[janetteB @replies]

Waves back. @scaryb

A welcome to you is also in order I believe. Thanks yes we had a lovely holdiay. Been busy since returning. I “lurk” rather than comment mostly these days, partly because I have not had time to catch up on all the discussions that have taken place since Christmas and don’t want to comment on a thread that I haven’t read through.

The Guardian now has an article about the Amazon comments.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@wolfweed. That is my favourite kind of spoiler. 😉

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

The very enjoyable hour I have just spent reading through the Amazon reviews reminds me of why I spend less time lurking here than of yore. I have work to do…

Thanks @bluesqueakpip for the links. : -)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@scouttheairdale  I am sending hugs in thought. I once spent a night alone with a dying pet and I know only too well just how much the heart bleeds. And “scout” I have missed your “mum” on the forum. Tell her to come back.

Regards

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I like the new costume. Slightly gothic formal works well for the Doctor. It has a hint of alien authority about it and the red lining is a definite nod to Pertwee. So is P.C. Doctor going to rediscover Venusian Karate too? He certainly looks as though me might. (It is a shame that he doesn’t have a cape though. I do so like billowing capes.)

Cheers

Janette.

[janetteB @replies]

Hi. Finally caught up with the Christmas Special. I had to avoid the forum until I had seen it. I have become spoiler adverse. I still feel as though I require a rewatch before I can comment and there is so much now to catch up on here I would need at least a year I suspect and as our “recalcitrant teenager” reminded us today, in three days time we will be out of the country so I won’t have much time to catch up but I do have some Who related reading to take on holiday.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I am afraid that I haven’t “been around”, @phaseshift. Like @MartyB, I am desperately housecleaning before the in-laws descend upon us. (the horror, the horror) and finishing off the hand made Yuletide cards. I second @blenkinsopthebrave‘s suggestions “re Babylon Five. I don’t think there is any I would add, except perhaps And Now For a Word s2 because it gives a good overview of the station for newbies and The Fall of Night, s2.

I am surprised that nobody has yet mentioned Fringe especially as Orla Brady, (Peter’s mother) makes an appearance in the Christmas Special.

@wolfweed, thanks for all the links posted. I look forward to watching the latest offerings from STrax, over coffee once the cleaning is done.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Poor Dalek. Must be so hard trying to decorate a tree with a sink plunger. No wonder they are so irritable.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I am looking forward to The ‘Tractate Middoth.” I didn’t know about “Whistle and I’ll Come to You”. I will have to hunt it down.

@thommck. Love that first sofa. The second is fun but I could not imagine anyone actually having that in their living room. The first would look good as a piece of furniture.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@MartyB I loved your comment re’ McGann and Ecclestone in the hideous costume. The former pulls it off but the later just is wrong, wrong, wrong. I think because although he does have cat that missed the tray look (all hail the mighty @arbutus. (nice to have another cat person about)) he  can play the clown whereas Ecclestone can’t. He looks a little sleazy.

@phaseshift, You are fortunate to have completed your Christmas shopping duties. We have barely started, apart from rather too many sonic screwdrivers and a tardis beach towel. Santa will be delivering an IOU this year. (well there have been more funding cuts at the NOrth POle, and due to his habitual disorganisation the orders weren’t put in early enough for certain highly desirable electronic items and thus the supply did not meet demands and those items will be delivered by elves doing overtime after the festive season which of course will blow out the year’s budget and given that more cuts are inevtiable it seems that Christmas 2014 might be cancelled, unless of course, the good Doctor, whom we all know really is Santa or at least one of his advisers, steps in. A thought maybe Gallifrey is hidden at the North POle. That would explain the entire Santa mystery. I have long assumed that the sleigh is a Tardis and for Santa to have lived so long he must be a time lord and he clearly is not bound to the standard rules of time. (Sorry I’m rambling. Anything to avoid Christmas cards.)

Cheers

‘Janette

[janetteB @replies]

b) An Australian band have a song which expresses my feelings about them perfectly. It’s titled “Blow up the Pokies”. Sadly most of our pubs have been invaded by them.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Our local pub now does coffee and cake. (and repairs bicycles.) Still at least they are pokie free. Most of our pubs have caught that affliction.

