Geekly Speaking About… Peter Capaldi as the next Doctor Who

© BBC One
© BBC One

Ever since it was announced that Peter Capaldi would be playing the newest incarnation of the lead character in the long-running British series Doctor Who, I’ve been excited to see exactly what direction the show would be going. After all, like many folks, I was first introduced to Capaldi as an actor through his work as the impressive and imposing Malcolm Tucker from “The Thick of It.”

All jokes about a “foul-mouthed Scottish Doctor” aside, I thought it would be best to turn to the (Re)Generation Who Community Manager (and former Geeking Out About contributor) Kara Dennison to speak about what may be in store for us during Series 8 from Capaldi based on his other acting work:

Continue reading “Geekly Speaking About… Peter Capaldi as the next Doctor Who”

Around the Water Cooler: Doctor Who – “The Time of the Doctor” (spoilers!)

Because who wouldn't want a naked Doctor for Christmas? © BBC
Because who wouldn’t want a naked Doctor for Christmas? © BBC

With Boxing Day having come to a close, it’s time to sit down and have a spoiler-filled discussion about the Christmas special episode of “Doctor Who”, now available to purchase on iTunes. Continue reading “Around the Water Cooler: Doctor Who – “The Time of the Doctor” (spoilers!)”

Pop-Culture Catch-Up: Doctor Who — “The Day of the Doctor” (spoilers!)

Want to get excited about a new thing, but aren’t completely up to date on the fandom and don’t mind spoilers? We here at Geeking Out About are happy to help provide you with everything you need in order to stay current with your geeky passions in our new column, “Pop Culture Catch-Up.”

“The Day of the Doctor”
Directed by Nick Hurran
Written by Steven Moffat
Starring Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman
Guest Stars: David Tennant, John Hurt, Billie Piper, Jemma Redgrave, Joanna Page, Colin Baker, and more
Rating: TV-PG

Three Doctors, all alike in dignity. © BBC
Three Doctors, all alike in dignity. © BBC

Like many people, my first Doctor was Christopher Eccleston, aka the Ninth Doctor. His single season in 2005 as the eponymous character of the long-running BBC series Doctor Who introduced me to everything Whovian and I came to have a layperson’s understanding of the show and how it worked. I watched some episodes featuring Tenth Doctor David Tennant, including the special movies, and part of the first season with Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith; however, once I fell behind I lost interest.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first episode’s airing and Doctor Who fans both old and new were a-buzz when news came forward that there would be a special episode celebrating this anniversary. Rumors and speculation flew around the world. Would it reunite several of the previous actors who have played the Doctor in a large over-arching plot as the 20th anniversary special “The Five Doctors” did? How much interaction would the upcoming Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi have in this special? Or would the inclusion of any former Doctors be more poignant and heartfelt as was the meeting between the Tenth Doctor and the Sixth Doctor (Peter Davison) in the Children in Need short “Time Crash”?

Simulcast around the world on November 12, 2013, “The Day of the Doctor” proved to include all of these things—and none of them at the same time. Continue reading “Pop-Culture Catch-Up: Doctor Who — “The Day of the Doctor” (spoilers!)”

Trisha’s Video of the Day: “The Night of the Doctor” prequel short

It’s been a great year for fans of Doctor Who (aka Whovians) as the series approaches its special 50th anniversary episode. After Peter Capaldi (“The Thick of It,” In the Loop) was revealed as the newest incarnation of the Doctor and the announcement that the anniversary episode would be simulcast in theaters and select television stations around the world, we’re just a week or so away from fangirls and fanboys exploding with glee.

However, just to whet the audience appetites, the BBC released a mini-episode which is a prequel to the “Night of the Doctor.” And even if you’re not a rabid Whovian, there’s enough in the short to make even me lament the fact that I don’t have cable TV anymore. Click the jump to watch. Continue reading “Trisha’s Video of the Day: “The Night of the Doctor” prequel short”

Johnny Depp to become next Doctor?

Not exactly.

On one side, you have Chris Greenland, a blogger from science fiction publishing house Tor.com who said last week that Johnny Depp will be the star of a movie adaptation of the quintessentially British TV series.

After citing a deleted article from content mill PubArticles.com which said that the reason that new series creator Russell T. Davies moved on from the show to work on the movie, Greenland went on to say, “[I]t was with even greater surprise that movie studio sources confirmed with Tor.com today that, while it can’t comment on possible story elements, the casting of Johnny Depp as the Doctor for a 2012 film is confirmed.”

On the other side is Charlie Jane Anders from io9.com who went straight to the BBC and reported back that there is no plans to adapt “Doctor Who” into a movie franchise and that any talk was pure speculation.

Since Greenland’s article is still up and a redaction has not been printed, it makes me wonder exactly who his source is and how high up the chain he or she is. However, that’s the extent of the baseless speculation I’m going to be doing here as no one else has been able to independently verify this news through their own sources.