Category: TV Author : Duncan Riley Posted: January 3, 2009
Tags : dr who, matt smith actor, matt smith dr who, new dr who, the doctor
26 year old British actor Matt Smith has been named as the 11th Doctor in the BBC series Doctor Who.
Smith takes over from David Tennant, and becomes the youngest Doctor in the history of the series.
A relative new comer to television, Smith made his first appearance in 2006 in The Ruby in the Smoke, a series that started previous Dr Who actress Billie Piper. He appeared in the 2007 BBC political drama Party Animals.
Piers Wenger, head of drama at BBC Wales, said Smith was the obvious choice: “It was abundantly clear that he had that ‘Doctor-ness’ about him,” he said. “You are either the Doctor or you are not.”
Smith will first appear on screen as the Doctor in 2010 and will start filming for the show in the Northern Summer. Tennant will continue to appear as the Doctor in four specials, three in 2009 and one in early 2010.
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Jan 5, 2009
What a horrible choice.
I usually resist prejudging but there's a lot of factors preventing me from seeing how Smith could possible do the role justice. He's far too young. He actually looks older than 26 in still photography (due to his strange face) but in interviews and acting roles he comes across as a teenager. He's sooo green, and that's something you can't hide. I don't agree with people who say he's got an old soul, or a look or knowledge and experience in his eyes, I didn't get that from him at all. I don't think there's any chance he'll be able to convey the Doctor's presence, wisdom, otherworldliness, experience or authority. That final look he gave at the end of Confidential – what was that even meant to be? Mysterious? Creepy? Manic? Smug? Whatever it was it fell flat and, to me, prompted the same reaction as a bad xmas cracker joke – half-laugh, half-groan. Embarrassingly unconvincing.
He comes across as a bit of a middle-class yob, posing as an emo. I think it was quite telling that one of the things Moffet liked about him was his hair. I used to respect that guy for his intelligent writing but in Saturdays Confidential he came across as an idiot. As for Smith's appearance, his hair contributes so much and that could've been replicated with anyone if the producers are actually crazy enough to want a look like that. Under the hair he just looks like a bit of a lumpy-faced neanderthal, like the former footballer he is.
I can't think of a single thing I like about him, or a single reason they might've cast him except to appeal to the Twilight/Demons audience (who will see right through him)or a single way they could make him an interesting doctor. If they try to play on his strange appearance by making him all alien and 'dark' it's going to really stretch his acting ability and the further they push it the more he'll overact and come across as false. Same goes for if they try to make him seem like an old man in a young man's body. If they play to type he's just going to be an annoying yuppy, probably running around snogging every girl in range.
And what about in-story considerations? How is a teenage doctor going to command respect? I know he's not a teenager – he's 26 same as me but I can't even see him as an equal, he seems far less mature than I am, with much less life experience. And what about companions – older won't work and neither will younger. I'm worried they may have cast him on impulse or under pressure from forces higher up in the BBC, and overlooked a lot of inevitable problems.
Don't get me wrong – I accept that they might be able to make him popular, to make him into a popular doctor – just because he doesn't appeal to me, doesn't mean no-one will like him. This si all my opinion – the shows over for me but that's just me and I don't expect everyone to agree. I also realise that this is primarily a kids show and if the kids like him that's the main thing.
But I do have concerns for the show in general because from reports I've heard so far kids don't like him. He's not going to appeal to adults either. There's going to be a very narrow demographic of people who're going to find Who NVQ appealing. Surely the casting people realise this. Why cast someone who's going to encourage so much doubt rather than some one people will have confidence in and be pleased to see in the role? Doesn't have to someone truly famous just someone with a proven track record. Paterson Joseph was seemingly used to distract attention from their true casting – a crass tactic and woefully misjudged considering the politics involved and how great a choice Paterson Joseph would have been. Smith is a horrible disappointment in comparison.In his extended interviews he's admitted that he had trouble learning all the scenes for his audition and is daunted by the thought of filming taking over his life, and that he's hoping for advice from David Tennant. No, no, no – if he can't figure things out for himself he's not ready for the part. I don't want to watch some kid playing at being the Doctor and I don't think he will even cope with the pace of filming on this show.
That's it from me, rant over. I've been a Who fan since I was 6, I've seen every surviving episode, but it's dead to me when Tennant leaves.
Jan 9, 2009
No, it's not an opinion when you write reams about how you despise someone you've never met and know nothing about. It's called bigotry. Blimey, he might be crap or he might be fantastic – how the hell do you know? Do you have some crystal balls you whip out that make you so sure of yourself? Jeez, but your comment is unpleasant. And I bet you'll be tuning in with the rest of us come 2010 – “it's dead to me when Tennant leaves” – well, in that case you're not a Who fan, you're a Tennant fan, but I rather think you're just being a flouncy drama queen and need to grow up a tad. Give it a try.
Feb 7, 2009
Hey, excuse me, I know I wrote a lot and it was rather negative, but my comment contained a hell of a lot less vitriol than yours. Bigotry? I have no reason to be prejudiced against Matt Smith. David tennant fan? Not really, there's been better doctors, but he's ok. Flouncy drma queen who needs to grow up? No, someone who spent the time and effort to explain his opinion rationally instead of just making an attack. Yeah, I was pissed off, so what? no need for a fucking personal attack, unless you're so pathetic you feel the need to randomly insult strangers on the internet to get your jollies. I bet you used to stand out in the street and hurl insults at passers-by when you were a teenager.
Feb 10, 2009
I should try to be as clear as possible – I don't want to seem vindictive or spiteful, or to offend Matt Smith if he reads this. I don't 'despise' him, (though I obviously hate the idea of him being the Doctor) and he's not someone I 'know nothing about'. I've seen him in other shows. He wasn't terrible but he failed to impress. I have nothing against him as a person, I don't know him, I'm sure he's a great guy. As for his acting, I don't think it's bad, though it has its weak moments. That's to be expected from a fairly inexperienced actor, I just think an actor has to have something special to be a good Doctor. My comments on his looks were not meant as straight-out insult, just as an explanation of why he hasn't got the right look for the Doctor. Likewise, when I say there's nothing I like about him, I mean as the Doctor.
And when I say it's just my opinion, I mean it. I don't expect other people to agree with me. Just because Matt's not the right choice as far as I'm concerned doesn't mean he'll actually be bad – its subjective. And I'm hoping (though not expecting) to be won over.
Hopefully that will pre-empt any other internet Trolls like Andy, who either think I dont have the right to dislike a casting decision,or see an opportunity to throw their weight around in the safety of cyberspace.
Jun 17, 2009
Well, i can admit he does not look as good as Tennent. Allbeing that Tennant is tghe perfect Dr,:Funny, sophisticated, Intelligent. He just brings so much to the Dr we have come to know and love. However i have never seen him act before so he might be brilliant. However i think Tennants set the bar too high for any inexperienced actor to reach.