Why I Love The Twelfth Doctor 

In 2013 incumbent Doctor Matt Smith announced that he was hanging up his TARDIS keys and moving on to pastures anew. Whilst this understandably broke the hearts of lots of fans, it left the show with a gap to fill. More than that it gave the casting team a dilemma, how do you replace a presence like Smith? It’s not an easy preposition. The answer as it turned out was to replace a young relatively unestablished actor, with an older actor who is regarded as one of the top actors of his generation.

When the Eleventh Doctor became the Twelfth, Capaldi made his debut as the Doctor, but not his debut in the Whoniverse. It does sadden me to say that I really don’t enjoy Capaldi’s first scene as the Doctor. My reasons for this being the fact that to comment on the colour of your kidneys is not just random, it’s impossible and the fact I struggled to actually make out what he was saying. Understandable then that I was slightly worried about his incarnation of the Doctor. Little did I know that the Twelfth Doctor was about to become my favourite take on the Doctor.

They say first impressions are everything, so lucky for me that The Time of the Doctor wasn’t actually Capaldi’s Doctor’s first onscreen appearance. His cameo role in The Day of the Doctor is the scene which actually holds that honour. Albeit that scene didn’t actually feature any words, but it didn’t need to. You can tell a lot about someone from their eyes, and the Doctor’s case was no exception. It’s funny that in retrospect, those fierce eyes told us all we needed to know about the Doctor that was about to grace our screens.

The Twelfth Doctor was a radical change from his predecessor, adopting a less caring and more hostile nature. This coincided perfectly with the arc of the series about whether he was a good man or not. The question was first posed in his full debut episode, Deep Breath, via his actions with regards to the Half-Faced Man. In fact an argument could be made that it was raised before that in his treatment of Clara, however you may choose to dismiss that as post-regenerative behaviour only.

Given that it persisted into the next episode however, this would seem unlikely. Into the Dalek featured what could arguably be called one of the Doctor’s darkest moments where he not only allows someone to die, but speeds it up to allow the rest of them to escape. His serious side is explored further by contrasting him with Robin Hood in the massively underrated Robot of Sherwood. Then in Listen, Time Heist and The Caretaker, again mostly through his interactions with characters, particularly his reaction to Danny Pink and his unexplained apparent hatred of soldiers. (Whilst the narrative does not offer an explanation, it has been theorised by fans that it is due to his past, particularly the circumstance prior to his last regeneration).

“You walk our Earth, Doctor, you breathe our air. You make us your friend, and that is your moon too. And you can damn well help us when we need it.” –

With the potential for conflict simmering all season, Kill the Moon proved to be the boiling point for the Doctor’s relationship with Clara. In terms of New Who, this was a first, a companion becoming so angry with the Doctor that they left him. As with anything of this nature it is only natural that the fandom will be divided upon who they side with, but that’s not something I want to get into here. What is for certain though is that this type of scenario offered something extremely unique and had lasting consequences for both characters involved, although perhaps not long enough to be as effective as it could have been.

“Do you think I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference? Stop it with the eyes. Don’t do that with the eyes. How do you do that anyway? It’s like they inflate.” –

Ultimately this proved to be the turning point for the Doctor as he began to mellow and show his vulnerable side to Clara. I can’t help but feel that the imagery of the veil from Deep Breath was intended to be a descriptor of the Doctor’s behaviour up until now. When he finally lifts this veil in Mummy on the Orient Express, the actual reason for doing so is so very Doctor, proof to anyone who doubted him, that is still the same man, but a slightly hardened version.

In the next episode, the Doctor only plays a small role as Clara takes centre stage. Flatline is interesting because it uses Clara to analyse the Doctor’s mind set allowing the audience to experience his thought process through a character we can emphasise with better. This is hugely effective and is cemented by Capaldi’s own “I am the Doctor” moment when he beats the boneless.

His relationship with his companion has been a defining aspect of this Doctor’s tenure so far, and it is evident that there is still a lot more to come. Their relationship in the finale and the Christmas special was somewhat overshadowed both by excellent narratives and the mystery surrounding Clara’s future. However now that the focus is back solely on out TARDIS duo, things can only get better. And they were already pretty darn good as they were.

