I know that just from looking at the title of this article, some of you have your pitchforks out and are ready to set fire to my home. David Tennant received such love during his time as the Doctor (from myself included) that I'm sure plenty of people balk at the very idea that there could be a better Doctor. That's certainly a valid point -- Tennant was very, very good -- but I know for a fact that Matt Smith is a better Doctor because I don't miss Tennant anymore.
Sure, I missed him after "The End of Time." Who wouldn't have, after seeing Tennant's impassioned whisper of "I don't want to go" right before the regeneration kicked in? I, like most others, was a little put off by who he turned into: a young, silly man who questioned his own gender before kissing his legs and shouting "Geronimo!" That was partially because the introduction of Smith really broke the emotional crescendo set by Tennant's goodbye, and maybe we were all a little subconsciously angry with him for that.
But when the Doctor burst through the image of Tennant's face in the climax of "The Eleventh Hour," I knew it was all over. Tennant was my first Doctor, but Smith was my best. His performance was much lighter than Tennant, with the ability to go just as dark. "Hello, I'm the Doctor," he warned the Atraxi in the series five premiere. "Basically... run."
Smith's brilliant acting made him the star of every episode, not unlike Tennant. In fact, there are many similarities between Tennant and Smith. It all comes down to range of emotion, and Smith simply has more than Tennant, especially on the lighter side of things. Tennant can play angry like nobody's business, and he can play sad as well. Smith, while well-versed on all ranges of emotions, really excels in the happiness department. Perhaps that's because he's rid himself of all the guilt left over from the Time War. While Tennant (like Christopher Eccleston before him) spent a lot of his episodes reflecting on the horrible Time War that killed his species, Smith's Doctor simply dismissed the Time War as "It was a bad day. A lot of bad stuff happened." And like that, the Doctor's guilt seems to be no longer a burden to the Doctor, or to the viewer (it was getting rather tiresome). Instead, while the Doctor still copes with the loneliness of being the last of his species, he has a little more room for happiness and love. Who can deny that, after watching the last few scenes of "Vincent and the Doctor," or "The Lodger?"
Finally, part of what makes Smith great is the comedy induced by his culture shock. While most of Tennant's comedy drew from his rambling on about science and "wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey, stuff," Smith plays the Doctor as simply a fish out of water -- more alien than ever. His impulsive nature only makes this nature more apparent -- after stealing a tweed suit with a bow tie, Smith proclaims that "bow ties are cool," and later swaps compliments with a museum curator about each others' bow ties. He similarly adopts a fez in "The Big Bang," declaring that "fezzes are cool," but this idea was literally shot down by River Song. The Doctor's football match in "The Lodger" was equally hilarious, because he insisted upon kissing the cheeks of everyone he met (though he did turn out to be quite talented at football).
And that comedy is equally balanced by the darkness. Smith portrays the Doctor's age perhaps more well than Tennant because he is younger -- his acting reflects the same amount of world-weariness as previous incarnations, though his youth really accentuates that emotion and makes it even more prevalent. Take "The Beast Below," for example, when he is faced with the choice to lobotomize a star whale or to kill an entire spaceship full of humans. "And then, I... I find a new name, because I won't be the Doctor anymore," he says.
It all comes down to acting and range, really, and Smith simply brings more to the table than Tennant did. While Tennant is the most popular Doctor to date (and probably still has a lot of vehement fans who object to this article), I think that giving Smith a couple of years in the TARDIS will lead others to really appreciate him as one of the best -- if not the best -- Doctors yet.
I'd say that Matt is different that David not better. Matt's story lines are not as mature as Davids. That's not a bad thing. Just different.
I think it’s all down to the script, in my opinion David tenant had better story lines than the ones Matt smith has and the ones he does have seem to over complicate them selves some what ! ?
Well I'm not going to argue who makes a "better Doctor" because that can only be a matter of opinion. "I know for a fact that Matt Smith is a better Doctor…" should probably be followed by "for me" if that is your opinion. It may not be the case for everyone. That having been said, I like Matt Smith. Though I will be honest and say that I don't agree that he has more emotional range. I think Tennant showed plenty of range and in fact that was one of the things that impressed me the most about his Doctor. To be fair, I also thought the writers deserved a lot of the credit for achieving that balance between dark and light, serious and amusing. And that is what I've been most disappointed in with the current season. I think with better writing, and a better sense of flow between the two, Matt Smith could really shine, even more than we've seen to date. But this need to compare incarnations and rate them bothers me a litte because it seems like in order to praise one actor it requires you to criticize another. Can't I just say that Tennant is my favorite Doctor of the new series but I also love Eccelston and have high hopes for Matt Smith from what I've seen so far? And as for not missing one actor once another takes over, that's the goal of the show of course and a sign that the people running things are doing a good job. When Tom Baker left, I took to Peter Davison right away but Baker will always be my favorite 'original series' Doctor. I wouldn't say that he was better though, just my personal favorite. So no worries – no pitchforks here – but I'm still a little disappointed by the title to your piece.
I'm going to flat out agree with you Sam. I've been watching Dr. Who since the beginning, yes, the very beginning. I've seen every episode that exists from day one. Until now Tom Baker was my favorite. Tenant was good, but he was never the best in my view. His acting range is good but he also over-acts a shocker sometimes. Smith however can convince you of anything and everything whenever it suits, seemingly on the drop of a dime. Matt Smith is definitely my favorite Dr. ever and the new series has gone down in my mind as the best series yet. It's certainly the only one that was clearly thought through from beginning to end in all its detail. 10/10 for Moffat, the new Dr., the series in totality, and the actors who play Rory and Amy. All in all Dr. Who is now my favorite sci-fi show, and that's a big call after it fell off my radar all those years ago when Colin Baker came on the scene. Three cheers for Matt Smith.
I agree with you that i no longer miss david as the doctor but from reading other posts i also agree that they play rather different roles. I would say they are both good but for now i see david as a better dr.
Matt Smith never forgets he is acting a part. Sadly, neither can I. David Tennant's subtlety was that he managed to get across the idea that The Doctor himself was acting out the manic bravado we saw and of course the many believeable changes of emotion. This takes great skill. Something the young, less experienced actor, finds so difficult. There are too many Troughton images and unsubtle emotions of just three…..sad, happy, angry.
I don't really get how you can Smith is generally happier. Tennant's Doctor took joy in such little things. After witnessing so many people sacrifice themselves on Voyage of the Damned, he still broke into a giant grin all because he finally got to say "Alonsy, Alonso!" I love them both, but if anything I would have said Smith plays a far moodier Doctor. I love them both though.
They are different – partly because of the different actors, partly because of the different writers. As you say in your review of Dr Who series finale, Steven Moffatt brings something quite new to the Dr Who universe, and that is not a bad thing. For me, David Tennant was the best Doctor – at the time. As much as I missed Tennant (he'd made the Doctor an interesting character again, rather than a caricature) and was prepared to dislike Matt Smith, I can't do that. Another reviewer said there are too many homage to previous Doctors – but that's what I like. This Doctor is the product of all the others, and to make him too different (for instance to make him female) would destroy that. What all this rambling comes down to is this – you'll either agree or disagree with the topic of this article. At the moment I'm still on the fence, but I do say Matt Smith is brilliant, far more so than I ever anticipated. And I hope his reign goes on for a very long time …
*looks at pitchfork * Howd you know?
Have you even been watching the same show? Nobody has a range like Tennant, his joyful Doctor was ever present, along with his ability to perform with gut wrenching heartbreak. I personally find MS's Doc completely dismissing the Time War etc, unrealistic. No, he doesn't have to be guilt-ridden, but the level of detachment separates him far too much from the Doctor. I also have to say that I am tired of people complimenting MS by insulting DT. Good for you if you love MS, but why cheapen what you have to say by denigrating Tennant at the same time? Even if his Doctor was not to your taste (although many people seem to have short term memory loss, as they seemed to think he was the 'best ever' before MS), you should surely have more respect for the man, his love for the show, his tireless enthusiasm, hard work and devotion? Seriously, just grow up. I'm tired of people taking a dig at him to substantiate their 'devotion' to the new Doctor. It's pathetic.
