Doctor Who: Fans’ Perception of the Twelfth Doctor

They say that you only get one chance to make a first impression. In the case of the Twelfth Doctor, his first season on Doctor Who may be coloring some fans’ perception of his character.

There are times when someone just is not a fit for a role, be it in entertainment or whatever industry one can think of. While this will open the floodgates of numerous comments on how this is apparent when I write something about Doctor Who, discussion of my limitations in life can come at a later date. For now, let us discuss the perception shared by quite a few Whovians that Peter Capaldi does not make a good Doctor.

It is easy to see where this idea first germinated. Even the most ardent fans of the Twelfth Doctor have to admit that his initial appearances during Series Eight were awkward at best. In rewatching those episodes, it feels as though that series had been written with Matt Smith in mind, with a quick revision made to fit Capaldi’s incarnation better.

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Unfortunately, that had the adverse effect of coloring some people’s perception of the Twelfth Doctor. Being such a dramatic departure from what fans had come to expect from the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors, this new incarnation was a shock to the system. He was not jovial or approachable; instead, he was cutting and sarcastic, at odds with the personas that had recently been seen before.

Steps were taken to change that mold in Series Nine. Not only did the series fit this incarnation of the Doctor better, but the attempt was made to give him more humanity. This led to several humorous moments, such as the various flash cards for different social interactions, but an effort was made to change how the audience viewed the Doctor.

Even now, with those attempts, little has changed. Fans of the current Doctor are eagerly awaiting the upcoming season, and his interactions with a new companion. Those who prefer another in this role are counting down the days until Capaldi boards the TARDIS for the final time. Chances are, nothing will sway either side to change their minds.

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Next: David Suchet to Guest Star in Series Ten of Doctor Who

Such is the power of first impressions, even on a show like Doctor Who. A brilliant actor such as Peter Capaldi can still fall victim to the same pitfalls as the rest of us. For the record, I was always a Capaldi fan. His performance has been consistently fantastic, no matter the material that he was given to perform.