Doctor starting ages (debut not announcement)
Hartnell 55
Troughton 46
Pertwee 50
Tom Baker 40
Peter Davison 29
Colin Baker 40
McCoy 44
McGann 36
Eccleston 41
Tennant 34
Smith 27
Whitaker 35
Gatwa 30/31 (depending when in 2023)
Those old ones weren't as old as you might think! I guess people age better these days!
This is my take almost entirely. A "like" is not enough.CAPALDI????
How soon we forget (and 55). Also, people are younger now than they used to be.
I think Gatwa will be amazing, but I also agree that the main thing is the writing. Whittaker and Capaldi were both amazing actors with great takes on the Doctor, but were let down by the writing (IMO). On the other hand, Smith was an unknown (at the time) who was amazing at the role, both because of his ability and because he had some good scripts (well, for a while).
I am pleasantly optimistic. Especially because I know a few people that had gotten off the Who train recently* but are now very excited because Gatwa had done such an amazing job on Sex Education.
*ETA- recently being relative. Just not that into it over the Capaldi/Whittaker tenure.
I'm in that category. I stopped watching UK broadcast TV (and paying a TV Licence) a few years ago, and caught Whittaker's first couple of seasons by buying them on YouTube, but haven't been moved to purchase her most recent seasons.I am pleasantly optimistic. Especially because I know a few people that had gotten off the Who train recently* but are now very excited because Gatwa had done such an amazing job on Sex Education.
*ETA- recently being relative. Just not that into it over the Capaldi/Whittaker tenure.
CAPALDI????
How soon we forget (and 55). Also, people are younger now than they used to be.
I think Gatwa will be amazing, but I also agree that the main thing is the writing. Whittaker and Capaldi were both amazing actors with great takes on the Doctor, but were let down by the writing (IMO). On the other hand, Smith was an unknown (at the time) who was amazing at the role, both because of his ability and because he had some good scripts (well, for a while).
I am pleasantly optimistic. Especially because I know a few people that had gotten off the Who train recently* but are now very excited because Gatwa had done such an amazing job on Sex Education.
*ETA- recently being relative. Just not that into it over the Capaldi/Whittaker tenure.
Capaldi was more misses than hits, no doubt about that, but some of the hits (mostly in the latter half of his run) were absolutely stunning. I'll put "Hell Bent" and "Extremis" up against any episode in the show's entire history. Even a burnt-out, overstretched Steven Moffat could still conjure up the old magic once in a while.Capaldi was wherevthe show started to go meh. We were discussing about quitting back then.
Screens for free here on the tvnz app watched that Dalek special with Whittaker and that was decent.
Capaldi was more misses than hits, no doubt about that, but some of the hits (mostly in the latter half of his run) were absolutely stunning. I'll put "Hell Bent" and "Extremis" up against any episode in the show's entire history. Even a burnt-out, overstretched Steven Moffat could still conjure up the old magic once in a while.
Sadly, I can't think of anything comparable from Whittaker and Chibnall's run. The hits were decent, but no more than that. And the misses were... well, let's just say they did damage.
Yeah but I think he nailed old man mannerisms. He often sold “I’m extremely tired” much better than I’d expect from a very young person.Smith certainly did.