I think what's missing is the 'want to be liked." Like when Tennant left Jack behind, but was charming. Smith left old Amy to die outside the Tardis, but was charming. I think This Doctor saves as many as he can, but worries if he is a good man, not if he looks like one.
Twelve has one of the most fascinating (and best) character arcs. The Doctor survived the Time War, promised to never do such a thing again, only to spend 900 years on Trenzalore fighting a war, and now he finds himself in a new regeneration he was never supposed to have. He’s a walking existential crisis. It’s about him clinging onto and trying to find what makes him the Doctor.
"I'm his carer." "Yeah, she cares so I don't have to." It's lines like these that warmed me up to Twelve initially, but it took well until mid-season 9 for me to really *get* him as a Doctor, but when I did, boy was that good I look forward to that for you
That line is sooo Twelve. I'd have a hard time imagining hearing this from any of the previous Doctor's, even Nine. And yet he really does care; just not outwardly .....
"They don't need two soldiers on board". FINALLY someone gets it on first viewing! Thank you! Don't formulate a solid opinion on this Doctor until season 9. He's at the start of a long journey.
Same! Honestly, I think the show desperately needed someone like him by this point. I wonder how many people initially against him were New Series only fans. Because until this point, Tennant and Smith were the primary faces of Doctor Who (I feel bad Eccleston's often ignored) and they fit into the camp of the nice Doctor. So when Capaldi starts throwing his eyebrows and sharp tongue around, it's quite jarring for them. The Classic Series, which housed seven Doctors (eight if you include the movie within that era), had a wide variety from the charming, twinkle-in-the-eye Troughton to brutish Colin Baker. I think Classic Series fans were more prepared for (and accepting of) Capaldi. Obviously I'm generalizing and exceptions happen on both ends of the spectrum, but it wouldn't surprise me if there was some degree of truth to my guess.
12 is supposed to be the dark side of the Doctor, I think that’s why he’s a bit different. If you seen some of the classic series you’ll notice his more of a classic type Doctor then a modern type. :) enjoy series 8
I see it as a bit of both from understanding that the classic doctors were different but not watched them yet there's that part of the classic doctors that he is a fan of they were a bit darker but also a disconnect from the 11 or 10 who had darkness but hid it he's more upfront about it he doesn't care and that disconnect is there through most of his run and it makes him more alien and odd
The almost casual distancing of the Doctor seeing death has always been a trait of his, with many examples throughout the Classic series. The sixth actor, Colin Baker to take on the role often recited that the mindset of the Doctor would have him stepping over an aftermath of dead bodies to either mourn or save a butterfly.
When you said the doctor seems like he lost a part of himself, you gotta remember he was at war on Trenzalore for hundreds of years (like 600-800 years), similarly sort of like the time war, 12th is like a new Christopher Eccleston at this point, all broken down from being in battle from his last regen.
To be honest, for me 12th is still the same Doctor, nothing changed. Look at 11th, he had a mask of a silly man which hides many of his "evil" moments. Remember A Town Called Mercy or A Good Man Goes to War? 10th isn't much diffrent (Water of Mars, The Runaway Bride). 12th is just more straightforward, more alien.
Well said. This is the same Doctor, just with less of a need to wear a mask. This is the Doctor 'over it', with no subtlety left to give. Most Doctors seem to really get up to speed in their second season, and 12 is no different, but I feel like we really start to see this Doctor in "Listen". Looking forward to that reaction.
Josh Lammaslehto I agree that it’s the same Doctor but I think the exact opposite about the whole him wearing a mask thing. If anything, this Doctor is just wearing a different type of a mask than the ones we’ve seen with 10 and 11.
@@crystald.6902 and people still cant seem to get their heads around the fact the doctor is NOT human, he doesnt think like one, why should he act like one, have human mores. This IS the doctor who fought in the time wars, this is the man who undid Gallifrey, this IS the man who spent 1000 years on Trenzalore, he hasnt changed, hes just decided to be himself again. The most utterly inhuman of all the doctors, both eras, is 4th he sometimes came across as a little silly, the BAM you see just how inhuman he is 12th is the balance, his face matches his age, he IS 1000's of years old, he has seen things no one never has or will, but now one can believe it!!
He does get a lot better yeah, but I doubt there will be any more crying from now on. (And with the next Doctor absolutely not at all.) But this one does have some really good episodes and qute a few really entertaining ones. About his character arc; I think he goes too much from one side to the other and later he really gets good.
I thought the actor did a great job, but I felt he was being asked to keep changing the characterisation. In season 8, I think Moffat tried a second run at Colin Baker - Doctor, and ran straight into the same problems. Despite the changes happened to TV in the intervening two decades, audiences just weren't ready for the Doctor to be a challenging, abrasive and genuinely alien. Rather than wait for the audience to come round they started moving the character back into a more traditional Doctor. Given the material he had to work with Capaldi did an absolutely cracking job. I think the collapse in ratings had far more to do with the story-lines and the BBC seemingly going out of its way to kill off interest through it scheduling.
I'm glad you picked up on the Doctor's soldier thing being a self-hating and precautionary measure more than anything. I distinctly remember some people being somewhat incensed by it.
That bit of music, by the way, that plays when the Doctor's trying to convince the Dalek that there are beautiful things in the world is called "Am I a Good Man?" and is Twelve's theme. It's one of my favorite Doctor Who pieces.
Capaldi is easily my fav modern Doctor. The viewing figures took a bit of a hit when he arrived. It was because he was no longer the 'pretty boys' of before, but the older more interesting, grounded and definite throw-back to the Classic Who idea of the Doctor. It was too much for some. Its a shame some stopped watching because he's the only modern Doctor that actually got better and better regardless of how good each story was. The one shining thing about Peter Capaldi was you knew how much he loved being one of his boyhood heroes. I envy anyone watching his run for the first time.
I agree, but id say that he is a bit more logic driven in this episode. He knew tha soldier F-ed up and he couldnt save him,so he went into, what to do next to save the rest that werent marked for death. Like if acid was eating your hand and moving up. Best bet would be to chop off the hand to save the rest of you. That soldier was the hand. Mat Smiths Dr wouldve been more emotional over it. Youll get a handle on Capaldi soon, I actually liked that Moffatt didnt try to put Mats personality in Capaldis Dr.
What got me was the fact that he made a joke about the death like two seconds later.. like he just doesn't get human emotions and decency sometimes does he?
He actually has an arc when the character of the Doctor usually doesn't. You meet them and they are pretty much the same until they regenerate. Twelve had evolution as a character and I call it the "Good Man Arc" which is some really good acting from Capaldi.
This Doctor begins more alien than the other recent Doctors. His concerns, his attitudes dont always link up with our expectations. We forget that he isnt human and his perspective is different. And Rusty saw beauty and divinity in the Doctor's soul. And saw hatred, which is not what the Doctor wanted him to see, or wanted to be there. And this Doctor goes through more changes than any other - definitely worth the trip! Quick - does anyone have a theory what the Doctor is writing on the floors & walls?
The point of this Doctor is that he IS trying to save as many people as possible and sometimes sacrificing the one for the many is the only way. You'll see that again this season. What's really missing from this Doctor is the kindness. But he's a work in progress. This Doctor has the biggest character development of any other Doctor. You'll love him.
"Biggest character development of any other Doctor." Ahem... William Hartnell. (Definitely agree with your point about helping people mixed with sacrificing. He's actually just like the previous Doctors in that respect; he just doesn't brood over it like, say, Tennant's did.)
