Matt Smith as Doctor Who?
Now that Matt Smith's first series (or season) as the Doctor has ended, how do you rate him? Do you think he's done a good job, is suitable for the part, should keep on at the role, or pack it in as at the first opportunity?
I'm a major fan of the original, pre-Christopher Eccleston Doctor Who TV series, and haven't been slow to voice my concerns about the program since it came back in 2005, and how much I disliked or even hated some aspects of it. But even so, I have to say that I think that Matt Smith is utterly superb in the role, and I'm not exaggerating my opinion there - he really is (to me) fantastic as the Doctor. He port
Like, I know, many people, I was concerned that he wouldn't be able to follow David Tennant. I doubted that anyone could do so adequately, let alone someone who was too young and looked like a Yuppie version of Frankenstein's monster, but now I don't even miss Tennant at all. I'm not knocking Tennant, of course, he was great, but Smith is just so much better - he has it all, the seriousness, the pain, the humour, the love of life, the eccentricity that is at the core of the Doctor. Up until now, I've always maintained that Colin Baker was the best Doctor, though it's not always easy to explain to other people why, considering the dual poisons of his Doctor's rubbish costume and the often terrible scripts, but I've always felt that his Doctor best demonstrated the depths and contradictory traits of the Doctor's character.
But now, for the first time, I've seen a portrayal of the Doctor who not only rivals Colin Baker's, but might also eclipse his. Matt Smith really is that good. It was amazing to see what almost looked like tears in the Doctors eyes when he couldn't save someone, such as when the Bishop is held in the Weeping Angel's arms, and the Doctor can't save him. And Smith's strange facial features* add to his air of alienism too. Even his costume, which is straight out of a 1970's episode of the BBC 2's Open University, and shouldn't work, works. It all adds up to an amazing interpretation of the Doctor, and one which I hope continues for many years.
And of course this Doctor's appeal isn't hurt either by the generally very high standard of the scripts (no Russell T. Davis, woo-hoo :-):-):-):-)), or by having Amy as a companion, who isn't just beautiful, but has a properly defined personality, and is a great foil for the Doctor. Rose was just a generic chav, Donna was an annoying whiner, and though Martha was a good character, she was sadly underused, and left too soon. Amy makes her presence felt, even when she's in the background of a scene, and together they are very possibly the best Doctor and companion combination ever.
So what do you think of Matt Smith as the Doctor?
And I've added a "No opinion, I don't like Doctor Who" option for those saddos who don't appreciate TV. But if you don't like the program (fair enough, each to his own) then why vote at all?
I'm voting for "Best Doctor ever". Sorry Colin, but I think you've been eclipsed.
* I'm not trying to be rude by the way, I'm no Brad Pitt either.
I'm a major fan of the original, pre-Christopher Eccleston Doctor Who TV series, and haven't been slow to voice my concerns about the program since it came back in 2005, and how much I disliked or even hated some aspects of it. But even so, I have to say that I think that Matt Smith is utterly superb in the role, and I'm not exaggerating my opinion there - he really is (to me) fantastic as the Doctor. He port
Like, I know, many people, I was concerned that he wouldn't be able to follow David Tennant. I doubted that anyone could do so adequately, let alone someone who was too young and looked like a Yuppie version of Frankenstein's monster, but now I don't even miss Tennant at all. I'm not knocking Tennant, of course, he was great, but Smith is just so much better - he has it all, the seriousness, the pain, the humour, the love of life, the eccentricity that is at the core of the Doctor. Up until now, I've always maintained that Colin Baker was the best Doctor, though it's not always easy to explain to other people why, considering the dual poisons of his Doctor's rubbish costume and the often terrible scripts, but I've always felt that his Doctor best demonstrated the depths and contradictory traits of the Doctor's character.
But now, for the first time, I've seen a portrayal of the Doctor who not only rivals Colin Baker's, but might also eclipse his. Matt Smith really is that good. It was amazing to see what almost looked like tears in the Doctors eyes when he couldn't save someone, such as when the Bishop is held in the Weeping Angel's arms, and the Doctor can't save him. And Smith's strange facial features* add to his air of alienism too. Even his costume, which is straight out of a 1970's episode of the BBC 2's Open University, and shouldn't work, works. It all adds up to an amazing interpretation of the Doctor, and one which I hope continues for many years.
And of course this Doctor's appeal isn't hurt either by the generally very high standard of the scripts (no Russell T. Davis, woo-hoo :-):-):-):-)), or by having Amy as a companion, who isn't just beautiful, but has a properly defined personality, and is a great foil for the Doctor. Rose was just a generic chav, Donna was an annoying whiner, and though Martha was a good character, she was sadly underused, and left too soon. Amy makes her presence felt, even when she's in the background of a scene, and together they are very possibly the best Doctor and companion combination ever.
So what do you think of Matt Smith as the Doctor?