Oh and it’s definitely coffee in the morning while I catch up on the news and read through forum news if I have time, then coffee during the day to keep the neurons ticking while I work, then wine in the evening then coffee before bed while I check the news and the forum again to see if anything has changed.  @bluesqueakpip. I like the “Christmas tea” suggestion.

@osakahatter I have been mostly lurking too lately due to real life demands. It always gets a little crazy at this time of year. I am still catching up on TDotD discussion. Haven’t had time to even consider the Christmas special yet.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

This afternoon I invited friends in for a cup of tea, they being of the tea drinking persuasion, only to find, after rummaging through the pantry that the only tea to be found was either Peppermint or Chai. I compensated for the lack of their preferred beverage by showing them “The Night of the Doctor” and The Five(ish) Doctors”. Coffee is my addiction of choice. I think I was still at primary school when I was introduced to it. When I was a student I would occasionally try and give up by switching to herbal tea but one late night working and I would be in desperate need of caffeine in order to get through the next day even though it tended to put me to sleep.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I thought I would check in and say hi. Of late I have been reduced to lurking due to  the totally unreasonable demands of real life. I am still catching up with TDoTD thread. I haven’t got to the Christmas special discussion yet. Nice to see lots of new members adding to this little community. welcome all. It does seem there have been a few issues which I’m glad to have missed. Running a forum is no easier than any organisation that involves humans. Congrats to @fatmaninabox on your promotion to Time Lord status. (Can you please give me two extra months between now and christmas. Urgently required.)

Hope to catch up on the discussion soon.

(@Bluesqueakpip, my aunt made all her cakes in the microwave for many years so it certainly can be done. I’m sure yours will be scrummy and better too moist than too dry.)

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@craig. thanks for the info. I did have a minor meltdown when I thought I had been cut off from the site but, being the grumpy type I am, I hit log in twice in sheer vexation and it worked.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Have finally found time to read through this thread, (many more to go..) I agree with @Shazzbot that the Doctor and Clara have now safely left the time line. The special may involve a return to it, or events that flow from it. I don’t think the events of tdotd (shift key not working) took place within the time line. I liked @thommck‘s theory that the silence are escaped time lords. I also liked @juniperfish‘s baby in the crib idea. Clara did suggest she was a “time child” being born behind a clock, in the Snowmen. I have always wanted that story to have some significance. I have not had time to think of any wild bonkers theories and think this time I will just sit back and enjoy what enfolds. (that might change once I get the xmas cards done, the workshop I’ve been asked to give sorted and the picnic which I am hosting organised, not the mention the convention which I’m supposed to be planning. Thank goodness I don’t have areal job.)

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

HI, waves at the crowd and what a crowd it is. (I tend to slink off to the garden to contemplate quietly when it gets too noisy) I have also been busy all week catching up on R.L. (if designing xmas cards can be described thus) and whenever I check in I am bewildered by the number of posts which I don’t have time to read. I have just got back as far as @scaryb ‘s brilliant post at 21980. Very well put.

REgards

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I should add that the U.K probably has more good actors than Kidman’s cattle station had cattle. : – )

After Smith’s performance in the 59th I don’t think he will lack roles in the future. I hope he does well. He deserves it.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I think MOffat has already explained the similarity between Capaldi’s doctor and the Roman. Tom Baker says he revists favourite faces in later regenerations, surely that suggests he can revisit faces he has encountered on this travels as well, though I agree with @whohar. It wasn’t necessary. Capaldi is an actor. The Roman was a character as is the Doctor.

Sorry to be pedantic @denvaldron but Australians don’t have “ranches”. I think what you are referring to is a cattle station. I can’t verify the truth of that claim but it probably referrred to Sir Sidney Kidman who once owned a considerable portion of the Australian outback.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Hi. I’m still catching up on posts. I have taken photos but haven’t had time to down load and resize them so hope it isn’t too late to share.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

It is late, and will not have time until tomorrow to read through all the posts. Has been a busy weekend, making souffles, and mock fish fingers etc before racing down to the city to see the film. The cinema was packed and they had thrown in extra sessions since we booked. Lots of people in costume, everyone massively excited. It was a great atmosphere but there was also aprehension too, would it meet expectations. After the long build up we were afraid that the film would not deliver.