@@jthomann71 Twelve was a man who, despite having a raging temper and a callous shield hiding his vulnerability, was still ultimately the Doctor as he still helped people because he cared. He just would't admit it. The First Doctor was a selfish and somewhat immoral asshat who would rather run away to save his own skin, but was forced to help people because doing so allowed him to get back to the TARDIS so that he could run away. The Twelve Doctor doubted he was a good man and his arc was him learning to accept himself and chill out. The First Doctor was the one who actually learned how to be good man. But not just that, he learned how to be "The Doctor."
1 changed because he was forced to and 12 changed because he wanted to. Day one he's asking if he's a good man and spends the rest of his time becoming one.
As others have mentioned, you’re in for one hell of a ride with Twelve. His character arc and the dramatic changes he goes through are easily some of the most moving things the show has ever done with the character. It’s hard to explain without getting into spoiler territory, but there is a very specific reason for the darker and more enigmatic qualities 12 displays early on.
In A Good Man Goes to War, The Doctor flat-out says that he's *not* a good man. That was back in S6. I read a good analysis somewhere (I forget where) claiming that in fact S8 is the first season where he considers the possibility that he *is* a good man, at least in part because he now knows he didn't destroy Gallifrey.
Yeah, 12 seems quite callous here. This episode has quite a telling line when Clara kids that she's his carer and 12 responds "Yeah, my carer. She cares so I don't have to." - it's a joke but then sometimes the biggest truths are buried in those. Enjoyed this one myself, it cemented my feeling after 'Deep Breath' that it was going to be fun to tag along on 12 and Clara's journey.
12 is very reminiscent of classic doctors, for lack of a better word, a little less concerned for the individual and more for the collective well-being
Capaldi is my absolute favourite Doctor. The way he can go from being dark to being joyful is amazing. He is definitely one of the best actors for showing the conflict within the doctor. The two sides of him that are at war at all times. His capacity to be kind as well as dark
I often wonder if "I" lived to be let's say 300 years old, how different of a person would I be from who I am now. Then times that by 4 and add on the fact that the Dr goes through more life experiences in 5 years than most do in 4 life times. You're going to have your times of derailment. But I like your questions Shayla. 9:30 They're important ones. As you can see this doctor has his moments of humor but they tend to be pretty dark. 2:50
I really love the Doctor that Peter brings into play. Figuring out who he is and how he handles everything. And when he got called a "Good Dalek" that just kinda made my blood boil...but after watching every episode, its kind da true. As much as I hate to say. Keep up the great work! Till the next reaction!! Peace out girl scout!!!
Regarding the Doctor's attitude at this stage, the way I took it was that he is having a crisis of self-reflection. He could no longer put up the pretense that he is DEFINITELY a good man, or try to forget/turn away from all of his darker moments. Because the fact remains in that one line "I am the Doctor, I have lived over a thousands years and not all of them were good". He is still the same Doctor who would try to save as many lives as he could, but while Ten or Eleven would show more care or apologize for the lives they couldn't save, Twelve (at this point) hates himself too much to believe he really cared.
This first adventure with this Doctor truly shows what I love about him. He's not like Tenant's or Smith's doctor who would promise to keep you alive then you'd die, he's honest and realistic he's a balance between the former warrior he was and the man of peace he became, he is ruthlessly honest and saves who he knows he realistically can and uses those who he can't save in a benefitial way.
"Am I a good man?" the intensity of Capaldi -- dark, complex -- I love all the Doctors, but I'd say Capaldi's Doctor undergoes the most growth, the most transformation it's a great ride. Glad you're here to share it with us
This Doctor is more detached from humanity. He's still a good man, I think, he's just more focused on results than people's feeling. And yeah, I think it's the result of him being incredibly old after the events of "Time of the Doctor". That and the fact that he spent centuries making peace with his upcoming final death. But then he got to live and he's mostly lost and confused. That's a new challenge for him.
I first met the Doctor in 1970. #3 and #12 have many similarities. Maybe that's why I love Capaldi's Doctor. He's definitely a throw back to the early Doctors.
Rember ecilson, the 9th doctor. He had been born in battle and blood. Capaldi was a huge fan of doctor who, so much that he turned down the roll because he didn't know if he could pull it off. If you want to think of Doctor House, how people aren't his thing, but he does try to solve the problem.
I remember watching these early eps and thinking “this just doesn’t feel like the doctor.” By the end, 12 was my fav. He has the biggest character arc from start to finish. The beginning feels different & rocky, but you’ll get there. It’s a wonderful ride!
This early into Twelve's regeneration, he is very pragmatic and not emotional. Almost Spock like where logic rules over emotion. He's not user friendly to use Capaldi's description of the Twelfth Doctor. He has a great line in episode 8 that basically explains his response or non response to people. For NuWho fans...he's similiar in some regards to Eccleston's 9th Doctor in how he speaks to people. For some, it took them until the end of season 8 of mid way of S9 to warm up to Capaldi and finally understand his Doctor. As someone who grew up watching Classic Who from the 3rd Doctor on...I was in the minute he said "KIDNEYS! I'VE GOT NEW KIDNEYS! But I don't like the color."
You have to appreciate the development of the 12th doctor, he’s the first doctor from a new regeneration Cycle, it takes him a bit longer to find himself. The other part is he just came out of 800 years of war defending trenzalor! So that had jaded him! you will see, he quickly became my favourite as his character arch when on.
If you think about it this way, this Doctor is going through a bit of an existential crisis at this point. He fought on Trenzalore for hundreds of years and believe he was going to die and never regenerate again. He had accepted this as his fate suddenly to get that fate changed. He now has to deal with the fact of having accepted his death that he's still here and he doesn't know how to deal with that.
It's those darned Time Lords! They snuck in a BIOS update when they upgraded his storage capacity and all The Doctor's settings got restored to factory defaults. So just like the First Doctor back in the first story (The Tribe Of Gum), he has to learn empathy and emotion from his companions. In both cases, it's Coal Hill Academy (nee School) to the rescue, with cute little brunettes and compassionate, heroic teachers. Only in this case, there's fewer of them. Because Clara is awesome.
"Yeah, top layer if you want to say a few words" was the moment that I fell in love with the 12th Doctor, as it was a massive change to the previous Doctors, but don't worry the 12th Doctor has a tremendous arc in which he goes through many changes.
Yes I thought the same for most of his run getting new regenerations that something happened to where he's darker there's a disconnect for him and that makes his run as the doctor so fun because he's more alien then other doctors but also he's a fan of doctor who from the vary beginning to where he's being more the classic doctor which can also be darker
I think the big difference is that 10 and 11 wanted to be liked. 12 realized that just makes things harder, and gets in the way. 12 is my favourite. A big grumpier, a little less goofy, and a great arc as he figures out just who he is.
Time and time again I’m reminded of what a phenomenal character actor Peter Capaldi is and what a treat he is to watch as 12. Far and away my favorite Doctor. I find this episode to be criminally underrated - this thriller of an episode has some amazing character moments, and, arguably 12 at his most distant. Love the Daleks here too. Alarmingly hostile, as they should be.
Capaldi's disregard for human life is exactly what I love about his Doctor. In a way, he reminds me of Hartnell's Doctor. And that's precisely why I love them both so much. I like my Doctors not caring for other people's lives that much (save for a few, like Susan or Clara) and putting others in jeopardy without any remorse :D Capaldi is by far my favorite new Doctor. Hartnell and Colin Baker my favorites classic Doctors.