“I don’t remember ‘Doctor Who’ not being part of my life, and it became a part of growing up, along with The Beatles, National Health spectacles, and fog. And it runs deep. It’s in my DNA.” –

There really only was one choice for the Twelfth Doctor, and I am delighted that Peter is as a regular part the show, especially as he is a fan himself. He has already proved himself worthy both onscreen and in his actions off it through multiple kind gestures to fellow fans. Despite his take on the Doctor being my favourite to date, this was the hardest

article to write to date. The obvious reason is that his Doctor is still developing, so I don’t have a full picture to analyse him yet. I think the best compliment that can be offered is that I hope I never have the opportunity to do so, because right now I can’t ever imagine anyone else as the Doctor. So all that remains now is to wish Mr. Capaldi a wonderful day and another happy and healthy year. It really is an honour to have him on our favourite show.

Please be civil and keep article comments relevant and on topic. Flag and report any offensive/trolling behavior, or contact us with details.

Please do not post SPOILERS including any leaked material! Your account could be banned. For complete details on our comment policy please read.

› Series 9 To Open With “Darkest ever plot”?

Absolutely no denying the fact that Peter is a great Doctor. His first series was one of the best ones in NuWho, at least.

Among the most perefect melding of actor and role imaginable. Capaldi\'s range is astounding and he brings a controlled intensity to the part, yet he is unpredictable. After the boyish doctors it has been nice to return to someone with natural dignity and authority but with a wicked sense of humour and a pithy comeback or two. Casting Peter may end up being Moffat\'s greatest masterstroke of all!

classic Doctor! one of the best. his era so far has had the best series since five and six part 1 and the darkest Doctor Who has been sice.. i\'d say The Almost People, but the darkest srun since the Hinchcliffe era, for sure. I\'m not going to analyse his character like I did with Eleven yet. He\'s still cooking.

While I refuse to rank any of the Doctors in terms of who\'s my favourite (you\'d essentially be ranking the very same character, after all), Twelve might just convince me to do otherwise.

I absolutely adore the Twelfth Doctor. From Peter Capaldi\'s immaculate portrayal to the character\'s gruff, snarky, darker and complex disposition, he\'s the perfect breath of fresh air after two \'user-friendly\' Doctors, and a brilliant contrast to his predecessor as well.

As an incarnation that reflected on his own actions and morality after presumably having been driven to pragmatism during Eleven\'s millennium-long stay on Trenzalore, it is a very interesting take on the Doctor, one who will come off cold and indifferent while all the while trying his hardest to save the day. 

Not only does Twelve\'s complex characterisation provide a lot of opportunity for self-reflection (as we\'ve seen in Death in Heaven), but also opens up endless opportunities for long-term character development; perhaps mellowing up over time, or maybe even fulfilling the character\'s own worst fears and becoming increasingly darker!

Let\'s hope he stays for a good long while!

It needs to be said though: with the picture blown up like this, SirTrey looks really intense. :P

The 12th Doctor is not, for me, the best Doctor or my favorite, but I am always happy when someone can love their favorite on their own merits and without diminishing the favorite of others.  Nicely done!

Hm, he\'d done really well in the last series but it\'s time he had more screen time. Felt like most of the series was consistently told from Clara\'s life too much. I think with a new companion, he can continue on his great work. But he is still brilliant and very different and I love it.

Very much enjoying his portrayal.  Possibly my third favourite.  Great article.

As I said previously, great article and I just love Peter C.  Speaking of marvellous Doctor\'s, Patrick Troughton in particular. I have just watched Space 1999 again after very many years and I had totally forgotten that Patrick is in the very last episode of the second series " the Dorcons " unfortunate name LOL. ( How could I forget Patrick was in this, oh well, just getting old I guess LOL. Anyway he has only a small role really but he plays a wonderfully villainous character so if you haven\'t seen Patrick in anything else you may like to watch this. It was probably about ten years or so after he did Doctor Who : ) 

@The Joker Good point about Missy; now that I think of it, she *is* a bit like an "evil" Matt Smith, with all that wild, dance-like energy and instant reaction time -- an interesting physical echo of the man he was before, with a hellish twist.