There is a HUGE difference between insulting something and critically analysing something, this is however, the later. You're clearly just an obsessed Tennant fan girl, NOT a Doctor Who fan, this is called criticism, not insulting, you're just too much of a fan girl and are blinded by love of him that you take anyone saying anything about him that isn't good or complimentary as hate. Real fans of the show are loyal to the show and enjoy the character of the Doctor, regardless to incarnation and who plays him. These people in which you speak of have they've changed they're opinion based on new circumstances and have moved on because they are TRUE fans, and aren't drooling, idiotic fans of an actor who have literally NO idea how the show actually works, you shouldn't be mad at them for it, if anything it proves they have an open mind to accept new things and to widen the pallet of talent in an actor playing the Doctor.
God, I cannot believe how many idiots there are on here commenting on how this article is wrong, it's his opinion and he's ALLOWED to have it just as you are allowed to spew your Tennant overrating bile, as far as I'm concerned, regardless to whether you think he's better then Tennant or not, NO ONE should hate him and claim to be a fan of the show, I'm sorry, but I haven't encountered a SINGLE person who has a decent and reasonable reason to hate him, everyone who does, uses the 'too *insert rubbish here* excuse (which makes no sense, seeing as he's playing it his way and not in a way that suits you), or makes a comparison to Tennant's characteristics as if he's how the Doctor should be, and starts talking about how Matt lacks it, when in actual fact, he isn't how the Doctor should be because HE ISN'T THE ORIGINAL, I completely agree with this article, you can't have dark without the light, having Matt's Doctor a lot more happier, care free, and fun only highlights the more emotional moments when they come, as it makes them more effective when they happen, plus the Doctor is supposed to be an alien in character, lessening the emotional angst of the character unhumanises him, that's a good thing because the Doctor ISN'T human, and shouldn't be and angst filled and depressed character, Matt's playing the part how it should be, not how Tennant played it, or how certain individuals who have NO understanding of the character think it should be.
P.S. If this article was the other way round, I bet there would be little to no objections or people insulting him based on his opinion. Which makes the these Tennant fans, all the more hypocritical, when they use their opinions as an excuse to hate Matt.
no disrespect intended, but who the hell cares who is better? It's ridiculous the never-ending comparisons we make between two different people playing their version of the character. There are so many underlying reasons why doctors are popular and not popular. Namely the plot lines, script, chemistry with companion and the audience. Not to mention the fact that every single viewer will have a different perception of the show. Therefore there is no possible way you can ever determine who is the better doctor.So (and this goes for any one who decides they'll pick favourites) would you please stop being so judgemental and opinionated and watch Doctor Who like a good little Whovian?
You have got to be kidding me. David Tennant is a much better doctor than Matt Smith. No disrespect to Matt but I get so bored watching this current series of Dr Who with Matt as the doctor that I have literally changed channels. I watch each episode in the hopes that the programme will grip my attention but his doctor and the change in format of the programme does nothing to attract my attention. I'm sorry but Matt Smith DOES NOT measure up to any where near David Tennant's performances. It was an extremely sad day when David Tennant quit.
Just to add a further comment to my last posting. Chris Eccelstone, I thought, was a better doctor than Matt.
I'm genuinely happy for you that you like Matt so much. I wish I did.Matt seems fine, but he certainly doesn't hold a candle to David in the acting department. We'll see how many offers Matt gets to play Hamlet for the RSC in the near future. He just doesn't have the range — or the scripts haven't allowed him to show the range, I'm not sure which. I really am sick and tired of people who feel that they have to cut down a former Doctor in an effort to say that they like the new guy. Can't you just like them both? Can't you leave the former Doctors alone and/or at the very least treat them with a bit of respect for the blood/sweat/tears they poured into their tenure on the show? I've been a fan since Tom Baker's era – Matt currently comes in at #5 on my list of favorite Doctors.I guess your "attention grabbing" headline did it's job. Cheers to you. I couldn't disagree more.
I don't know why liking the new doctor seems to lead to lessening the achievements of the previous one. But if we must compare, hereare my thoughts…Tennant was brilliant, complex, with enormous range: his portrayal of the Doctor was intense, nuanced, gleeful, joyous and exuberant, absolutely hiliarious at times, and at times, still and somber. He was also rife with sadness, regret,guilt, gravitas and a commanding intensity. I think rewatching the episodes would reveal his excellence and gusto in comedic scenes, action and most certainly, in the heartbreaking drama. His Doctor was fierce and hot, cool and bemused, driven and decent, transcendent and succumbing. Amazing.You see where I'm coming from. I have watched DW on and off for years, but got interested with Nine and utterly invested with Ten, must-see level. With Eleven, I'm still watching but have backed off and it's back to being regular tv. If I have to compare, I'd say Smith has grown as an actor but his portrayal is much narrower, more distant and more on the nose. He's this POV or that, but never two or three things at once which Tennant could be counted on to evoke. Tennant's portrayal was complex and stunning. Smith's is good and getting better, but he is pretty much what the writer brings to it. Tennant brought so much more to the part than what was written down. I'm just about to watch Family of Blood again and I guarantee you I will have something in my eye by the end of it. For me the measure of the acting is how much I care and believe, and this one and its mate, Midnight, and many, many others continue to envelop me in the world of DW. With Smith, it's much more distant, less complicated, more regular TV-ish sort of thing. The writing had a season-long arc to it, which I like, but the worst episodes were some of the worst ever. And since we're talking about the acting, thank heavens for Arthur Darvill/Rory. I'd say he brings way more depth to the DW world this season than Smith, engages my attention and emotions way more especially with the little he is given. By far the best actor now on the show.In fact, I wish Tennant had stayed for an all SM-written season, but I guess that season will be enjoyed by lucky doppelgangers in an alternate universe.
Thank you! That was just brilliant!
i love them both! u dont hav 2 dislike 1 to enjoy the other! matt smith is great, david tennant was great. i loved this series and cant wait for the next!
so I have to just add that Mr. Smith (ha that brought to mind Smith and Jones) is interpreting the writings of the script just as Mr. Tennant was. So are you perhaps liking the new dialogue better than the old? I loved both Mr. Eccleston and Mr. Tennant, and haven't had the chance to see Mr. Smith yet, but please. It's not only the actor (although I ahve to give it up for David Tennant) it is very much the story.
I really wish people will word titles more careful, and even though I have no pitchfork in hand you could have prevented others from griping one. I started DW during its 2005 run, and have watched it regularly since. I can't speak for the Doctors 1-8, but I've enjoyed 9,10,and 11 in different ways. I got intrested in the 9th Doctor right away. He just had something about him that made me love what he brought to the table as the Doctor. When Tennant graced us as the 10th Doctor I was blown away. He had so much range, and not to be mean but you might want to refresh yourself on the Tennant Era. Tennant had some marvelous light hearted moments some right smack dab in the middle of a some dire situations like oh lets see how he should react to a big threating button during A Chirstmas Invasion. That scene still has me beaming, if not laughing, at the screen. Though I will not forget the 9th Doctor and what he did for the show, the 10th was the best doctor FOR ME. The 11th doctor brings a interesting take to the doctor, but in MY opinion he is not better and that's because he has quite large pair of converse to fill after replacing my favorite doctor. I miss 10, but that doesn't make me depriciate what Matt brings to the table. He is funny and he does have range, and I have high hopes for him in the series to come. I havie a feeling that I should expect even more from the show now that I think Matt Smith is getting more comfortable in his role and I think Steven Moffat is transitioning quite nicely into the role as head writer for DW. Can't wait to see more of both of them. It's marvelous that you enjoy the 11th doctor and perfectly entitled to your own opinions, but please pick your titles just a little more carefull to avoid pitchforks and apparently a TARDIS flying up your ass …no wait shoved, if I read that comment right.
This always bugs me. I'm happy that people like something but hate that to show their appreciation for it they end up dissing something else. It doesn't have to work that way.On a related note, I've liked all three of the recent doctors.