All of that time on Trenzalor really changed the Doctor, he saw a lot of death and he lost a lot too, and not only did the wonky regeneration mess him up, but Clara's hesitation probably was a trigger to making him a bit more emotionally guarded.
It's pretty much a throwback to the 1st doctor. The new regeneration cycle is sort of like him starting over a bit or at least it's been an excuse to bring back more of the classic elements year after year. It lead to a pretty nice arc for him.
About "You are a good Dalek"... I think there's a subtle difference between when it was used in 'Dalek' and here. Originally it means "you are very good at the things Daleks do, basically hating and exterminating". Here IMO it means "You are like a Dalek, i.e. supergenius filled with hatred and all that, but morally good instead of evil." Oh, and when series 8 was just starting, what 12 seemed to be missing was mostly just his people skills. Could be the actors playing to Capaldi's perceived strengths (look up The Thick Of It on youtube, and his formerly most famous role Malcolm tucker).
He's essentially the dark doctor. The one who kind of accepts you can't save everybody, but that doesn't stop him trying too. The part you feel is missing from him won't stop him from becoming possibly your favourite doctor I promise.
It’s not that he cares less about saving people it’s that he doesn’t bullshit & he knows that you can’t save everyone, people are gonna die & there’s no point in making a big deal about it. I actually really loved that about Capaldi.
he's more practical now, worrying about saving the soldier didn't help the situation in the grand scheme one bit, he's a new man no, its all about finding who he is
12 is character evolving in front of you.. Also, in some ways he is reverting to some of his (classic) predecessors. I like your point about how 9, 10 and 11 went in, often guns blazing, trying to save everyone in sight. But, don't forget they had the guilt over destroying Gallifrey. They were atoning. The Doctor can be harsh, ruthless even (check out his 7th incarnation). But the good man/woman is there and will always define him /her in the end. 12s personality development is arguably part of this season's arc.
I won't spoil anything, but Twelve's personality is a major focus for this season. This is a version of the Doctor that's really really trying to figure himself out.
Twelves arc is rediscovering himself and thus finding out what kind of Doctor he wants to be . He feels like , atleast out of the Modern Doctor’s so far , the one who changes the most . I attribute it to him getting a new regeneration cycle so this is technically the first incarnation of a new cycle so he’s figuring himself out .
I didn't comment on the last one but the whole reason why Clara had a problem with the doctor being different even though she has known about his regeneration is because Matt Smith made the show popular pretty much everywhere and for a lot of people mostly in America it was a first so it was a way for Steven Moffat to walk new viewers through a regeneration through the eyes of Clara. That was a great reaction and 12 would eventually become my favorite doctor and I'm pretty sure he is going to grow on you
I think twelves disregard for the people is due to spending 900 years on trenzalore and constantly protecting and caring so much of the people of the town and this is him ignoring the people more so he doesn’t get stuck somewhere again like trenzalore
Good reaction. Here's my thing with 12, I feel like they had to tweek his Doctor to become more friendly as time went on, this first series I really struggled with him.
"Missing a part of what makes him the Doctor" is a good way of putting it. I also like that you pointed out how long he's lived at this point. I think that's something that gets glossed over a lot when it comes to explaining the Twelfth Doctor's personality, at least in these early episodes of his, but you picked up on it right away.
Nine was born out of war and had an edge much like 12...who was also born out of war on trenzalore. Took me a bit to get used to 12 but then I realized he was much like nine at first...but under it he is still the doctor. This one is a little like nine’s Dalek episode. Nine had flippant responses too. I think it is the born out of war thing. Itwill heal. He is shell shocked. Rewatch a few nine episodes and see if you see the connection between nine and 12
12 is The Doctor's actual mid-life crisis. This will become much more obvious in season 9, but I think that is why it feels like something is missing from him right now.
I have a theory of why the twelfth doctor is more serious and different from the other doctors. He is less emotionally attached to people this time around. He is more focused on doing what he can do then worrying about what he can't. It's not like he doesn't care, he is just less emotionally vulnerable this time around. This regeneration distances himself because his previous regeneration (Matt Smith) was hurt after all the people he has lost (Amy, Rory, River (he knows she is going to die in the library), etc.) and wanted to be more serious and less emotionally vulnerable. I don't really think regeneration is based on what he wants but how he feels. Regeneration tends to be a gift to the doctor, rather than a curse. It usually gives him a different outlook or another life. Moffat tries to show how the doctor's character can change as he gets older. Most people just want the doctor to be the same. They see the doctor as a role model. This doctor is flawed, which I like because it reminds us the doctor isn't always right. He is stubborn at times, but he tries to be a good man. Hopefully this explains his character without spoiling anything.
This episode was the first time we’ve seen the Daleks exterminate somebody on screen since series 5. When Moffatt took charge...he was never really any good at having the Daleks actually kill people like Russel T Davies did for Christopher and David Tennant, they sort of just stood around doing nothing, and even the people they killed and turned into Dalek puppets could come back to life like Tasha Lem in time of the Doctor. So this episode was finally good to see the Daleks threatening again as Moffatt didn’t write this one. It doesn’t last.
I've lost count of how many times I watched this episode. Yeah, the 12th Doctor takes a while to figure out. It's one of the best things about the 12th.
If you think about Madame Vastra's speech last episode, I think it can help you understand 12 as you see him now. She told Clara 10 and 11 "chose" their faces to be liked. 10 and 11 liked being liked, and they naturally comforted people. (You can say 10 chose his face for Rose specifically.) They had their dark moments just like 12, but the difference is, as someone else pointed out, they were charming enough that everyone just moved on. 12, however, doesn't concern himself right now with making people comfortable, with being charming and wanting to be liked. His face tells you that. And his words tell you that too. What is he concerned about? "Am I a good man?" He's concerned with figuring out who he is. In this episode, a Dalek speaks of his hatred, and Clara of his cynicism when she calls him out on his smugness at being right about the Daleks, even when someone has just died. I love this episode because we are beginning to see this new dynamic of 12-Clara. Her "control freak" and "teacher" side is being revealed, and so is 12's stubbornness and tendency to quickly dismiss others without regard to manners or appropriateness. "She's my carer. She cares so I don't have to." And we see also in this episode how these two personalities can clash, but also how they are good for each other. Because 12 /is/ a bit lost, and Clara is in some ways like his teacher and carer. It's such a great and NEW doctor-companion dynamic (and my personal favorite). I hope you comment on it in the future when you get a stronger sense for it.
Nailed it with this comment, your diagnosis of what each face is and what it meant is spectacular. Plus the relationship with Clara and the Doctor is what I love most about the story so far. Opposites attract!
he was at war for 800 years while the people around him slowly aged and died, he knows he can't save everyone already but now it much clearer to him, he looks at the bigger goal
Capaldi's doctor is more like the old school original few. This version of the doctor takes the whole first season to developer his charater, and by the end of this season hes nailed it. I wasnt sure about him as a doctor at first, but by the end I loved his doctor and I think you will too.
Ever since the classic series, there was some traits the Doctor had that where a lot darker than some incarnations. This one took me a while to get used to, but he gets there in the end0
I can recommend *Katrin Depp* now to you. She just made some amazing fan made trailers and music videos about Doctor Who! I fell in love with her by her "Darkness - Doctor Who" Video.
