The BBC announced today live around 2pm EST that the sonic screwdriver will be passed from Matt Smith to BAFTA and Oscar award winning Scots actor Peter Capaldi. Capaldi, 55, is perhaps best known for his role as foul mouthed Malcolm Tucker on the comedy series The Thick of It. The Scottish-Italian actor (hence the last name) is poised to take on the mantle this Christmas following Eleven’s “death” during the special.
“Why Hello. It’s me. The Doctor. I win. You loose. Sit down.”
Capaldi is not too far removed from The Doctor; he was featured in 2009’s Torchwood: Children of Earth as John Frobisher and played the Pompeian marble merchant (historically a banker) Lucius Caecilius Iucundus who ran into the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble in the 2008 Series 4 Episode 2 of Doctor Who “The Fires of Pompeii” which also notably featured a young pre-Amy Pond Karen Gillan as a priestess sentry.
He’s got the stare down. He’ll be just fine.
And here’s Karen for old time’s sake:
Sorry you died in the eruption boo.
Capaldi marks an interesting change for the character, or rather a return to form after three younger (and younger and younger) incarnations by being a more mature actor and is rather a jump up from the barely 30 years old Matt Smith who was bestowed the title of Doctor at the very young age of 26. Matt won skeptical fans over quickly with his portrayal of Eleven’s quirky Peter Pan boyishness, exuberance, actual real-life gawky clumsiness and quirky demeanor. On the flip side Matt further won people over with his serious acting chops with Eleven’s inclinations towards temper tantrums and an unmitigated anger, world weariness and sadness that were at times the scariest and the saddest the Doctor has ever been (Or as fellow staff writer Jen would say Matt is the “Goddess of tears” for Eleven’s frequently wet face).
Don’t mind me…I’m just over here…dying….
Fans have already taken warmly to the choice of Capaldi citing visually he echos other past Doctors and the older more mature actor brings the series back to a status quo that somewhat mirrors William Hartnell and the Doctor’s first companion, Susan which is pretty appropriate for the 50th Anniversary year. What this means for the twelfth Doctor’s personality is or how he’ll treat Clara, the first companion to continue on through a regeneration since Rose Tyler onwards in Series 8 has yet to be unseen or told but Eleven’s bubbling anger issues and mood swings may be a clue. We’ll have to see come Christmas following Nov.’s 50th Anniversary special which pairs Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman with David Tennant and Billie Piper.
Do you think they picked the right actor? I’m excited. What do you think?
Until next time!
Max Eber
Staff Writer/The Doctor
max@ihogeek.com
Twitter: @maxlikescomics
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M: Oh ho you started it [our document] this time.
J: HELL YES I DID!
M: So yes. It’s time once again, for Max and Jen’s our slightly delayed but always reflective Doctor Who episode review, recap, revelry, and other “r” words. This week we’re looking at Neil Cross’s second episode for Doctor Who “Hide”.
J: Yes. Also my nails look fresh to death in Versailles colors. But this week’s episode of Doctor Who was NOT Fresh to Death, because it SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH.
Aw yes, terrifying. Look it’s me Jen whenever your back is turned.
M: But it was a really, really, good episode. Definitely better than Neil’s other offering with Rings. Perhaps the best episode from this half of the series so far. I’m tough, I was really spoiled by Series 5, care for the awful Silurian two-parter, those episodes just feel so long but in a good way. The episodes are starting to get a bit meatier and more cinematic again. I’m glad they returned loosely to the Clara plot-line with the Doctor wanting to speak to the empathic psychic Emma Grayling to “check” if she was normal.
J: Yeah the Doctor is definitely manipulating the places they land. Sort of like when he checked in with the flesh when he was suspicious of Amy… something big is going on here and I like that we’re just getting tiny tidbits of information.
M: It’s a lot more subtle than some of other Moffat’s plotlines. Themes aren’t subtle though.
J: NEXT week we’ll get tons of TARDIS action. And if this week’s little tiff between Clara and the TARDIS was any indicator of what we’re going to see next Saturday…I can’t wait!
Clara: Let me in.
TARDIS: Naw. No. Nope. Sheesh. No. Well may- No.
M: I think we should talk a little bit more about some of the themes we’re picking up in these episodes. Tumblr in particular is going rabid over Clara’s rose motifs; posters, boxes and floral patterns and thus literal the character Rose allusions. Like “ ROES OMG ROSE ROAAAAAAASEEEE ROSE”, I’m not really sure what to think, I feel like we’re getting a lot of intentional red herrings a la Flesh Doctor. Moffat didn’t (used to not) like Rose. (Btw Susan’s real Gallifreyan name, Arkytior meant ‘rose’ as revealed in a short story!.)