THANK YOU LUCY i was just coming here to say the same thing….hrmm..lets see, acting range of DT oh what about 20 yrs? some of that being with the RSC, etc…acting range of SMITH? hrmm…still a ways to go…i honestly have no idea where the writer of this story is going. I will say that i did like ms as eleven, i didn't want to like the show for quite a while, and the first 3 eps sucked…(and i've been watching DW for about 25 yrs now) i did really love some of the other eps, most of which were not written by Moff. the van gogh one especially. matt is pretty darned good as the doctor, he made me laugh here and there towards the end of the run, which is good, still can't stand amy though, and i'll be glad when river goes away, but, Don't talk about range of an actor like that. The way I read it, the writer practically belittles DT as his time as the doctor. He IS/WAS the doctor, poured his whole heart mind body and soul into it. worked himself too hard even. so yeah, i second every thing you said lucy :)oh yeah and the whole "amnesia" part that showed up once david was gone, yeah i love that bit too…whatever.. there are plenty of people who still have the love :)
oh you are so spot on with your response Boff! you said it better than i tried to lol and yeah Rory made it better for me, i ended up loving him more than any of them :) i dont know if i would have liked david to have been around for moff's run, sometimes i think that's why he left :P he didn't want to play with moff he was the smart man to get out while he is big (although i find it ironic how everyone, including the media, have put MS up on this pedastal and threw the others down to the trash…don't recall them being so harsh with Chris, but maybe that's cuz he was only around for one series? anyways….family of blood i loved because of how much anger and rage you get out of DT in the end when he's taking care of that lot, and then at the same time you have the emotional part of him/john smith -midnight i just saw a couple of weeks ago on syfy and forgot how terrifying that episode is! but mostly from the look in dt's eyes when he's lost his voice….gimme some of THAT next series SM and we'll see :)
course now to be fair, the author is probably as young as MS or younger, and this is probably one of his first doctors…i can say if i was in the same position i'd probably be saying similar things if i'd only seen 1 or 2 doctors come along…but again, talking about the whole acting range thing…need to look up the facts more really. They're both great at portraying their version of the doctor, i could tell when, along in the series, matt finally had a sense of how he wanted to play the doctor, he really got into him in the middle with eps like vincent and the doctor etc. true david's had many more years on ms in acting so he's entitled to all that, give him a few more years and he'll probably be a great great doctor, but remember, everyone loved Tom Baker and he was the number one doctor for what, 20 yrs? You heard the name Tom Baker, you knew they meant Doctor Who, 20 yrs from now, who will people think of when they hear David Tennant? Doctor Who :)
Let me give my 2 pences:This article is and SHOULD only be this writer's opinion, but not mine. I like Matt Smith fine and I think he makes a great doctor. However, when I watch any Doctor Who episode, I am more likely tune in to the ones with David Tennant. Matt Smith is a fine Doctor, but David Tennant is my favorite Doctor. When it comes to acting range, David shows it a lot more. If you want to compare the performance of the 3 actors from all the episodes that Steven Moffatt (the current show runner) wrote, David Tennant showed the most range in acting: From romantic (The Girl In The Fireplace), smart/intelligent (Blink, Silence In The Library) and heartfelt (TGITF, Forest Of The Dead). While Christopher Eccleston had great moments as the Doctor, his performance does not reach as deep as David's. Regarding Matt Smith, he's more subtle and less emotional than his predecessors, but on the more emotional episodes, he's not at the center of it, but more like beside it as the leading man whereas David is more at the center of it on his more emotionally charged episodes (watch Human Nature and The Family Of Blood then tell me how great David was in those episodes).I know there are fans who criticize David's performance as too emotional (hence the moniker the emo Doctor), but I feel that is what makes him great and what makes him my favorite Doctor.
It's funny to see the many faces of the Doctor. Pertwee was such a straight man. Tom Baker was the first to make you think he was nuts. The only nutty thing about Davidson was the celery stalk in his lapel. Then I stopped watching — wasn't so easy to keep up in America. Christopher Eccleston brought it all back with energy. David Tennant was incredible — remember the dark ending of Family of Blood? With Matt Smith it's a little more nutty. He seems young, but he does make it fun. Karen Gillan plays such a good companion one sometimes wonders who the lead is sometimes. But the show is great and a great escape. The music is the best yet — Murray Gold is fantastic. His music gets your heart pumping by itself.
He's my third, but I understand where you're coming from.
I don't object to much in this article other than the title. It should have been called "Why I Prefer the Eleventh Doctor." You really haven't proven anything other than your own opinion.
To everybody from Tentara up: http://www.digitalspy.com/cult/s7/doctor-who/ne….. Russell T. Davies, the inventor of David Tennant's Doctor loves the show, so why can't you? If you loved Russell so much you would respect him and continue on with show. I respect your torch burning for Tennant, but for goodness' sakes – the point of Doctor Who is change. I'm sure Tennant would tell you the exact same thing.
well said man. One thing that bugs me is I've run into at least 6 different people who "used to like" the show, but once Tennant signed off, they refuse to even try the new one at all. Or if they do try, they watch it through a tinted glass.
Well said. I agree 100%
Matt S is fantastic. He's taught me that the Doctor isn't the same Doctor you saw last year, or the years before that. Each Doctor is different, he is NOT the tenth, or the ninth. He's the eleventh. The odd one that's forgotten what it means to be humanistic. And now knows that even with the Time War being locked, there's ways out, and most likely, a way in. This Doctor is curious and kind but only to feed his curiosity, not his desires. This is the alien time lord Doctor I've been waiting for. He's no longer a too-human creature who loves like we do, he's a legitimate visitor who doesn't remember how to act human or behave in certain social situations. He's awkward! Chris E was fantastic with feeling like an alien, but David was too human, in a good way of course, but still. I love Matt, I love David, I kind of love Chris. I need to re-watch that season and remind myself why this show was great, besides Rose. Oh, that reminds me, I dont care what anyone says. I think Karen G is a great actress who gets dealt so-so writing. But either way, she is amazingly gorgeous and sexy as hell!
I know I'm echoing here, but, geez, really? Matt Smith has MORE range than David Tennant? The only actor I can think of who MIGHT have more range is Anthony Hopkins. Seriously. Problem for me is from before we even saw MS on the show, we were told he was better than, or had the capability to be better than, Ten. It's been a bunch of advertising, and I hate that. Dr Who is a pleasure best stumbled upon, not sold to the masses. It's left a bad taste in my mouth. The Doctor would never tell us what to think, now, would he?Not that I think Smith is a bad actor, because I don't. But the writing of the Doctor's character this season has been, well, depressing. In some moments I've found myself actively disliking him. Really, he's fine committing possible suicide with a woman so pregnant she could give birth at any moment? Really? That's just one example. If we're doing comparisons, lets just say I happily sit through repeat viewings of Ten's not so well written episodes; with 11 I've found myself literally turning the show off during a first run episode, with only a little regret that I couldn't get into it, no matter how much I wanted to. I also love this show, and know that the regeneration thing is part of it. After all, before Tennant I would never have believed I'd love a doctor as much as Tom Baker's. I was wrong, and happy to be wrong. I'm glad there are people who like the new Doctor. I'm just not one of them, and I have to agree with many here that if you've got to promote Matt Smith by saying Tennant wasn't as good as all that, you're barking up the wrong tree. It's a disservice to both actors.
Quote Cathy Kelty:
"I know I'm echoing here, but, geez, really? Matt Smith has MORE range than David Tennant? The only actor I can think of who MIGHT have more range is Anthony Hopkins. Seriously."
Thank you Cathy, that made me laugh so much and is SO dead-on. I think with time moving so fast one tends to forget what has been. Recently I started watching season 6 and then started missing David Tennant again and went back to watching his episodes and couldn't believe how much I love him as the doctor. So different. Do much more depth but also so hilarious at times. Just wonderful. One of a kind.
There are just a few people who can make you laugh just because they laugh and where one certain look in their eyes can break your heart. Matt doesn't do that for me at all Watching him doesn't make me feel anything. But that is not to say one is better than the other because there are no two people on this earth who are or could or should be the same. That is just my own personal preference, and I am very happy that we even had a doctor like David Tennant who was able to touch so many of us like that.
I love the many different ways he used to say: That's brilliant! ;-) Just that alone made me smile.
Totally agree with this article… Matt Smith's Doctor is awesome, and beats Tennant's version. David Who?