The episode where I decided I liked Capaldi’s Doctor, and that I LOVED Clara. As always an interesting talk after. Will the Doctor regain that missing part? I quite like callous Twelve, I hope he never loses that spiky edge!
I like how the ninth doctor, who was scarred by war and genocide regenerates into David Tennant and they’re both very much the same man as the doctor has his love and relationship with rose and her family to carry over with him. He moves from being the man who’s scarred by war into the man who’s trying to move on from it with rose. Then after essentially losing his family again one by one as they all depart he regresses into the childish Eleventh Doctor who can start afresh and forget his past mistakes (the man who forgets). A new chapter begins with Amy, eleven is very much an old doctor and after Amy and Rory die, he becomes more mature in himself but still continues to mask it behind his goofy exterior, something he carries over to Clara. And then he has the whole experience of the day of the doctor to move on from his past regrets but spends a lifetime on trenzalore, again becoming more mature day by day as the years go on until he finally accepts his death. It’s like the regeneration into 12 over compensates for his maturity and growth into a more hard faced man and we get peter capaldi who’s missing the regard for human life he’s always held so dear. He’s just got to find himself again. So we have nine and 10 who are too damaged by war to accept themselves but they try regardless, then we have 11 who finally begins to accept himself and then we have his time on trenzalore and regeneration into 12 where he finally ‘grows up’ but becomes a little lost in the process. And as much as I think the show starts to go downhill a little bit as it progresses, it is really interesting how we explore 12 and watch him grow as a Doctor. He probably gets the most well developed journey of all new who Doctors
CP JD precisely 👍 He cares, he just doesn’t want the universe to know he cares because if it does it will take away what he cares about... 😭💕 Time and time again the universe takes away what he loves... and he probably blames himself for it. So with this new life, he’s afraid that he’s not a good person. And so if he doesn’t care it won’t hurt him if he loses people. But the truth is in his question. Am I a good man? Like you said, you wouldn’t ask if you didn’t care 💜
In many ways he's a first Doctor all over again. If you watch early Hartnell stories the Doctor is abrasive, callous and generally unlikable. He takes a while to soften and become the more caring and friendly Doctor he's known for. In the first few stories he's actually a liability and the cause of the problems they encounter. After story 4 or 5 he beds in and becomes more grandfatherly. Capaldi has a somewhat similar arc. He starts off as a bit of a grumpy bear, then mellows out somewhat.
Great video as usual. one thing you should keep in mind is that, 11 spent 900 years on Trenzalore watching people die and waiting to finally die himself. He knew that this was his last regeneration, and the end of The Doctor. But then all of a sudden, after he was more ready to die than he ever has been before, he is given a new life. But the only thing is, he doesn't really know what to do with it. War was the warrior, 9 was the Doctor who had just killed Billions. 10 was the charmer, 11 the eccentric child. Think about how the circumstances of each regeneration manifested itself in the doctor. 12 has finally gotten to a point where it's been going on for so long now,. He's lost so many people he loved and experienced so much pain that he has finally developed a defence mechanism for it, by not being very emotional at all when something can hurt him. He doesn't know why he is still around, he doesn't know if he still cares, or what he should be doing; and he does not know why he looks or acts the way he does. in short, he genuinely doesn't know if he is a good man or not.
The reason you feel the doctor is missing something is because he has returned to his first incarnation. How he was as the 1st doctor before metting Barbara and Ian. When it first started the doctor was still good but his main focus was to explore the universe and had little time for compassion. He mostly got that from Susan and every companion that has come since. The reason he came back to that state was because the only reason he acted like a child, as the war doctor put it, was because as a grown up he had killed his entire race and wanted to get as far away from that as possible. Once he saved gallifrey and his people pretty much forgave him by giving him more regenerations he could back to that place before the guilt came into place. His character arc is more like the 1st doctor and I think the doctor's character arc for 12 is far more interesting than 9,10 and 11. Also he doesn't really hate soldiers its more that he hates that version of him the most and projects that into every soldier because he believes that every soldier has the capability to destroy their entire race for the sake of peace. Of course that's not true but the doctor must believe it in order to cope with the fact that he knows he is capable of doing such horrific actions. Which is why he asked Clara if he is a good person because now that's in the past and he can reflect on the events and the actions he took and is questioning his entire existence. Where Moffat took the character of the doctor with 12 is truly underrated and Peter Capaldi hit every note possible at the highest peak. Really excited for you to get into this doctor
♩Oh Danny boy♩ Remember in the 8th doctor special before the anniversary? That good Dalek line reminded me of the woman he tried to save but rejected help from a Time Lord because there was no difference between the two warring races to her.
Your comments at the end were actually spot on. Technically 12 shouldn’t have existed as he had used up his original regeneration cycle so I see this as a restart for the Doctor who’s not completely sure if he is good man. The situation with the Soldier may seem harsh but but 12 definitely has to think of keeping the majority alive rather than saving individuals because he cannot save everyone.
I think what's missing is the 'want to be liked." Like when Tennant left Jack behind, but was charming. Smith left old Amy to die outside the Tardis, but was charming. I think This Doctor saves as many as he can, but worries if he is a good man, not if he looks like one.
A very interesting take on the portrayal.
On point.
Nailed it.
Such a good explanation of 12!
Oooo interesting.
Twelve has one of the most fascinating (and best) character arcs. The Doctor survived the Time War, promised to never do such a thing again, only to spend 900 years on Trenzalore fighting a war, and now he finds himself in a new regeneration he was never supposed to have. He’s a walking existential crisis. It’s about him clinging onto and trying to find what makes him the Doctor.
"I'm his carer."
"Yeah, she cares so I don't have to."
It's lines like these that warmed me up to Twelve initially, but it took well until mid-season 9 for me to really *get* him as a Doctor, but when I did, boy was that good
I look forward to that for you
I was just about to comment that line myself, it just fits so perfectly to her description :D
That line is sooo Twelve. I'd have a hard time imagining hearing this from any of the previous Doctor's, even Nine. And yet he really does care; just not outwardly .....
You'll see that moment happen for me in a couple weeks. It was a glorious moment.
this. exactly this.
I wonder if anybody gas mentioned that he already has named a Galaxy Allison. ruclips.net/video/0tK-PdTk_TY/видео.html
"They don't need two soldiers on board". FINALLY someone gets it on first viewing! Thank you! Don't formulate a solid opinion on this Doctor until season 9. He's at the start of a long journey.
The long way around
:)
Everyone says it took them a while to warm to Capaldi but I loved him straight from the start
Same! Honestly, I think the show desperately needed someone like him by this point. I wonder how many people initially against him were New Series only fans. Because until this point, Tennant and Smith were the primary faces of Doctor Who (I feel bad Eccleston's often ignored) and they fit into the camp of the nice Doctor. So when Capaldi starts throwing his eyebrows and sharp tongue around, it's quite jarring for them. The Classic Series, which housed seven Doctors (eight if you include the movie within that era), had a wide variety from the charming, twinkle-in-the-eye Troughton to brutish Colin Baker. I think Classic Series fans were more prepared for (and accepting of) Capaldi. Obviously I'm generalizing and exceptions happen on both ends of the spectrum, but it wouldn't surprise me if there was some degree of truth to my guess.
My love began when he gestured with the coffee and kept telling Soldier Blue to "Get It Right".
@@tenmark7055 My love began when i saw his attack eyebrows in Day of the Doctor.
