Bring Christopher Eccleston back to Doctor Who

[Zombie_61]

Having lived in the U.S. all my life (so far, anyway) my experience with Doctor Who before 2005 was minimal at best--only the occasional magazine article, and I don't recall any of the episodes or specials ever being broadcast on television. Needless to say, Eccleston was my first Doctor, and he's still my favorite. Initially I wasn't too impressed with Tennant by comparison, but he eventually grew on me.

So far Smith hasn't impressed me at all. I have to agree with Orange_Blend's comment that he just seems too young to be convincing. It's not his youthful appearance as much as his approach to the role--that of a young man pretending to be older. He doesn't seem to have enough real-life experience at 28 years old to convincingly portray a being who occasionally seems to have the weight of the universe on his shoulders.

BUT...I have to admit I'm just now catching up through reruns on BBC America. I saw Eccleston's first two episodes but lost track of the show (for reasons I can't recall now), even though I thought it was brilliant. And I've seen only a handful of Tennant and Smith episodes at this point, so perhaps I'll have a better "feel" for the show once I've seen more episodes from each season/series.

 

[Organic Mechanic]

I think Cris was an EXCELLENT Doctor, and if they do a multi Doc story for the 50th, I'd love to see him, as well as McGann make an appearance. Tennant too, of course, but 8 & 9 simply haven't had enough screen time for my taste.

Unfortunately, I don't see them doing it. Mr.Eccleston has famously had his fill of the role, and McGann is hell bent to change his doctor. :wacko

I've never read any of the fan fiction but I see Eccleston as the Doctor that was "forged in the flames".

I picture that the 8th Doctor fought in the Time War and when the time came to blow up all the Timelords and Daleks it was a scenario similar to the end of The Parting of the Ways. The Doctor was about to blow up every Dalek but it would take out every Timelord as well, including himself. Except this time he did do it and somehow, being at the epicenter of the blast wasn't pulled into the time lock and was able to regenerate. The 9th Doctor was literally born out of the final act of the Time War.

Using that as my made up back story it's easy to see why Eccleston played it the way he did. I loved Eccleston and in general I love a dark doctor.

Tennant though was forged from almost the exact opposite circumstances. The Doctor DIDN'T flip the switch and kill everyone and he was saved by someone who clearly meant something to him. Hence an overall lighter persona. I loved the way Tennant played the role as well. He was all over the place and clearly loved adventure again as opposed to Eccelston's "This is the cross I have to bear" mentality which would have eventually gotten old.

My favourite Tennant moments though were when he turned heartless, starting to truly grasp that he's alone in the Universe, Timelord victorious. The end of Runaway Bride was one of these, also the end of the Pompeii episode and most classically at the end of Waters of Mars.

I agree that the best companion was Donna Noble, if only for the fact that there wasn't an attraction between them. I get tired of that really quickly.

As for Matt Smith, after his first season I still find him hit and miss. He just seems too young to be convincing in the role. Not to mention I'm absolutely sick of River Song. She's become cocky and annoying and looks like a cougar with Matt's Doctor.

Dude! My sentiments exactly! Of all the comments about "New Series Who" I've read, I think you may be the first to be watching the same show I am. :cool

 

[MooMooEgg]

And you're right about Moffat. His episodes in RTD's run were really good- especially 'The Empty Child' and 'The Doctor Dances' but all the 11th Doctors episodes seem half baked, half arsed, and formulaic. Boring, I must say, with a few exceptions- the Dreamweaver episode was good.

I completely agree with this. I was having a discussion about this with my sis, and we basically came to the conclusion that Moffat is much better at writing one-shot episodes but is horrible at continuity

Spoiler

(angels looking at each other!?!?!)

and dealing with an entire series arc

Spoiler

(showing the glowing crack at the end of each episode in season 5 was so annoying. At least the references to Bad Wolf and John Saxon weren't so blatant).

I have a shirt that says "you never forget your first doctor," and Eccleston was my first and favorite. Like someone else said, He seemed to be the most tortured out of the new Doctors and did a very good job pretending to be happy when he was hurting inside (maybe Eccleston drew inspiration from the difficulties behind the scenes). I loved what he did at the end of his run when the Daleks basically dared him to kill everyone in that space station.

Tennant was ok, but he really was out there some of the times, though I feel he was the best developed out of the new Doctors simply because he had the most screen time. I think Smith has potential (I do find him more "genuine" than Tennant), but he's hindered by Moffet's writing. He seems to be put into a lot of situations where he emerges triumphantly more out of stupid luck instead of ingenuity. There are little quirks that Smith's Doctor definitely will be remembered for (food craziness, bow ties), but at the moment, his Doctor just doesn't feel whole yet.

I'll sign that petition for more Eccleston

 

[themeinside]

Hey MooMooEgg- I agree entirely with you, though that may be because you agree with me... paradox XD

I've set up a quick online petition, so if anyone wants to sign it, however futile they think the effort may be, here is the link:

Eccleston to Return To Doctor Who if the Opportunity Arises

Cheers

 

[Organic Mechanic]

Nice. Signed.