From Strax doing the “turn of your mobiles” blurb, it was one joy after another. I loved the original credits, the Coal Hill School sign, the Tardis being helicoptered to the Tower. (Especially as that was a “yes I guessed it” moment.) The Zygon story was fun, classic Who, set against the darker, deeper Nu Who of the time war and the two, totally different but similiar stories were so beautifully woven together. (by different I mean tone not actual story). I was also rather chuffed to have been almost right as to what the story would be about, saving the civilians/children of Gallifrey and I am still clinging to my theory that the children will end up on earth being cared for by Claricles though 2 billion is rather a lot of children even for someone with multiple reincarnations.

Tennant and Matt Smith were superb together. They surely are identical twins, with slightly altered appearances that is. John Hurt was wonderful, striking just the right note of superior, aged, fan. He gave voice to some of the most common fan gripes, over use of the sonic, childish language, and of course all the snogging. Scarf girl was great. Ok so there was nothing in the name after all. MOffat just likes obscure dark ages names. Fine so do I. Kate Lethbridge Stewart has more than earned her status as the Brig’s daughter. I hope she will have many more appearances in the series.

In the last few days I became convinced that we were going to see Capaldi in this. I did think that he was one of the three doctors referenced as Hurt was not a Doctor. I was wrong but thrilled all the same when he made his brief appearance. I loved the way the old series was referenced, over and over; the school at the beginning, the images in the Tower and of course with all the Doctors at the end. They were all there as they should have been. I did not want to see them as they are now… and so,

When I saw the back of that all too familiar head at the end, my heart sank. I did not think it would work but clever, clever Moffat proved me wrong and at the same time explained that uncanny likeness the 13th regeneration has to a certain Roman whom he encountered in his past. I noted that Capaldi calls himself the 13th not the 12th. Only realised that in the car on the way home.

So to wrap up, the entire family were captivated. The audience in the cinema applauded when it finished. A success? Yes!

Now for the full lenght feature film. Just please please let it be produced by the BBC…

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

We are running a day behind in Oz. The real celebration is tomorrow but we did get up at 7.30 am and raise a glass to @htpbdet.

Lots of articles in the Guardian today to enjoy between party preparations.

Hope everyone else is having a wonderful time..

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@pedent. I am the Florist too. : – (  Didn’t know there were that many gardens on Gallifrey. Looks rather out outback S.A. to me; desert.

@tardisblue You can also serve chips, (Rose) sandwiches and Gorgozola (Pertwee. Jo was always offering the UNIT boys sandwiches), grapes for Hartnell. (the Romans.) I think they also ate doormice but that might be taking things a little too far. I am not sure just how healthy or gourmet a Dr themed feast is. Might have to work out for the following week to compensate. The other fruits mentioned are apples with smiles cut into them and satsumas, (mandarins in oz. Not sure what they are called in the U.S.) And of course do not forget the souffles. I had not thought of bananas and not will probably only use celery as a garnish. I was also going to include sliced Turkey as Christmas dinner gets a mention a few times and my boys are not convinced that cheese and mushroom souffle is really food.

Getting excited. Only two more days to get through till the weekend and celebrations begin…

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@Shazzbot. Absolutely. I will have time to downsize pics for email after Friday. We are all making plans for the cake, decorations etc.  Agreed re’ the Baileys. I will probably have my coffee black as usual and have the Baileys seperately. I have already set the alarm for Saturday. I am sorry I didn’t send a better version of my avatar. I was planning to photoshop on a party hat but time as usual was not with me. It is all a bit crazy here right now.

cheers

Janette

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

Just to add I noticed from the JLC interview that P.C. has started filming in costume. I wonder if there will be any pre-Christmas publicty shots or it will be a Christmas surprise. Let’s hope this one doesn’t get leaked. (Umm. Wonder if he will be wearing  kilt. It is about time there was a shift from the suit look though I really did like Matt’s costume.)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Thanks to @wolfweed for keeping us all up to date and @bluesqueakpip for that lovely Tennant clip. I love his face though that. Definitely one for the ARSE fans. @jimthefish. There has certainly been a surge in bad natured comments recently on the Guan. I think they all coming out of whatever dark corners they normally lurk in for the anniversary, getting their share of the fun. I have not had time to post and as the articles usually go up in the night our time anything worth saying has usually been said, (mostly by all of you guys) by the time I get to read though but I do a lot of recommending.

