Capaldi, Capaldi, & more Capaldi

[johnnystorm]

What can I say about tonight's episode? It had all the elements of a show I should have loved: vintage setting, interesting monster, suspense... And yet I wasn't thrilled.
Without all the soap opera drama with Clara, we might have been looking at a decent attempt to replicate something from Pyramids of Mars. The "last hurrah" nonsense was very distracting to me.
And boy, I really had trouble understanding the dialogue tonight, I actually had to rewind
a few times to get what I was missing. The music was very loud too tonight.
Good points: the Doctor having jelly babies in his cigarette case, the look of the mummy, the joke with the psychic paper ( I personally have been a mystery shopper!). And the Doctor is now asking people to be a companion. Will he be putting an ad in the personal columns next ( SWTL seeks attractive non-smoker for traveling companion M or F . Must be in good shape and enjoy running).

[Mikey]

This weeks was meh

The Orient Express idea kinda ripped of the Titanic in space.

[aquaboy]

In the early Doctor who series running up a hill was action , I was speaking of the 2009 series onward. I believe it is difficult for the current audience to see all of the doctors since 2009 to be quite younger looking to then jump to a much older appearing Doctor. Most of the polls have fans hating on the new Doctor by about 700 votes. So it obvious many others feel the same way. To each their own , if you enjoy ...enjoy ! I for one as a lonnng time Doctor Who fan used count the seconds till the next episode. Now , if I watch it weeks later makes no difference. Something is simply not right , whether it be the acting , over acting , writing , or the new Doctor it should be fixed ASAP!

[Bruce Banner]

Decent episode tonight. Better than the previous few. All the better for no annoying kids and minimal screen time for Clara's relationship nonsense.

[samurainoir]

So... this is essentially the "first" doctor of a new regeneration cycle. Anyone else seeing parallels here?

Old Curmudgeon, two school teachers and a schoolgirl. Sound familiar?

I think they are creating a dynamic that plays off of the original.

(and Courtney has now participated in two adventures, and travelled in the TARDIS twice... makes her a companion in my book)

[mhackley]

That is inconsistent with Jon Pertwee's 3rd Doctor (1970-1974). He was one of the oldest, being in his fifties when taking over the role, and being to this day the most action oriented.

[aquaboy]

Wow , I feel the opposite do not care for the new doctor , the stories or the connection between Clara. Back in the 1960s most of the sci fi shows had actors sitting round "talking " with little action. The last few Doctors have been younger , and believable doing action scenes. When I first saw this doctor , I thought crap he is going to fall off the ladder and break a hip!
He seems to have a scowl most of the time. I'm so used to a younger actor , it is hard to go back and look at an older man playing the role. I don't know , I'm just thinking out loud , I prefer a different actor , maybe it isn't the age but just him??
I like clara but there is no chemistry , I would rather her boyfriend be the new Doctor.

[johnnystorm]

I think it would benefit Capaldi immensely to lose Clara and get a completely different companion, creating a wholly new dynamic.
Matt Smith had that advantage, ditching Donna and starting anew with Amy Pond.
Perhaps it is time for again for an alien born companion along the lines of Nyssa, Adric, or Leela. A trip around the cosmos instead of Coal Hill School every other week. Otherwise what's the point of the Tardis?

[Bruce Banner]

I'm loving Capaldi's abrasive, terse and somewhat distant Doctor. I agree, he's definitely channelling some of the characterization of certain previous vintage Doctors, which is a great nod to the show's classic years.
If only Capaldi can now get a few more really good solid stories, and ditch some of the annoying supporting characters this season.

[mhackley]

In KILL THE MOON he was the only one I could understand actually.


...Same thing goes for the previous episode THE CARETAKER . I couldn't understand half the things that little girl said and Clara develops a nasal sounding cockney accent when she gets flustered apparently.

[Gorn Captain]

Seems the same to me - I still can't understand half the things he say's.

I feel that he's speaking somewhat slower and more pronounced.

[Mikey]

Btw, am I imagining it, but is Capaldi's speech and accent different now?

Seems the same to me - I still can't understand half the things he say's.

[Gorn Captain]

I do agree that they shouldn't make Capaldi too "distant", that is why I'm not liking the way they want Clara to exit, with a kind of artificially created argument between the two. It feels too forced.

Btw, am I imagining it, but is Capaldi's speech and accent different now?

[mhackley]

Couldn't agree with you more!

And I don't find the 12th Doctor to be cold at all. He is just oblivious to the over emotional reactions of humanity. (Just as I am oblivious to the over emotional reactions of the RTD and Matt Smith era fans.) If anything, the all-too-human characteristics of the previous two Doctors is the true abnormality here. Capaldi is playing the character as a true alien and not as a loveable imitation of one.

[palitoy]

Story was a little meh but the idea of the Doctor turning his back was interesting and I guess the whole point.

I was in the camp of Clara overreacting too, all too often, the Doctor is accused of playing God too much (the RTD years especially), here he is allowing humans to make their own choices. That reminded me of the classic series.

It's a weird aside but I'm pleased to see the Doctor change his shirt every episode, his outfit feels less like a uniform that way.