I just wanted to add that the main difference in acting terms is the sharpness with which the actors can portray varying emotions. David could turn on the head of a sixpence. One moment joking smiling, suddenly very serious and dark. To this point I feel Matt has not had a chance to show his versatility in terms of mood changes due to the writing. To this point there has not been as much of an emotional involvement or depth in the new series, and I was therefore pleased when in the finale of series 5 we finally saw an emotional side to him. I think that a lot of people will warm to Matt once we see more of this and get more emotionally involved in the story ourselves. It took me a few episodes before it happend with david and it will happen with Matt, but some people will only stick with shows where they are emotionally attached to the main character and at the moment it has not happened yet with Matts. This is prob why some people feel it is not must watch tv.That said I felt the way in which we saw the doctors darker side and what can happen to him when he is not grounded in the end of time finale the writers would have wanted to go back to a more light hearted season, and this change of tone may be why some people are left uningaged now. I think S Moffatt will change this next season and ratings will move back up.On the whole though my opinion is D Tennant has been the best doctor and matt has been very good. I love his voice and think he will get better as any actor does with a lengthy role. Although my only quibble is that he does lack grandure. He just doesnt seem threatening, even when attempting to be.But I am happy with both, love the show, and hope for many more series to come.
Initially l loved David Tennant but by his third season his portrayal of the Doctor became a parody of itself, much in the same way as Tom Baker's became. I think David is an excellent actor, and so the fault must lie with the production team. I was never a great fan of Russell T Davies' writing but I will be forever grateful to him for bringing back the show. Despite deep reservations about Matt Smith, I am now completely sold. His portrayal is offbeat and otherworldly, but the actor and the writers don't bludgeon you over the head with it as in the previous two seasons. Also I love the way that the weight of all the Doctor's years is palpaple in Matt's performance, but seems natural and unforced. Doctor Who is not a kitchen sink drama but it doesn't feel like pantomime anymore either.
I guess I'm the only person here who puts Tennant at third place in the list of Doctors from the new years?I just don't see how anyone thinks he has range! He just played angry and shouty all the time. Matt Smith is a much better actor than Tennant at their respective ages, and will absolutely eclipse him in the future. The fact that Tennant's much lauded performances have lead him to nothing more than a bit part in the Fright Night remake is testament to that.
Is the difference so much the actors, or is it perhaps the writing? More a question of Davies vs. Moffat, I'd venture. I like both Tennant & Smith, but I think the joy you so rightfully pick up on comes from the writer/editor. It's Moffat's Doctor who says "Just this once, nobody dies!" And Eccleston looked >so< joyful.Best Doctor = Tom Baker. Which is to say, the best Doctor is your first Doctor.
I caan't agree with all you said. Matt Smith certainly has the potential to be a very good Doctor, and he excelled in his first series, but his relative youth robs him of the gravitas that most of the other Doctors had, especially in the darker episodes. It is the same problem that Peter Davidson suffered from, leading him to wear the half moon specs to try to add more.That said, Moffat is a superb writer and the superior scripts this season have certainly helped Matt Smith get to grips with the role, and when he gains experience he will also gain the gravitas to pull off the more serious and darker side of the Doctor (something that Tom Baker and Eccelston both excelled at.)I am eagerly awaiting the christmas special.
I think it's really the writing which explains the difference. Davies got all caught up in the Time War phenomenon as was proven by his ludicrous Tennant finalé. Davies was the nostalgic, sentimental one. I don't hate Matt Smith as The Doctor, but I really don't think it's fair to consider Tennant inferior when he was with different writers and production altogether.
Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant are both great actors, and they each brought something new to the Doctor. However, I gotta agree that Matt Smith is a far better Doctor than either of them. I loved David Tennant's Doctor so much that I almost cried when he regenerated. Back then, I thought that no one could ever surpass David Tennant as the Doctor, but I have been proven wrong by Matt Smith. Infact, I love this new season of Doctor Who so much than the previous one. Stephen Moffat has brought new life and energy to the franchise.
Opinions and comparisons happen, you can't stop people from thinking. That's my only problem with what you said.Other than that I think your hitting the nail in very close proximity of the head. Many different variables many different doctors watch the show its really good. Much love for the show and extremly ready for what Moffat, Matt, Murray, and the whole gang have in store for the next series.
personally, david tennant is my fav doctor so far but saying that matt smith is really growing on my rapidly! as said in the article, i dont miss DT that much anymore…i have excepted that he has left and is not coming back so now am enjoying the MS doctor.
the thing that MS excells in compared to DR is as again what the article says, he seems a lot more happier and is a lot more quirky which is funny and nice to see. DT can do happy but not the way MS can. MS is just the most estaticly randomly happy and it seems like he is more genuine in his happiness where as DT is more serious, he does has his happy moments but there always seems to be an acheing pain there.
to be honest they are both rather similar, they show their pain and sadness in the same wat, DT does angry better then MS although there hasn't really been a chance for MS to show what he can do concerning anger, MS i think shows more clear blatent affection to the people he is with, such as amy, then DT although DT was good with billie piper.
i remember when christerpher ecleson left for DT and i was pretty sad when this random flicky haired bloke came on but after one episode i absolutly loved him! when DT left for MS i was actually sooooo much more sad and seriously after that episode he left i was depressed for like ages. now when i look back on this series i really like MS, not as much as DT but think he is pretty excellent. at the end of the next series i think that he may be even equal with DT!
thats think about this though!! ALL THE DOCTORS ROCK!!!
personally, david tennant is my fav doctor so far but saying that matt smith is really growing on my rapidly! as said in the article, i dont miss DT that much anymore…i have excepted that he has left and is not coming back so now am enjoying the MS doctor.
the thing that MS excells in compared to DR is as again what the article says, he seems a lot more happier and is a lot more quirky which is funny and nice to see. DT can do happy but not the way MS can. MS is just the most estaticly randomly happy and it seems like he is more genuine in his happiness where as DT is more serious, he does has his happy moments but there always seems to be an acheing pain there.
to be honest they are both rather similar, they show their pain and sadness in the same wat, DT does angry better then MS although there hasn't really been a chance for MS to show what he can do concerning anger, MS i think shows more clear blatent affection to the people he is with, such as amy, then DT although DT was good with billie piper.
i remember when christerpher ecleson left for DT and i was pretty sad when this random flicky haired bloke came on but after one episode i absolutly loved him! when DT left for MS i was actually sooooo much more sad and seriously after that episode he left i was depressed for like ages. now when i look back on this series i really like MS, not as much as DT but think he is pretty excellent. at the end of the next series i think that he may be even equal with DT!
thats think about this though!! ALL THE DOCTORS ROCK!!!
Range is about the ability to inhabit and portray different characters and emotions, not experience. DT may a decent amount of experience, but his range is still extremely limited. In several years of watching DT, I have counted only six facial expressions; and every time I see him, it's just the same man in a different costume. He lacks entirely the chameleon-like quality that truly great actors have, and I'm always very conscious of the fact that he's acting. I kept watching Doctor Who, because there will still odd moments of brilliance in the writing, but I was beginning to despair by the end of his reign. I really like Matt Smith as the Doctor – although I think it's a shame he didn't get a better companion than Amy, becuase I felt the Doctor/companion dynamic was the weak point of his performance – but that's not why I'm critical of Tennant. Believe it or not, I just don't like him. To be honest, I'm still mourning the departure of Christopher Eccleston. Now there's an actor with range.