@blenkinsopthebrave, I thought that a very bad photo of Hartnell so you are forgiven for thinking it was Hurndall. (Never realised just how similiar their names are.) I also thought their picture of Baker was taken after he left Dr Who. I don’t recall him looking that old in the series. It looks like a later publicity shot to me. You can see the grey hair under his hat.

I have a much treasured and now rather battered copy of the Radio Time anniversary special so it obviously made it onto the shelves in Australia.

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

@Shazzbot 7.30 am on Saturday morning!! : – (  That is going to be one very unusual breakfast in bed. : – )  It sounds like a good excuse to buy some Baileys.. I am honoured to be able to take part in the toast, albeit from a very great distance. I miss @htpbdet and keep wondering what he would he would be thinking and saying if he were with us now.

We will be celebrating on the Sunday. I have a party list of Who related foods. Second recalictrant teenager has promised to make a Marzipan Tardis and I have suggested he try his hand at some weeping angels too. He made an excellent Tardis last April for his Dad’s birthday cake which will be called into service. (It was deemed too good to eat and so now sits beside the marzipan Hedwig which is over ten years old and has been to Sweden and back.)

I am counting down the days to the weekend as we are not just celebrating the anniversary but also the end of boys’ exams. It has been a tough few months. All this study and revision, (which naturally can’t be done without the assistance of frazzled parents) has been distracting me from the important issues, ie, just what the three doctors are going to be doing.

Cheers

Janette

 

 

 

[janetteB @replies]

@fatmaninabox. I like that theory. The museum does seem to have a lot of Dr related items in it. Maybe that brown painting is of Gallifrey and it was a Time Lord who escaped. Might have to move this conversation to the Trailer thread. I just keep forgetting what has and hasn’t been revealed elsewhere. Is scarf girl’s name known beyond the Spoilers thread?

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Love the tapestry. Thanks for the link @fatmaninabox. I would love a copy of that to put on youngest son’s wall.

cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Fascinated by scarf girl. Obviously there was an old scarf left lying around UNIT headquaters so that is easily explained. The name has echoes of Oswin and Oswald however Osgood is Old Norse and also has the element, “god” in it. This does seem to gel with the whole Cumbria/Northumbria threat that has been running through this most recent series.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Lots of great offering yet again @wolfweed. I loved those mits but the last image wins the gold crown, (or should that be a gold sonic screwdriver) for the day.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Nice Radio Times interview. Thanks @wolfweed. That scarf is annoying me. Why? Why the scarf? It looks rather Fourth wall to me. If not then it must be significant. Recalcitrant teenager and I have just been speculating about it. Did Dr 4 give Romana his scarf when he left her in E Space with K.9 mk II? Umm. methinks I should watch the trailer again.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

And for those of us who are only attending in 2d, can there please, please be some pics so we can picture the event that we are attending in spirit.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Thanks for the link @scaryb. Really enjoyed the interview though I could not help but wonder if there was any significance to the selection of clips, Troughton Dr talking about his family, T.B. about to destry the Daleks, and Vincent and the paintings.. Maybe I am reading too much into too little. I had better go and watch Pyramids of Mars instead. 😉

It was interesting that Colin Baker wasn’t even mentioned. A very definite slight. Clearly Moffat felt that as he could not say anything positive it was better to say nothing at all. Agree with @Shazzbot re’ the comment about Matt. “A young man assembled by old men.” It does describe him perfectly.

@wolfweed. I want to go to New Zealand…

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Congrat @miapatrick. That is an excellent result.

I will send my avatar. It is on my “to do list”.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@fatmaninabox loved the pic of Clara. Clever you.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

There is one things which is clear about Anthony Coburn from that article, he fathered a pratt.

Thanks for all the great images and links @wolfweed. It has taken me half the day to catch up with everything. (I still have at least a page of posts to read).

