I have a prediction. Okay, so it’s not really a prediction as much as it is a pipe-dream. The folks behind the new Doctor Who catch wind of the reaction to his new ‘look’ and decide on a wardrobe makeover. I know, I know, some of you like it (fools), but to me it just doesn’t jive with the youthful new image I was expecting from Doctor Who. Oh, to heck with being diplomatic about it - he looks silly! Suspenders? Really?
When it was first announced that a younger dude would be playing Doctor Who, I braced for the kvetching about how our “Youth Obsessed Culture” was ruining everything, and it came. In fact, it came close to home. My wife, who is no old fuddy-duddy, was outraged at the idea of some twenty-something taking the sonic screwdriver duties. I understand the anxiety, David Tennant was one of the best Doctors ever - I think anybody who follows in his footsteps is going to have a tough time, at first. But the fluxing-facade of the Doctor is a tradition of the show, and part of what makes it what it is - an uber franchise that has weathered massive shifts in the sci-fi temperament as well - if not better - than anything out there. Now, back to these clothes.
A silly outfit is hardly going to break it for me. I’m sure Tom Baker’s getup was down-right goofy at the time, but that collection of enormous scarves went on to symbolize the franchise. Every doctor was an extreme of style in one way or another, save for Christopher Eccleston’s conservative black leather look. Flamboyant I can live with, but our young Matt Smith has been adorned in the threads of the patently boring.
Who knows, maybe I’ll come to love this new Doctor Who get-up. I doubt it, but anything’s possible. I think part of what has me in a tizzy over this is the fact that I actually liked the look they foreshadowed for him initially. I was mildly intrigued by the first photo of Smith outside of the Tardis - the one that featured a somewhat monochromatic ensemble of jeans, ribbed casual pull over, and unbuttoned sport coat. It was drab, but it was different.
I suppose how the Doctor is dressed is not as much of a concern as how the character arcs will hold up without the genius Russell T. Davies behind the wheel. In that regard, I’m not so concerned - the Doctor always pushes the boundaries of SciFi, no matter what he’s wearing. (Onset images from WhoisMattSmith.com).
WORLD RIGHTS The new Dr. Who Matt Smith and his new companion Karen Gillan who is playing Amy Pond in costume as they film scenes on the new Doctor Who set with Alex Kingston on location in Wales. UK 20/07/2009 PLEASE BYLINE: PAUL CHESTERTON/NICK BANKS/BIGPICTURESPHOTO.COM: 001/PC 001/NB USAGE OF THIS IMAGE OR COPY WRITTEN THAT IS BASED ON THE CAPTION, IS CONDITIONAL UPON THE ACCEPTANCE OF BIG PICTURES'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AVAILABLE AT WWW.BIGPICTURESPHOTO.COM *** Local Caption ***
Agreed!nbsp; Way too foxy for the grandpa getup.
Agreed!nbsp; Way too foxy for the grandpa getup.
But the Doctor ISN'T young. Tennant gave his age as somewhere in the 900's several times — and in last season's two-part Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, Professor River Song repeatedly stated that the Tenth Doctor seemed much younger than the Doctor she knew, a confident leader of armies who would open the Tardis with a snap of his fingers.
I think #11 is going to be a study in contrasts — an old mind in a young body.
…but yeah, he still looks silly. Frankly almost all of them do — 9 and 10 were exceptions.
Costume changes have happened before; #4 had one near the end of his run, and the packaging for the Sixth Doctor radio serials has given him a much less absurd outfit than the one he wore on TV.
You're probably right! I have to admit my ranting is totally tongue in cheek. I really think with Doctor Who it is NOT the clothes that make the man, it's the stories. If Smith can act, and the stories are great, we won't care what he is wearing for threads.
But the Doctor ISN’T young. Tennant gave his age as somewhere in the 900′s several times — and in last season’s two-part Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, Professor River Song repeatedly stated that the Tenth Doctor seemed much younger than the Doctor she knew, a confident leader of armies who would open the Tardis with a snap of his fingers.
I think #11 is going to be a study in contrasts — an old mind in a young body.
…but yeah, he still looks silly. Frankly almost all of them do — 9 and 10 were exceptions.
Costume changes have happened before; #4 had one near the end of his run, and the packaging for the Sixth Doctor radio serials has given him a much less absurd outfit than the one he wore on TV.
You’re probably right! I have to admit my ranting is totally tongue in cheek. I really think with Doctor Who it is NOT the clothes that make the man, it’s the stories. If Smith can act, and the stories are great, we won’t care what he is wearing for threads.
Sorry but this guy is WAY TOO YOUNG to ever be taken seriously as the Doctor. nbsp;And the outfit is not helping. nbsp;He looks ridiculous!
Sorry but this guy is WAY TOO YOUNG to ever be taken seriously as the Doctor. nbsp;And the outfit is not helping. nbsp;He looks ridiculous!
O.K. – Everyone has a right to their opinion, but come on people… he is SUPPOSED to be an alien, not some flippin' romeo (see: Tennent) Too young? Yup, I totally agree, but we'll see. I think he's dressed like Pat Troughtons Doctor mixed with a dark-haired Peter Davison. Unlike Mr. Lanchonis I haven't been sold on the "new" Who series. Special effects and catering to the latest fashion doen't sell me. Solid scripts and great acting does. Sure we have to move with the times to keep those ratings jumping, but in my opinion, we've gotten away from the original premise of what sold this show across the age gap regardless of who the Doctor was (no pun intended). I make no apologises when I say I wan't the mystery of the time lord back, and a companion that is the Doctor's best friend, not a love interest (see: Tom Baker/Elisabath Sladen).
O.K. – Everyone has a right to their opinion, but come on people… he is SUPPOSED to be an alien, not some flippin’ romeo (see: Tennent) Too young? Yup, I totally agree, but we’ll see. I think he’s dressed like Pat Troughtons Doctor mixed with a dark-haired Peter Davison. Unlike Mr. Lanchonis I haven’t been sold on the “new” Who series. Special effects and catering to the latest fashion doen’t sell me. Solid scripts and great acting does. Sure we have to move with the times to keep those ratings jumping, but in my opinion, we’ve gotten away from the original premise of what sold this show across the age gap regardless of who the Doctor was (no pun intended). I make no apologises when I say I wan’t the mystery of the time lord back, and a companion that is the Doctor’s best friend, not a love interest (see: Tom Baker/Elisabath Sladen).
Donna Noble was a good friend to the Doctor and not a romantic interest.nbsp; She had no qualms about smacking the Doctor upside the head when he needed it and liked to keep him grounded.
Donna Noble was a good friend to the Doctor and not a romantic interest.nbsp; She had no qualms about smacking the Doctor upside the head when he needed it and liked to keep him grounded.