Matt Smith to leave Doctor Who at end of the year.

[PurpleLeafRave]

I have come to inform you all that Matt Smith will be leaving Doctor Who after the Christmas special at the end of the year.

To add discussion value to this topic, what do you think of the Eleventh Doctor, portrayed by Matt Smith? Are you sad to see his departure announced? Excited to see where the show will head?

 

[GrimTuesday]

Thank god, Maybe now I'll actually be able to watch New Who again. Seriously, I hate Matt Smith, and and super glad he is leaving.

 

[BrotherRool]

I think Matt Smith did a great job as number 11, but this was a good decision and I'm looking forward to what comes next. Matt Smith was a change of pace from the slightly more gloomy Doctors before and had the unenviable task off trying to make the role distinct from the most popular Doctor in decades. And he did it well, his seasons had their ups and downs but it was almost never his fault.


But his character never got to have a real arc and after a while we needed that darker edge that the others had to drive conflict. I hope they take this opportunity now to really shake the show up. I think this is the time for a much older Doctor to contrast with the increasing youth of the other generations. We're getting close to number 13 now (and there's rumours that this could be number 13) and they have to take full advantage of the idea that this is going to be the Doctor closest to confronting his mortality than all the doctors before him. If we don't get a full exploration of how the Doctor copes with being confronted with his end and how the good man acts in his last days, then I'm going to be very disappointed.

 

[JoJo]

I like Matt Smith very much but at the same time, I'm excited to see a new Doctor arrive, I think we're ready for something new. Hopefully whoever they are they'll be quite a change of place.

 

[Little Woodsman]

I've really enjoyed Matt Smith's portrayal of the Doctor, but I also understand that as an actor it would be really *really* bad for him to stay in the role any longer. Some actors have stayed in the role too long to the detriment
of their careers.
And who knows, his replacement might be great too.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

I think Matt Smith did a great job as number 11, but this was a good decision and I'm looking forward to what comes next. Matt Smith was a change of pace from the slightly more gloomy Doctors before and had the unenviable task off trying to make the role distinct from the most popular Doctor in decades. And he did it well, his seasons had their ups and downs but it was almost never his fault.


But his character never got to have a real arc and after a while we needed that darker edge that the others had to drive conflict. I hope they take this opportunity now to really shake the show up. I think this is the time for a much older Doctor to contrast with the increasing youth of the other generations. We're getting close to number 13 now (and there's rumours that this could be number 13) and they have to take full advantage of the idea that this is going to be the Doctor closest to confronting his mortality than all the doctors before him. If we don't get a full exploration of how the Doctor copes with being confronted with his end and how the good man acts in his last days, then I'm going to be very disappointed.

That was my first thought as well.

They've made a big deal about that number 13 and how it relates to the Doctor in the past, but they've never really dug that deep into. The Doctor has just made off-handed remarks about his end, but that's about it. I'm really curious to know how they're gonna handle it, and how the character arc for the Doctor will play out since he's so very close to his end. The companions as well since they're gonna have to come to terms with it, and I really hope they don't screw this up.

It should make a great regeneration scene if nothing else.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I think that Matt Smith was a decent Doctor. His version of The Doctor was pretty campy and silly sometimes, which I guess annoyed a lot of people (and yes, it did get annoying at times), but he had some great scenes. If anything was bad in his seasons, it wasn't his acting, or that he wasn't selling his version of The Doctor, it was problems with the writing overall.

But yeah, while I did enjoy Matt Smith, I'm pretty excited to see who they'll choose to play the next Doctor, and how he works out in comparison to Smith.

 

[Gizmo1990]

I see alot of people making a big deal about number 13 coming up but lets face it. Doctor Who gets big raitings for the BBC. It is not going to end at 13. They will just say that he lied about the regen limit, or he got some more at some point and then we will get number 14.

As for Matt Smith, I have been mostly indifferent to him as the Doctor, it has been the writing and the shows direction under Moffat that I have hated so unless he is going as well nothing is going to make me change my mind about not watching the next series.