The Guardian are really fueling the excitement now with lots of fun articles. It seems we are going to given at least one Who related story a day now. Something to liven up the Breakky coffee.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

The Doctor did talk about the Time War. Maybe what we are going to see is another war, one he hasn’t talked about involving rafts, British royalty, the Gamma forests and Fields of Trenzalore, Daleks, Zygons but not involving the Time Lords, or maybe that is just what the Trailer is crafted to make us think.. Because one thing I am certain of, the trailer will not contain genuine spoilers, just misdirections.

Thanks @everyone who shared links, including those which were taken down, for posting. The excitement starts building now and I could certainly do with it.

cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Thanks for the pics “he who is not a fish.”  @pedant These are definitely teasers, especially that first shot with that costume item which I doubt very much will actually appear in the 50th. (but would would jump for joy if it did.)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@jimthefish. Excellent drawing of Doctor Zero. 🙂  I don’t think you are too rusty.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

I have scribbled down a few ideas. (Have been rather distracted lately with recalictrant teenager doing exams etc.)

• I think that the special will deal with the time war but will take the concept into entirely new directions. We will find out that “it does not mean what we thought it means” because Moffat likes to turn literal meanings on their heads.
• I think the special will also cover the first Doctor and the reason he left Gallifrey, tying the future to the past and Hurt may well turn out to be Doctor Zero.
• Despite being Doctor Zero I think the entire story might take place in an alternate time line. Perhaps one that the Doctor rejected by running from Gallifrey. (I know I am getting tangled up in knots with this but here goes.) Maybe Hurt is the Doctor that would have been had he not run off in the Tardis or had he taken a different Tardis. He is not evil or bad, just pragmatic.
• I think that the Doctor and Clara will undo some of the harm done by the Hurt Dr by rescuing the Children of Gallifrey and maybe the untitled civilians but the Time Lords will remain locked away. (Amusingly that would include Leela. Would be a lovely surprise if she was in the story but I’m not expecting it.)
• I expect that we are going to find out more about Clara but I don’t think she is the Doctor’s daughter. Too much snogging and short skirt smirks for that. I would not be surprised however to find out that Clara has some link to Gallifrey or his past.
• We will find out what happens on the fields of Trenzalore and possibly what occurs in the Gamma Forests.
• The Silence will Fall. That might mean several things however. That silence falls across the universe due to the death of the Doctor but that has been done, several times now. Silence might fall as a result of the GI to be lifted by the joint endeavours of Doctors 10 & 11 or The Silence will fall due to the actions of said Doctors.
• The limit on regenerations will be lifted in a novel and amusing way.
• Zygons will be important simply because we all expect that they won’t. They will be working for the G.I or whoever the “Big Bad” is because of their shape shifting ability. Zygons as big rubbery monsters are naff but zygons as humans are truely scary because you don’t know whom to trust. You can even trust that the Doctor is the Doctor or Clara is Clara.
• Some of hte action will take place on earth as we know that U.N.I.T. will be involved. or a Zygon copy at least.
• And that is all for now. I am certain I will think of more or change my mind at least five times before the 23rd.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

I often read through the wonderful posts and simply have nothing worthwhile to add to what has already been said. I don’t always get the time or succeed in persuading other family members to watch the selected old episodes as well. I read through everything however. I check in every day, over coffee in the morning, when I’m tired of writing, which is about every five minutes in the afternoon, after the school run, while enjoying a pre dinner shiraz, with coffee after dinner.. and so on.

@whisht I also spent far too much time trying to work out anagrams of Clara Oswin. (I’d given up thankfully before she acquired the Oswald.) I have also spent some rather more productive hours researching into the history of the Saxon rulers Oswin and Oswald but not one single bonkers theory has resulted from all my endeavoures. Now if they were Cumbrain rather than Northumbrian…

