My Twelfth Doctor Nomination(s)

Allow me to first say that typing the title to this post was the first time I ever spelt "twelfth" right on the first try that I can remember.

Okay, now I will get to the point. My nomination for the role of the Twelfth Doctor is none other than Ben Daniels. Although he's not young like the past two Doctors have been and probably won't have the epic fangirls that Tennant and Smith bring to the fandom, I think Daniels could be a very suitable choice. I first saw him as Tristan in BBC's Merlin ("Sword in the Stone", parts 1 and 2) and I immediately thought that he could play the role with the emotional vulnerability that Eccleston's and Tennant's performances made me expect from Matt Smith, which, for me, in my humble opinion, Smith did not deliver on. I think that if the Beeb wants to go with another male for the role that Ben Daniels is perfect for it--of course, that is if he wants it.

Then, there is the possibility of the Doctor becoming a woman, which was only made bigger by Matt's recent comment at the San Diego Comic Con. If this happens, I've no idea who it might be. I'd like to see Olivia Coleman in the role; I just have a funny feeling about her and this role. I know the BBC has said that they are wanting to cast a non-A lister who isn't already known for some other role, like Emma Watson. May I suggest myself?

What it comes down to is that only time itself will tell, and unfourtunately for us it itsn't the non-linear wibly-wobly, timey-wimey sort of time. We humans at this point have to go about time linearly, so we can only wait and see. You can bet that you can come back to TARDIStyle and see an announcement here as soon as it breaks!

Big DW Anncoucement: 8pm EST

As you may have heard, the BBC will be making a big announcement as to the specifics of the next season of Doctor Who. The following is expected:

• Jenna-Louise Coleman will be on the show for the foreseeable future.
• Matt will be leaving and there will be a new Doctor in August 2014.
• The season will not be split in two.
• John Hurt will appear in several episodes past the 50th.
• Moffat will be leaving the show with Matt.

That is all that I have heard. I will post the announcement as soon as I see it.
Oh, and happy June :)

John Hurt's Role in the 50th

Over the past 36 hours, it seems that there has been a major leak to the public about some of the plot for the DW 50th Anniversary Special.
John Hurt, who was announced to the cast along with Billie and David may have made a boo-boo and revealed his role, which we were previously in the dark about.
The 73 year-old actor, known for many roles in big-name film, television and theatre, such as Mr. Olivander. in Harry Potter, Adam Sutler in V for Vendetta, Dr. Harold Oxley in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and Control in Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy, and now the international talent says he can add the Doctor himself to the list--or at least "part of the Doctor" in a "kind of trinity," which includes David Tennant.

The possibly the most obvious "trinity" would be a past-present-and-future type thing, but the most talked about idea is a bit more complex and Moffat-esque.
Remember how we never saw Paul McGann regenerate into Christopher Eccleston? That is the key. Some are saying that Hurt's Doctor will be one in between the two.
WHAT?
Yes, you read that right. The plot deepens: this regeneration has been forgotten due to the psychological (and I won't rule out physical) trauma from The Last Great Time War
As you can see on the left, John's costume has the Victorian Gentleman elements like McGann's Doctor, as well as the Leather Emo elements of the Eccleston Doctor, making for a much easier transition, at least fashion wise, in the Doctor. Whovian Rule 134.
This would make Chris the 10th Doctor, David the 11th, and Matt the 12th, which possibly puts the Time Lord at risk for being out of regenerations  although I believe the last time that subject was brought up it was said that regenerations are unlimited now that there are no other Time Lords, and we can't forget when Melody/River gave her remaining regens to the Doctor.
What are your thoughts? Comment them.
Personally, I trust Steven Moffat to be amazing with the show.
UPDATE:
Okay, so after seeing "The Name of the Doctor", I have to say that he of course is a Doctor from the past. We don't know what he did, but we know the Doctor doesn't condone his actions. My guess, like many others, I assume, is that he is responsible for the destruction of Gallifrey. More on the season finale later, from both myself and Seth.

More Confirmation: Tennant and Piper to Return for 50th Anniversary Special

This is a re-blog. The original was posted here.

"David Tennant and Billie Piper to return for blockbuster celebrations with John Hurt also confirmed.
"The BBC has today revealed some of the all-star cast that will mark the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. David Tennant and Billie Piper will join current Doctor and companion, Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman, while John Hurt (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Alien, Harry Potter) will also co-star.
"Last seen as the Doctor on January 1st 2010, this will be the first time Tennant has reprised his role as the Tenth Doctor. During his reign as the Time Lord, Tennant appeared in three series as well as several specials. He was first revealed as the Doctor in the 2005 series finale, ‘The Parting of the Ways’.
"Meanwhile Billie Piper, who played companion Rose Tyler for two series following the reboot in 2005, will appear in the show for the first time since featuring in Tennant’s last episode, ‘The End of Time’ in 2010.
"Also confirmed to join the cast is John Hurt who will also co-star in the 3D anniversary special that will form part of blockbuster celebrations, set to take over the BBC. Produced by BBC Cymru Wales for BBC One, the 50th anniversary will be written by Steven Moffat and Directed by Nick Hurran.
"Filming for the 50th anniversary starts this week. Meanwhile a brand new series starts on BBC ONE today (30 March) at 6:15pm for a run of eight epic episodes, which officially introduces the Doctor’s newest companion, Clara Oswald, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman."