David Tennant is the best doctor never ever and i never will change my opinion i´m sorry if it is bad written is becuse i´m Spanish not English but I love David Tennant and my friend too ^^
De acuerdo. Tennant tuvo una intensidad que hizo el serie mas humano; sin embargo, Smith tiene un costado comico que alegro la situacion! (Perdon la habilidad para escribir; espanol no es mi idioma primera; es ingles ! jaja)
I agree i hate River Song ¬¬
Iam very disappionted with this series of doctor who as i remember my dad watching dw back in the 80's and i hated it as it was so fake,no offence,but when it made a come back it really got my attention and i really enjoyed it and started to get into it,but when the new dr came on it was totally diffrent than the seriers before,everything changed,the theme music,the feel,and i the anticaption of waiting for the following episode,but thats all gone and its a shame,my children loved the dr,but its missing its moojoe,and intrest,dont get me wrong all the actors who played the dr where in there time brilliant,but this seriers just doesnt do it for me and my kids its lost it vroom,
Are you insane?! First of all, as stated in most articles written, the most popular Doctor to date would be The Fourth Doctor, portrayed by Tom Baker from 1974-1981. Do your research. Secondly, I would have to agree with most articles written on the subject That being, that Tennant EQUALS the popularity of The Fourth Doctor (bringing that special something back to the plate from Baker's run), as well as adding generously to the mystique, HIS OWN brand of wonderful popularity and charisma. I must say that Christopher Eccleston also did a wonderful job of portraying the character upon bringing the series back to television in 2005. I don't want to take anything away from Matt Smith's portrayal of the character just yet, because here in the States, at least where I live, we are only up to the episode Vincent and The Doctor. This particular episode and the one before it (Hungry Earth/Cold Blood; whichever you prefer to call it due to the fact it was split into two parts here) have somewhat caught my attention almost (and I emphasize "almost") to the point of which every single DT episode was able to do. Now that I think about it, every Christopher Eccleston episode was able to capture my attention, as well. Here, one must also take into consideration the new writers involved with the series. So that being said, the flighty portrayal MS gives us as The Doctor cannot be fully held accountable. However, I must agree with EVT_127 pertaining to the boredom aspect of the new series. I have literally fallen asleep on it from time to time, not to mention having to force myself to watch it after recording it. The only thing that is keeping me watching it, is my curiosity in knowing where the storyline pertaining to the crack, which is following The Doctor and his companions, is going to lead in the end. I think one of the things with your awe of MS just may be this( or something like this): I was a year old when The Fourth Doctor was introduced to the series. Around the age of 6 or 7, I myself, was introduced to the series, which still had The Fourth Doctor in it, and was amazed by the show. I mean, it was one of those childhood Sci-fi fantasy things that absolutely caught my attention from the first viewing! After that, I was hooked! Every Saturday around 4pm.!! Lol! Maybe this is how it is for you with Matt Smith in a way. I am not saying that you are just now viewing the show for the first time, but maybe you can relate to MS because he does things in a way and/or carries himself in a way which captures your attention better than DT was able to do. It has been that way for generations of fans of the series. Everybody has a favorite Doctor. But, the general consensus is that The Fourth Doctor held the title of "Best Doctor Ever" until the arrival of DT. Then, word changed during Tennant's tenure to, "Not since The Fourth Doctor has there been a more exciting and amazing portrayal of the character." Which is a statement I and many others agree with. But keep in mind it is an opinion. To say an opinion held by many would be an understatement, though. I don't know how old you are. Judging from your photo above and some of the things you've said in your article, you seem to be an intelligent young person, so maybe you can relate to MS a lot better, whereas some others of us (and by no means am I calling us old; a very young 36 on this end)can relate to a more mature acting Doctor such as DT (whose age I tend to be around). Think about it, at the age of 6 or 7 I was nowhere near The Fourth Doctor's age, yet the series and the character portrayal caught my eye and I was a fan from then on. In saying that, I mean no disrespect to you. To each his own preference. I agree with the things said by many of the posters above( Especially Lucy R. and Johanna G.), but when it comes down to it, I think it's just a matter of taste. That being said, do the research kiddo, watch some old episodes of the series if possible(like episodes dating back to the series beginning;1963), be entitled to your opinions, but have a little more respect for the character itself and don't just judge or state who played the character best only from the last three Doctors. Anyway, I don't think any of us can really grade MS until his tenure is over. That is true for anyone playing the character I would think. So far I think all that can be said is that he is doing an ok job, but to date, not even close to that of David Tennant. Once more, that is an opinion. Sorry. At this point, DT has done his thing, and in my opinion, did a wonderfully great job at it. Thus, ranking in my book(others may feel differently), tied for first place, out of all eleven, with The Fourth Doctor! :-) Have at it kid!! Continue to enjoy the series!
Totally agree Matt Smith for me is the best Doctor since Tom Baker. He has an eccentricity and maturity about him that is beyond his years and is a fine actor. I think him and his partner Karen suit each other perfectly and is genuious casting.I also like to make the point that Matt is a class act on and off screen. Go Matt!
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion as you know what they say about opinions….Why David Tennant is way better than Matt Smith I DO miss DT and despite trying to watch the new series, think the stories are rubbish (I had higher hopes with SM actually) and Matt Smith is zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Did any of you read the article? He didn't promote Smith by insulting Tennant, in fact, he complemented Tennant throughout, he just happens to think that Smith is showing a greater range than Tennant. It's fine if you still like DT better, but you don't have to flip out just because some people like MS more.
I agree with you, a lot of DT fans won't even give Smith a chance – they don't want to like him. Then they complain that people are insulting Tennant to praise Smith, but in the very next sentence they rip on Smith's acting to make Tennant look good. Hypocritical?
Yeah, so right. People are over exaggerating they're opinions on MS to make DT look great. I watched it excited about change but also sad David Tennant had left and made my own professional opinion, I agree people will still like DT but they have been watching MS through the amount of love they share for DT, not embracing change. Not giving a young man a chance. I think those people are all bastards,
Yeah, so right. People are over exaggerating they're opinions on MS to make DT look great. I watched it excited about change but also sad David Tennant had left and made my own professional opinion, I agree people will still like DT but they have been watching MS through the amount of love they share for DT, not embracing change. Not giving a young man a chance. I think those people are all bastards,
You're not the only one, Tennant is my third place as well. I liked him, but to me, sometimes it felt like he was trying too hard and it didn't always seem sincere because of that. His funny scenes mostly involved him being loud and talking about fake scientific terms way too fast for anyone to understand. I think Smith's performance is a lot more nuanced, and he seems to take to the Doctor's character more naturally than Tennant did. My favorite funny moment, though, is still Eccleston head bop dancing to Tainted Love in the first season.
I totally agree with Ali; there is no need to flip out because someone likes another Doctor better than they like your favorite.I must say, although I liked all three of the newest Doctors, I was getting very tired and unhappy with the tortured direction they were taking David Tennant's Doctor. Thus I am really enjoying Matt Smith's lighter, goofier and more positive portrayal. This may be due to the writing, the producing, or the acting — I don't know. My preference does not necessarily say anything about an actor's range. I do not question Tennant's acting ability, nor do I dismiss Smith simply because he has less experience. I just prefer the lighter tone to the show, which puts more emphasis on storyline rather than emotional turmoil. This comes with a change of actors, producers, and writers, all of which, I'm sure, contribute to the fact I like Matt Smith's Doctor better.
I don't understand why people don't like Matt Smith or the newest season. I really don't. Don't get me wrong I loved David Tennnant and was very sad when I found out he was leaving and I'll admit that I was skeptical about Matt Smith, until I saw him in the last moments of End of Time. He was so funny making sure he had all his digits and legs and still not being ginger haha. He just got better in the Eleventh Hour. The food thing was extremely funny! I read on some sites that people thought he was doing his best Tennent impression, but I honestly don't see it. No way would Tennants Doctor call the aliens back and tell them to run, thats just no the type of Doctor Tennant was, not at all a bad thing. Matt Smith just seems a lot darker to me and truly alien and I love it! The Lodger is proof of being truly alien. The way Matt didn't understand what normal bloks do was amazing and great to see. Tennant's Doctor would have been fine in that situation and knew exactly what to do. The darkness of this Doctor really comes out when he tells the Angels "There's one thing you never put in a trap. If you're smart, if you value your continued existence, if you have any plans about seeing tomorrow, there is one thing you never, ever put in a trap…..Me!" and then fires the gun, unusual thing for the Doctor, never would have happened with Tennant. They are two very different Doctors and that is what makes them both so good! I don't get why people don't like Amy either.Amy Pond is amazing too! She is quite honestly my favorite companion sense the show came back. She reminds me a lot of Ace in the McCoy years. She is the Doctors equal as opposed to just following him around like a love sick puppy the way Rose and Martha did. Donna had this quality too, but she wasn't as confident as Amy is. I love Amy's confidence like when Rory was worried about her in Cold Blood and she goes "What just because I got swallowed into the earth? You're so clingy" some people find that cold I find it amazing. She has confidence that she is going to survive a situation that looks extremely bad. Rory started out annoying, but he is amazing now and I like the Doctor having two companions again. I'll end by saying David Tennant's era was fucking amazing and added a lot to the Doctor Who universe, but its over, and the future looks brighter than ever LONG LIVE MATT SMITH!
haha I can't believe how heavy this topic is getting. . .I thought life as I knew it was over when I heard David Tennant was leaving. I was reluctant to let Matt Smith into my heart but he won me over as soon as he jumped out of the tardis. Both doctors are wonderful. Everyone calm down, you can love BOTH!
