e’ve now been given four New Doctors for the show and now we’re looking at the Twelfth Doctor’s era, just in time for Jodie Whittaker to drop in. In my opinion Peter Capaldi was the best Doctor of the NuWho era. I found Capaldi’s portrayal of the Doctor to be reminiscent of the Classic Doctors and that the characteristics he brought to the role were recognisable for the “old-school” fans of the show..
It was the Twelfth Doctor’s first series that featured the return of the Master, or Missy that she’s known as now. For me, this was the early tell-tale sign that the next incarnation was going to be a woman. So, I had my inklings from the start but it didn’t hinder my experience of the show and even though it took some getting used to, Michelle Gomez’s portrayal of the Doctor’s arch-nemesis worked really well!
Capaldi’s era for me was a blur. I enjoyed each and every episode that was transmitted and that the relationship between the Doctor and Clara was that of two friends enjoying the universe. However, I did grow tired of Clara and the fact that she was leaving one minute and then not the next. It was - make your mind up already!
When she did leave however it was understandable that the Doctor was to be upset, but it was even more a kick in the face when River Song made a return in what would be their final night together, which lasted for 24 years. It was after watching The Husbands of River Song that I did start having the feeling this was the beginning of the end for Steven Moffat’s time on the show as Head Writer/Executive Producer, being as he was beginning to wrap up the remaining loose ends of his era.
It wasn’t until the arrival of Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie) in 2017 that the show made a drastic turn. I was happy to see that the new member of the TARDIS crew was a member of the LGBTQ+. I think having a gay companion in the TARDIS was a bold move and an excellent idea! The Twelfth Doctor was brash and straight to the point when engaging with other people around him. Like many of Moffat’s characters, I tend to find some of them to come across as someone with Asperger’s Syndrome. Being someone with the condition I found it easy to identify the characteristics. I think that’s mainly why I enjoyed the Twelfth Doctor. I was however sad to see him leave the show, his final season was one of THE best!
The writing had improved and the adventures that he, Bill and Nardole (Matt Lucas) had were thoroughly enjoyable. The episodes that stood out for me were The Zygon Invasion/Inversion, Capaldi was in top form in the two-part story’s climatic confrontation. He showed the sheer emotion and regret that the Doctor has been carrying on his shoulders for over thousands of years. I would go as far as to say that Peter Capaldi is one of the most underrated Doctors of the lot.
Even though his era is over I am looking forward to what the show has install for us now that we have a female lead. I think the move was brave and fitting as the subject of conversation every time an actor steps down from the show is; will the next doctor be a woman? And for the first time, the show now has a female lead, this has come as shock to many fans of the show. Some are all for the idea, whilst others aren’t as enthusiastic. All I have to say is give Jodie Whittaker a chance, anyway if the idea doesn’t work (which I have the feeling that it WILL) they could always change it back!
