERSNARK

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 1:12 AM

Plus, y'know, if he doesn't work out, it's not like they'll be stuck with him for all time.

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We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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