J: I don’t know how much of the rose stuff is intentional and how much is coincidence. Like the rose in her hair in Asylum was definitely a reference to Carmen, but if it turns out to be a connection to Rose and ten two… PLUS ALSO TEN AND TWO IS TWELVE AND WHEN TWELVE SHOWS UP SILENCE WILL FALL OMG BS;DLFJK;LKJCAWLRKNSZDCL;JSWAEOFIJS’LCJS
M: Yes. Again there is a lot to speculate about. But I think there are a few theories that I think we both side with a bit more. Once again FAMILY is put front and center. Mothers. Grandfathers and Granddaughters. Mentioning Susan. The reveal that the time traveler stuck in the pocket universe was the empath and the scientist’s great x granddaughter, immediately, immediately sent off bells to me. The scientist aboard the submarine talking about his daughter, the alien talking about his daughter. It’s just everywhere.
J: Yeah but I’m glad next week is a TARDIS episode, because it’s becoming almost a tedious theme at this point to have everyone related every week.
M: Well I was more thinking in regards to Clara and the Doctor shippers. MARK MY WORDS SHIPPERS YOUR SHIP WILL SINK. IT WILL SINK SO FAST. IT WON’T EVEN FLOAT.
J: Like a sinking submarine?
M: Yes. Like a sinking Soviet submarine with atomic warheads and an irritated alien on board.
“Hiya babe lemme hold that fer just a second”
Clara are Whouffles, I am Skaldak.
J: I knew what you meant about the Doctor and Clara–their relationship is definitely that of a grumpy old man and his young whatever following him around. Like Inspector Gadget and Penny or something. But still, I’m glad next week is about the TARDIS. I can’t stress that enough. Even though we should talk about the scary stuff from this week. Hold on one second I have to build a blanket fort……
M: Ah yeah the “ghosts” and monsters in this one were fantastic. Things got a little Scooby-Doo when Clara thought the Doctor was holding her hand, but in general them NOT showing the monster thumping around the house much, or in the forest and focusing more on the character’s paranoia and sounds I think is so much more scary than throwing monsters at you that you can see.
J: I feel like that’s the kind of scary Doctor Who does best–like the Silence and the Angels are scariest when you can’t see them.
M: I wish more horror films did this more, they do, but only so they can have the pop-out scare. Also nice inversion at the end there with these so called monsters are actually pretty goofy.
Dashing.
J: THAT LOOKED GOOFY YOU YOU? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I ACTUALLY HATED THAT PART.
M: The reveal? They were ugly but in a really “Ohhhhh bless” kind of way, my reaction was the same as the Doctor’s. Pinhead stick monster. Hurr.
J: I was under my blanket. What was the significance of the “Hide” title this week? I don’t get it. Actually, as far as the sci-fi goes…I was kind of in Akhtan again and didn’t understand what the hell was going on through most of the episode. Obviously I understood that the woman was in the pocket universe and ——–oh crap. Tennant’s suit. We have to talk about Tennant’s suit.
M: Oh yes. These are great little throw-backs going on like this. It’s subtle but not? If that makes sense.
J: Yeah, it does make sense. I think it’s like nods to the fans that have stuck around for a really long time–but you have to have a sharp eye to catch the references.
Also dashing. No. That’s a lie.
J: Additionally, I just got a chill thinking about the day when David returns.
M: And then leave again.
J: I should probably just start crying now, save future me the trouble.
M: No, don’t. Moffat wants your tears. He feeds off of them. Never let the writers have your tears! WE SHOULD KNOW THIS JEN WE ARE WRITERS WE SHOULD KNOW THIS!
J: But…the emotional whiplash is coming. I can feel it. I can feel it right down in these stubby bow legs of mine.
M: Meanwhile OH we should probably gush about River. River’s back. In the finale. My dreams have come true. She’ll be like “Hi love, this is our granddaughter, she got caught in a machine and spread throughout the time xo”
J: **mouth gaping**
M: Well, she might know something. We’ll find Clara’s purpose/secret then too. Coincidence River showing up? Well it is the Fields. I think? NOT SURE. I think the love triangle they’re talking about for the finale will be the TARDIS, River and Clara, not the Doctor. Never the Doctor.
J: That is one ghey triangle. I have been avoiding almost all the news on this season because I don’t want it spoiled. All I can do is speculate on what I hope things will be. And all I want for the finale is like thirteen days worth of Rose and Ten Two kissing.