 

[TheDoctor]

Sadly there have already been stories about Smith finishing at the end of the next season. Not true, I hope, but if he does go...can we have SEAN Pertwee next maybe?

All of those stories are based on ONE article in The Sun (Britian's Enquirer). Karen Gillian, however, says she believes the story to be made up.

I wouldn't put it past any actor, but I thought I remember reading that the BBC had a 'gentlemen's agreement' with Smith for at least three full seasons (of course, if it's not in the contract, forget it).

Personally speaking, the BBC really should get a three-four season contract from anyone playing "The Doctor" before signing them. I like keeping things fresh, but not THAT fresh...

 

[Risu]

I'm just now catching this thread, but I wanted to comment on some things from a ways back.

First of all, it would definitely be cool to see Eccleston and McGann back for a special. I say let McGann do what he likes with the character, as that seems to be the way they run it now anyways.

As for the Doctor I like best, Eccleston and Tennant are technically both my first Doctor because of the way I was introduced to the show, and while I think a higher percentage of Eccleston's episodes are good, Tennant is my favorite. That being said, I love the way Smith plays it, and his character has really grown on me over the last season. However, no matter how good I think he is, his performance is trumped by Moffat's terrible writing. More and more people seem to be showing their distaste for this last season now that it's over, maybe they've finally stopped remembering Moffat for what his name USED to mean. I personally think he dropped the ball in a big way with all this "fairy tale" stuff and River annoys me more than any other character in the series, series 1 Mickey and Jackie and Runaway Bride Donna combined. Who is my favorite show and I actually considered not watching any more halfway through last season.

 

[Jamanticus]

River annoys me more than any other character in the series, series 1 Mickey and Jackie and Runaway Bride Donna combined.

Agreed, Risu.

Her character has consistently provoked these emotional responses in me:

:eek
:confused
:sick
:angry
:unsure

 

[TheDoctor]

However, no matter how good I think he is, his performance is trumped by Moffat's terrible writing. More and more people seem to be showing their distaste for this last season now that it's over, maybe they've finally stopped remembering Moffat for what his name USED to mean. I personally think he dropped the ball in a big way with all this "fairy tale" stuff and River annoys me more than any other character in the series, series 1 Mickey and Jackie and Runaway Bride Donna combined. Who is my favorite show and I actually considered not watching any more halfway through last season.

Really? I'm not getting that from either people I know or online articles I read. In fact, the response has been overwhelmingly positive for Matt Smith.

Reguarding River: I love the character, but I'd rather her be more mysterious, something in the Doctor's future. It's nice to know he HAS a future.

The only thing I will say is that they'd Dalek-ized the Angels. The Angels were better left as a mystery as well. I don't like that they try to make the bad guys more frightening by saying "Oh, last time they were scavengers. But THIS time... Watch Out!"

Every time we encounter the Daleks, The Doctor has a line about why last time it was no biggie, but THIS time, there's no escape.

 

[NakedMoleRat]

Sick of the Daleks! I could use a few years break from them! :wacko

 

[Risu]

Really? I'm not getting that from either people I know or online articles I read. In fact, the response has been overwhelmingly positive for Matt Smith.

I'm for Smith as the Doctor as well, I just can't stand what Moffet has done to the show. All this fairy tale business is not what I or anybody I've asked ever envisioned the show as. Moffet says Who isn't sci-fi, but it is. It really is. And the general opinion is still overwhelmingly positive, but several people I know have changed their tune now that the series is over. Call it acceptable levels of disappointment.

 

[Solo4114]

I'm just now catching this thread, but I wanted to comment on some things from a ways back.

First of all, it would definitely be cool to see Eccleston and McGann back for a special. I say let McGann do what he likes with the character, as that seems to be the way they run it now anyways.

As for the Doctor I like best, Eccleston and Tennant are technically both my first Doctor because of the way I was introduced to the show, and while I think a higher percentage of Eccleston's episodes are good, Tennant is my favorite. That being said, I love the way Smith plays it, and his character has really grown on me over the last season. However, no matter how good I think he is, his performance is trumped by Moffat's terrible writing. More and more people seem to be showing their distaste for this last season now that it's over, maybe they've finally stopped remembering Moffat for what his name USED to mean. I personally think he dropped the ball in a big way with all this "fairy tale" stuff and River annoys me more than any other character in the series, series 1 Mickey and Jackie and Runaway Bride Donna combined. Who is my favorite show and I actually considered not watching any more halfway through last season.

At least it's not Adric....


As for some of the other points, well, I can't comment on this season with much authority, since I haven't seen any of Smith's run yet, but...


- The tendency to answer questions about this or that monster or bit of lore. I think that's fairly common now and began during the Davies era. Davies loves explaining the lore and such, from what I can tell, but doles it out bit by bit. I mean, I haven't even seen the special yet, but I know he has an episode with Rassilon himself!

- As for the Daleks...pretty much every season has at least one or two Dalek episodes, from what I can tell. This has been the case since they were introduced. They're popular. Always have been. Probably always will be. Up there with the Cybermen. I'd like to see them bring back some of the other monsters of the past, though, especially ones that were a cool concept but couldn't be done justice with the "rubber suit" treatment. Silurians or Sea Devils, for example. Ice Warriors, maybe.