Also I love Amy and how she calls Rory stupid.
There are several issues: Matt vs. David as an actor; Matt vs. David as the Doctor (but why do we have to make a choice?) and really, Russell T. Davies vs. Stephen Moffat. It would be hard to make a case that Matt Smith is a more accomplished actor, given his youth and lack of experience. That's not to say that he isn't good, or won't get better. Every Doctor is different, and each actor chooses, to a certain extent, which aspects of this complicated character to emphasize. Matt seems to have gone with the alien and off-the-wall behavior. David seemed so much more human that it perhaps helped the audience identify; and then, in a flash, (like the end of "Family of Blood") it's clear that he's so much more. Or in his talks with Wilf… The third issue is the real problem. Although SM did an excellent job with the episodes he wrote for RTD, this season has been a real mess! Some good episodes, some SERIOUS continuity problems, and some real stinkers (Daleks in WWII? Please!) Even the Amy/Doctor relationship is all over the map. (Amy Pond is a great character, though, and one of my favorite companions.) I really think we should blame Moffatt. Give Matt Smith better writing, and let's see how he does….
Interesting. I like Matt Smith OK, but if I have one complaint about his performance, it's that he doesn't have nearly the emotional range that Tennant ha in the role. Miles vary, I guess.
This article explains a lot about the author. David Tennant was his first Doctor. That puts a different spin of perception of the role. For example, Tom Baker was the first Doctor I actually watched. I then played catch up to see the previous incarnations and found Jon Pertwee to be a superior actor, IMHO. So we disagree about Matt Smith. I am sure he is a nice guy and all, but I think this author is in the minority about MS so far. I suppose time will tell. To say that; “I know for a fact that Matt Smith is a better Doctor because I don't miss Tennant anymore” is not a fact but a subjective opinion. Let’s be honest, my comments as well at the author are all opinions. The show continuing is based on ratings and not a few opinions. It is my hope that a reunion show is penned and considered by the current three actors. It would be a great to see the dynamic. I loved “The Two (Three and Five) Doctors” even though they had poor special effects and pretty flimsy plotlines. Hopefully, a writer could do a better job these days. So for now, I will tolerate Matt Smith and hope for a return of Torchwood soon too! John Barrowman is a fine actor!
Objection! Patrick Troughton was the best Doctor of all time!
I agree with you. The first couple weeks I was hearing two voices: the voice of Matt Smith, and then in my head I heard the way David Tennant would have said it. Now, when Smith speaks, he is truly the Doctor to me. But, I don't think he has recovered from the Time War or his guilt. He is keeping it locked deep inside and "It was a bad day" is the understatement which allows him to carry on. One of the biggest differences in Matt's Doctor is that he is very compassionate to aliens, and not so totally pro-human. look at Cold Blood.
I agree with your statement about Matt Smith's Doctor and the Time War Guilt. I think he hold it in so that he can better enjoy the moment and the people he is with. With the fifth season none of the past companions returned, I think that this Doctor sees how limited his time with his friends can be and choses to enjoy it as opposed to sulking and to a point pushing people back with his guilt.
Sam, I wholly disagree with you.While I've been liking this series, like most it's very hit or miss. I haven't seen anything from Matt that puts his Doctor above Peter Davison's, let alone David's Doctor.
you may as well have said Colin Baker…
True that.
Erm, yes I did actually Ali, did you? As far as I am concerned, it is childish and insulting to declare after one series that Matt Smith is a better Doctor than David Tennant. Great if you like MS, good for you and if you think that I'm 'flipping out' because the author of this article likes MS more than DT, then I think it is you who needs to go back and reread somethings, starting with what I said. That is clearly not my point at at all and you are being rather pathetic for assuming so. Praise MS to the hilt if that's what you want to do, but why declare DT's stellar tenure to be inferior? . And actually, the idea that MShas more range than DT is just plain wrong. Pure and simple. And how anyone can come to that conclusion after the frankly mediocre offering that was series 5, is completely beyond me.
You see, when you come in and say that no one has the right to think MS is better, we instantly think of you as a little old tart who can't except change, and that's what I think of you. Some people don't like tennant, ok? Get over it. I HATE TENNANT. Although he is a good actor he really isn't a good doctor. That's my opinion, I have a right towards my opinion. The-le and the person who wrote the article and I prefer matt smith. OK? So don't whine, I realize you prefer DT, and that's fine, but don't start crying about people who prefer Smith. It really is babyish, I assume you must be at least 7 years old. Look many people like DT more then MS but a lot of people prefer MS. We can see he is better after 1 series, we can see he has larger acting abilities, we can see he is a good doctor, and series 5 is better then any DT series. My opinion, not yours.
My wife likes david tennant, and I like Matt Smith. It is totally opinion, but I must that Matt Smith is super hilarious.
Yes because we aren't watching doctor who but the david tennant show, this show has lasted for 27 years + 6 years of the revival. and DT has lasted for 5 years out of 32. Matt Smith is much better than the last two doctors since his youthfullness makes him energetic like the 5th, 8th and 6th doctor but more alien than the others. Give Smith a chance its only been A season, the first of the new production theme so series 6 will be much better.
to add on some people think that amy pond doesn't act like a normal person but i am from the same age bracket and know of people who would do that. at least amy can chose her man, and isn't like rose who treats mickey like a pile of dirt, WHAT A B***H?!?!
I think David Tennant is excellent as Dr Who, Matt Smith is ok as an actor, but David Tennant is a lot better, I just cant get into Matt Smith at all, please bring back David Tennant
My simple position – I liked Christopher Eccleston, I liked David Tennant, I like Matt Smith. Personally, I probably prefer David Tennant over the other two, but then, I've seen more of Tennant, and he had some great episodes, some great moments and some great storylines. It's likely that as Moffat grows in to running the show, and Smith grows in to the role, I'll like him more and more – though, simply for my, personal, most memorable moments, I'll probably always still prefer Tennant over anyone else (and I did watch Doctor Who back in the day, as well, just so we're clear, and even appreciate the underrated Paul McGann TVM).However, I'd like to make one thing clear to you, Mr McPherson – I will never, ever stop missing Tennant as my Doctor. Never.
Tennant was highly overrated. He *could* have solidified himself as the best doctor, but Davies' scripts were just awful. Tennant should be ASHAMED to have left the show on such a low note — those last episodes of his were just dreadful.
I rest my case. I have absolutely nothing to add to this. Honestly, it's not even worth it to argue who is the best doctor because that will always be a matter of personal opinion. I was completely invested with David Tennant and that's just something Matt Smith hasn't achieved with me yet. While there were some great episodes in season 5, I just felt like I was watching just because I wanted to see how it all would turn out and not because I loved every second I could get of that Doctor.
But hey, that was just Matt's first season. Maybe he'll improve with time.
Ok I will say this article is too early. See I'm a Dr. Who fan since the 80's when I was a kid. So I love the fifth, fourth, sixth….well actually I love all the doctors. So what this article sucks on is the fact that the people who have played the Doctor have always KICKED ASS. Eccelston was great, Tennenat rocked, and Smith is doing well. Smith has only had a season though. So it's too early to say Smith is on par for any of the Doctors actually. Anyway, so all this argument about who is better and blah blah blah is crap. The real question I was worried about was the writing when I heard Davies was leaving and Moffet was taking over. Moffet did a good job during Davies run, but I was worried. Then I saw this new season with Smith and Moffet is a very true fan. When I heard interviews with Moffet and his love of the old series I knew this guy would probably tap into the old stuff that made the doctor so great. Maybe start taking trips off world a lot more which they did if you noticed. Moffet is like me a doctor who fan from the 70s, 80's and some of the 90s and there wasn't much in the 90s and I mean first gulf war 90s. I was born in 80 but my PBS played doctor who from the 60's up to the early 90's or until they cancelled the series. Anyway, my point is the people who run the show are great. They ALWAYS pick a great doctor. They don't screw around with the pick. I was worried a little about the writing though, but I'm not. Maybe this article should be "Is Moffet the better writer and idea guy then Davies?" Anyway, the question in this article is too early to ask. Maybe in year 2.
