About that BBC announcement

[dbskyler]

I am very sad to hear that Matt Smith is leaving Doctor Who. Well, I knew of course it would come one day -- and probably fairly soon, given the average tenure of a Doctor -- but I thought we would get more notice. Like, say, a season? Hearing we only have two episodes left is . . . well, not enough time. As eve11 said, "the moment is not prepared for."

On the other hand, I am happy that Matt will be "current Doctor" for the 50th anniversary special. And I'm also happy that Steven Moffat isn't leaving. He did a wonderful job casting Eleven, and I'm sure he'll find us a great Twelve. It will also be very interesting to see what he and Matt do with a regeneration story.

But I will miss Matt Smith.

I think you'll be seeing me use this icon a lot in the next six months, before I have to retire it in 2014 . . .

Comments

[jjpor.livejournal.com]

I agree, it's a sad day, but an exciting one as well. Another twist and turn in the great roller-coaster ride that is Doctor Who, and as you say, an inevitability. And tbh, the Eleven stories since probably about The Wedding of River Song feel to me like they've been building up to some kind of ending, soon. The 50th and the Xmas specials ought to be enough time to give him a good send-off - although I think they're showing some wisdom in having the Xmas one as the actual regeneration story. There was a time when I thought the 50th would be as good a time as any for Eleven to bow out, but on reflection I don't think the media and fandom circus that will no doubt surround the change of lead actor - if the end of Tennant's tenure is anything to go by - should be allowed to overshadow the anniversary.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping the anniversary special will be nice and celebratory, with an over-the-top-with-villainy villain, lots of self-indulgent nods to the past, and a happy ending. You know, just like the 10th and 20th anniversary specials. : ) To add a regeneration at the end would spoil the celebratory feeling, I think.

(Btw, I have no idea if John Hurt will be the villain or an ally in the anniversary special, so don't spoil me if you know!)

[eve11]

Two more stories! I hope they are fantastic.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

There's no way the anniversary special can't be fantastic, right? Everyone involved with the show loves it so much -- seriously, how lucky are we to have people who grew up loving the show in charge of it now? -- and so we're practically guaranteed to get something fantastic. Even if it falls short in a few places (as with "The Five Doctors"), the inevitable love for the show that will be on-screen will save it (as with "The Five Doctors"). :D

As for Matt's regeneration story, yes, I hope it is fantastic and wonderful, and the going-out story that Matt deserves.

[taiamu.livejournal.com]

I was expecting it. Even with that, I've been feeling a bit of 'Doctor Whiplash'--"You like that one? Here, have another one!"-- Rinse, repeat.

A three year tenure is pretty much the average, but it feels like he's going through regenerations awfully fast. Having never watched the Classic series in real time, I'm wondering if they all felt this abrupt, or if it's a New Who thing.

::shrug:: Good luck to the new guy, whomever he may be.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Well, my first Doctor was Four, and I started watching him around the beginning of his tenure, so to me, 7 years or so for a Doctor feels "normal," even though I know in my head that Tom hung around for far longer than average. So I too feel a little whiplashed by the changes. It really doesn't feel like New Who has been around for long enough to be on the verge of its fourth Doctor. It's crazy, but we're almost ready for a 10th anniversary of New Who, aren't we? Wow.