Question for hardcore Doctor Who fans

[TimeLord]

The way I see it is that over the 900+ years of his life, he has encountered so many different times, civilisations, companions and what not, that knowing how to act around everything could be difficult when everybody in the universe is so different themselves. Also, his ego makes him very self centred towards his companions in that he normally thinks of himself as the most important person in any given room.

There's also the fact that each of his regeneration is a different personality with the same memories. Making his life quite a confusing mess of 900 years of memories and 11 different personalities.

Failing all that, his personality is radically different every regeneration so while he may be like this now, he won't be in his 12th form.

 

[Joshimodo]

Because they have to appear both zany and as socially awkward as the typical fangirls of the series?

 

[LuckyClover95]

I don't think he's too awkward as I got the impression he knows how he is acting and he does it for humor. I'm not sure. But yes, he is alien, maybe he'd fit in if Gallifrey came back
I love all 3 of modern Doctors, I think he is great.

 

[Deathninja19]

So this spring/summer I've been watching from the revival in 2005 up until the latest episode ("A Good Man Goes to War"). This means I've been through three doctors in a matter of months. 9, 10 and 11. Now, I love them all, and don't be fooled by my Avatar; I'm not one of the "I miss Tennant"-/ "I wish 10 could have been the Doctor forever"-/ "Smith is no Tennant"-people.

But I do have one big problem with 11.
How can they justify that he's so socially awkward?

I know the Doctor has a very strange relationship with people. He has a companion, then he meets new people in times of great peril, and then he does clever diplomatic, swashbuckling stuff and often never sees those people again. It's not the best way to learn about social interaction. I also understand that 11's social awkwardness is hilarious, and I think it actually worked well in The Lodger (because there the jokes were about the Doctor not understanding how to be a roommate to a human, which makes sense, not about general awkwardness).

However most of the time they really overdo it and it make no sense. The Doctor is over 900 years old. He's been a father, he's had countless romantic interests and great friendships. He understands every language, he understand diplomacy and different cultures...how on earth can he be socially awkward?! I'm sure even the most reclusive hermit would get over their awkwardness after hundreds of years of traveling in company of others. Even with the Rule of Cool ( http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RuleOfCool ) it is ridiculous. It is just to preposterous to me no matter how funny it is in a "Ha. Ha. The Doctor, savior of the universe; is a clueless nerd"-way.

I do actually love that they continually make jokes about how he has a terrible sense of style ("Bows are cool", "Fezzes are cool" etc.). That makes perfect sense, and is funny. I also love how nice and approachable the Doctor is even though it would make more sense if he were a detached weirdo like Doctor Manhattan and Yoda, but socially awkward? No way.


So to all you Whovians out there; how do you justify the Doctor's sudden extreme awkwardness (9 and 10 were much less awkward)? Did you have a problem with it?


(And as I disclaimer; I still love 11 and I think Smith is doing a great job. ;D)

Basically each regeneration is a 'new' person, each with different personalities despite having the same memories so it's just that this one is a bit more awkward than the recent Doctors simple as that really.

What I do have a problem with is that I can't pinpoint Smith's Doctor's personality, each doctor has traits and lines they will and won't cross now I don't get that with Smith his personality and actions zig zag from nutty to godlike it's jarring. I also have a problem that everyone lets him talk instead of shooting him on sight especially in the most recent Dalek episode and a good man goes to war, he's right in front of you people he is vulnerable to bullets ffs.

 

[Something Amyss]

So to all you Whovians out there; how do you justify the Doctor's sudden extreme awkwardness (9 and 10 were much less awkward)? Did you have a problem with it?

The same 9 who called Rose a "stupid ape" when he got mad?

Eccleston's Doctor wasn't awkward, but he shared the trait of several earlier Doctors in that he could be quite abrasive. 9 didn't have a lot of friends, and the one romantic interest he had didn't make much sense. Yeah, Rose was a bad character and his interest in her seemed solely because he was a Mary Sue (and official one, no less). Tennant's Doctor was frequently oblivious, including the way he reacts to Martha's advances (they play on this a few times, including the bit near the end of the season where Jack asks, "you too?" Demonstratng as well his obliviousness to Jack's interest).

