Another Dr. Who question

I do love these questions, asked in a way to suggest that, actually, I don't know what I like and am completely wrong in what I like.

I'll put it simply

I MUCH prefer Smith to Tennant and have adored both of the past two runs, way more than the runs of the last Doctor by RTD and Tennant.

Don't get me wrong, I love those as well, I'm watching them all again atm, just started season 4 (my fave season of the RTD era and my fave Companion EVAH!) but I adore the Matt Smith far more.

It's so much capturing the essence of the Doctor for me than the more emo Tennant do. I loved the story arc, but was glad when it ended finally as it was starting to grate on me with his whole "poor little me" persona. This Doctor has gone back to the magic and wonder I love in the Doctor.

But, you see, that's what makes the Doctor and the show so unique. There's a Doctor and a season for everyone.

Short answer: No, that's not true.

Longer answer: I've just gone through comparing the numbers between Series 4 (Tennant's last full season) and Series 6 (the most recent). The BBC numbers are actually quite similar. After the Series 6 premier "The Impossible Astronaut" there were media reports that ratings for that episode were significantly lower, only 6.4 million viewers, making it the lowest rated series openers since the show was relaunched. These numbers were in error. Specifically the media were comparing total numbers from past openers to the episodes overnight numbers, which unlike the total numbers do not take into account viewers who record the episode and watch later. The final numbers for "Astronaut" were 8.86 million, which is very similar to past openers.

Comparing series 4 and 6, you can make your case either way depending on what part of the series. Series 4 is definitely ahead right at the end, but series 6 is very much ahead in the middle episodes. Trying to compare episode to episode may end up comparing apples to oranges. Series 4 ended with a gathering of all the Doctor's recent companions for one grand adventure. But the eighth episode of Series 8, which did significantly better than the eighth episode of series 4, "Silence in the Library", came after a 2 1/2 month layoff and had the attention-grabbing title "Let's Kill Hitler".

All of this beside the fact that this is a blatant argumentum ad populum. Anyone can continue to watch the series and form their own opinions, or not if they are no longer enjoying it. Personally I loved Tennant's almost human, geek chic portrayal, but I also really enjoy Smith's "very old man in a very young body" interpretation as well. And while I thought series 5 dragged a bit at times, series 6 flew by for me and is my favorite to date.

My favorite Doctor? The Doctors have become like my children: I couldn't possibly choose between them.

(whisperingly) I know!

Amy definitely had a one-way crush on the Doctor. I'm not saying she was madly in love with him, but she did leave her fiance to travel with this strange raggedy man. Amy does develop beyond that though. So, after a point it is mostly just teasing flirting, but in the beginning there was definite crush.

If you are referring to me, I was basically agreeing with you.

Watch The Pandorica Opens, and then -- and then -- tell us how "small" you think Smith's Doctor seems.

I didn't care for Smith at first. I'm still not a huge fan of his Doctor, but he has great moments. If only he could maintain the awesome rather than just having momentary flashes of it.

All the post-revival seasons have some b-plot running through them that explodes in the final episode. Moffat seasons, however, have shown more continuity between the seasons, as things unresolved at the end of one season get picked up in the next.

...and got some eye brows for God's sake!

He'll repay your efforts - he and Karen Gillan just won their respective categories in the National Television Awards for acting. Incidentally, Smith confirms that he won't be leaving soon (contrary to rumor).

Otherwise, as the t-shirt says...

I have not forgotten, (Tom Baker) but he gets a bit hazy the older I get. And I just finished the angels 2 parter, and I liked it. I LOVED the "trap" line. That was almost as good as Tennant telling the darkness aliens to "look him up" when they were in the library. THAT was bad azz!!!

Just wait, he has more great lines (and speeches) upcoming.

Didn't he originally say, before he started, that he wanted to out"live" Tom Baker as the longest-running Doctor?

Did he? Do you have more to go on? After his first series, he'd periodically mention that he wants to do movies, too, so the expectation is that he'll relinquish the role in a year or two - or who knows? He's definitely sticking around for the 50th anniversary.

Technically that's really a toss-up between McGann and McCoy. But if you're talking actual on-air seasons? Yeah, The Proboscis would be the one to beat.

Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.

Unless I'm unaware of a run of numerous episodes, those Doctors can hardly compete with Tom Baker as longest running Doctor. Perhaps the longest not-running Doctor...

http://digitaljournal.com/article/309767

It's entirely possible that he was joking or just saying it casually, but there's nothing to say that he can't do movies and Doctor Who, especially since Doctor Who seasons are short (and it depends on just how big a role he has in these hypothetical movies).

Interesting - thanks for the article. I'm not sure what to make of it, honestly. On one hand, in the recent piece I linked to earlier, he says that Doctor Who "is bigger than all of us actors in it. It's bigger than everyone in it and it will continue far longer, way after me. I am here for a very small period of time." Next he says, "I'm here for the future, I love working on the show. I have no plans to leave." But later he says, "I've got a year of Who and then I'll take it from there really" (which may just refer to his contractual period).

Whatever the case, I hope he stays in the role as long as he enjoys it and can bring his best to it. There's no term limit to the Doctor.

I'm guessing Hyperstrike is adding the years from the final McCoy episode until the McGann movie to the time McCoy spent as the Doctor (after all, McCoy was at the very beginning of the McGann movie); and adding the years from the end of the McGann movie until the first Eccleston episode to the time McGann spent as the Doctor. As to the latter, do we know that Eccleston's first episode was soon after regeneration?

IIRC, there's a scene in "Rose" where he's checking himself out in the mirror, as if he's still getting used to his new face.