-The BBC's Doctor Who Blog

Saturday 30 March 2013, 13:43 GMT

David Tennant and Billie Piper to Return for 50th Anniversary Special

Today is shaping up to be just like Christmas--well, without the alien invasion.

Not only will we get the premeir of Doctor Who in a few short hours, but we have also been told some fantastic news about the 50th anniversary special, which begins filming on Monday: David Tennant and Billie Piper will be returning!

This is from BBC News. Original article here.

"David Tennant and Billie Piper will appear in the 50th anniversary special of Doctor Who, the BBC has confirmed.
"Tennant was the 10th Doctor and Piper played his on-screen companion Rose Tyler in the BBC One show.
"Filming on the show, which will also star John Hurt, will start next week.
"Tennant's successor, Matt Smith - also in the special with his new assistant played by Jenna-Louise Coleman - says fans 'will not be disappointed' by the 3D show, due to air on 23 November.
"Tennant and Piper have long been rumoured to be making a return for the special, which is being written by the show's executive producer and lead writer Steven Moffat.
"In January, Piper, appearing on the Graham Norton show, denied she would be appearing.
'I wasn't asked, no,' she said.
"'I think Matt Smith may have said, in passing or in jest, it would be nice.'
Smith has said the show 'manages to pay homage to everything - and look forward'.
"'I read it and I clapped at the end. I think it's hilarious, it's epic and it's vast,' he said.
"Moffat, meanwhile, has said he took special care to protect the secrets of the story.
"'One length I've gone to which is a really good security measure - I make sure I don't get a script, because I will lose it,' he said.
"'I forbid people to hand me one. It's on my computer under lock and key.'
"The first story of Doctor Who's 2013 run, The Bells of Saint John - described by Moffat as a 'proper London thriller' - will be screened later.
"Viewers will see the Doctor and new companion, Clara, played by Coleman, battling an evil entity in the world's wi-fi networks.
"Future episodes of the show, which is filmed in Cardiff, see the return of the Cybermen and old enemy the Ice Warriors, who last appeared during the Jon Pertwee era in 1974.
"Tennant starred in Doctor Who from 2005 to 2010 while Piper first appeared in 2005 opposite Christopher Eccleston, who played the ninth Doctor.
"She left the show in 2006 but returned for a number of episodes in 2008 as well as for Tennant's final episode, broadcast on 1 January 2010.
"The first episode of Doctor Who, An Unearthly Child, starring William Hartnell as the Timelord, was broadcast on 23 November 1963.
"As part of the anniversary events, the BBC will also broadcast An Adventure in Space and Time - a one-off drama looking at how the sci-fi show came to be made."

-BBC Entertainment and Arts News, 30/03/2013, 9:59 ET  

Matt Smith Regeneration Update

In a post from 26 March 13, SciFiBulletin reports that Matt Smith will stay as the Doctor in to the 2014 season, according to an interview in the upcoming edition (30 March-5 April) of "Radio Times."

"Doctor Who star Matt Smith has confirmed categorically that he is committed to Doctor Who for the next year – taking him through the recording of series eight – and that he is taking the show on a year by year basis.
"There have been rumours that the 50th anniversary special would conclude with the Doctor regenerating, but this would seem to put a stop to those.
"The Radio Times includes a wraparound cover featuring the various monsters to be featured in the eight episodes about to be aired, and confirms the titles of all bar the finale: The Bells of Saint John; The Rings of Akhaten; Cold War; Hide; Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS; The Crimson Horror; and Nightmare in Silver. Moffat’s finale, featuring the return of River Song, will be revealed later, with the head writer explaining, 'You’re about to learn something about the Doctor that you never knew before. And I think you’re in for a shock…'”

Matt Smith: Christmas Regeneration?

As you may have seen yesterday, there are regeneration rumours surrpunding the 2013 Christmas special. The rumour is that Matt wants to leave the TARDIS in exchange for a career in Hollywood.
This is the only article I found that makes an attempt at debunking it:

"The last time showrunner Steven Moffat was asked how long incumbent Doctor Matt Smith would remain in the role, he snapped back with a cheerily brisk 'Forever. For the rest of time'. There's the slightest chance you know, that he wasn't telling the truth... 

"Of course he wasn't. If there's one thing more certain than death, taxes, and repetition of the phrase "Doctor Who?" in the new episodes, it's that Matt Smith won't be the Doctor forever. The Sun, amongst others, is keen for us to think that his departure will come sooner rather than later, namely, after the 2013 Christmas special. The newspaper ran a story suggesting that 'Insiders say the festive special will be Matt's last outing as The Doctor', citing Smith's ambition to break into Hollywood as his reason for bowing out after a four year stint. 

"The BBC was quick to respond to the story, and had this to say: 

"'Sorry folks but even we don’t know what’s going to happen at Christmas. It’s not been written yet! But Matt loves the show and is to start filming the unmissable 50th anniversary, and the new series starting on Easter Saturday.'

