![\"\"](\"http:\/\/onceuponageek.com\/images\/drwho_endoftime.jpg\" "\\"Doctor")
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Let’s face it, we’ve all had them before… New Doctor Jitters.\u00a0 I don’t think there has ever been a name given to this condition, but now we have a label for it – New Doctor Jitters.\u00a0 When the Doctor regenerates, we find ourselves skeptical after seeing those first few moments featuring the new actor.\u00a0 It’s only natural.\u00a0 We’re wrapped up in our emotions as we say goodbye to an actor we’ve come to accept as the Doctor, and then in the middle of that emotional turmoil his replacement appears.\u00a0 It’s so jarring to switch from a sad departure to a grand entrance.\u00a0 It’s difficult to accept someone new while we’re still reeling from the departure of the previous actor.<\/p>\n
I remember my reaction when Tom Baker regenerated at the end of Logopolis<\/em>.\u00a0 After transforming from Tom Baker into Peter Davison, the new Doctor sat up and the episode ended.\u00a0 That’s all we got until the first episode of Castrovalva<\/em>.\u00a0 It didn’t matter.\u00a0 In those few seconds of screen time I had already decided that I hated Peter Davison as the Doctor.\u00a0 I couldn’t stand him.\u00a0 There was no way I was ever going to accept this new guy as the Doctor.\u00a0 Forget it.\u00a0 No way.\u00a0 No how.\u00a0 … Well, that opinion changed after seeing Castrovalva<\/em>.\u00a0 I eventually realized I didn’t have an issue with Peter Davison, I was just unhappy that Tom Baker was leaving and wasn’t ready for some new actor to take over.\u00a0 In fact, Peter Davison quickly became my favorite Doctor and remained so until David Tennant came along.\u00a0\u00a0 It just goes to show that it’s not fair to judge a new Doctor on his first appearance.\u00a0 9 times out of 10 we end up loving each and every Doctor after just a few episodes (sorry Colin, but you’re brilliant in the Big Finish audio adventures).<\/p>\n I think it’s reasonable to be nervous or skeptical.\u00a0 However, some people have already passed judgment on Matt Smith.\u00a0 They’ve decided they don’t like him based upon what they’ve seen so far.\u00a0 They say his hair is too crazy.\u00a0 He’s too young.\u00a0 His chin is huge and his eyes are sunken.\u00a0 He uses his hands too much.\u00a0 If we actually had a TARDIS, we could go back in time four years and hear those same people talk about David Tennant after The Parting of the Ways<\/em> but before The Christmas Invasion<\/em>.\u00a0 They said his hair was too crazy.\u00a0 He was too young.\u00a0 He was too pale and thin.\u00a0 He was too geeky to be a hero.\u00a0 Sounds kinda familiar doesn’t it?\u00a0 Gotta admit, Tennant’s first few lines didn’t exactly fill us with confidence. “Hello.\u00a0 Okay… New teeth. That’s weird.\u00a0 So where was I?\u00a0 Oh that’s right, Barcelona!”\u00a0 Those lines were no indication of how amazing he was going to be as the Doctor.\u00a0 As another example, just imagine being a Doctor Who fan in 1974 after getting your first glimpse of Tom Baker in costume.\u00a0 The scarf, the big smiling teeth, googley eyes, and crazy hair. Those fans were probably convinced Tom Baker was going to be terrible.\u00a0 So again, it’s not fair to judge a new Doctor before he’s had a chance to really play the part. Who knows, maybe Matt Smith will be the best Doctor ever!<\/p>\n I watched The End of Time Part Two<\/em> with my ten-year-old step son.\u00a0 When the credits started to roll, he turned to me and said excitedly, “This new Doctor is going to be fun!”\u00a0 I think my step-son’s got the right attitude.<\/p>\n Sure I’ve got New Doctor Jitters, but I’m also eager for the next season to begin.\u00a0 I’m ready to jump in with both feet.\u00a0 Geronimo!<\/p>\n