Admittedly, I'm not what you'd necessarily call a "hardcore" fan, but it's not hard to reconcile knowing the simple history of the Doctor: When he regenerates, his personality changes. The first Doctor was a bit of an ass. Actually, he was a pretty big ass at times. The Seventh Doctor was a chessmaster, thinking 900 moves ahead in the "long game" as it were. The second was wild and eccentric. He's also a heavy inspiration for Smith's 11, just as Tennant drew from the Fifth.

So new face=new personality=new traits. There are similarities in most of the Doctors, but they are each their own person in many respects as well.

Plus, being 900 years old and fluent in language doesn't make you better able to associate with people. He's so far beyond humans and most other species he meets that he should have trouble relating. He's offbeat and retains the Tenth Doctor's frequent obliviousness to the fancies of people around him, he just has a larger sense of social awkwardness to boot. For the same reason he now likes bow ties and calls back planet-destroying villains just to scold them. He's also more brash and willing to boast than any Doctor I've actually watched, and willing to play on that 900 years of experience.

But even Tennant and Eccleston, the guys from the new series, the most "closely related" were lonely and had social issues. They weren't as grand, but this didn't come from nowhere, nor is it entirely unrealistic. He's a weirder Doctor, liking fish custard and wandering around all three sheets to the wind.

 

[Merkavar]

maybe 900 years is too long for even a timelord and the dementia is kicking in.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Matt Smith is a lot more like the older Doctors then Chris and Dave where.

For a second I thought you said Chas and Dave, and I thought that would be an awesome show. Luvvaduck, apples and pears.

 

[Shodan1980]

I always assumed its because the physical structure of your brains, the way it makes pathways and so on, has a massive effect on your personality. Just look at some types of an autistic person, they know how they should be acting, but it becomes a conscious effort for them to do so. So every time he regenerates the pathways of his brain are restructured. I think its that plus that fact he really does operate on an entire level above the average human it creates social dysfunction.

On the topic of number of regenerations, I'm trying to remember from a childhood viewing but I'm pretty sure in the 7th Doctor story "Survival" the Master flat out intimated the 12 limit was something imposed by the Time Lords (would make sense as it'd help cut down on societal stagnation) so without the rest of the Time Lords there's nothing to stop him from regenerating to his hearts content. Even if thats not the case, I'm sure coming up with a plausible story wouldn't be an issue. Look at the Stolen Earth where he starts to regenerate then stops it once he's healed. Does that count as one of the quota?

 

[LordFisheh]

I don't think the Doctor's awkwardness comes form a lack of understanding.

Imagine it; you're an immortal who has seen and done things most people can't even imagine. Long after they're dead and the pinnacle of their knowledge is considered on a par with flint spears, you're still alive, still more advanced, and still saving them form themselves every Saturday evening.

With all of that, would you particularly care if someone off the street thought you eccentric, or didn't like your fez? I think it's more that he simply doesn't care; not the overwrought 'look at me, I don't care' you see in many humans but a genuine indifference to the point where he doesn't even notice that he's acting strangely, he doesn't even consider it.

 

[irani_che]

he always has his quirks with each new body
like a penchant for scarves, or fezs
or social awkwardness
or a Salford Accent

 

[MercurySteam]

I just figured that he acts like that because of his new personality developed by his most recent regeneration. No. 11 is many things, but I think that he's not socially awkward as he is spontaneous and outright mad (though arguably all of The Doctors are), but I think his general demeanour is a projection of who he is. And I figure that after all the different species and cultures he's experienced, it would be harder for him to determine how to act 'normal' not easier.

Trust me.

 

[Bassik]

Yes, entireley unlike your posts, witch have been nothing but class and civillity.

People like new Doctor Who. A lot of them do, in fact. You can disagree, but first dismount that incredibly high horse you're sitting on.

Yeah. Alright it's not getting us anywhere anyway. I'm just sick to death of New Who is all. I can feel my pulse in the bacck of my eye at the mere mention of it. But you're right, that's not excuse to fly off the handle.

Water under the bridge, then.

Back to the topic.
Matt Smith frequently claims he drew inspiration from the 2nd Doctor, and watching those episodes, I can see what he means. Patrick was also a social outcast, not to mention his weird flute. I don't think Matt would have looked as odd to you have you grown up with classic Who.