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

A toy collector forum I was a once an active member of, (which sadly died a few years ago) had members from around the world, many of whom did not speak English as a first language. Most began by explaining that and apologising in advance for any errors they might make. It was never an issue. Some clearly struggled but they all managed at least to know when to end and begin sentences. (I think in the example here it was a lack of respect rather than a lack of linguistic ability that was the issue.) I have only just read through the exchange on the Spoilers thread discussed above and I think there is a little too much angst on the part of members here over what happened.  This is a friendly forum which does welcome new members. We treat people in response to the way they present themselves. Having been a member of several on line communities for many years I have always found that one can tell a lot about a person from almost their first post. I was fortunate to be able to meet up with many members of the forum I was a member of when we travelled in the UK and Europe and found that the members I met were just as I imagined them to be. (not physically as I pictured them all to look like their avatars). @craig, @wolfweed, @Shazzbot and @everybody, you are all fantastic and this is a wonderful place to be.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Have commented though we are supposed to be getting dinner so may not be as coherent or relevant as it could be. (I had to scan the article. Will re-read later over coffee.)

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

I will go over there straight away. The first few points are outrageous enough,.  I loved K.9 when I was 18 and I can’t stay silent while he is rubbished but to bag Rory, that is going way, way too far..

Thanks for the heads up @Shazzbot.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

One extra albiet very, very, very minor point to add is ‘why Cumbria? Given the rather odd joke about Carlisle in the following episode the choice of location appears to be highlighted for a reason, MOffat playing cat and mouse with us again I suspect. (That may not have been mentioned until the discussion about the significance of Cumbria following the Carlisle joke.)

Another minor but niggling question for me is why did the childrens’ mother die the week that Clara came to stay? It is implied that her death was not connected to Clara’s visit but was unexpected.

(apologise for not re-watching the episode as required but we are helping Recalcitrant Teenager study for a forthcoming Maths exam and no distracting TV is allowed. Fortunately the 23rd is the weekend after all exams end. Perfect timing)

Could not help but notice that the comment above was @htpbdet‘s first (or one of his first) post(s) here and it was brilliant as usual.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

Thank-you for sharing your Uncle’s theories with us at this most difficult time @mini-htpbdets  It had that touch of brilliance that his theories so often did and certainly gives a whole new dimension to our bonkers theorising. Moffat does like to misdirect and it would be so like him to have set up the Hurt Doctor as one of the Doctor’s incarnations which we didn’t previously know about only to pull that rug from under our feet. Moffat loves to play with the audiences expectations.

Re’ the Zygons. They may not have been one of the most memorable of Who monsters for most fans but their shape shifting ability did give them a scare factor that far outweighed their rubber monster appearance. I too would be surprised if they last beyond the first five minutes, however, given their shape shifting abilities, they may have a bigger role to play. (The Terror of the Zygons was the first Dr Who story I ever watched so I am rather excited by their return.)

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Umm. Now that sounds way too spoilery for me… I find that I am getting increasingly spoiler shy these days. Once  I would have gobbled up any information I could.  This forum is teaching me patience.

Cheers

Janette

 

[janetteB @replies]

Agree with everything that has been said. I was also rather aprehensive about such a young actor playing the role but listening to Moffat talk about the reasons for his selection I was hoping that we would all see what he saw once Smith stepped out of the Tardis, and boy did we see it. That mad smile won me over immediately. He “bounced” off little Amelia so well and who could fail to love someone who eats fish fingers and custard. In fact I think that Matt has always been at his best when acting against children. I loved his performance in Closing Time which, though not one of the best stories in terms of plot and monster, remains one of my favourites. I did find the characterisation a little eratic at first. I felt as though Matt was trying to be every regeneration rather than simply being himself but that soon settled down into the role. By this most recent series he had fully come into his own and I do wish he had at least two more series to build on what he has done to date with the character. (But I am equally impatient to see what P.C. will do with the role.) I think also that Matt deserves credit for following Tennant and pulling off his incarnation for he was stepping into some very big shoes, something I am sure he was fully aware of. It was a daunting task for such a young and relatively inexperienced actor.

I agree fully with you @phaseshift when you talk about the element of insanity. Like you Tom Baker (how annoying that there is another Baker who has no right to the title of Dr) was my doctor so that “element of insanity” is part of what defines the Doctor.

Cheers

Janette

[janetteB @replies]

@whisht that was a wonderful bonkers theory.  I do wish London wasn’t so faaaar away.

Cheers

Janette

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