Doctor, My Doctor

“I am alone. The world which shook at my feet and the trees and the sky have gone. And I am alone now. Alone. The wind bites now and the world is crying. And I am alone here…Can’t see me. Doesn’t see me. Can’t see me.” Those words were spoken by new Doctor, Peter Capaldi, in the first scene in which he speaks clearly and lucidly. His companion, Clara, believes the Doctor is translating the words of a Dinosaur that is trapped in the Thames, but was he? How much of that was the Doctor and how much of that was the Dinosaur, is hard to say. He echoes that sentiment to Clara at the end of the episode as well, “I’m standing right in front of you and you can’t see me.” Some feel he was speaking to not just Clara but to the fans. Well done Moffat! Capaldi’s triumph, so far, as the Doctor comes among much fanfare, fear and trepidation of fans. It can be said without question that this is the most anticipated, advertised and scary Doctor regeneration that has ever occurred. Can the old guy pull it off? Can he replace such a loved Doctor?

Well, the second question has been answered eleven times already as the regeneration process has lead to tears of sadness of the past and embracing of the future of the newest Doctor. When the youngest actor to play the Doctor emerged on the scene there was a great deal of concern. Speaking of Peter Davison, of course, who up to that point, was the youngest actor to play the Doctor at age 29. He had one of the toughest jobs of taking over from one of the all time fan favorites, Tom Baker who played the part for 7 years and still holds the record. And for many fans in the US, was their first Doctor. It was not until 2009 when 26 year old Matt Smith again brought that youthful twinkle to everyone’s favorite time traveler. Although, David Tennant appeared to have a corner on the “fangirl” market, Smith’s appeal to all ages seems to have what had endeared him to fans. Smith played the Doctor as an old man in a young man’s body. Now, what does that leave Capaldi? Capaldi, who now looks more like the Doctors of the “classic” series has to follow a young man’s face.

The first question can be answered with a resounding, yes – he can pull it off. Capaldi’s Doctor is an emerging character that arrives with memory issues, as is common, but finds his footing quickly on who he is and what his purpose is. Unlike the two previous incarnations of “the man who regrets” and “the man who forgets,” this Doctor remembers more than he would like and in regard to regrets, plans to do something about them. He is 100% Doctor with his humor, arrogance and strong sense of justice and when he comes down the stairs of the TARDIS and says, “I am the Doctor,” I believe it.

Maybe it is because of my age that Capaldi appeals to me. He is the same age that William Hartnell was when he took over as the Doctor at age 55. Hartnell’s Doctor was an elderly grandfather type and was playing older than he was. Capaldi on the other hand is spry and physical with his character echoing the physical comedy of not only Smith’s Doctor but that of, my favorite, Jon Pertwee. Capaldi will not be attracting the fan girls and I doubt there will be any episodes of him snogging his companions and I, for one, am happy for that. The Doctor has a lot on his mind these days – his past. As he travels through this new series trying to figure out what to fix in his last 2000 years of existence, it makes me wonder. I wonder about those mistakes the Doctor feels he has made and will he actually correct any. I fear obsessing over such things may lead to his undoing in future episodes and it appears the mystery woman that is collecting the dead will be an interesting distraction.

Clara claims not to be sure who the Doctor is now. But we, the fans, know. He is exactly who we think he is. He is all 13 Doctors with one face. He is bringer of hope and salvation to many and destruction to those that will harm the innocent. He is an unlikely hero who wants neither the title nor responsibility of one. He is the Doctor. We can see you. Welcome back.