Sunday, February 28, 2010

11th Doctors costume was originally much different

According to an interview with Steven Moffat the costume we currently see on the 11th Doctor was completely different than what was originally planned. Apparently Matt Smoth was uncomfortable wearing the original outfit and the new costume was arrived at last minute based on Matt's recomendation.

The original costume for the 11th Doctor was ".. a bit more piratey, big long coats and all that stuff- and Matt hated it all".

Supposedly there are several pictures of Matt wearing the original outfit.

I would love to see what the original outift looked like.

Matt grew fond of the bowtie after watching the 2cnd Doctor in "Tomb of the Cybermen" and recommended the tweed jacket with the elbow patches.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Why the 11th Doctor's outfit, while not iconic, may work for the character as played by Matt Smith

As a disclaimer, I must admit I love the 10th Doctor's outfit. The combination of the blue suit wearing red trainers with a brown trenchcoat just works.

Walk around a Comic Con and you will find two versions of the Doctor walking amid the vendor booths and fans dressed as storm troopers: A certain jelly baby loving Doctor sporting a long scarf and a red converses peaking out below brown trenchcoats.

My initial reaction to the pictures of Matt Smith wearing the Doctor's new outfit were lukewarm. Over time however it has begun to grow on me.


Matt Smith will be the youngest actor to ever play the Doctor at the point were the character is at his oldest. Its important to note that while the Doctor was always old from a human viewpoint, he began the story as a very young Time Lord. Even the 1st Doctor, as played by an ancient looking William Hartnel, was young by a Time Lord's measure. He had not even undergone his first regeneration. From the first episode of Doctor Who to the current 11th Doctor, the Doctor has aged over 500 years.

So that is the Doctor Matt Smith will be portraying - an old man in a young mans body It is an aspect of the character that RTD touched upon briefly, upon occasion, that I hope Stephen Moffat will delve into further.

This is why the 11th Doctor's new outfit makes sense to me. It visually communicates something about the character. The clothes he is wearing are old fashioned. An old man's clothes. The disconnect of a young man in an old mans clothes are symbolic of the old soul in a young man body.

It is my hope that Matt Smith will play the Doctor as an old man entering the final years of his life. A Time Lord who has more days behind him than ahead of him trying to accomplish as much as possible in the days left to him and taking advantage of the youth and energy of his new regeneration to help him get it done.


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Sunday, February 21, 2010

2 Scenes in the new Doctor Who trailers that show promise

There are two scenes in the new Doctor Who trailers, that for me, really show the promise of what Doctor Who can be at its best and justify the hope that some of us fans have had regarding Stephen Moffat taking over the show.


Scene 1 shown in the first trailer:


Newly regenerated Doctor stand in a field facing the TARDIS looking upon her lovingly with excitement in his voice and asks


"OK what have you got for me this time?"


Thats a great scene. It shows the bond between the Doctor and the TARDIS. Its not just a vehicle for him to travel. Its a gateway to adventure. He loves the TARDIS.

It also expresses the concept that, more often than not, its the TARDIS taking him to unexpected times and places ,than it is the Doctor piloting the TARDIS.


Scene 2 shown in second trailer:


Its night and the Doctor lies in a field of grass with, soon to be companion, Amy Pond staring up at the stars. These arent just lights in the sky to the Doctor they are places to be traveled to.


Then he utters the line ...


"All of time and space everywhere and anywhere every star that ever was. Where do you want to start?"



This is Doctor Who at its best. Unlimited potential and possibilities. Stories that can (AND SHOULD) take place throughout all of time and space. Give us more of the Doctor on space stations and starships. Ancient planets and modern Cardif.

Where will they start?


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