And I've added a "No opinion, I don't like Doctor Who" option for those saddos who don't appreciate TV. But if you don't like the program (fair enough, each to his own) then why vote at all?
I'm voting for "Best Doctor ever". Sorry Colin, but I think you've been eclipsed.
* I'm not trying to be rude by the way, I'm no Brad Pitt either.
Post edited by ewgf on
Comments
it's too early to say.. I guess folk would say far older one.. pertwee etc.. maybe , I dunno.. it's more to do with age.. much like what your fav game is.
it's funny how back then , the sets were state of the art.. kids would laugh at em now
Matt Smith has done a stunning job, and has totally out-acted Tennant. Truly a genius-with-a-hint-of-madness Doctor.
As a 'saddo' who doesnt watch Dr Who i would much rather watch 'Celebrity big brother dancing on water working on a farm get me out of here' anyday. For kids Dr Who is great but adults who analyse every minute of it, hmmm. And i'm the saddo ?!
It's a tv show to me, nothing more.. much like I don't get trekkies etc
much like they don't get my interest in 20+ year old computers
This series, despite it's faults, has been a lot more like the classic Doctor Who episodes of old, and Matt Smith has really bought a quirkiness of his own to the character, so yeah he gets my vote (but not as the 'best ever' Doctor, that's Tom Baker).
I thought Eccleston was brilliant, Tennant was great but something about the new series seems a little 'false' to me.
Yeah, I realise it's sci-fi but they just don't seem convincing to me.
God, have I really become this much of a nerd?
At least I have new series of The IT Crowd and Top Gear to watch!
Matt Smith has made the part his own over the course of the season, the episodes The Eleventh Hour, Victory of the Daleks, The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone and The Pandorica Opens being good examples of this season.
David Tennant in himself was a good Doctor but some of his stories were real crap - who in their right mind let Love and Monsters go out and who let Peter Kay get cast? Planet of the Ood was his best episode..
While I'm on a rant, what was the point in the big reunion in Stolen Earth/Journeys' End? They did nothing of note except use a phone network to bring the Doctor to them and push a couple of Daleks. Captain Jack should have stayed in his own series.. Martha Jones should have stuck to Law and Order.. Mickey the Idiot should concentrate on his films, Sarah Janes Smith should remain on Bannerman Road, the less said about Jackie the better...
He's not my favorite Dr though. Mine is Sylvester McCoy, mainly because he was the Dr when I was old enough to understand what was going on. Also, Sylvesters Dr was a much darker character than he has been in the series rebirth. There were a few episodes (battlefield) that showd that the Dr really thought ahead with things and planned them out, rather than rushing into things.
Matts Dr is really entertaining though. He brings a fun side to the character that has been missing for quite some time.
Pond. Well, now it's Mrs Amy [whatever Rory's surname is].
Another bird crossed off my list. Sob :cry:
Blimey! Eccleston is my least favourite of them all. In fact, I liked them all apart from Eccleston, as he never seemed to have the compassion that was fundamental to the Doctor. Even the sixth Doctor, who was often so bad tempered and and contemptuous of others, demonstrated that that was just a very misleading shell, and deeper down he was as committed to the sanctity of life as any of his other incarnations.
Oh, he was brilliant. It's such a shame that black and white stuff is almost taboo on TV nowadays, as some of Torughton's stories are still first class.
It's just been a fantastic series, hasn't it? Even the "supporting" episodes have been well worth watching.
I've seen every Doctor Who episode apart from some of the Hartnell's and Troughtons, and I heartily believe that Love and Monsters was the worst episode ever. Other have approached it, but none has sunk quite so low.
That's Russell T. Davis for you. To be fair, even someone who detests much of his Dr Who work has to say that Davis can write some very good dialogue (occasionally...), but his understanding of science fiction is basic at best, and he's terrible at writing good endings. I've heard that his non-Doctor Who stuff is good, so maybe he's good as other genres, but not science fiction, where you have to write credible (even if wildly inaccurate) plots and resolutions.
Well, we've never seen Matthew "Jetset" Smith without his beard, so maybe Matt Smith is him, trying to broaden his horizons. We'll know if it's him, if the next time he meets the Daleks, he traps them in an infinite loop!
this series was a little troubled though by a seemingly lower quality of production that was probably a little too rushed, check the lighting errors (shadows of production staff in frame!) on a few episodes
damned impressed with the writing in the latter half of the series though, looking forward to the new series for sure with Matt maturing into the role
just remember, everyone didn't really like Tennant at first!
Pond! as suggested at the end of the finale (given that he should take her name rather than the other way around)! (well Williams to save you checking)
I thought David Tennant and Catherine Tate made a great team. Tate's acting and her eccentric portral as companion was great match with Tennant. Her best performance was the episode Journey's End.
Matt Smith and Karen Gillan (Amy Pond) have been brilliant though and I have loved the last series. I would like to see a couple more series of them.