When I watch him, it feels like I\'m seeing all the Doctors at once, plus Peter\'s fresh take on it as well. You can really tell that this man is a true fan of Doctor Who, as he incorporates his predecessors traits in there very well, while still putting his own spin on it.

That moment in Dark Water almost made me cry.

@TakeTheType40, member of S.U.P.E.R.M.O.F.F. If you\'re talking about the "volcano" scene and its immediate aftermath -- "Do you think I care for you so little" -- that little sequence, IMO, is pure gold; not just in terms of story, but every other way as well: technique, pacing, brilliant writing and delivery, etc.

The emotional power comes partly from the disparity in their feelings for each other: she loves him enough to have stuck with him throughout S8 even though he was erratic and outrageous.  But she also loves -- not just Danny himself, but the option of a normal life with a sweet and hopeful guy. But the Doctor loves her as near to unconditionally as it\'s possible to love, and we see him not only declare this to be so, but essentially *act it out*.  Having driven her to her limit, seeing the depths of her distress he simply agrees to do what she demanded.  He doubts it will work, but trying might help her recover from losing [Danny + normal life].

While she\'s been vacillating between the two of them, he has never wavered, and he doesn\'t waver now.  He\'s just pushed her to the edge and over; now he steps over the edge himself, by articulating feelings he normally keeps quiet (she\'s already rejected him more than once and besides, he thought she knew).  He\'s like a patient teacher, spelling out the (to him, obvious) lesson because she still hasn\'t gotten it on her own: that he is steadfast.  Which also means that he thinks she\'s worth being steadfast *for*, which she desperately needs to hear at this moment.  So, in his pedantically phrased and convoluted way, he tells her -- and then brutally hustles her past the paralysis of her consequent emotional train wreck and into *ACTION*!  

Of course you teared up; it\'s a f**king gorgeous piece of work. 

Pretty great article, as usual, I always like reading positives especially about things that are so great they need putting into words.

I would go further. "Kidneys" "And I don\'t like the colour" delivered in thick Scottish and the shocking \'instant\' regeneration were such a refreshing new take on regeneration that was becoming a cliche.

I think, for misogynist Doctor fans I think you could read "I don\'t like the colour" as an illustration like "I\'m a girl!" as a clear confirmation that the Doctor spouts nonsense after the trauma of regeneration.

I would definitely dispute that the Doctor speeded the "top layer" man\'s death in Into the Dalek, I think exactly as in Mummy On the Orient Express he was honest with the man in his moment of Death and allowed him to die as a hero knowing that his death would help others survive.

Honestly, that scene and those in Mummy show, perhaps it is some macho sexist thing - as that is the role of monster I am writing  myself as, But allowing someone the clarity to face death and yet know their death has purpose....  The woman in Into the Dalek sacrifices herself, not because she is unscared or trained as a soldier, it is because on a certain level she gets what the Doctor stands for..

Also, if anyone still credits my opinion, in Flatline when the Doctor says something like "You were a great Doctor, but there was nothing good about it" I don\'t think he was just being a smart *rse or putting her in her place... I genuinely think he was reporting on what I felt Clara delivered... a righteous judgemental smug caricature of the Doctor, effective in this case but sooo wrong.... but a cutting indictment of the Doctor. Clara"s comment that she probably made up her qualification \'Doctor\' was one of the funniest lines ever.

* Into the Dalek Ross and Gretchen.  They should be better remembered.

Great article. Twelve so far has been a fantastic incarnation and I can\'t wait for what Capaldi\'ll bring to the role in Series 9.

Speaking of which, The Mirror\'s spreading rumours again.

@MetamorphmagusWho I just had a look. Wow. Just wow.