 

[The Serpent]

Wow, there are so many good answers in here. Thanks for being awesome.

I guess looking at it from a human standpoint, I can see how someone can understand all social rituals and know about them, yet be awkward when they are put in them. I've seen it happen. I also like the theories that he is a bit whacky from the regeneration and that even though the Doctor should be able to see when people are hinting to that they want to be alone (A Christmas Carol) he would be a bit slow on the uptake (I appreciated that two seconds later the Doctor knew exactly what was going on and confirmed to Kazran that he was probably about to get kissed).

I think there are a few things at play here...

1) He's alien. They may not see relationships the same way.

2) He left home in a stolen spaceship at 200, what for his people would been a teenager when it game to maturity/age. A kid who ran away from home and started travelling the world in a stolen car might never quite fit in anywhere.

3) He's been through a lot of crap, especially the revival doctors. Each of them are clearly tramatized by the last Time War. He has wiped on entire civilizations - repeatedly. Everyone he has every cared for leaves him and moves on without him. All his relationships are short term. He's screwed in the head.

And this is brilliant! Very good points.

To Xartyve2; you sound like the classic offended nerd. Though I do not think you have any reason to be, as the revival is very good. I'm one of those people who only watches something because I think it is good. A snob if you will. And the showrunners, actors and producers on the revival have all made some really good TV, and shown and unprecedented level of respect and understanding of the original series.

I mean that in the sense that they kept the continuity, the same exact premise and the art design which is saying a lot when you look at today's "reboots" and "re-imaginings" that have no plan whatsoever to do anything other with the original ideas than steal some brand-recognition and completley miss the point. The fact that Who is a part of UK-culture has really given them a sizable budget and the freedom to pick and chose the best storylines, guest stars and writers they wanted. It wouldn't have been nearly as good if it was a new, perpetually dieing show on SyFy. The fact that something so nerdy and brilliant is so popular is a small miracle to me. It kind of gives me hope for peoples sensibilities. Normally us nerds might be watching something like Star Trek, Firefly, Fringe, Community, My Little Pony, Avatar: The Last Airbender etc. and everyone else will be saying "Wtf?" while they consume American Idol and The Housewives of Jersey Shore. But Doctor Who transcends that in the UK. It's just fantastic (thanks 9). Everyone else are for once (for some insane reason) also in on the fun, and the show is much better for it.

Now for the show itself the people working on it clearly put a lot of effort into it. A friend of mine had been saying for 6 months: "You have to see Doctor Who!" before I finally could tell her I had the time. It surpassed 6 months of hype easily. I did not know what I had been missing. Also remember that the revival hasn't done anything to the original series, which you can still enjoy. Star Wars fans can at least claim that the Prequels really tainted the brand they had been worshiping in public for so long. If anything the revival has made Who more relevant and popular.

 

[Jazzeki]

i'm sorry but in witch way is he socially akward?
sure we have the cases where he simply doesn't know better but we allready scratched those.
i seriously hope you are not talking about his interactions with river since that is so akward allready anything but akward interaction would be weird.
then we have the cases where he goes of the deep end and nobody is really sure what he's doing.... that honestly allways seems calculated. he knows what he's doing. he knows he breaks social rules so in the end he can get a point across or seemharmless or simply make people intrested in who he is.
the only thing left would be when randomly insults people with out really realising... and i thought it have been explained that he has so much going on in his head makeing sure not to insult people in his long monolouges would make his head explode.

 

[Bassik]

@ The Serpent: Not quoting your wall of text for that would clutter my post beyond repair, but I'm glad people helped you understand the Doctor betther.

Another thing I just thought up that might be helpfull to some: compare the Doctor to Start Trek's Data and Spock. Also two aliens (well not exactly for Data), and they too are socially awkward. What makes the Doctor different is that he is not a pure logical being, but a lot more "human". (A lot more Time-Lord? Does that make any sence? No. It doesn't. But I'm sticking with it.)

@ Jazekki:
Even the most socially winning people would come off as awkward in the River/Doctor relationship. That relationship is seriously messed up, and I for one find it brilliant.