The Next Doctor speculation thread. (Spoilers, and sadness, inside.)

[Tama]

Peter Capaldi!

And here I thought that they were going to keep making it a young man.

[Amina516]

I also thought they would stick with a younger man. I'm kinda glad they didn't. I can't wait!!!

[Bardmaiden]

Be interesting to see an older Doctor again.

Watched the announcement programme and was pleased and amused by hearing Matt Smith talking properly Northampton and My b/f commenting on it (He also from the same town. )

[NateTheChops]

I've always taken the phrase "My Doctor" to mean the actor who was playing the Doctor when you (the viewer) or I officially began watching it regularly. So in that way, Smith will always be my doctor the way Baker or Davison might be "my doctor" for a lot of the people who worked on the New Who.

When I first watched 11th hour, I really don't know anything about the series. And I'm sad to say I didn't know who Elizabeth Sladen was or how she was significant to Whovees until about a year or so after I got into Series 5.

So believe me when I say, that I am so happy to be on the same page as the rest of the world for once in my life. I will look forward to seeing the 12th Doctor, as I really did like his performance is The Fires of Pompeii.

[firecat88]

I've always taken the phrase "My Doctor" to mean the actor who was playing the Doctor when you (the viewer) or I officially began watching it regularly. So in that way, Smith will always be my doctor the way Baker or Davison might be "my doctor" for a lot of the people who worked on the New Who.

That's exactly what it means. And 11 is my Doctor too. That being said, and as much as I'm going to miss the giraffe-puppy and be devastated when he's gone, I'm very curious to see what Capaldi brings to the role.

[Seraph]

I was really, REALLY upset at first when I heard, because I was inside of a Barnes and Noble, frantically refreshing /r/doctorwho on my phone to see the news. And of course, the first post is of his IMDB photo and that he was picked.

The IMDB photo makes him look half dead. Its bad. Like, WAY bad. I could not figure out how they picked him, at all.

About fifteen minutes later though, BBC posted the first official photo of him, and it was worlds different. I feel a lot better about this, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he spins the Doctor.

[gremcint]

read his role for world war z: W.H.O. Doctor

[Kara]

Was watching the live announcement with my SO and a good friend of ours. My first words were, "He's cute, he'll do." I actually thought he was about 10 years younger than he is, so now he's cute AND mature. And I'm fine with that. I'm pretty interested to see how he does. I've seen some of the old serials they have on netflix, but my first Doctor was Eccleston (though Tennant will forever be "my" Doctor). Even though I still call Matt Smith "chin Doctor," he showed me in the first episode that he was more than fit for the role. I'm unfamiliar with Capaldi's work, but I'm very excited to see what he'll bring to the next version of the Doctor (and hopefully we can do story arcs that don't revolve around the possibility that the Doctor will be responsible for destroying all of time and space, which has pretty much been the entirety of Matt Smith's run).

[Tama]

I don't recognize him, but it doesn't surprise me. I've never recognized any of the Doctors and while it would have been cool to have a Hugh Laurie Doctor...yeah, I knew that they couldn't do that.

[NateTheChops]

For those of you drawing a blank, this is the man we'll be seeing for hopefully the next four years. Or, you know, maybe he'll have the stamina to beat Tom Baker's record.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyaP6mWVSjE

[Jester]

I debated whether or not to even watch the introduction special, as I hate celebrity news, and I like being surprised. But I watched it anyway, and while it was certainly cheesy, it wasn't as horrible as I expected.

That being said, I am completely unfamiliar with the new Doctor, other than his turn in the Fires of Pompeii, which I only know because I saw it mentioned somewhere. Don't really remember it all that well, to be honest.

Now, my problem with him is not that he's older. It's that, to me, he looks like a lounge singer, someone you'd see opening for Wayne Newton or Tom Jones. After Eccleston, Tennant, and Smith, I just don't get it. But again, I am unfamiliar with the man and his work, and am equally unfamiliar with the Doctors prior to 9. While I was aware the show existed, I never watched it. Within the last year, I saw the terrible Doctor Who movie from the Sixties, and also struggled to stay awake through the first Doctor Who Revisited special. (I failed many times at this.) So, yeah...not thrilled with his look or age, but I'll give him a chance to be brilliant, as I did Smith, and at times, he really was.

I'd like to see how they handle...the fact they are nearing the end of the Doctor's regenerations.

Me, too. Because even though I didn't watch the show as a child, a friend did, and he explained it to me one day, including the part about regenerating. And he told me that the Time Lords only have 12 regenerations. And even at the age of 13, I recognized both the logistical brilliance of that part of the series, and the potential flaw they could run into if they lasted too long as a series. And it's getting closer to that now.

I thought that when River Song kissed the Doctor, she was using the energy from her regenerations to save the him from final death, not passing them along like so many party favors.

As did I. As did many, I am guessing.

I really don't mean to sound misogynist but I really don't want a female Doctor.

I agree. And while I have no problem with the idea of a female Doctor, and generally am all in favor of women breaking through (I'm very excited, for example, about Sarah Thomas, who is on a potential track to be the first full time female NFL referee), this character just doesn't feel like someone who would switch genders. While some Tme Lords do just that (as clearly referenced in The Doctor's Bride), this Time Lord just seems more male. To me, anyways.

I've always taken the phrase "My Doctor" to mean the actor who was playing the Doctor when you (the viewer) or I officially began watching it regularly.

In that sense, either Tennant or Eccleston would be "My Doctor." Hard to say. I started watching the show around the time of Tennant's first season, but can't remember if it was DT or CE that first drew me in. But for favoritism, DT is My Doctor. Perhaps CE might have been had he stayed on longer than one season. But I doubt it.

I'm sad to say I didn't know who Elizabeth Sladen was or how she was significant to Whovees until about a year or so after I got into Series 5.

I admit, I haven't the foggiest ideas who Elizabeth as Sladen is or was.

I will look forward to seeing the 12th Doctor, as I really did like his performance is The Fires of Pompeii.

As I said above, don't really remember him in that, but then, it's been a while since I've seen that episode. But as with all new Doctors, I will give him a chance. Despite what some people think, I don't think they did all that badly with Smith.

For those of you drawing a blank, this is the man we'll be seeing for hopefully the next four years. Or, you know, maybe he'll have the stamina to beat Tom Baker's record.

As someone unfamiliar with the original series, Baker's record is....what?

[pzychobitch]

he played the dr from 74 to 81. so bout 7 years.

[MoonCat]

Jester, Elizabeth Sladen played Sarah Jane Smith during Tom Baker's years. Then the character was spun off in a series called (IIRC) "K-9 and Company" (K-9 was a robotic dog). Sladen passed away not too long ago.

[Jester]

Oooohhhh...SJS. Yeah, I was introduced to her in the Tennant years, and found out a bit of her backstory. Got it.

[DaDairyDruid]

To get a really good view of the mans acting chops, if you can stand it, try watching Torchwood : Children of Earth

Powerful stuff.