- You HAD to expect the Angels to come back. First, Blink was one of the BEST episodes of Season 3. Second, it was such a COOL concept, and scary to boot. Especially if you live anywhere where there are statues. Good lord, the entire art museum could be trying to eat you!!

- Can't speak to the rest of the writing, but Who has gone through its runs of "meh" writers and stories. It's always enjoyable, but it ebbs and flows at times. Look at it this way -- it could be the Colin Baker era. I really do think that Colin Baker COULD have been a good Doctor IF he'd had better writers who knew how to develop a character rather than just hit the same note over and over (which in his case was snarky and obnoxious). Actually, same goes for Adric, even. From the special features of the Peter Davison era, it seems like nobody ever really knew what to do with Adric, so he just came across as an annoying prat. In the end, it's the writing that makes or breaks Who. The actors are almost always capable, but if you give 'em meatloaf to work with, it's hard for them to turn it into filet.

 

[Michael Bergeron]

As for the Daleks...pretty much every season has at least one or two Dalek episodes, from what I can tell.

In the new series there's only one time that the Daleks were even remotely intimidating and that was in the episode "Dalek".

One unstopable Dalek taking out an entire base slowly and methodically is scary. Many Daleks not so much. The way this series has worked it seems that they just keep trying to make things bigger each episode and it pushes into the ridiculous and loses all credibility. I can only suspend my belief so far...

Smith is okay... I'd like to see him with better writing and, as I've said before, PLEASE no more River Song!

 

[E-Wan]

I think if you compare Moffat's first season with RTD's, Moffat comes out ahead.

 

[Organic Mechanic]

I think if you compare Moffat's first season with RTD's, Moffat comes out ahead.

I respectfully disagree to the Nth degree. I love Who in all of it's permutations, though some of it a lot less than others (I'm looking at YOU Mr. Turner...), and honestly I found "Season 1" interesting on many levels, new outlook for the Doctor, new format, compelling stories, etc. With "Season 5" I was primarily watching Karen's legs, and came to appreciate the new Doctor & the writing a bit later.

 

[Jodo Kast 3]

I would have been happy with a regeneration sequence from McGannto Eccleston.


That would have made A LOT of people very happy....


They better bring back McGann for the Annv. episode...

 

[E-Wan]

I respectfully disagree to the Nth degree. I love Who in all of it's permutations, though some of it a lot less than others (I'm looking at YOU Mr. Turner...), and honestly I found "Season 1" interesting on many levels, new outlook for the Doctor, new format, compelling stories, etc. With "Season 5" I was primarily watching Karen's legs, and came to appreciate the new Doctor & the writing a bit later.

I agree that Eccleston was a fantastic Doctor and RTD arguably had a harder job in bringing the series back from the brink, but Season 1 swung a little too much between dark and introspective to broad and cheesey. Moffat's first run at it has had some of the best episodes of Who for me overall, and has been consistent in it's tone and quality. There's a very cinematic quality to the new series that suits it well and belies the budget and scope of the show.

 

[Michael Bergeron]

I agree that Eccleston was a fantastic Doctor and RTD arguably had a harder job in bringing the series back from the brink, but Season 1 swung a little too much between dark and introspective to broad and cheesey. Moffat's first run at it has had some of the best episodes of Who for me overall, and has been consistent in it's tone and quality. There's a very cinematic quality to the new series that suits it well and belies the budget and scope of the show.

I have to agree with Organic Mechanic on this one. Season one did vary but in the end produced more episodes that I remember and like to watch again than this last season did.

This season I think the Vangogh and the Dream Lord episodes were ones I'd return to but the rest was pretty forgetable. Not bad mind you, but forgetable. (I do however have to give a mention to the end of the Spaceship Britain episode when the Doctor realizes what's been going on. That whole scene was great. "NO HUMAN CAN TALK TO ME TODAY!")

Season 1 had Dalek, Father's Day (very unique for Who), the Empty Child two-parter, and the Parting of the Ways.

The effects were worse first season and they were still establishing a feel but it was definitely a better season IMHO.

 

[Solo4114]

Side note:

I finally watched all the Tennant specials, and I have to say I loved 'em all. The first two were a good bit more "happy-go-lucky" but Waters of Mars and The End of Time were quite impressive.

I get where people were coming from when they say he acted "out of character", but actually I think you can trace the buildup of his character to those points. Tennant's Doctor kind of snaps, towards the end. In fact, I saw a LOT more of "John Smith, human" in the Doctor in his last two (three, technically) specials. I really think Tennant's Doctor was the most human of all of them (haven't seen Smith yet, except for a few seconds). Taking that into account, it makes sense that he'd do what he does and react how he reacts.

And the End of Time....whooof....talk about a tearjerker. Easily some of the most moving work I've seen on Who ever.

 

[JBReplicas]

I agree, Tennant was not my favourite by a long shot but I enjoyed seeing his Doctor deteriorate towards the end of his 10th incarnation, how he suddenly became very aware of his own mortality was quite well done, please lets see McGann back, he's got a new coat and sonic and everything!