M: I’m wondering if it is Ten Two or not, they were filming Ten and Queen Elizabeth scenes. That might be a bummer. But Tentwoo was supposedly given a Tardis chunk too. So. I DUNNO. I hope it’s them.
J: Dun no dun care. I stand by my desires from last week for a ton of domestic Doctor Who. I feel like we’re leaving something out this week though…
M: I dunno. A good episode overall?
J: There was a lot of high fiving this week.
M: Yes. Lots. I really don’t understand how anyone can ship them. It’s too…naw.
J: Uh, I think that ends our recap of the week. Weird, since we learned some stuff about Clara. Like how she’s human and normal.
M: She hates whiskey. Eleventh most disgusting thing ever.
J: Fifth. but nice try. The Doctor did however take a selfie.
M: Pretty sure she said eleventh. He did take a selfie.
J: I’m sorry I just saw this on my sister’s tumblr and I can’t stop laughing
(•_•)
) )z
/
you are the dancing queen
(•_•)
) )z
/
young and sweet
(•_•)
) )z
/
only seventeen
dancing queen
(•_•)/
<) )
/
feel the beat
(•_•)
~) )~
/
of the tambourine
(•_•)
) )-@*jingle*
/
(Source: http://megahomo.tumblr.com/post/48484341933/o-o-z-you-are-the-dancing)
M: That’s the Doctor. Or Clara on tambourine for Karen & The Babes.
J: My cheeks hurt I can’t
I can’t stop laughing I’m—I legit just choked.
M: That’s it folks, we’ve lost Jen.
J: Its the jingle at the end that does it. But yes this week’s episode of Doctor Who was terrifying and if we never have an episode that scary again it will be okay.
M: For clarification I made her watch it at like 1:30 am.
J: In my room. My ATTIC. ROOM. ALONE. Anywho, I don’t think I have anything more to add except I really liked the aesthetic this week; it was a genuinely scary ghost tale, and next week looks awesome.
M: Agreed. Center of The Tardis. Bring it on BBC. Bring. It.
J:
(•_•)
) )-@*jingle*
/
Max Eber and Jen Schiller
Staff Writers/The Doctor and Amy Pond
Twitter.com/Jenisaur
comealongpondofftoneverland.blogspot.com
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Jen: Welcome to week two of Jen and Max wait until Thursday to review Doctor Who! At this rate, I’m going to consider it more of a refresher before the new episode than a breaking news review.
This week, we’re dealing with a “Cold War”.
Max: More like wet ass submarine war, that must have been obnoxious to film.
J: Word. Both Jenna and Matt have gone on the record saying it was exactly that.
M: Plus, Matt’s coat is wool I think. Wet. Wool. No. One. Wants. Wet. Wool. Anyway, in terms of review I thought it was fair.
J: Well it was written by Mark Gatiss. Compared to some of his other episodes I’d say this one was a slam dunk. I mean I’d actually watch “Cold War” again compared to “Victory of the Daleks”, which I frequently forget even existed.
M: He does seem to like war themes. His episodes have a lot of talking and a lot of war room type affairs, it’s very old fashioned. Even as a watcher of vintage film, war films like that tend to bore me. This thankfully was more interesting as, ya know…the place was sinking. Weird Alien homage in this episode too. Love the Ice Warrior’s suit. it makes them less redundant in regards to Silurians.
J: It’s also been so long since we saw a Silurian that at this point it’s like everything old is new again. Plus that was crazy fanservice for fans of the older series. But for real can we talk about the biggest theme that seems to be emerging this season? Parent/child relationships are ALL up in this season’s grill.
M: The Doctor is full blown Grandfather mode with Clara (thank god). The Susan bomb last episode is not just a coincidence at. all.
I have suspicions, there a few ways this could go but I think it would be neat if Clara ended up being a descendant of his and thus for the 50th it’s back to The Doctor and his (great great great x) granddaughter as the companion.
J: Yes. That’s probably why Clara’s mom was given so much time last week just to be killed off. Maybe she and Susan are related?
M: You’d think the Doctor would have picked up on that if that was the case, we’ll have to see. Clara didn’t get much more development aside from witnessing her first big trauma this episode.
It still doesn’t explain how Clara has multiple lives. For instance (the first Clara) Oswin was inspired by her grandmother who traveled the stars I think, or stories she told. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Doctor was involved in that timeline-ish. Peter Pan-like stuff, passing down the relationship from mother to daughter etc.
J: It looks like some of Clara’s mystery is going to be cleared up next week. And I have good news! My NCT might be waning a little. Now that it’s clear that Clara isn’t going to be the next Amy (or Rory or River or anyone), that she’s going to be a brand new monster in and of herself, I’m warming up to her a little.