I wonder if anybody has mention this already. The doctor already has names a Galaxy Allison. ruclips.net/video/0tK-PdTk_TY/видео.html
12 is supposed to be the dark side of the Doctor, I think that’s why he’s a bit different. If you seen some of the classic series you’ll notice his more of a classic type Doctor then a modern type. :) enjoy series 8
I see it as a bit of both from understanding that the classic doctors were different but not watched them yet there's that part of the classic doctors that he is a fan of they were a bit darker but also a disconnect from the 11 or 10 who had darkness but hid it he's more upfront about it he doesn't care and that disconnect is there through most of his run and it makes him more alien and odd
The almost casual distancing of the Doctor seeing death has always been a trait of his, with many examples throughout the Classic series. The sixth actor, Colin Baker to take on the role often recited that the mindset of the Doctor would have him stepping over an aftermath of dead bodies to either mourn or save a butterfly.
When you said the doctor seems like he lost a part of himself, you gotta remember he was at war on Trenzalore for hundreds of years (like 600-800 years), similarly sort of like the time war, 12th is like a new Christopher Eccleston at this point, all broken down from being in battle from his last regen.
It's disturbing how many seem to forget this very obvious point. WHat he is, is the result of what he endured.
very good, glad someones got it!
To be honest, for me 12th is still the same Doctor, nothing changed. Look at 11th, he had a mask of a silly man which hides many of his "evil" moments. Remember A Town Called Mercy or A Good Man Goes to War? 10th isn't much diffrent (Water of Mars, The Runaway Bride). 12th is just more straightforward, more alien.
i think a lot of series 5 shows his darkness
Well said. This is the same Doctor, just with less of a need to wear a mask. This is the Doctor 'over it', with no subtlety left to give. Most Doctors seem to really get up to speed in their second season, and 12 is no different, but I feel like we really start to see this Doctor in "Listen". Looking forward to that reaction.
Josh Lammaslehto I agree that it’s the same Doctor but I think the exact opposite about the whole him wearing a mask thing. If anything, this Doctor is just wearing a different type of a mask than the ones we’ve seen with 10 and 11.
Good points!
@@crystald.6902 and people still cant seem to get their heads around the fact the doctor is NOT human, he doesnt think like one, why should he act like one, have human mores. This IS the doctor who fought in the time wars, this is the man who undid Gallifrey, this IS the man who spent 1000 years on Trenzalore, he hasnt changed, hes just decided to be himself again. The most utterly inhuman of all the doctors, both eras, is 4th he sometimes came across as a little silly, the BAM you see just how inhuman he is 12th is the balance, his face matches his age, he IS 1000's of years old, he has seen things no one never has or will, but now one can believe it!!
Demon’s Run: “Good men don’t need rules, today’s not the day to find out why I have so many” 😱
Hellllloooo rusty!
Edit: very interesting about what you think 12 is missing lol I'll say this 12 has one of if not the best character arcs in who!
12 in that sense is behaving a bit like 1
He does get a lot better yeah, but I doubt there will be any more crying from now on. (And with the next Doctor absolutely not at all.)
But this one does have some really good episodes and qute a few really entertaining ones.
About his character arc; I think he goes too much from one side to the other and later he really gets good.
I love Peter Capaldi as The Doctor.
He's my favorite from NuWho.
I thought the actor did a great job, but I felt he was being asked to keep changing the characterisation. In season 8, I think Moffat tried a second run at Colin Baker - Doctor,
and ran straight into the same problems. Despite the changes happened to TV in the intervening two decades, audiences just weren't ready for the Doctor to be a challenging, abrasive and genuinely alien. Rather than wait for the audience to come round they started moving the character back into a more traditional Doctor.
Given the material he had to work with Capaldi did an absolutely cracking job. I think the collapse in ratings had far more to do with the story-lines and the BBC seemingly going out of its way to kill off interest through it scheduling.
I'm glad you picked up on the Doctor's soldier thing being a self-hating and precautionary measure more than anything. I distinctly remember some people being somewhat incensed by it.
That bit of music, by the way, that plays when the Doctor's trying to convince the Dalek that there are beautiful things in the world is called "Am I a Good Man?" and is Twelve's theme. It's one of my favorite Doctor Who pieces.
Capaldi is easily my fav modern Doctor. The viewing figures took a bit of a hit when he arrived. It was because he was no longer the 'pretty boys' of before, but the older more interesting, grounded and definite throw-back to the Classic Who idea of the Doctor. It was too much for some. Its a shame some stopped watching because he's the only modern Doctor that actually got better and better regardless of how good each story was. The one shining thing about Peter Capaldi was you knew how much he loved being one of his boyhood heroes. I envy anyone watching his run for the first time.
I agree, but id say that he is a bit more logic driven in this episode.
He knew tha soldier F-ed up and he couldnt save him,so he went into, what to do next to save the rest that werent marked for death.
Like if acid was eating your hand and moving up. Best bet would be to chop off the hand to save the rest of you.
That soldier was the hand.
Mat Smiths Dr wouldve been more emotional over it. Youll get a handle on Capaldi soon, I actually liked that Moffatt didnt try to put Mats personality in Capaldis Dr.
ruclips.net/video/0tK-PdTk_TY/видео.html
What got me was the fact that he made a joke about the death like two seconds later.. like he just doesn't get human emotions and decency sometimes does he?
@@bellascoles191 to be fair he did just get done fighting in another centuries long war
I only started loving Twelve after I actually understood his entire ark. Warming up to him was difficult but I love his development so much.
I loved him from the start. After two hyperactive, super-smiley, super-friendly, cuddle-bug types of Doctors in a row, I needed a rough Doctor again.
He actually has an arc when the character of the Doctor usually doesn't. You meet them and they are pretty much the same until they regenerate. Twelve had evolution as a character and I call it the "Good Man Arc" which is some really good acting from Capaldi.
@@ElectroTherapyFTSoul
Same. He is my favorite.
*arc = continuous development or a curved path. Ark = a boat or container that keeps things safe.
Bear with it. His character development gets awesome, especially once into second half of this season.
He's playing like the earlier Doctors, Hartnell ,Pertwee and Baker (Tom) there reactions to certain things are not human which is the point.
And Collin Baker was the most alien of the Doctors
And 7's McCoy, especially from Remembrance of the Daleks onwards
@@tenmark7055 You spelt Tom wrong
@@tenmark7055 no TOM Baker was!
yep
This Doctor begins more alien than the other recent Doctors. His concerns, his attitudes dont always link up with our expectations. We forget that he isnt human and his perspective is different. And Rusty saw beauty and divinity in the Doctor's soul. And saw hatred, which is not what the Doctor wanted him to see, or wanted to be there. And this Doctor goes through more changes than any other - definitely worth the trip!
Quick - does anyone have a theory what the Doctor is writing on the floors & walls?
The Daleks chanting ‘the rebels will be exterminated’ makes me want a Star Wars/Doctor Who crossover
The point of this Doctor is that he IS trying to save as many people as possible and sometimes sacrificing the one for the many is the only way. You'll see that again this season. What's really missing from this Doctor is the kindness. But he's a work in progress. This Doctor has the biggest character development of any other Doctor. You'll love him.
"Biggest character development of any other Doctor."
Ahem... William Hartnell.
(Definitely agree with your point about helping people mixed with sacrificing. He's actually just like the previous Doctors in that respect; he just doesn't brood over it like, say, Tennant's did.)
@@ElectroTherapyFTSoul Nah, 12 completely changed.
