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Humble pie served up for Doctor Who doubter
Monday 19th April 2010, 9:43AM BST.
I haven’t blogged about the new series of Doctor Who yet, writes blogger Dan Wainwright. My fingers were too fat from eating all the humble pie.
I wasn’t very nice about Matt Smith when they announced he was going to take over. It was such a long time ago and I’ve grown up a lot since then.
Of course you saw through my argument and loads of you let rip at me for judging him before he’d even decided on his tweed jacket and bow tie.
I said he was too young, too inexperienced, without the gravitas and eternal wisdom an actor needs to play a 906-year-old with the weight of the universe on his shoulders – only with more spiteful language.
But I was wrong. And I’ve been too embarrassed to say so.
I’ve been hunting the dodgy beetle that climbed onto Catherine Tate’s back and changed her past in a bid to wipe out the unkind things I said.
Then I remembered that in fact all it did was create a parallel universe and decided I’d better get on with some work otherwise I’d get fired.
While Victory of the Daleks was the weakest of the new run so far (what was with the United Daleks of Benetton?) Smith has been a revelation.
He has made the role his own. His gabbling, his righteous indignation and his delivery of great lines such as “You’re Scottish, fry something” are a refreshing change from David Tennant, who while brilliant had stayed long enough.
Instead of the young-old faces of the likes of Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee now we have an old-young face.
He’s 27 but he could be 20, he could be 35.
He says “bow ties are cool” and suddenly they are. A fashion trend has been started with the same click of the fingers he used to open the TARDIS.
So I just have to accept it. A younger man than me is now living my dream and gallivanting around saving the universe every week.
It’s like fancying someone out of your league and seeing them with someone else.
Secretly you hate yourself because you want her to come crying to you with a story about what a cad he is but actually, if you’re honest with yourself, he’s treating her better than you ever would and he’s a nice bloke to boot.
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Not a very good blog. You say Victory of the Daleks is the weakest of the new run – but you don’t say why.
Bow ties are not cool, however, five and six year old will be wearing them to school this year. Which just goes to show that new Who is directed at the teletubby generation, rather than adult sci fi fans.
I hate new Who. I’m a Classic fan.
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I disagree Mr. Morris. This Doctor is just lovely – and I happen to find the bow tie(and tweed) to be refreashing on the New (younger) Doctor.
To Mr. Wainwright – Glad to see you changed your mind – I hope all the best to our new Doctor.
And the best line was You’re Scottish, fry something” followed by the comment he made about his own nose.
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While I never understood all of the “Matt Smith will be horrible” doom-saying, it’s quite refreshing to see someone admit they were wrong. The very premise of the Dr. Who story line includes changing doctors. For people to complain when that happens is sort of silly. Sure, I loved Tennant, but he’s got a life, too, you know. LOL I think Matt Smith showed great promise in the first episode of his reign (I am in the US and have only seen that one episode, so I can’t judge any more.) He had this manic energy and some great lines, like you said. To be honest, much of the episode he reminded me much of David Tennant on one of his energy bursts. I think Smith is a worthy successor to Tennant, and I wish him luck in making the role his own.
And bow ties are SO cool! I am far from a Teletubby generation anything, being proud to say I never saw a single minute of Teletubby crap. I am a life-long (and it’s been a long life so far) sci-fi fan. So, I am quite qualified in stating: Long Live Dr. Who!
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I too bad mouthed Smith as never being able to fill Tennant’s shoes but I’m glad I was proved wrong.
Although I’m still not convinced about his mate she’s no Rose or Martha is she!!?
AND for the record Saturday’s episode was awful!
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I have also had to gorge myself stupid on humble pie. I have to admit, I thought Matt Smith was too young and wouldn’t be as good as Tennant. But I have been proven wrong as I am now of the belief after just 3 episodes that he is my favourite doctor so far. Despite his real age, somehow you just believe that he’s 900 years old. He has the same magnetism that Tom Baker had, when he’s on screen, you just can’t take your eyes off him.
There are many things I don’t like about the new series: the theme tune, the lightening strikes in the theme (tackorama!), the tardis interior, the cuddly, cute and colourful daleks, etc. But they have got the one thing that could have destroyed the series (remember Colin Baker) absolutely perfect.
Matt Smith is my doctor.
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The season opener was superb, so I’m guessing that “Victory” and the 2nd episode were filmed first..
I thought victory of the daleks was about as bad in places as the McCoy era.. NOT one for the video collection. Matt Smith’s delivery made me think he thought it was tosh too! However, the weeping angels are back next week, so I hope that the last two episodes are only a blip..
oh, and
BRING BACK BLAKES SEVEN!
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Like someone said earlier, it is nice to see someone apologizing for blasting Matt before they had even seen him. I too admit I had fears as I was attached to David Tennant, who still remains my favorite Doctor. (And yes, I’m a NuWho fan having only seen Chris and David in the role. I wasn’t impressed with Chris’s portrayal of Nine and worse, I absolutely hated Rose Tyler and The Doctor/Rose “love” affair.)
But the night I watched “The Eleventh Hour,” I was INSTANTLY hooked! With each episode after, I’ve become more and more hooked on both Matt and Karen as Eleven and Amy. Matt easily slid into place as my second favorite Doctor, right behind David. And Amy is giving Donna a run for her money as my favorite full time companion. (Though if River Song ever becomes a full time companion, I think she’ll steal First Place from them both!)
Anyway, I’ve got to say, with River’s return and the Weeping Angels coming back in “The Time of Angels” and “Flesh and Stone,” I am more excited than ever about the new series! I think this will probably be the most mind blowing of Eleven’s episodes yet! My favorite enemy and my DW OTP all wrapped up in one big fat two-parter present. Brilliant!
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I had my reservations about Matt Smith as the new Doctor but I have to say I think he has done a good job. Just like Dave Tennant pulled from Peter Davidson version of the role I see a great deal of Tom Baker in Smith’s portrayal. That absent minded prof with a kind heart and a massive grin. Give the guy a chance. I remember how many people talked sh1t about Tennant at first.
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Having been a DW fan all my life i have seen a few doctors come and go, like alot of people
when matt smith was announced i thought matt who? but seeing the new series i have to say this guy is a knockout and Amy pond is too
i was not very impressed with Tenannts last few seasons after the third season it went downhill and the earth based stories were getting a bit boring.Now there is a new producer steve(Blink)mofit i think the show will get back to what it does best Good storyline!
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