As announced on Outpost Gallifrey today, the BBC has confirmed that on April 15th, the legendary British Sci-Fi series will return with “New Earth,” the first episode of Series 2 and the first one-hour adventure since “The Christmas Invasion” last December. After the long wait between episodes, the question still needs to be asked: Can David Tennant’s Doctor take center stage?
In the very first season in 1963, The Doctor (then played by William Hartnell) was more of a background character whose companions were at the forefront of the action while the Doctor figured a way out of the situation given in an episode. Later on, the producers of the series found a way to manage the characters so that both would be allowed ample screen time. Series 1 felt more like a return to those early years, which is fine, but not for every episode.
When Tennant took over the role from Christopher Eccelston (who played the Doctor for Series 1) in “The Parting Of The Ways,” it finally seemed like an actor had stepped in with enthusiasm and interest in the character. As luck would have it, we got our chance a few months before Christmas with the mini-segment “Children-In-Need” special. Now with this excitement and joy with a new Doctor at hand, we had to deal with whether the result was worth it. For the CID special, I didn’t feel it.
Fans who love the series will remember that in 1984, Peter Davidson handed the role over to Colin Baker in a controversial change of tone for the character of the Doctor. Instead of being a character who was interested in people and science, he seemed to turn into a person who saw more perfection in science, and was more irritated with people. This was more a matter of behind-the-scenes meddling than a concern with Colin himself. Unfortunately, by 1986, after the “Trial of a Timelord” season, he was sacked — it seemed the writers decided to run that for Tennant’s first few minutes.
Article comments
1 - A.L. Harper
I LOVED David Tennant as The Doctor. I thought he was brilliant and far more fun to watch than Eccelston. Tennant has a far more easy going manner and natural charm. It was never quite that easy to buy into the Eccelston Doctor he seemed forced and uncomfortable. Tennnat is less brooding and intense than Eccelston and I think that makes him a more believeable Doctor.
I look forward to the new series.
2 - Steve
By the way, did anyone notice Tennant play Barty Crouch Jr. in Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire"???
I don't think Eccleston was comfortable with the role either myself.
3 - Matthew Milam
What's also interesting is that he had a short turn on the series "Cracker" (the british version) and had his own character written out. That should have been a clue as to how long he would stay.
The other thing is that the BBC handled the whole affair badly, which shut down Outpost Gallifery's forum for awhile due to the personal attacks verbalized against him for leaving.
Eccelston's Doctor came off much like Colin Baker's Doctor. Poorly concived to the point that it seemed he was uncomfortable. The difference is that with Colin, despite his forced exit from the series, has come back a bit better with the Big Finish audios (which have improve him as well as Sly and Peter).