A difference between the Eleventh Doctor and his predecessors is a lack of darkness in the character. At least, that's my first impression - are there darker moments I've overlooked? Your thoughts solicited.
I don't think "sound and fury" really describes the "Don't you think she's tired" scene - what's more, Smith vs Dalek isn't a patch on Eccleston vs Dalek. Having said that, Smith's performance is much more internal and self-possessed than either of his predecessors - "cold" is right, or at least, cool. But having said that, what examples do we have so far of his wreaking soft-spoken (or ranting) catastrophe on his enemies?
Smith vs Dalek isn't a patch on Eccleston vs Dalek
In terms of BAFTA-chasing scenery-chomping? I definitely agree. :) I'm not a huge fan of the big epic melodramatic scenes though; even though speeches where the actors spit bits of the scenery out along with their lines has been an integral part of Doctor Who since year dot. I've always found a bit of subtlety more effective, because it allows you to draw your own conclusions, and - more importantly - allows you room to wonder what the character isn't saying.
what examples do we have so far of his wreaking soft-spoken (or ranting) catastrophe on his enemies?
Good question, though I think it rather misses the point. The Doctor's always done the age-old animal trick of posturing to avoid a fight, but in the past, his ranting has seemed more like a cat arching its back at a larger foe: exaggerating his own prowess to intimidate. Eleven seems more like a slowly swaying cobra: "Think about it, now...do you really want to try me?"
It's Eleven's quiet, subdued regret that makes his violent past more tangible for me than the ranting. Imagine Ghengis Khan or someone having grown old and suddenly facing a new enemy. He could easily take this newcomer apart - and will, if he has to - but he doesn't really want to. Because he's tired of grinding his enemies into the dust. For me, that's the whole essence of Eleven: as he says, "sometimes winning is no fun at all."
S5 also makes powerful sense of River's line to Ten in Silence in the Library: "but you're so young!" Nine and Ten both seem much younger than Eleven, in terms of insecurity and having something to prove. Eleven has nothing to prove, because he's proved it already...and we can clearly see the toll that that's taken on him without his having to shout about it.
I've always found a bit of subtlety more effective, because it allows you to draw your own conclusions, and - more importantly - allows you room to wonder what the character isn't saying.
Mind you, it can have its drawbacks - the Eleventh Doctor's opacity is intriguing, but here and there, for me, it's made it a bit trickier to grasp characterisation and story. (Of course, some of that may just be that I'm used to the particular "grammar" of David Tennant's performance! Some of it may be editing and direction rather than Smith, too.) Plus there's a bit of a trap here, I think - if we can draw our own conclusions, we can read whatever we like into the character. Actually, that may be deliberate!
Of course, some of that may just be that I'm used to the particular "grammar" of David Tennant's performance!
I think that's it exactly: Tennant as the Doctor tended to wear his emotions pretty much on his sleeve (as did Eccleston), but Smith's Doctor keeps things closer to the cuff.
I think it's an exciting part of getting to know any new Doctor (or any new person at all, really): learning to read their signals. And for me, the subtlety of Eleven's verbal and non-verbal cues is what makes them "darker" than his predecessors: Ten gave his enemies "no second chances"; the terrifying thing about Eleven is that unless they're smart - and perceptive - his enemies might not even realize he's giving them a first one.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2010-06-28 12:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-28 04:21 pm (UTC)In terms of BAFTA-chasing scenery-chomping? I definitely agree. :) I'm not a huge fan of the big epic melodramatic scenes though; even though speeches where the actors spit bits of the scenery out along with their lines has been an integral part of Doctor Who since year dot. I've always found a bit of subtlety more effective, because it allows you to draw your own conclusions, and - more importantly - allows you room to wonder what the character isn't saying.
what examples do we have so far of his wreaking soft-spoken (or ranting) catastrophe on his enemies?
Good question, though I think it rather misses the point. The Doctor's always done the age-old animal trick of posturing to avoid a fight, but in the past, his ranting has seemed more like a cat arching its back at a larger foe: exaggerating his own prowess to intimidate. Eleven seems more like a slowly swaying cobra: "Think about it, now...do you really want to try me?"
It's Eleven's quiet, subdued regret that makes his violent past more tangible for me than the ranting. Imagine Ghengis Khan or someone having grown old and suddenly facing a new enemy. He could easily take this newcomer apart - and will, if he has to - but he doesn't really want to. Because he's tired of grinding his enemies into the dust. For me, that's the whole essence of Eleven: as he says, "sometimes winning is no fun at all."
S5 also makes powerful sense of River's line to Ten in Silence in the Library: "but you're so young!" Nine and Ten both seem much younger than Eleven, in terms of insecurity and having something to prove. Eleven has nothing to prove, because he's proved it already...and we can clearly see the toll that that's taken on him without his having to shout about it.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-30 12:24 am (UTC)Mind you, it can have its drawbacks - the Eleventh Doctor's opacity is intriguing, but here and there, for me, it's made it a bit trickier to grasp characterisation and story. (Of course, some of that may just be that I'm used to the particular "grammar" of David Tennant's performance! Some of it may be editing and direction rather than Smith, too.) Plus there's a bit of a trap here, I think - if we can draw our own conclusions, we can read whatever we like into the character. Actually, that may be deliberate!
no subject
Date: 2010-07-05 11:00 pm (UTC)I think that's it exactly: Tennant as the Doctor tended to wear his emotions pretty much on his sleeve (as did Eccleston), but Smith's Doctor keeps things closer to the cuff.
I think it's an exciting part of getting to know any new Doctor (or any new person at all, really): learning to read their signals. And for me, the subtlety of Eleven's verbal and non-verbal cues is what makes them "darker" than his predecessors: Ten gave his enemies "no second chances"; the terrifying thing about Eleven is that unless they're smart - and perceptive - his enemies might not even realize he's giving them a first one.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-06 09:24 am (UTC)