I stumbled across this tonight here and confirmed it at the BBC site here. Such a bummer, but it was pretty obvious it was coming, even though I was in serious denial. Damn.
I keep trying to tell myself that it’ll be ok. I dreaded Christopher Eccleston leaving, too. But as a result, we got David Tennant. I will always love David Tennant’s Doctor, no doubt. But maybe in time, it’ll turn out ok?
I keep trying to tell myself that, but I’m not sure I believe me yet.
sniffle Somebody, hold me! sob
I totally agree. For most of the Tennant episode i really didn’t like him. I wanted him to be Ecclestion, but as the episode was wrapping up he became so awesome. By the second episode he was My Doctor. If he had departed after his first season i would have been hurt but would have accepted a new Doctor. But having him for three seasons and what will be more or less one more its going to be so hard to accept a new one. Its not going to stop me from watching the new series or Doctor and who knows i could totally dig the new one. I hope they can keep it a secret. i think that would be totally awesome to surprise everyone.
I pose a question to those long term Doctor Who fans. How have you adapted to different Doctors. I know Baker was one of the best but were you able to get behind the Tennant Doctor or did you just watch and enjoy but not feel completely connected?
I’m interested in some of the alternatives mentioned (other than Tennant’s presumably joking suggestion). I’m fairly ambivalent about Robert Carlisle, although James Nesbitt would be an excellent choice (if you haven’t already seen it, run – don’t walk! – and get the brilliant BBC miniseries Jekyll). Jason Statham is sort of a surprising choice; is the world really ready for a sorrybarb-kicking Doctor?
Does this make you feel better?
Tom Baker was my first Doctor and I absolutely loved him. Until Tennant came along, he was number one. Tennant is, objectively, the better actor, but Baker WAS the Doctor for a generation of kids. When his Doctor died I remember saying “Nooooooooooooooooooooo! … Hey, that new Doctor is kinda cute!.” [I was at that age.]
I think the important thing to remember with regenerations is that each new Doctor is supposed to change in appearance AND personality. In the episodes immediately after a regeneration, the show often exaggerates the personality differences to an almost cartoonish extent. Once the new Doctor is thus defined, the show can move on to the subtleties
Other than Baker and Tennant, it has always taken me some time to get used to a new Doctor (and Colin Baker never quite grew on me). I can now truly say that have a great fondness for all the Doctors, save C.B., but only a great love for two.
You will be sad to see a favourite Doctor go and you can expect to take some time to get used to the next one. But what you lose in the familiarity of Tennant you will gain in a sense of how how amazing this character really is. You’ll get a sense of why the quote below is so true.
I’ve seen him. He’s like fire, and ice, and rage. Like the night, and the storm in the heart of the sun. He’s ancient and forever. He burns at the center of time and sees the turn of the universe.
I’m sad to see Tennant go and my kids are near in shock. But this is part of the show that I have grown used to and in some ways enjoy. A new Doctor is exciting and adds to the long history of the character. I just hope they don’t go “grumpy old man” on us.
I know that the big “Doctor-Donna” twist was successfully kept secret, but I doubt that something like a whole new Doctor could be. I agree it would be great to keep the secret, although I think those days are over. 
I pose a question to those long term Doctor Who fans. How have you adapted to different Doctors. I know Baker was one of the best but were you able to get behind the Tennant Doctor or did you just watch and enjoy but not feel completely connected?
I started watching with Tom Baker’s first episode (which, of course, I didn’t realize until years later). When his Doctor died and then woke up as someone else, I really had no idea what was going on. This was long before websites, and I didn’t even know about BBS or usenet, so regeneration was an entirely new concept to me. I still enjoyed the Doctors who followed him, but, as they say, you always remember your first Doctor. 
Also, even if it’s complete sacrilege, I’m willing to admit I enjoy Tennant even more than Baker. :eek:
I really enjoyed David Tennant as the Doctor. He had a great balance of being weak and strong, child like and age old, hilarious and serious, intelligent and idiotic all at the same time. He really took to the role wholeheartedly, and have done a fantastic job as the Doctor. God knows everyone will miss him as the doctor.
What are the possibilties of the new (and final…? With that hand double doctor thing, he technically became the 11th doctor without changing the way he looked in the finale. Doesn’t that mean that whoever they pick to be the next doctor had to be the last one - at least until they find a way to explain it…?) doctor being a woman?
Not to push it, but if Donna becomes the new doctor, I think that might be kind of awesome (annoying too, but totally awesome.)
I guess I’m asking because I really want to see Donna again with David Tennant’s doctor. Their chemistry is great without any of it being lovey dovey.
Yeah, I would love to see Donna again too, especially in a time lord role but somehow, I find it hard to believe that the BBC would let the Doctor’s character go in that direction. Donna was amazing. I was heartbroken when she was basically reverted to who and what she was before she met the Doctor. Before Donna, I loved Rose. Seeing them in the same episode together made me realize how very special Donna is. I honestly don’t care if I ever see Rose again.
It will be interesting to see what happens over the next year. I believe the BBC announced this so early to give fans the time they need to “get over” Tennant. To say goodbye, as it were and to ready themselves for the next doctor. I think the way it went down with Christopher Eccleston was very clumsy and they don’t want a repeat of that–even David Tennant is too classy to let his ego stand in the way on that account.
I kinda expected this- its part of the 3 series rule started by Patrick Troughton, who told Peter Davison who I wouldn’t be surprised if he gave that advice to Teninch when they met in Time Crash. So Teninch has pushed it.
I wouldn’t be upset unless they do a really bad regeneration story for Tennant and so on. I mean Time and the Rani bad, I want Caves of Awesomeness. Maybe there will get Richard E. Grant (greatest Who that never canon) or James Nesbitt or Paterson Joseph (black Doctor). Paterson did really well in Jekyll too- guy with the American accent.
What were people’s favourite regenerations? Mine is from the fifth doctor to the sixth.
Here’s an interesting interview with Tennant explaining his leaving the show.
Boxy sad:’(
very sad.
To me Tennant is the doctor. To me, his portrayl is the perfect representation of what I believe he should be. Part amazing, part clinicly insane.
First they take away Billy Piper, and now David Tennant. It won’t be the same.
If it is Jason Statham he sure will be able to drive the heck out of the TARDIS!
The next Doc won’t be the final. The Doctor gets 12 regenerations. That would mean 13 Doctors. Tennant is 10, or both 10 and 11, depending on how they count that regenerated hand. The next Doc will be the 12th at the highest.
I’m guessing they won’t count the hand. It wasn’t a proper regeneration in any event as the “new” Doctor and Donna mixed (Doctor/Donna). The show won’t use up a doctor on that.
It will be interesting to see how they get around the 13 doctor limit. The Master managed to get extra regenerations by stealing the life essance of other beings and was, eventually, gifted further regenerations by the Time Lords in order to get him into the final Time War with the Daleks. Since neither of these are likely outs for the Doctor, but a solution to the problem must be found if the ratings remain high, it will be an interesting time. RMD cannon has this doctor as #10.
A very old interview with Moffatt has him saying the Doctor should be over 40 and unusual looking. Wonder if he will follow these earlier convicitions now that he has to make the choice.