Huh, Matt Smith is leaving Doctor Who

[locker_monster]

Yeah, no point in putting this behind a spoiler cut. It's all over the place.

Wow, I was totally not expecting this. I totally thought Matt Smith would stick around for Series 8. I guess it was easy to be lulled into a false sense of security since this is the 50th anniversary year.

So we know how this year's Christmas Special will end: with Eleven regenerating into Twelve.

(Gah, we're reaching the end of the Doctor's regeneration cycle. Perhaps this will be addressed in the 50th anniversary special? Or maybe River transferring her remaining regenerations to Eleven fixed the problem?)

I wouldn't say Eleven is my favourite Doctor but I certainly grew fond of him as his seasons went on and who couldn't love his dress sense. I mean, I made a fez because of him. :-) And this is part of the show, after all. The Doctor remains but he doesn't always look or act the same. It'll be interesting to see how Moffat writes Twelve. Eleven was very different from Ten and he was more alien, too. Will Twelve be even more alien?

I really have no preference about who should play Twelve. And Matt Smith proved that age is not really an issue. Though that doesn't mean they should go hire a teenage to play the Doctor, but actors in their late twenties really do have potential. I wouldn't mind if they went a little older with Twelve. Heck, mix things up and hire an older actor, 50s to 60s. You can also create a male Companion to do all of the action-y stuff. One assumes Clara will be around to help with the transition.

You had a good run, Eleven. Perhaps I'll make some fish fingers and custard for Christmas.

Comments

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

Or a woman or a person who isn't white might be nice...

Dammit, I was hoping the haircut didn't mean anything...

[locker-monster.livejournal.com]

Or a woman or a person who isn't white might be nice...

My sister said the exact same thing. I'm highly doubtful about a female Doctor, but a non-Caucasian might be possible. After 50 years, it wouldn't hurt to switch things up a little bit.

I also noticed Matt Smith's haircut, but I thought it was for that movie he's doing with Ryan Gosling. Does this mean he'll have the short hair for the Christmas Special? Unless Matt Smith has +5 hair growing power or something. Or maybe John Hurt is actually the next Doctor and they've already filmed the Christmas Special?

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

Well, it does seem to be growing back but...

I don't know. Maybe he had already started regenerating in the 50th...

But I don't want John Hurt. He's a fine actor, I have enjoyed many roles of his but recently he won't shut up about his views on Shakespeare. He can be Valeyard, appear for an episode or three and then, he has to go away.

[locker-monster.livejournal.com]

How about Helen Mirren for Twelve? :-) She's actually on the list of potential actors, depending on which bookies you consult.

I need to watch more British TV or something. I really can't think of any UK actors that would be cool in the role.

[in-motu-proprio.livejournal.com]

Remember that in Classic Who, The Master sold his soul, sort of, for unlimited regenerations.... though that didn't work out so well. And, technically, if you count what happened in the finale, 11 IS 12. He's on his 12th trip round and therefore his final if they stick to the 12 regenerations.

My guess.... they're going to either use River giving him the energy or evolution. Since he's the last one, he's able to continue regenerating... propagation of the species and whatnot. Maybe that's why we've got River, et al, running around.

[locker-monster.livejournal.com]

And, technically, if you count what happened in the finale, 11 IS 12.

Oh right. I always forget about that. Hmm... That throws things off for me now.

Evolution sounds like a promising resolution. No weird sci-fi-y explanation. The Doctor has just reached a point where he can regenerate indefinitely.

Regenerations left

[lavaligreyson.livejournal.com]

From what I understand from an interview I read with Steven Moffat, The Doctor/Time Lords have 12 regenerations. We have only had 11 Doctors, which means that we have 2 regenerations left. The 1st Doctor wasn't regenerated into, he was born and has 12 regenerations to come. So we should expect a 13th Doctor before they have to address the issue. BTW Moffat said that he will get around the 12 regen issue somehow.

Re: Regenerations left

[locker-monster.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I initially thought we had two incarnations to go before we ran out of regenerations, but then someone pointed out Ten's sort of regeneration at the end of "The Stolen Earth". Did he use up a regeneration then? So hence some confusion on my part. :-)

I'm not surprised that Moffat has a contingency plan. I'm sure he's had one since he started running the show. Sure, the 12 regeneration limit is canon, but it shouldn't get in the way of allowing the show to continue. So they can do some sci-fi-y thing and it should be fine.