Chatting with SFX recently, series chief writer Steven Moffat was quizzed about the Eleventh Doctor’s new look for the forthcoming Christmas special, The Snowmen.
In particular, Moffat was asked about how the look of the Time Lord is defined, how this is influenced by the actor (Matt Smith) and results in some interesting observations about the attire of the Doctor’s third and fourth personas in particular…
Clearly, then, this is a direction in which the Eleventh Doctor should be heading – but it seems that the attempts to de-eccentric-ize the ninth and tenth incarnations might have slowed down the move to this realisation (although in fairness Christopher Eccleston sported different jumpers and David Tennant had a couple of suit/tie combis).
As for the Eleventh Doctor, the progression of his look is interesting, and apparently what the actor wears affects their performance.
For all of this and news of the Doctor’s Christmas episode hat (does it get shot or not?) head over to SFX.
why won’t he just answer the question. He should run for government.
At the very end of the interview, he seems to crash a little but on his usual “say alot and nothing at all”, when he says “They never vary their look at all. I think we could do with moving more towards that version of it.”.
In my opinion, striking an identifiable look is a key to a role’s success. When you think James Bond, you think dark suit, nice shirt, a striking look. When you think of Indiana Jones, you think of the hat, the jacket, etc.
What do I think? I think I like Moff less than ever. And I didn’t think that was possible.
What? are you kidding me? There was nothing stupid about 10′s hair or clothes, (love of DT completely set aside). I’m sorry but multiple incarnations of The Doctor in the past were almost cartoon….again, are you kidding me? And seriously how rude; rude remark to Russell Davies and David Tennant. I really (generally) enjoy Moffat’s writing and always have, but it seems the sheer quantity of dialogue/prose he packs into 42 minutes of television, and the frenetic pace that it is uttered can be overwhelming to the point of unenjoyable. This remark is directed both at Doctor Who and Sherlock, both which I enjoy but it seems as they progress they grow more frantic and harder to follow. Also I must say that I like Matt Smith well enough, but his Doctor is a much weaker and (dare I say stupider?) incarnation, both in character and self confidence. The reason that the 10th Doctor is the most popular, and the incarnation we most “believed” in was that both his character (and a fine performance by a great actor) made us see him as vulnerable, funny, wounded, light hearted, self-aware, and supremely confident. We knew that despite everything he was a Timelord, and could and would save the world, and deep down he never doubted this himself. 10 was a man with a sad heart but knew who he was, 11 is a boy who thinks he can, hopes he can. I’ll take a man any day….
It took me a moment there but the stove pipe hat is very Troughton. Matt seems to have been directly or indirectly influenced by the Second Doctor (Bow-Tie!) in some aspects of his look and characterization. It’s not overt, but the influence is there. Not a bad thing, by any stretch. I’ve always preferred the frock coated, waistcoat, and fob watch look for the Doctor anyway. I grew to accept and like the radical Eccleston and Tennant departures from that after awhile, but I still like my Doctor more Hartnell than Eccleston in appearance all things considered.
Just don’t bring back the “question marks”, please!
Matt’s my favourite Doctor, and I’ve gotta say, I love his series 5/6 look. And even then, the shirt changed. But I don’t mind when he changes costumes, like in Closing Time and the tux in a few eps… just as long as we get the tweed back!