 "It's not exactly a denial, and neither was Smith's answer to the question posed by Jonathan Ross last week, 'I am very happy doing it. I do the anniversary special, then the Christmas special. At the moment it’s 2013 and we will see what 2014 holds.'”

-Den of Geek, "Doctor Who: BBC Responds to Matt Smith Quitting Rumours"

So there it is. Any allegations about Matt Smith regenerating for the Christmas special are not fact...yet.

While I was searching for that, I did come upon some very interesting "contreversy" over regeneration.
Some are saying that the Doctor's lack of gingerness is condoning anti-gingerism. The Telegraph
When Eleven does regenerate to twelve, will it be a woman? For my own aspirations of playing the Doctor, I hope so...The Huffington Post
Helen Mirren has her eyes on the role. The Huffington Post. 
And for all you worrying that he's run out of regenerations, here's reassurance for you, too. It's even a "fact"now.


What do I think of all of this?

The Impending Regeneration

Good. I'm really not a fan of the Matt Smith interpretation. He's...well, I'm going to be critical here, but before you say I don't know what I'm talking about, I do: I'm an actor, so I know that he can do better.
I do have to hand it to him that David Tennant's performance is a tough act to follow. Tennant, in general, is a phenominal actor. I first saw him in the televised version of RSC's "Hamlet" and loved it. That's a big reason of why I started watching Doctor Who. When you've seen an actor before, there's always a risk of it being that character playing the character. I didn't see Hamlet playing the Doctor. (I watched Casanova, which was done before Tennant started as the Doctor after I watched all of the Tenth Doctor, so I can't say that I saw Casanova playing either.) Of course, David has his trademarks that almost all his characters use--ie, "Welllll....," "Oh yes!," his eyebrows, but all those characters use those attributes differently.

In doing the Doctor so well, David also made it a really easy role to take over. We see so much emotion in Tennat's Doctor, and that lets us in to his personality. What we see him go through are emotions we all go through, but never talk about. I think that that's one of the best things about the Tenth Doctor. It may be that yes, I do have high expectations from any actor playing the role, and it is true that every Doctor is different from the last, but they still have traits from their previous regenerations:

"You know, I loved being you. Back when I first started, at the very beginning, I was always trying to be old and grumpy and important—like you do, when you're young. And then I was you, and it was all dashing about and playing cricket and my voice going all squeaky when I shouted. I still do that, the voice thing, I got that from you. Oh, and the trainers. And... [putting his glasses on] snap! 'Cos you know what, Doctor? You were my Doctor."

 -The Tenth Doctor to the Fifth Doctor, Time Crash

Anti-Gingerism

When the doctor eats beans and pears. It's quite simple: Amy is ginger and if the show had an anti-ginger agenda, then they wouldn't make someone as pivitoal as the Fantastic Amy Pond ginger.

Regenerating as a Female 

and Helen Mirren as the Doctor

Also good. As I mentioned, I really want to play the role. There were some pretty solid hints that Twelve will be female. In The Eleventh Hour, one of the first post-regeneration new-body panics in that he's now a woman. Then, in The Doctor's Wife, he mentions the Time Lord Corsair and his regenerations. He says: "He had that snake as a tattoo in every regeneration. Didn't feel like himself unless he had the tattoo. Or herself, a couple of times. Ooo, she was a bad girl." 

I did edit this photo. This is the original.

There are a couple of things that could prevent it, not "scientiffically," just from a buisness end. Since David played the role, we have the expectation for the Doctor to be a super-sexy man. While I do know females who are super-sexy men, Helen Mirren is not one of them--in fact, she is, sorry Helen, a bit on the older side, currently at age 67, and is a July baby so sould by 68 by the time she'd get the role. At 1200, the doctor is older than ever, but Helen would be the oldest actor at the start of her portrayl of the lonely god by thirteen years (William Hartnell, the First Doctor was 55 when he took on the role in 1963), which would be somewhat ironic as Matt Smith, who started as the Doctor at age 27, is the youngest actor to be the doctor by two years (Peter Davison was 29, and the third youngest was Tennant at 34). Then there is the fact that the Doctor being female would complicate the River Song-Doctor thing. I've got nothing against homosexuality--I'm a big suppourter of the LGBT movement--but I just don't see River as being a lesbian. Of course, the Doctor has now known River for three hundred years of his life, and we might just see River meet the Doctor for the first time before the eleven-twelve regeneration.

All and all, I've no problem with the Doctor being female, I just don't know how good it would be for the longterm continuing of the show...

Running Out of Regenerations

Again, we must remember that Doctor Who is a television show (yes, I know there are novels and comics and all sorts of other media of it, but mainly, it is a show) and show buisness is just that: buisness. Like the Doctor becoming female, it all depends on if the show is turning a profit or not. As long as it is, they'll throw continuity out the TARIS doors and into an event horison and/or find a reason why the Doctor earned extra regenerations.

In Conclusion...

There's a reason you're reading this blog: you like (or at leart are remotely interested) in Doctor Who. It's the longest running televison show on the planet, and thats because its fantastic. And I think it's gonna keep being fantastic for a long, long time.