@@jthomann71 Twelve was a man who, despite having a raging temper and a callous shield hiding his vulnerability, was still ultimately the Doctor as he still helped people because he cared. He just would't admit it. The First Doctor was a selfish and somewhat immoral asshat who would rather run away to save his own skin, but was forced to help people because doing so allowed him to get back to the TARDIS so that he could run away. The Twelve Doctor doubted he was a good man and his arc was him learning to accept himself and chill out. The First Doctor was the one who actually learned how to be good man. But not just that, he learned how to be "The Doctor."
1 changed because he was forced to and 12 changed because he wanted to. Day one he's asking if he's a good man and spends the rest of his time becoming one.
A cup of tea is offered (with cakes, no less) and you say "That's not Heaven". That has just damaged a perfectly good British stereotype.
When I get there I fully expect the kettle to be on.
Peter Capaldi has become my most favoritest Doctor of all time! He will make you cry many times!
cry laugh and shout in the same time (the zygon invation (2))
As others have mentioned, you’re in for one hell of a ride with Twelve. His character arc and the dramatic changes he goes through are easily some of the most moving things the show has ever done with the character. It’s hard to explain without getting into spoiler territory, but there is a very specific reason for the darker and more enigmatic qualities 12 displays early on.
In this season The Doctor doesn't believe he is a good man.
In A Good Man Goes to War, The Doctor flat-out says that he's *not* a good man. That was back in S6. I read a good analysis somewhere (I forget where) claiming that in fact S8 is the first season where he considers the possibility that he *is* a good man, at least in part because he now knows he didn't destroy Gallifrey.
The doctor said hit best himself about this season, when he said of Clara, "Yes, she is my carer. She cares, so I don't have to."
remember this was the man who spent 1000years on Trenzalore
Me, out loud: I wonder when Shayla's reaction is gonna come out?
Shayla: Do you mean *THIS* videooo? ;)
Yeah, 12 seems quite callous here. This episode has quite a telling line when Clara kids that she's his carer and 12 responds "Yeah, my carer. She cares so I don't have to." - it's a joke but then sometimes the biggest truths are buried in those. Enjoyed this one myself, it cemented my feeling after 'Deep Breath' that it was going to be fun to tag along on 12 and Clara's journey.
12 is very reminiscent of classic doctors, for lack of a better word, a little less concerned for the individual and more for the collective well-being
Capaldi is my absolute favourite Doctor. The way he can go from being dark to being joyful is amazing. He is definitely one of the best actors for showing the conflict within the doctor. The two sides of him that are at war at all times. His capacity to be kind as well as dark
I often wonder if "I" lived to be let's say 300 years old, how different of a person would I be from who I am now. Then times that by 4 and add on the fact that the Dr goes through more life experiences in 5 years than most do in 4 life times. You're going to have your times of derailment. But I like your questions Shayla. 9:30 They're important ones.
As you can see this doctor has his moments of humor but they tend to be pretty dark. 2:50
I really love the Doctor that Peter brings into play. Figuring out who he is and how he handles everything. And when he got called a "Good Dalek" that just kinda made my blood boil...but after watching every episode, its kind da true. As much as I hate to say. Keep up the great work! Till the next reaction!! Peace out girl scout!!!
Regarding the Doctor's attitude at this stage, the way I took it was that he is having a crisis of self-reflection. He could no longer put up the pretense that he is DEFINITELY a good man, or try to forget/turn away from all of his darker moments. Because the fact remains in that one line "I am the Doctor, I have lived over a thousands years and not all of them were good".
He is still the same Doctor who would try to save as many lives as he could, but while Ten or Eleven would show more care or apologize for the lives they couldn't save, Twelve (at this point) hates himself too much to believe he really cared.
I'd like to think of "Into The Dalek" as a retelling (and a homage) of the 1966 sci-fi thriller "Fantastic Voyage".
He makes joke about it in the episode, "Great idea for a movie, terrible idea for a proctologist
"I thinbk i'll get some sleep"
Sees Shayla post new Doctor Who reaction.
"I can sleep later"
Hah thank you ;)
This first adventure with this Doctor truly shows what I love about him. He's not like Tenant's or Smith's doctor who would promise to keep you alive then you'd die, he's honest and realistic he's a balance between the former warrior he was and the man of peace he became, he is ruthlessly honest and saves who he knows he realistically can and uses those who he can't save in a benefitial way.
Your thoughts at the end are spot on, keep up the great work!
"Am I a good man?"
the intensity of Capaldi -- dark, complex -- I love all the Doctors, but I'd say Capaldi's Doctor undergoes the most growth, the most transformation
it's a great ride. Glad you're here to share it with us
This Doctor is more detached from humanity. He's still a good man, I think, he's just more focused on results than people's feeling. And yeah, I think it's the result of him being incredibly old after the events of "Time of the Doctor". That and the fact that he spent centuries making peace with his upcoming final death. But then he got to live and he's mostly lost and confused. That's a new challenge for him.
I first met the Doctor in 1970. #3 and #12 have many similarities. Maybe that's why I love Capaldi's Doctor. He's definitely a throw back to the early Doctors.
Rember ecilson, the 9th doctor. He had been born in battle and blood.
Capaldi was a huge fan of doctor who, so much that he turned down the roll because he didn't know if he could pull it off.
If you want to think of Doctor House, how people aren't his thing, but he does try to solve the problem.
I remember watching these early eps and thinking “this just doesn’t feel like the doctor.” By the end, 12 was my fav. He has the biggest character arc from start to finish. The beginning feels different & rocky, but you’ll get there. It’s a wonderful ride!
I really love the way you put together your thoughts for 12. I can't wait to see how that changes over time!
This early into Twelve's regeneration, he is very pragmatic and not emotional. Almost Spock like where logic rules over emotion. He's not user friendly to use Capaldi's description of the Twelfth Doctor. He has a great line in episode 8 that basically explains his response or non response to people. For NuWho fans...he's similiar in some regards to Eccleston's 9th Doctor in how he speaks to people. For some, it took them until the end of season 8 of mid way of S9 to warm up to Capaldi and finally understand his Doctor. As someone who grew up watching Classic Who from the 3rd Doctor on...I was in the minute he said "KIDNEYS! I'VE GOT NEW KIDNEYS! But I don't like the color."
You have to appreciate the development of the 12th doctor, he’s the first doctor from a new regeneration Cycle, it takes him a bit longer to find himself. The other part is he just came out of 800 years of war defending trenzalor! So that had jaded him! you will see, he quickly became my favourite as his character arch when on.
If you think about it this way, this Doctor is going through a bit of an existential crisis at this point. He fought on Trenzalore for hundreds of years and believe he was going to die and never regenerate again. He had accepted this as his fate suddenly to get that fate changed. He now has to deal with the fact of having accepted his death that he's still here and he doesn't know how to deal with that.
It's those darned Time Lords! They snuck in a BIOS update when they upgraded his storage capacity and all The Doctor's settings got restored to factory defaults. So just like the First Doctor back in the first story (The Tribe Of Gum), he has to learn empathy and emotion from his companions. In both cases, it's Coal Hill Academy (nee School) to the rescue, with cute little brunettes and compassionate, heroic teachers. Only in this case, there's fewer of them. Because Clara is awesome.
"Yeah, top layer if you want to say a few words" was the moment that I fell in love with the 12th Doctor, as it was a massive change to the previous Doctors, but don't worry the 12th Doctor has a tremendous arc in which he goes through many changes.