@MetamorphmagusWho It\'s a fairly specific rumour. Either the journo that wrote it knows their stuff about the early Tom Baker stories, or they\'ve been talking to someone that has. Let\'s see if the Mirror keeps its track record for accuracy..! :-)

Great article. I like the fact that Capaldi\'s take on the Doctor is polar opposite to the previous two doctors (which I prefer as this meant that in each weeks episode I didn\'t know how he was going to react) & that after just one episode he has become my favourite doctor. I also like the way the doctor/companion relationship has developed into something more than the usual "I fancy the doctor" as in previous series. I can\'t wait to see what they do next... Roll on series 9!

I absolutely love the Twelfth Doctor appearance in The Day of the Doctor. It\'s like the eyes are going "I see into your soul, Whovian. I see longing for times gone past, yearning for old favourites, and hatred of what the future will bring. And I don\'t like what I\'m seeing*

Wonderful article and I agree with all the points. I think Capaldi has a wonderful partnership with Clara, wonderful antogonistic relationship with Missy and I am incredibly excited for Series 9 so we can see his Doctor more. I like how he is so definitively the Doctor but at the same time it\'s not necessarily...obvious? It\'s in the little moments that you see his is definitely the Doctor and that he cares about people, especialy Clara. One of my favourite moments of his is still the end of "Last Christmas". His final scenes with Clara is just....wonderful. Masterful.

I\'ve said it before, but I LOVE Capaldi\'s doctor! It is so nice to see a different side of the doctor. While I loved 10 & 11 (and when it comes to 11, love is a very apt description),I felt both were a bit surficial. Neither let you see who they really were...and worse, you didn\'t necessarily sense that there was much more to see. Capaldi on the other hand, is a far more complex character. I am thankful for this return to a non-"fantasy boyfriend" type of doctor.

I love his opening scenes. I mean, I love Day of the Doctor\'s cameo, but I\'m a bit confused on that. (If you notice, the lighting in the TARDIS is green; can be chalked up to upcoming renovations of course, but still, when does it take place?)

I really mean his introduction in Time of the Doctor. "Kidneys! I\'ve got new kidneys! I don\'t like the color!" That scene is everything to me. I also like how his hair changes from "Time of the Doctor" to "Deep Breath". All these fun little changes.

@Shane Michaels My personal head cannon is that it took place later on, when he\'s looking for Gallifrey - in my head, he tries to track its destination from the moment it disappeared, lol

It\'s interesting, actually. I came in during the 50th, and the first episodes I ever saw were Night and Day of the Doctor, but I saw the 8th Series in it\'s entirety.  So I can say that my first Doctor was the 8th, the 11th, or the 12th. I do love Paul Mcgann\'s take the most, but Capaldi has that quality that just draws everyone into the show. He is the Doctor in every sense of the word, and Peter Capaldi relishes in the role. He is my favorite tv Doctor, for sure.

I\'d seen episodes of Doctor Who before and thought it was nice.  I even watched the 50th anniversary episode last year featuring 3 different doctors and really enjoyed it.  But that was it.  I didn\'t suddenly want to see more of the show and really understand what was happening.  

Then came Peter Capaldi in Series 8.  I\'d never heard of him before but something about his performance in Deep Breath really grabbed me.  I just couldn\'t look away from the screen and suddenly needed to understand everything about who this complex Doctor really was.  And I haven\'t been able to look away since.  

Now I can honestly say I\'m a real fan of Doctor Who as a show.  I\'ve seen all of Eccleston, Tennant and am working my way through Matt Smith.  I\'ve enjoyed each of them.

But Peter Capaldi is MY Doctor.  His mesmerizing Series 8 performances made me realize there\'s far more to The Doctor than just random romping through space and time.  

Peter Capaldi\'s Doctor already feels so similar to the classic Doctors (particularly One, Three and Four), and that\'s why I\'d really love to see him have just one episode with a twentieth century companion. In an ideal world I\'d have placed him alongside Liz Shaw, but since Caroline John has sadly passed away it would have to be someone else. Jo Grant perhaps? Tegan? Ace?

@Polyphase @RoastNewt It\'d be a bit of a challenge reconciling her 21st century with ours, though. :P

@Polyphase @Malohkeh Oh, I think it\'d be a great team. I just think it\'d be fun to see how they\'d explain it away, too.