I hate that I agree with this well-written and fully explained analysis. I grew up with Tom Baker as "my" doctor (yeah, I know…I'm old) and thought no one could replace him until Tennant came along. Then I thought he was the best one. But you are absolutely correct…after the initial "oh how I miss David" thing wore off, I found myself looking forward to Matt's lightened up clownish attitude. But he can be kick-butt when he needs to be, and that's what I like…the balance between fun and getting the job done. And besides, fezzes ARE cool LOL!!
tennant is waaaaaay better
Are you stoned? There's no way Matt is a better Doctor then David. His acting if anything is too low key. There's no passion to it. David on the other hand enbued his doctor with an energy that was almost manic!
Matt's also too soft spoken. If the bbc wanted a woman to play the Doctor why didn't they just hire one?
I'm Korean and Doctor Who has a huge fan base in Korea. It's hard to watch it on TV and most of the episodes that are aired are dubbed in Korean but Doctor Who has one of the highest downloading rates among all american/british tv dramas.
I started watching it from season 1(with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor)and he was brilliant! I still wonder why he decided to quit so early(no complaints since I loved David Tennant but just curious cuz he was such an excellent Doctor…)
I watched 'Christmas Invasion'before moving on to season 2 and even though I had absolutely no idea who the guy playing the Doctor was, I couldn't help thinking: This guy,whoever he is, is one hell of an actor!
I'm not English and since I have no idea what an ideal doctor is supposed to be like, I can't say DT is everything that a Doctor should be…BUT what an actor he is!(not just in Doctor Who but in Casanova, Blackpool, Secret Smile etc.)
What I loved the most about DT's Doctor was that he could be funny, scary, sorrowful, nerdy, cool at the same time. Some people might say that the writer should take all the credit for that but it's up to the actor/actress playing the part to make these shift of emotions look convincing, which DT excelled in.
I'm still not done with season 5 and I wouldn't make bold comments about Matt Smith's acting(in fact, I think he is a versatile actor with lots of potential)but his portrayal of the Doctor so far, does not have the emotional depth that Tennant had. And although I agree that some of the episodes Moffat wrote for Doctor Who(esp. the Girl in the Fireplace)were brilliant, his Doctor Who is so similar to Sherlock(loved all 3 episodes).
On the other hand, I think Amy Pond is a wonderful companion to the Doctor.
Despite everything, I do not miss DT(he went out on an extremely high note and he gave everything he had to offer as a Doctor)and I'm still going to keep watching the series cuz Matt Smith is a likable Doctor. He might just be merry and funny but so what? That's his portrayal of the Doctor and I've got no problem with that. I actually think it's quite meaningless to compare DT and MS and I'm sure people who have fallen out with Doctor Who after Tennant left could be drawn back into the series once more once they stop these comparisons.
I prefer Eccleston and Tennant but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop watching Doctor Who!
I live in a non-english speaking country and guess what? Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant moved me with their performance while Matt Smith still has a LONG way to go. I admit he has a great potential as an actor and he plays the merry and funny doctor well but at times, his portrayal of the doctor is too comical. I'm still gonna watch it though cuz it's my favorite british tv show along with Sherlock. The show's still one of the most watchable shows out there if people stop trying to convince every viewer of this show that Matt Smith is a better doctor than David Tennant.
I guess time will tell.
personally, i like Dr. Seuss
I'm half way through season 5, and I still miss David Tennant. I thought Amy Pond was really bland in the first 5 episodes until the very end of the 5th when she's trying to jump the doctor. That was kind of funny and charming. That's as far as I've watched, so hopefully she'll show more of that side (not necessarily trying to jump the Doctor, but the charm she had when she did it). So far I like her much better than Rose and Donna, but not as much as Martha (who's the only one of them I feel could be left alone and have any chance of getting herself out of trouble).
I disagree that Tennant couldn't do happy. He often seemed genuinely full of joy and awe by small things humans did. And there was pure glee when he shared hugs with Martha.
Matt Smith can do the light stuff, but every time he goes for emotion like anger or frustration, it seems forced and makes me want Tennant back. I also haven't felt like he even cares what happens to anyone, and for me, that makes it feel like there's much less at stake.
So I feel completely the opposite about who has the best acting range.
Watching Matt Smith's Doctor just makes me really wish we had gotten a Tennant Doctor who wasn't burdened by the sappy Rose romance story line.
The diversity in opinions here is amazing! Obviously, the opinion of each person is based on previous exposure to the other actors portraying the Doctor and the age of the viewer. It seems that for those of us that enjoyed Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker and Peter Davison, the enjoyment was derived from not only the actor but also the writing! Bear in mind that this was a time when we also had tin foil & cardboard monsters and little feet shuffling under Daleks. So the effects were terrible!! But we really loved the programmes! Now we have better effects, some good scripts and actors that have been selected based on the view of either RTD originally, and now SM on how the bast actor could portray their incarnation of the Dr. The viewers make their own decisions by watching the show or not. So as the ratings continue we can determine if MS is satisfying the majority of the public or not. We already know that the ratings showed DT was very well received!
I think the poster said it best when he said that MS lacked grandeur. While he gives an interesting portrayal, MS doesn't have a commanding presence. He spends so much time looking like a lost puppy that it's hard to take him seriously when he says "trust me, I'm a doctor ". I think thats why I couldnt get into the last season. When they got into trouble I knew they would find a way out because thats the way the show always works out. I didnt feel like I was waiting to see how the clever Dr. would solve the problem. "
Matt is good, great even. But he is no David.
I personally like Matt Smith more than David Tennant as Doctor Who - I love Tennant as a person but I can't get into him as an actor and I've tried desperately…Nobody beats Christopher Eccelston though.
Bulls***
You have to remember that there isn't actually an alien who flies around in a big blue box helping people out. They are both acting. And to say that one of them plays the doctor better than another is dumb, because nobody can know what the doctor is like.
"I know for a fact that Matt Smith is a better Doctor because I don't miss Tennant anymore."
Strange reasoning, but okay.
I don't get how you equate "I prefer Matt Smith" to "Matt Smith is better". The former is acceptable, the latter makes no sense. How can you just type out that sentence and think that if only people saw reason, they would agree with you? I personally prefer David Tennant, but I understand that this doesn't mean he's BETTER. It simply means that I enjoyed how he portrayed The Doctor more than I enjoy Smith's portrayal. Also keep in mind with this argument/debate is that Russell T Davies had as big a hand in The Tenth Doctor's personality as Tennant did. Ditto with Steven Moffat in relation to The Eleventh Doctor and Matt Smith, so not all of what makes the Doctor the Doctor is in the acting. A lot has to do with the writing.
However, in saying that, I definitely prefer David Tennant.
And no, this isn't because Tennant was my first; Matt Smith is actually my first Doctor believe it or not, and after his first season I went back and watched Eccleston and Tennant episodes on DVD. Seen a few Tom Baker episodes because there is so much hubbub about him, but other than that, havn't seen any pre-revival episodes.
People say that while Tennant played guilt and anger well, he just seemed campy when doing "happy" scenes. Conversely, people say Matt Smith can play any emotion well, therefore making a more well-rounded Doctor. However, I disagree; I think Tennant shows anger far more effectively than Smith ever could. I could not picture Matt Smith's portrayal ever being as convincingly dark as Tennant's was when he handed out the Family Of Blood's punishments one by one, calmly dooming each one of them to an eternity of misery; each punishment far worse than the quick escape of death. Conversely, his expressions of glee at the most mundane human traditions and tendencies (especially when Rose was doing something) were very endearing to me. I completely bought into the fact that The Doctor could be unaffected toward anyone he didn't know, while being very affectionate and caring to the few people he let in.