Yes I thought the same for most of his run getting new regenerations that something happened to where he's darker there's a disconnect for him and that makes his run as the doctor so fun because he's more alien then other doctors but also he's a fan of doctor who from the vary beginning to where he's being more the classic doctor which can also be darker
I think the big difference is that 10 and 11 wanted to be liked. 12 realized that just makes things harder, and gets in the way.
12 is my favourite. A big grumpier, a little less goofy, and a great arc as he figures out just who he is.
Time and time again I’m reminded of what a phenomenal character actor Peter Capaldi is and what a treat he is to watch as 12. Far and away my favorite Doctor.
I find this episode to be criminally underrated - this thriller of an episode has some amazing character moments, and, arguably 12 at his most distant. Love the Daleks here too. Alarmingly hostile, as they should be.
If matt stayed on for a 4th series he was going to play a darker doctor but I guess they gave that to capaldi on his first series instead
Capaldi's disregard for human life is exactly what I love about his Doctor. In a way, he reminds me of Hartnell's Doctor. And that's precisely why I love them both so much. I like my Doctors not caring for other people's lives that much (save for a few, like Susan or Clara) and putting others in jeopardy without any remorse :D
Capaldi is by far my favorite new Doctor. Hartnell and Colin Baker my favorites classic Doctors.
All of that time on Trenzalor really changed the Doctor, he saw a lot of death and he lost a lot too, and not only did the wonky regeneration mess him up, but Clara's hesitation probably was a trigger to making him a bit more emotionally guarded.
Rusty is a savage. ''You are a good Dalek.'' He knows it hurts him.
@CP JD
Interent has failed us.
It's pretty much a throwback to the 1st doctor. The new regeneration cycle is sort of like him starting over a bit or at least it's been an excuse to bring back more of the classic elements year after year. It lead to a pretty nice arc for him.
About "You are a good Dalek"... I think there's a subtle difference between when it was used in 'Dalek' and here. Originally it means "you are very good at the things Daleks do, basically hating and exterminating". Here IMO it means "You are like a Dalek, i.e. supergenius filled with hatred and all that, but morally good instead of evil."
Oh, and when series 8 was just starting, what 12 seemed to be missing was mostly just his people skills. Could be the actors playing to Capaldi's perceived strengths (look up The Thick Of It on youtube, and his formerly most famous role Malcolm tucker).
He's essentially the dark doctor. The one who kind of accepts you can't save everybody, but that doesn't stop him trying too. The part you feel is missing from him won't stop him from becoming possibly your favourite doctor I promise.
It’s not that he cares less about saving people it’s that he doesn’t bullshit & he knows that you can’t save everyone, people are gonna die & there’s no point in making a big deal about it. I actually really loved that about Capaldi.
6:51 did you remember the scene? Thats from Meta Crisis 10th doctor destroying daleks. (4x13 Journey's End)
he's more practical now, worrying about saving the soldier didn't help the situation in the grand scheme one bit, he's a new man no, its all about finding who he is
I love how hyped she gets when she sees game of thrones characters in the show. just you wait.
12 is character evolving in front of you.. Also, in some ways he is reverting to some of his (classic) predecessors. I like your point about how 9, 10 and 11 went in, often guns blazing, trying to save everyone in sight. But, don't forget they had the guilt over destroying Gallifrey. They were atoning. The Doctor can be harsh, ruthless even (check out his 7th incarnation). But the good man/woman is there and will always define him /her in the end. 12s personality development is arguably part of this season's arc.
Great reactions, you're definitely one of the best Doctor who reactors on RUclips.
I think his cavalier attitude towards death is partly because this is the first regeneration after accepting the War Doctor persona.
I won't spoil anything, but Twelve's personality is a major focus for this season. This is a version of the Doctor that's really really trying to figure himself out.
Twelves arc is rediscovering himself and thus finding out what kind of Doctor he wants to be . He feels like , atleast out of the Modern Doctor’s so far , the one who changes the most .
I attribute it to him getting a new regeneration cycle so this is technically the first incarnation of a new cycle so he’s figuring himself out .
9 and 10 change quite a lot too. 11 seemed to changed the least I think.
Shayla: I HATE that line!
Me: I LOVE that line! xD
I didn't comment on the last one but the whole reason why Clara had a problem with the doctor being different even though she has known about his regeneration is because Matt Smith made the show popular pretty much everywhere and for a lot of people mostly in America it was a first so it was a way for Steven Moffat to walk new viewers through a regeneration through the eyes of Clara. That was a great reaction and 12 would eventually become my favorite doctor and I'm pretty sure he is going to grow on you
7:35 lol, I LOVE that line
I think twelves disregard for the people is due to spending 900 years on trenzalore and constantly protecting and caring so much of the people of the town and this is him ignoring the people more so he doesn’t get stuck somewhere again like trenzalore
Good reaction. Here's my thing with 12, I feel like they had to tweek his Doctor to become more friendly as time went on, this first series I really struggled with him.
"Missing a part of what makes him the Doctor" is a good way of putting it. I also like that you pointed out how long he's lived at this point. I think that's something that gets glossed over a lot when it comes to explaining the Twelfth Doctor's personality, at least in these early episodes of his, but you picked up on it right away.
:)
Nine was born out of war and had an edge much like 12...who was also born out of war on trenzalore. Took me a bit to get used to 12 but then I realized he was much like nine at first...but under it he is still the doctor. This one is a little like nine’s Dalek episode. Nine had flippant responses too. I think it is the born out of war thing. Itwill heal. He is shell shocked. Rewatch a few nine episodes and see if you see the connection between nine and 12
I liked Capaldi in season 8 but season 9 is where I truly came to love him.
12 is The Doctor's actual mid-life crisis. This will become much more obvious in season 9, but I think that is why it feels like something is missing from him right now.
10k Subscribers! Finally getting the RESPECT you deserve! Genuine reactions from a genuine up and coming Whovian!
Aw thank you so much!
Rusty is also a nickname of Russell T Davis
personally it took till capaldis 2nd season for me to warm up to his doctor but he ended up being one of my favorites
I have a theory of why the twelfth doctor is more serious and different from the other doctors. He is less emotionally attached to people this time around. He is more focused on doing what he can do then worrying about what he can't. It's not like he doesn't care, he is just less emotionally vulnerable this time around. This regeneration distances himself because his previous regeneration (Matt Smith) was hurt after all the people he has lost (Amy, Rory, River (he knows she is going to die in the library), etc.) and wanted to be more serious and less emotionally vulnerable. I don't really think regeneration is based on what he wants but how he feels. Regeneration tends to be a gift to the doctor, rather than a curse. It usually gives him a different outlook or another life. Moffat tries to show how the doctor's character can change as he gets older. Most people just want the doctor to be the same. They see the doctor as a role model. This doctor is flawed, which I like because it reminds us the doctor isn't always right. He is stubborn at times, but he tries to be a good man.
Hopefully this explains his character without spoiling anything.
This episode was the first time we’ve seen the Daleks exterminate somebody on screen since series 5. When Moffatt took charge...he was never really any good at having the Daleks actually kill people like Russel T Davies did for Christopher and David Tennant, they sort of just stood around doing nothing, and even the people they killed and turned into Dalek puppets could come back to life like Tasha Lem in time of the Doctor. So this episode was finally good to see the Daleks threatening again as Moffatt didn’t write this one. It doesn’t last.
I've lost count of how many times I watched this episode.
Yeah, the 12th Doctor takes a while to figure out. It's one of the best things about the 12th.
