Peter Capaldi has done it. He has
stepped up to the plate in his first performance as the Doctor in Deep Breath.
The episode opens with the TARDIS crash landing (as it always seems to do after the Doctor regenerates - he really should
stop regenerating while the TARDIS is in mid-flight) into Victorian London
after being coughed up by a Tyrannosaurus Rex that got pulled through time with
it. The newly regenerated 12th Doctor
(Peter Capaldi), has arrived just in
time to help solve a spontaneous combustion outbreak, that is, if he can
overcome ‘post-regeneration’ difficulties long enough to do so.
There was a lot of talk about how Capaldi’s Doctor was going to be a lot “darker”, and while there
were moments throughout the episode where it’s obvious the Doctor has become more angsty (for instance when he seemingly abuses
a homeless man on the street). There are also a few moments where he displays
vulnerability (shown during the fantastic phone- call scene at the end of the
episode).
I will be honest with you, I was
unsure as to whether I would like Capaldi.
This was my first ‘Regeneration’, as
I started watching Doctor Who when Matt Smith was already the Doctor, so I
couldn’t imagine having to go through what all you Tennant-lovers had to go through. But in the end, it was okay.
I must admit though, for me, it
didn’t make sense to have a Matt Smith
cameo appearance. I mean, obviously it made sense that he was calling to say
goodbye to Clara, but really, we
already said goodbye in the previous episode. It’s strange because we never
needed a cameo send-off with David Tenant’s
or Matt Smith’s first episodes. It
almost seems like the show’s writers lacked faith, in that the fans of the show
would like Capaldi.
Aside from that, Peter Capaldi is somewhat worthy.
Probably not my favourite (but no one is the same as your first Doctor), but I
have a feeling he will be a good Doctor.
One thing that was finally confronted was the 11th Doctor’s
overall chivalrous charm he had with most of his companions, particularly with Clara. I never really felt the chemistry, but
evidently Clara had, which is why she
takes it so hard that he’s changed. The writers do a really good job
addressing this and making it clear that this Doctor has no interest in such
pursuits. That alone will be a refreshing change of pace for the show.
The next episode "Into the Dalek" airs 30th of August.
Exhale
Article By. Taylor Clarke-Pepper
Article By. Taylor Clarke-Pepper