I remember watching the announcement of the new Doctor on BBC. I was secretly hoping for a woman when this older guy came out. That older guy was Peter Capaldi, a Scottish actor who I didn’t know a thing about. I didn’t scream out in horror or refuse to watch the show again. I know some fans did because he wasn’t a young man like Matt Smith or David Tennant. I just waited around to see what this man could bring to Doctor Who.
Turns out, he’s brought quite a lot to the show. Not just his amazing eyebrows either.
Capaldi’s curmudgeonly Doctor has been wonderful to watch. It’s definitely different from Matt Smith’s hyperactive Doctor or Tennant’s debonair one. Capaldi’s Doctor seems to be a natural transition from the young, energetic one. The Doctor grew up — so to speak. The grumpy Doctor has has been great for the series. This season, at least in my opinion, has been darker and scarier. I don’t recall so many people biting the dust in the last seasons. You need a Doctor that is fighting against the darkness in his own soul to fight the darkness outside of it. Capaldi has risen to the challenge.
Capaldi’s Doctor has made me laugh more than any Doctor has. He’s just naturally funny and witty. The episodes have been a mix of good and bad this season, but Capaldi has done well in each of them. He is dynamic without overacting. His Doctor is like the crazy uncle who visits comes to your house on Thanksgiving. He is a bit loony and surly but you have the best time ever with him.
I was feeling some Doctor Who exhaustion. I still loved it but I was worn out by the time Clara became the 11th Doctor’s companion. I felt like the show needed a change. I wanted to see the Doctor change almost completely. Well, Capaldi’s Doctor is definitely different. He reminds me of the 1st Doctor, William Hartnell. I love all the Doctors but Capaldi has catapulted up the list of my top five favorites. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Peter Capaldi and the roller coaster this season has been.