M: I know they describe the house as on a moor but that manor for the next episode looks suspiciously like the one in “The Snowmen”. I don’t think that was on a moor, rather a suburb area of London.
J: Really? I say my Traumaitis is clearing up and you don’t react at all?
M: I was writing a thought and you kept going. I am so, so proud and happy for you, you’ve traveled such a long road in your recovery and weeks of therapy. *takes hands*
It’s going to be just fine. GOTHIC GHOST STORIES!
J: I AM SO EXCITED FOR GOTHIC GHOST STORIES
M: I am too. “Cold War” I think thematically could have amped up the chilliness between the Russians and their tensions with America…(and like….everyone……) in the early 80s. So looking forward to seeing something very thematic in “Hide”. Moffat and his writer’s continue the small corridors and spaces theme.
J: Yeah I didn’t get the whole running a drill thing at the beginning; I figured when that happened that they were actually British soldiers learning to defend themselves in case of nuclear attack. I think they made some references to the Cold War and the Americans and even tied it in thematically like the stand-off between the Doctor and Skaldak at the end was very similar to the events of the war.
M: Pretty sure they were actual Russians. Either way, it was a definite filler episode. It looks like from next week on we’re going to be getting the meatier episodes. The Neil Gaiman Cyberman episode is coming up, and we know there’s an episode where Strax, Madame Vastra and Jenny come back/are companions again. Also they mentioned an episode with River meeting Clara and a love triangle but “not in the way you think:” but I’ve heard conflicting reports about River; we know for a fact River in general is not for long post Angels Take Manhattan.
J: No they definitely were actual Russians–as told by the whole “am I speaking Russian?” thing. You know, the Doctor is so much gentler with Clara than he was with anyone else. Even, and perhaps escpecially, with Amy–because SHE was the adult in that relationship versus Doctor/Clara where he seems to be taking the lead more often.
M: I do like this change up, outside of Moffat’s pen Clara is a lot less snappy and more sweet, which I like. Moffat is known for his quippy flirty women so it’s very interesting to see how people are writing Clara but so far two writers have written her as very sincere and–
J: DOE EYED
M: Yes. She’s very much doe eyed and girly. In a good way.
J: I think it’s part of her relationship to the Doctor. I think she’s going to be his descendant in one way or another and it’s smacking us in the face. I actually really liked that she was in a dress for this whole episode. I think she’s like the “taking it back” feminist character where she doesn’t have to be in a suit of armor to be a good role model for girls. Maybe that’s on purpose–maybe they dialed back her sexuality a little to make her seem younger?
M: Possibly. We’ll have to see what happens when Moffat writes her again, or more importantly how Gaiman writes her (NOTE FROM JEN: he will do it perfectly, whatever he does) The way Gaiman writes her will surely be her supposed designated personality or at least confirm what they’re going for. I think they are aiming for girly or more gentle for sure. The other Claras could have easily been just different personalities, both were very flirty though and Moffat wrote her somewhat flirty with the “down boy” and “snog box” comments but that was about it.
J: I want Amy and Rory back.
M: Amy’s book is very important. It’s very much a mirror of the plot concerning the Great Intelligence. They want Clara.
J: and I want like sixteen two hour long episodes of “Pond Life”. We can’t always get what we want.
M: We have to keep an eagle eye out, Amy’s book and (maybe even more books) may be really important to the plot. They wouldn’t have released it as an ebook otherwise. Plot-wise it’s way too much symbolic of the current plot, and Matt I think has gone on the record that either the finale or the 50th something has to do with paintings which was a key feature in Summer Falls.
J: They were indeed. Any final thoughts on Cold War?
M: It was okay. B- from me. I’m excited for next week, the budget I feel is going to pick up and now the episodes are going to be much more meaty. The first four care for the opening for Part 2 have been pretty modest budget and effects wise. So yeah, looking towards a more pronounced mystery.
J: I’d give it an A simply compared to Gatiss’ other efforts so far. This is definitely the best of his recent contributions, plus it made me kinda sorta not hate Clara anymore!
M: That’s always a good thing! CHANGE IS GOOD (no it isn’t).
J: Cue the pictures of Karen and Matt together….slash…all the pictures of Billie and Chris and David and Catherine ever.
M: Matt and Karen should just marry in real life I really don’t know who else would marry the other.
J: BILLIE PIPER FOREVER
M: Apparently she and Matt went on a date in 2006. That’s what those pics of them together were.