 

[Sixcess]

I'll be sorry to see Smith go. For me he's been the best part of the last three years, and I'd sooner have seen him stay another year and have Moffat fuck off move on to other things. Given that he is unlikely to stay more than another year or so I'm kind of dreading what idiocy he might embark on to make his mark on the 12th.

 

[Able Seacat]

I thought Matt Smith was great but it's exciting to see someone new take the role. I hope they give Matt Smith's exit justice.

 

[Mr Cwtchy]

Meh, I thought he was okay, but I'm not terribly upset that he's leaving either.

What I really want to know is if Moffat will be staying. If he is then I'm still not coming back to the show.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Well, I liked Smith better than Tennant, for one thing. Shame to see him go, but then again, the guy replacing him...

Spoiler: SPOILERS FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT COMPREHEND THAT A SPOILER TAB CONSTITUTES A SPOILER

John Hurt possibly being the next doctor might just be the most awesome thing ever.

 

[sanquin]

Matt Smith was okay. He had his ups and downs really. Could be the writing, could be his acting. I dunno. All I know is that I liked David Tennant's portrayal of Doctor who better, even if they both seem to really love acting the part.

 

[Dryk]

I find this news very interesting considering that last week he said he was signed on for next year. What are you up to guys...

 

[BrotherRool]

I see alot of people making a big deal about number 13 coming up but lets face it. Doctor Who gets big raitings for the BBC. It is not going to end at 13. They will just say that he lied about the regen limit, or he got some more at some point and then we will get number 14.

Oh yeah, everyone making a big deal out of 13 knows that, but the point is that it's a great writing opportunity because the Doctor doesn't know that and if he isn't genuinely concerned about his death they've missed a great chance.

Also the 13 thing is known widely enough amongst everyone that they should do it properly and have season long arcs that will explain why he can go past 13 (preferrably adding in new rules instead of 'can't die'). There will be a lot of disappointment if they don't take the time to explain a decent way.


My perfect path would be if they work it all out before they find number 13 and write him a deliberate two season arc that will end with him regenerating into number 14 and with the second season really changing the format up a bit, maybe having a continuous story for the last 6 episodes even. I think that could really work and it helps to keep the series fresh to mix up the format every now and then

EDIT: And Daleks or Timelords should be involved. If the Doctor saves himself but the solution also involves the Timelords escaping the timelock (and permanently this time) that'd be pretty incredible

 

[Antitonic]

Wait a minute, first Susan Arendt announces she's leaving The Escapist, and now they announce we're getting a new Doctor? I smell conspiracy!

I never got the hate for Matt Smith. Is it because he wasn't David Tennant? When you get right down to it, they're all not William Hartnell. Oh, Hartnell...

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

SNIP

I just wanted to quote you. Merry Tuesday.

I thought Matt was pretty damn good. David will always be my favourite because, like Matt, he comes across very uniquely quirky and enthusiastic. I read in an interview recently though that he WAS staying! What are these lies?!

 

[Crazy Zaul]

Let the storm of speculation, guessing and funny unrealistic ideas for who the next doctor could be begin.

and how they will recon the fact that there can only be 13 doctors, unless the original writers knew it would jump the shark by then.

 

[NightmareExpress]

Matt is without a doubt a talented actor, but Moffat is a sub-par writer that has only occasional bursts of quality.
Thus, I feel as though this Doctor wasn't as good as he could be not due to personal acting ability, but for attempting their damnedest to go along with the writings of a madman.

Needless to say, the next season is going to be interesting.
Will the writing improve? Will the new Doctor be great (in terms of casting, acting and what have you)? Will they end it after this new Doctor, or conjure up a reason why additional regenerations can be possible?

The only obvious answer to all these questions is to bring back Tom Baker.
The fourth Doctor. The best Doctor. The only Doctor.

The Time Lord of the Jelly Babies.

 

[Diablo2000]

Sad news indeed, Matt Smith was a amazing Doctor, the only thing hurting it was some of the nonsensical plot he got and the over use of the "Power of Love". Otherwise I think he would get less hate than he gets, too bad.