You mention the scene where Smith's Doctor is about to lobotomize star whale to save the people on Starship UK, citing it as a good example of how dark he can portray the Doctor. However, this scene didn't strike me as The Doctor being "dark". It showed him more being helpless and frustrated, without truly making Liz 10 feel bad for her actions. Remember when Tennant's Doctor reacted to the Prime Minister shooting down the retreated alien craft in his first Christmas Special? That's what I imagine an angry Time Lord to be; ruthless in his administering of justice, not hesitating to make Harriet Jones pay for her cruelty, even though it was cruelty to save her own people (a-la Liz 10 torturing the star whale for her people).
Also, you point out that the Eleventh Doctor's new-found lightness (attributed to the letting go of the guilt of killing his people in the Time War) is a positive. Again, this is a point of perspective, as I personally found it quite cold of him to talk of the war so lightly. Although I do agree with you that it got a bit out of hand towards the tail end of his third season, it was an important part of post-revival Doctor Who, right from the Eccleston episodes as well.
One last point; one reason that makes me prefer the Tennant episodes (not so much an issue of the Doctor himself, so this is quite irrelevant lol) are his companions. I can't stand Amy sometimes. Again, this isn't because Rose was my first companion, because she wasn't, Amy was. I'm not quite sure why to be honest. But even before The Almost People where she was very rude to the Ganger-Doctor, and before the episodes where she is mean to Rory because haha it's funny that she's mean to him, I just didn't like watching her as the companion. She didn't do it for me like Rose, Martha, and Donna did. And Jack. I miss Jack.
To conclude, I want to point out that these don't mean I hate Doctor 11. In fact, Matt Smith made me fall in love with Doctor Who in the very first place, and he is still very enjoyable to watch. But David Tennant is definitely MY Doctor.
i think there is one other little reason that people are still so loyal to tennant. when ecclestone was leaving everyone hated tennant saying he couldn't be as good and were proved totally wrong. some learned from this and waited to see matt smith before saying if he was good or not, while other did the same as last time saying that the new guy wouldn't be as good and the old one was the best. and this time they don't want to admit that they judged too soon and stick by their guns to avoid being wrong again. i loved tennant while he was on, but since then i love the new series and when i watch tennants stuff i find i dont like it anywhere near as much. if i have to choose an episode to wastch i choose a smith or an eccleston or one of the classics. i almost never choose tennant i dont watch many of his episodes just moffats episodes and midnight. those ones are gold. but the rest i fnd quite boring and samey. i find theres just more adventure to smiths episodes. sorry if anyone dissagrees, thats my view.
My years of watching Doctor Who go back to the 1970's. Offcourse Tom Baker has become so synomymous with the first Doctor Who serial more than any of the other actors. However in the 1970's it wasn't so obvious. I remember when the BBC announced Jon Pertwee's departure from Doctor Who. At the time the viewing figures were the highest the programme had ever achieved. The conventional wisdom that Jon had put such a big stamp on the show coupled with his enormous popularity would be hard to overcome by his immediate successor. When Tom Baker took over, despite the fact that the viewing figures continued to steadily increase. Not that many people really liked Tom in comparision to Jon. As a result Tom was very much in Jon's shadow and certainly for a lengthy time frame. It wasn't until 1978 during Tom's fourth year the that the audience really took a liking to Tom and he was finally able to get out of Jon's shadow. Towards the end of Tom's run in that he finally became the most popular of all the Doctor Who's. By the time of his departure the show became somewhat lackluster in ratings that once Peter Davison took and became instantly successful. Literally everybody forgot about Tom and for a long time his popularity waned in the presence of his successors. It wasn't until the first serial went off the air in 1989 that suddenly Tom's association which had largely been forgotten suddenly found itself a new lease thanks in part to the fans who were buying the videos and Tom became popular again.
In a way the same can be said of Matt Smith. It's easily fair enough to state that David became a huge phenomenon which doesn't happen very often. By the time of his departure there was a level of sadness but also a level of excitement for some as to how his successor would fair. So far Matt Smith overall has won the fans over and continues to gain more popularity. It's fair enough to say that he's certainly not as popular as David was. However the potential to achieve this is still very much there. It's going to be a combination of how many more additonal years he will stay with the show and will the stories continue to get better and thus making sure the viewers still stay tuned to keep the viewing numbers fairly strong. Sometime down the line the same analogy will be applied to whoever succeeds Matt in the show.
David Tennant is the best doctor ever. I'm actually shocked that there's a dispute here. Don't get me wrong. I liked Eccleston and I like Matt Smith, but there's really not an argument here.
As a Who fan… I've only ever really known Eccleston, Tennant and Smith as Doctors. I enjoy each one of them and respect each of their acting talents as the Doctor. I couldn't say that one is greater than the other because they are all different– each new Regeneration creates a new and different Doctor with a new personality and a new body. That's kind of the point. Sure, I miss Eccleston and Tennant, but I love what Matt Smith has been doing as the Doctor. I enjoy his silliness, his childlike wonder toward many things… and suddenly, behind all the goofball antics, you get a Doctor who knows how to take command, a Doctor who has seen and felt horrible, crushing hurt and despair, a Doctor with darkness and personal demons. The latest episodes, "The Girl Who Waited" and "The God Complex", really shattered some of my feelings for the Doctor, as the episode, I believe, intended. Like Amy and Rory, throughout the new series, we're faced to take into account other sides to the Doctor, and there's been a lot of heartache and growing up to do. I think this adventure has been incredible so far, though I do get the sense that certain episodes have been weaker (like "Night Terrors"). I can't imagine anyone else playing Eleven… just as I can't imagine anyone else playing Ten besides David Tennant or Nine as Christopher Eccleston.
It's sad though that some people won't give Smith a chance because they're so hung up and blinded by their love of Tennant. As amazing as he was, there's no going back (unless he has a cameo somewhere). Personally, I choose not to be a stubborn, stagnant fan– I'm going to keep growing with the show, gonna keep loving what Smith is doing, and I'm gonna keep watching long after Smith is gone as long as it's still around.
I agree that DT played an amazing Doctor, but MS is easily my favorite. Matt's portrayal as an eccentric, slightly mad, yet brilliant man-boy genius is in and of itself a show! DT i always believed portrayed a very relatable Doctor, whereas matt's Doctor is the complete opposite (although that's not necessarily a bad thing!). Both were entertaining and lovable, but matt's the Doctor that I can't help but smile every time he pops onscreen:)
For someone who is new to the Doctor Who series, David Tennant is the doctor who sealed my love for the series. Matt Smith does a phenomenal job as the doctor. David Tennant is my favorite doctor and I believe the best doctor to hook someone into the series. Matt Smith is a different doctor, a great doctor but a different doctor.
This reply is solely about the three reboot Doctors. The idea that every Doctor is different is true. And both Tennant and (so far) Smith have been fantastic (Eccelston as well). But in all honesty, there are two reasons why I would actually put Smith over Tennant:
1) Smith's ensemble cast (Amy, Rory, River, Craig, and other encountered alien species) I find myself enjoying much more and are far more tolerable than any that traveled with Eccelston or Tennant. They are stronger and have characteristics you actually care about.
2) Tennant's Doctor (and this is mostly due to writing), had a lot of lame story plots near the end of his run.
Don't get me wrong, Tennant is good. But I'm not a particular "actor" fan. I don't care about Smith or Tennant as a person or who they are when it comes to how much I like the show. It's the story, the acting, the tension, etc as a whole.
And so far I would put Smith slightly over Tennant because Moffit knows how to write.
Tom Baker is still the best doctor ever. Matt Smith and Jon Pertwee are second and third.
Both actors are marvelous, but Steven Moffat is a better writer.
yeah… the thing is, I still miss David Tennant; and Matt Smith is AMAZING, I love him, really, but I’m not gonna miss him… In fact, all I wanted was a new doctor in Season 7…
Glad I found this article because I was beginning to wonder if I was the only fan who enjoys 11 a bit more then 10. So happy Smith is sticking around for season 7!