J: LEIA SAYS THEY DATED A LOT AND BANGED.
M: SHE JUST WANTS THAT TO HAPPEN THEY DID HIPSTER SHIT (which probably meant the above)
THIS IS WHERE WE SAY…
Max Eber and Jen Schiller
Staff Writers/The Doctor and Amy Pond
Twitter.com/Jenisaur
comealongpondofftoneverland.blogspot.com
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So, fellow Who watchers, the mysterious Clara/Oswin/Oswald (like a sandwich in any particular order) is going to have her first actual episode in exactly two weeks launching the bombastic second half to Doctor Who’s Series 7. She’s yet another “impossible” Moffat girl who notably has somehow hacked into hive mind entities twice for the Doctor before dying. And yet she keeps coming back like a snarky Lazarus, perfect for Lent! Intriguing? Yes. Many people are excited. Others intrigued. There have been noticeable parallels to River Song some think are intentional. Rabid fan theories are abound that she’s their daughter (squickyyy you don’t kiss dad, though you shouldn’t kiss your mother-in-law either). Others like myself theorize she is related to the Great Intelligence and the “lost” memories of the in real life destroyed Second series footage, all adventures the Doctor seems to have forgotten himself (perhaps a side effect of literally erasing himself from the Universe as well). Whatever the case; she is Clara. She seems cute and intriguing, she’s gonna either help the Doctor get over his loss of the Ponds or her true nature is revealed to lead him to the fields of Trenzalore and kills him horribly and he regenerates into Twelve and silence falls (because let’s face it the Silence are not scared of Eleven, they are scared of the Fall of The Eleventh and thus the coming of Twelve, Twelve is going to be a doozy) and whatever let’s see what happens right? Everything peachy?
YOU’RE WRONG!!!!!!!
At least for my regular partner in crime at Team Rocket, Jen (your fellow ihogeek scribe Jenisaur), Clara has a terrible, horrible, awful fault that makes everything well, awful: She is not Amy Pond. She is not Amy. Thus she must die.
Now, this averse reaction; hackles raised, new companions condemned to expletives and eye rolling, calling out for former companions. Possible death threats (okay literal death threats) are all symptoms of a horrible condition; new companion traumaitis and our dear friend Jen is prone to this condition.
Insert naughty ” I got yo man River what you gonna do tell ur mum hehehe” type joke here. Whoops.
Jen in particular theorizes that had it not been for a huge outbreak of new companion traumaitis among fans after the loss of Rose and the appointment of Martha, Martha herself would probably be much more popular had she arrived following different circumstances. This terrible condition is contagious, and at times extremely chronic. I say chronic because in the case study of Jen, I can firsthand attest that Jen after the loss of Donna, Rose AND David did the same thing to Karen Gillan’s Amy Pond and Matt Smith that she is now doing to Clara. I recall specifically showing her the first published image of Matt and Karen on set for The Time of Angels, before the costume department stuck Amy in a Little Red Riding Hood red sweatshirt and instead had her decked in very Wendy Darling robin-egg blue.
The offending image of past years’ ire.
The expletives, the condemnation. I remember it well. She called Matt a hipster baby and as Amy Pond herself would demand, said his bowtie was ridiculous and must go. I defended his bowtie since I dressed and still sort of dress like that myself. I thought Karen was pretty. Jen, Jen wouldn’t have it. It was basically “WHO ARE THESE GIRAFFE HIPSTER BITCHES AND WHY ISN’T SHE ROSE OH GOD DONNA OH NO TEN NO NO NO WHY IS HE NINE YEARS OLD GET OUT MOON FACED GINGER BITCH AND BOWTIE BOY BYE ” except in much less nicer terms as I am no doubt paraphrasing and being much more kind. Safe to say she didn’t watch Series 5 for a whole year.
But then well, she watched it. And it wasn’t until Amy’s Choice that Amy won her over when it became clear she wasn’t another Rose and new companion traumaitis dissipated. And now she is clawing for Amy to come back. Quote:
I hate Clara probably more than I hated Amy when she first showed up in her stupid fucking blue sweatshirt and tights like she was god’s gift to hipsters.which she is but that’s not the goddamn point. I hate clara so much I wish she would choke on her souffle.
just. shut. up. max. just. do. it. now.
Does your loved one suffer from new companion traumaitis? Please readers, share either your or loved ones nct stories of struggle and survival with us if you or a loved one has been affected by nct in the past or are struggling through it now.
May you all have a wonderful week, and above all, stay strong.
Max Eber
Staff Writer/The Doctor
max@ihogeek.com
Twitter: @maxlikescomics
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