If you think about Madame Vastra's speech last episode, I think it can help you understand 12 as you see him now. She told Clara 10 and 11 "chose" their faces to be liked. 10 and 11 liked being liked, and they naturally comforted people. (You can say 10 chose his face for Rose specifically.) They had their dark moments just like 12, but the difference is, as someone else pointed out, they were charming enough that everyone just moved on. 12, however, doesn't concern himself right now with making people comfortable, with being charming and wanting to be liked. His face tells you that. And his words tell you that too. What is he concerned about? "Am I a good man?" He's concerned with figuring out who he is. In this episode, a Dalek speaks of his hatred, and Clara of his cynicism when she calls him out on his smugness at being right about the Daleks, even when someone has just died. I love this episode because we are beginning to see this new dynamic of 12-Clara. Her "control freak" and "teacher" side is being revealed, and so is 12's stubbornness and tendency to quickly dismiss others without regard to manners or appropriateness. "She's my carer. She cares so I don't have to." And we see also in this episode how these two personalities can clash, but also how they are good for each other. Because 12 /is/ a bit lost, and Clara is in some ways like his teacher and carer. It's such a great and NEW doctor-companion dynamic (and my personal favorite). I hope you comment on it in the future when you get a stronger sense for it.
Nailed it with this comment, your diagnosis of what each face is and what it meant is spectacular. Plus the relationship with Clara and the Doctor is what I love most about the story so far. Opposites attract!
he was at war for 800 years while the people around him slowly aged and died, he knows he can't save everyone already but now it much clearer to him, he looks at the bigger goal
This episode sets up the 12th Doctor's dark side brilliantly. This might not be a great episode in it's own right, but excels in that regard.
Capaldi's doctor is more like the old school original few. This version of the doctor takes the whole first season to developer his charater, and by the end of this season hes nailed it. I wasnt sure about him as a doctor at first, but by the end I loved his doctor and I think you will too.
Ever since the classic series, there was some traits the Doctor had that where a lot darker than some incarnations. This one took me a while to get used to, but he gets there in the end0
I can recommend *Katrin Depp* now to you. She just made some amazing fan made trailers and music videos about Doctor Who! I fell in love with her by her "Darkness - Doctor Who" Video.
The episode where I decided I liked Capaldi’s Doctor, and that I LOVED Clara. As always an interesting talk after. Will the Doctor regain that missing part? I quite like callous Twelve, I hope he never loses that spiky edge!
4:00 I think you enjoyed that slap a little too much 😂
I like how the ninth doctor, who was scarred by war and genocide regenerates into David Tennant and they’re both very much the same man as the doctor has his love and relationship with rose and her family to carry over with him. He moves from being the man who’s scarred by war into the man who’s trying to move on from it with rose. Then after essentially losing his family again one by one as they all depart he regresses into the childish Eleventh Doctor who can start afresh and forget his past mistakes (the man who forgets). A new chapter begins with Amy, eleven is very much an old doctor and after Amy and Rory die, he becomes more mature in himself but still continues to mask it behind his goofy exterior, something he carries over to Clara. And then he has the whole experience of the day of the doctor to move on from his past regrets but spends a lifetime on trenzalore, again becoming more mature day by day as the years go on until he finally accepts his death. It’s like the regeneration into 12 over compensates for his maturity and growth into a more hard faced man and we get peter capaldi who’s missing the regard for human life he’s always held so dear. He’s just got to find himself again. So we have nine and 10 who are too damaged by war to accept themselves but they try regardless, then we have 11 who finally begins to accept himself and then we have his time on trenzalore and regeneration into 12 where he finally ‘grows up’ but becomes a little lost in the process. And as much as I think the show starts to go downhill a little bit as it progresses, it is really interesting how we explore 12 and watch him grow as a Doctor. He probably gets the most well developed journey of all new who Doctors
CP JD precisely 👍
He cares, he just doesn’t want the universe to know he cares because if it does it will take away what he cares about... 😭💕
Time and time again the universe takes away what he loves... and he probably blames himself for it. So with this new life, he’s afraid that he’s not a good person. And so if he doesn’t care it won’t hurt him if he loses people. But the truth is in his question. Am I a good man?
Like you said, you wouldn’t ask if you didn’t care 💜
oOh you are on point. Excited to see you go through this arc
In many ways he's a first Doctor all over again. If you watch early Hartnell stories the Doctor is abrasive, callous and generally unlikable. He takes a while to soften and become the more caring and friendly Doctor he's known for. In the first few stories he's actually a liability and the cause of the problems they encounter. After story 4 or 5 he beds in and becomes more grandfatherly. Capaldi has a somewhat similar arc. He starts off as a bit of a grumpy bear, then mellows out somewhat.
Great reading of this doctor
Great video as usual.
one thing you should keep in mind is that, 11 spent 900 years on Trenzalore watching people die and waiting to finally die himself. He knew that this was his last regeneration, and the end of The Doctor. But then all of a sudden, after he was more ready to die than he ever has been before, he is given a new life. But the only thing is, he doesn't really know what to do with it.
War was the warrior, 9 was the Doctor who had just killed Billions. 10 was the charmer, 11 the eccentric child. Think about how the circumstances of each regeneration manifested itself in the doctor. 12 has finally gotten to a point where it's been going on for so long now,.
He's lost so many people he loved and experienced so much pain that he has finally developed a defence mechanism for it, by not being very emotional at all when something can hurt him. He doesn't know why he is still around, he doesn't know if he still cares, or what he should be doing; and he does not know why he looks or acts the way he does. in short, he genuinely doesn't know if he is a good man or not.
You are a good Dalek......
Yeah, it sure is a heck of line...!
Kudos From Canada. Episode Four Is Approaching. You Will Be In Awe. Brace Your Self
The reason you feel the doctor is missing something is because he has returned to his first incarnation. How he was as the 1st doctor before metting Barbara and Ian. When it first started the doctor was still good but his main focus was to explore the universe and had little time for compassion. He mostly got that from Susan and every companion that has come since. The reason he came back to that state was because the only reason he acted like a child, as the war doctor put it, was because as a grown up he had killed his entire race and wanted to get as far away from that as possible. Once he saved gallifrey and his people pretty much forgave him by giving him more regenerations he could back to that place before the guilt came into place. His character arc is more like the 1st doctor and I think the doctor's character arc for 12 is far more interesting than 9,10 and 11. Also he doesn't really hate soldiers its more that he hates that version of him the most and projects that into every soldier because he believes that every soldier has the capability to destroy their entire race for the sake of peace. Of course that's not true but the doctor must believe it in order to cope with the fact that he knows he is capable of doing such horrific actions. Which is why he asked Clara if he is a good person because now that's in the past and he can reflect on the events and the actions he took and is questioning his entire existence. Where Moffat took the character of the doctor with 12 is truly underrated and Peter Capaldi hit every note possible at the highest peak. Really excited for you to get into this doctor
♩Oh Danny boy♩
Remember in the 8th doctor special before the anniversary? That good Dalek line reminded me of the woman he tried to save but rejected help from a Time Lord because there was no difference between the two warring races to her.
Your comments at the end were actually spot on. Technically 12 shouldn’t have existed as he had used up his original regeneration cycle so I see this as a restart for the Doctor who’s not completely sure if he is good man. The situation with the Soldier may seem harsh but but 12 definitely has to think of keeping the majority alive rather than saving individuals because he cannot save everyone.