So Matt Smith is leaving

Yesterday, the news broke that Matt Smith will be leaving Doctor Who during this year's christmas Special. As usual, there are rampant rumours regarding who will replace him. So I thought I'd chime in my opinion on the subject.

I'm torn.

On the one hand, I enjoy it when a new Doctor is introduced. They bring something fresh to the series. And with the first few viewings, there is always that moment when you think, "Oh look at that! It's just like Nine". Finding the traits the Doctor shares with his previous regeneration always makes me smile.

But on the downside, I've grown to like Matt Smith's Doctor. He's the first of the new Doctors to be truly alien in the way he interacts with people. His relationship with Clara has been very intriguing and somewhat refreshing to see (even if Moffat has repeatedlyreused story ideas).

Should Matt stay for a while longer? I think he still has something to give to the character, but at the same time, it's better that he's going out on a high, rather than sticking at the character for so long we become bored of him. David did it, as did Christopher, and it's nice to see Matt has realised this as well. 

So who should be the next Doctor?

One intriguing possibility that has been risen is that a woman could replace him. Lara Pulver (pictured below) has expressed an interest in playing the 12th Doctor, and recent episodes have confirmed the long held belief that a Time Lord could regenerate and become a Time Lady, and actresses Helen Miriam, Olivia Coulman and former companion Billie Piper have been citied as possibile replacements.

The Next Doctor?

Personally, I hope that this is not the case. Much as I'd love to see a woman take on the role, I think that the idea of the Doctor as a slightly weird British man is simply too ingrained. Had it already occurred during the Classic era, that would be a different matter entirely. But it didn't (sadly) and now I think it's too late to try it, especially with the Doctor approaching his final life (which I will play)

So who could do it?

Some actors listed on betting sites for the role are Idris Elba, Russell Tovey, Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. While all the above would make wonderful Doctors, I'm hoping that it goes to a middle aged or older actor. As proven by Jon Pertwee, age does not have to limit the role at all. In fact, he was the first "action" Doctor, with his Venusian Aikido. So could do it?

Before The Snowmen, I would've said Richard E Grant without hesitating. Why? Let's look at the facts, shall we?

He's played non canon versions of the Doctor twice before. The first was in the Curse of Fatal Death, and while he didn't get very much screen time, he left an impression on many viwers. The second was in The Scream of the Shalka, an attempt by the BBC to bring Doctor Who back before Russell T Davis stepped in. Here he was haunted by some loss and he did not want a companion. But as the serial progressed, he became a lighter character, showing some traits one associates with the Doctor, as well as a love of show tunes. I would've loved to see this Doctor, travelling with Alison and an Android version of the Master in many more adventures, but sadly, it was not to be.

So who exactly would I like to see as the Doctor then? 

There has also been one actor that I thought would make an excellent Doctor, and he did in two audio adventures in the Doctor Who: Unbound series. He is no stranger to science fiction, having had roles in Star Trek and as the villian in the first TRON film as well as voicing a villain in the Doctor Who animated adventure Dreamland. In fact, he recently appeared on Doctor Who itself, in the episode Cold War.

I am, of course, talking about David Warner.

At 71, he would be the second oldest (John Hurt just beats him by two years) to protray the Doctor. If you don't think he could do it, just go listen to his audio adventures (available from the Big Finish website). You can trust me on this. David Warner would make an excellent Doctor. And by having him being a little older, his relationship with his Companion would be more akin to that of the Third Doctor and Liz Shaw or Sarah Jane, a departure from the current lovey dovey Companion relationships we've seen.

That's just my thoughts on the subject. Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know in comments!

Live Long and Prosper

Here I am again

Move over, Ross Gellar. There's a new Mayor of the Friends Zone.

How do you tell someone something important?

As my loyal readers know, I suffer from a very rare genetic disorder. It affects many aspects of my life and as time goes on, it will slowly but surely affect more of them. It is most likely going to be what will kill me. I have mostly accepted this fact (yesterday's panic doesn't count). 

But how do I tell someone new in my life this fact?

I found out  for definite myself in December 2011, roughly. I'd started showing some symptoms already, so it was a forgone conclusion at that point that I had something wrong with me. Some friends knew and no doubt some of them had inform other friends. I didn't mind. Frankly I just wanted to know so that I could get on with my life. Dad, Simon and I received an appointment up at Newcastle. The consultant, a very nice man called Doug, confirmed that yes, I had inherited the condition from Mum and I went numb for about a week.

And then I came around and by then, everyone knew.

