Ever since the news leaked that Matt Smith would be leaving the role at the end of the year, fandom has been eating its own tail, trying to figure out who would be cast next. Would it be a woman; a black actor; an older actor; or yet another young, white man? The pros and cons of each have been debated ad nauseum—just like they are every time the role opens.
Well, now we know it’s to be Peter Capaldi. And, like usual, it’s someone I, from my sheltered American perspective, hadn’t really heard of before Sunday’s announcement. Granted, that’s not entirely true—after all, when his name started cropping up everywhere in the days preceding the announcement, I looked him up and recognized him as Lucius Caecilius from The Fires of Pompeii and John Frobisher from Torchwood: Children of Earth. But the point is, I had to look him up.
I’ve become accustomed to this state of affairs. I recognize that I’m not soaking in British culture like the hometown fans are, so I’m never going to react to casting news the way UK fans do (I’m often flummoxed, for example, by the excitement surrounding guest cast press releases). As a result, I was neither bouncing in my seat nor beating my head against my desk at the official announcement (nor was I ready to start making Malcolm Tucker mash-ups—had to look up Malcolm Tucker, too). I was admittedly rather disappointed that the fans/media had managed to peg the guy so readily (I’d been hoping for another “unknown,” a real surprise), but was relieved that they’ve at least cast someone with a few more years under his belt. I think that will help give Twelve some welcome gravitas.
I will also readily admit I’d have liked to see them branch out a bit with their casting. I’d have loved to see a person of color or a woman in the role (and if you want to bitch at me about that particular opinion, go do it over at the post where the Doctor’s gender the main topic of discussion—or send me email, since I think I’ve disabled comments on that post by now). However, in the few roles I’ve seen Capaldi perform, I’ve been suitably impressed.
But at a more fundamental level, I trust that the Doctor will always be the Doctor.
Over the past few years, I’ve been as disappointed as the next grumpy fan with some of the repetitious and even problematic themes Moffat has brought to the screen, but never once have I doubted his ability to cast the Doctor. Granted, it took me longer than some to warm to Eleven, but I love him as well as any (and more than many) of the others now.
So whatever direction Peter Capaldi takes Twelve, I expect to come to love him as uniquely as I love every other Regeneration. Because despite its flaws, I love Doctor Who with all my heart. Here’s to a world of new possibilities and amazing stories stretching out ahead of us into the future!
Missed the Announcement
I seem to have a knack for missing the announcements. I did with Matt Smith, too. I check the Internet for days, then realize it’s not happening any time soon, and ease up. Then, my brother finds out somehow before I do, and calls me excitedly. He was so happy about the Doctor being a bit older – my brother is only 37 (I’m 2 years older) – and he liked Matt Smith, but was happy about the change of pace.
Of course, I was “Oh no, I missed it again!” But thanks to the Internet, I could relive it. I, too, had to look him up, and in addition to the roles you mentioned, saw that he was on “World War Z,” which I just saw, and remembered him in that right away.
I always have a sense of the possibilities ahead when a new doctor starts. For some reason, the dynamic reminds me a bit of the First Doctor and Susan. Then I had a brief thought: wonder if they could make Clara his great-granddaughter or something like that? I know – wild, wild speculation!!!
Big PR Circus
It may almost be better that you missed the circus. 😉
I love the sense of anticipation, of hope and uncertainty when we know a regeneration is coming, though to be honest, this is only the second one I’ve experienced! I came to the show in the middle of Tennant’s era, so Smith was the only true “unknown” I have lived through. Exciting times!
Miscellaneous Musings
What staggered me was that he is the same age Hartnell was when he was cast and for the first time in a while a Doctor who is older than the programme. The other thing that I like is that PC has been a fan of the programme for such a long time. I grinned like a mad Eccleston when PC did the Hartnell style lapel holding on the announcement programme and considering I had got out of bed at 4am to watch, it made it even more worth the effort!!
Hartnell influences
Interesting point about being older than the show; I hadn't thought of it that way before. 🙂 But yes, I was very glad to see an older actor in the part again—by the time Capaldi's first (full) episode comes on screen, he'll be older than Hartnell was! Even at Christmas, he'll only miss it by a couple of months. If my calculations are correct, on Christmas Capaldi will only be 64 days younger than Hartnell was the day An Unearthly Child was first broadcast. (See, for example, this nicely done age-of-actor blog post from another fan in April 2010.)
At any rate, I think this is great casting, and I can't wait to see how it plays out.