@RoastNewt I think there is a lot of 2 in him as well and I think a really challenging companion would be Zoe She is brilliant and feisty. Would be great to see :)

@Malohkeh @Polyphase I thought The Wheel in Space was set much later than the 21st Century, so there would be no problem incorporating Zoe (not sure if her New Big Finish stuff would conflict though  - but that would be less of an issue)

gives a nice timeline of the humans\' 21st century space explorations.

@RoastNewt @Malohkeh @Polyphase Obviously, Miracle Day played chaos with Earth\'s environment and social order, which Salamander used to gain power by offering his Sun Store technology as salvation to the overpopulating planet. While he kept cleverly using devastating effects of invasions of tress and cubes to continue his political and scientific ascend, leftovers from other alien invasions sped up the technological advancement of the human race, leading to the development of flying cars and rockets as means of intercontinental travel in the late 2010s. This, no doubt, soon caused rapid depletion of fuel resources, leading to the abandonment of rocket technology and, as a result, space travel in general by 2040s, which proved humanity almost helpless during the Moon crisis.

is set in 2018 and I highly doubt that we\'ll be travelling from continent to continent in rockets by then. :P

@ilyootha @RoastNewt @Malohkeh @Polyphase Ah, of course. How silly of me. It makes a lot more sense now that you put it like that. I bet this was all planned out years ago, in the secret notes of David Whitaker (sacred documents which can only be read by the current showrunner). The introduction of Captain Jack, the show\'s cancellation, early drafts of

I think the new doctor is more interesting than most other doctors he doesant give a lot away and he is a stern doctor but inside he has a softer side

Peter Capaldi\'s Doctor has ticked nearly every box of my previous "ideal next Doctor" list. I was already a big fan of Mr Capaldi, and he has not disappointed me at all, and it\'s been great after an era I was not entirely in love with to be able to really enjoy Doctor Who so much again!

Also, all variations of the Twelfth Doctor\'s theme are pure awesomeness. The current lack of Series 8 official soundtrack release is disappointing (although according to wikipedia it\'s out in May!)

Nicely said. Twelve is not my favorite, but he is a very good Doctor nonetheless!

I wouldn\'t go so far to say that 12 is my favourite incarnation of the Doctor, but I love him to bits anyway. They couldn\'t have picked a better man to play him than Capaldi. The energy and passion he puts into the role is phenomenal and helps make Capaldi enjoyable to watch in every single scene he\'s in, regardless of the actual quality of the scene.

It\'s a bit cliché, but my favourite aspect of 12 is his humour. I always find 5 things minimum to laugh at, from his jokes to his extreme rudness towards other people. My personal favourite line of his would be from Last Christmas "There\'s a horror movie called Alien? That\'s really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you".

Happy birthday Peter. I hope you stay with us for many years, hopefully with Jenna Coleman as well. The best Tardis team since 7 and Ace in my opinion.

Lovely article, It\'s great to see that I am not alone in my infatuation with the man. If anything I have trouble finding faults in his version of the Doctor at all :)

"Into the Dalek featured what could arguably be called one of the Doctor’s darkest moments where he not only allows someone to die, but speeds it up to allow the rest of them to escape."

I watched it last night and I can\'t recall this happening, It wasn\'t Ross your thinking of is it?

@Pidipi Yes that\'s the one I\'m thinking of and he didn\'t speed it up. They were all dead without the Doctor :)

@Pidipi I remember the first time I saw that I thought he\'d actually caused him to die, where he wouldn\'t have previously done so. I was really worried until I rewatched it and listened more carefully.

@Polyphase @Pidipi I need to re watch this too... I seem to remember him explaining things for Ross... but I don\'t think he had the chance.

- Oh, just a spare power cell, but I can track the radiation signature. I need to know where they dump the bodies.

That soldier who the antibodies were cornering, wasn\'t it?

@Polyphase @Pidipi The key point is does Ross die feeling he is abandoned or realising his death will save the others?

The key thing that makes this dark is:  objectively his last thoughts are irrelevant.

The other thought I had was that in his blunt way the Doctor\'s "Top layer.." was a way to remind them that they were only alive because of Ross.