Dad or I had told everyone that "needed" to know, and they passed that information onto other people. It seemed that every one in my circle of my friends knew, and the ones who wanted to ask questions asked them. I answered as best I could and that was that. As new friends have come into my life, I've told them that I have problems and mostly left it at that. If they've asked, I've either feined tiredness or I've given them half truths. Only a few, really close friends know the full extent of my condition. 

And now, someone has come into my life who could very well become close to me, so how do I tell her?

Live Long and Prosper

  

Project: Robot

So today, I went to my GP to discuss some health issues which I won't go into here. The people in my life who need to know have been made aware of this. Instead, I want to update you on my quest to collect and assemble the K1 Robot.

See, this looks like an absolutely massive step. Suddenly, instead of an assembly line of figure parts, they're all together in one rather cool looking whole. This is the end result of acquiring just one part. The Upper Torso. As a result of gaining that part, I was able to FINALLY attach the head and left arm of the Robot, and eliminate the worry of losing either part. 

As you can see, he's nearly finished. Just need one more arm, which I'll be acquiring from a friend as long as I send him the money for a few figures I'm buying off him. 

Pictured, with Disintegrator Gun

Live Long and Prosper

Stuff

I've noticed just recently that I'm going through some stuff, and a lot of it is scaring me. Especially when you consider what some of the stuff is indicating. 

Depression.

Yeah. I know. It's one of those words that has so much meaning, but is cramped into 10 letters. It's a scary thought, and it's something that I really need to get looked at because if I have it, I need to get it sorted. It's not something I can just leave, because at the moment I'm shouting at my friends for no apparent reason. The smallest things can set me off, and I'm geniunely concerned that sooner or later, I will hit someone.

That isn't me. I don't want to be that person. So Monday, I've got an appointment with my GP, and I'm going to ask her opinion and see where we go from there. Yeah. I just thought I'd have a copy of it somewhere written down.

Of course, I'll keep you all updated, not that anyone actually reads this.

Live Long and Prosper

Love

Bear with me here, because this entry has a bit of an explanation to go with it. I've had feelings (I would even say love) for someone for a very long time and, without going into too much detail, that person is pretty much forever lost to me now. Barring accidents or other circumstances, the woman in question and I will never get together. 

Am I okay with this? Of course I'm not.

You see, this whole thing started a few years ago. I asked my friend Paul to set me up with one of his female friends. It took him a while to 'pick the right woman', and by then, my mother had taken a turn for the worst. Naturally, she became my main focus, and I put dating along with everything else to the back of my mind. Sadly, by the time my life became normal enough for me to consider dating again, the woman had started seeing someone else. 

Eventually, we got to know each other quite well and became friends. However, my feelings for her grew to beyond friendship, but she was still seeing this person. I thought I had accepted this, but when they finally broke up, my spirits soared. I had intended to ask her out, but she declared to anyone and everyone that she wasn't looking for a relationship, so I held my ground. I was happy to wait for her because I knew that sooner or later she'd come around.

I intended to ask her on a date on a night out but she came out drunk. Since I was sober, I didn't want it to look like I was taking advantage, so I postponed. Unfortunately (for me), she went home with another friend, and they started a friends with benefits style relationship. This lasted for about 6 months, until they finally split up. By this point, she had started talking to the man who would become her husband. 

And the worst part, I helped them get together.

Against my better judgement, I told her to message him, and she did. He replied, but the next day, he was in a relationship with another woman. I thought that would be the end of that. She was put off dating for a while but again, I was willing to wait. Then he split up with the woman, and the pair started dating. 

On my 23rd birthday, he proposed to her (the bastard) and on the 8th of February, they were married. I never told her how I felt about her, and I never will.

It's going to take me a while to get over her (if I ever do), but I know I have to. 

So I'm asking my friends to bear with me, because this is going to be a long and difficult road for me. I will get there, and I've taken the first steps towards this goal, but it won't be a case of "Moping for a weekend and be ready to try again." 

Wish me luck. 

Live Long and Prosper

Project: Robot (continued)

Hello again! 

The Wedding is over and done with, and since I had a bit more money spare then I realised I would, I bought a few more pieces of the K1 Robot, including the torso and another leg. The leg arrived today, and the torso should arrive within the next three or so days. 

Once again, it seems I have failed in my mission to acquire a hobby which would take me a few months to complete. Last time, it was Battlestar Galactica minimates, which I now own most of (instead of going for the complete set, I decided to go for representatives of each figures - I shall one day post a collection of these minimates). Due to the prices of some of the figures, I thought it would take me at least 2 or 3 months to collect all the K1 Robot pieces, instead of a couple of weeks.

After this, I only have one part to get, which my friend is going to send me when I finally pay him for some figures he's holding for me. 

the Robot and pieces, so far.

Live Long and Prosper