I'll give the new guy a chance, but am not optomistic.

I felt that way about Tennant before he started. And Billie Piper, who I was 'blah' about, given that she was a third-rate pop star without much acting experience at the time.

But my ultimate experience with Doctor Who casting was Catherine Tate. I hate her comedy so much that I have to leave the room when her sketch show comes on the TV. I was so upset when they cast her - I thought I was going to have to stop watching Doctor Who. Within two episodes I was totally sold on her as Donna. I laughed at her rambling Essex-girl rants. I was touched at the end of the Library episode. I cried when she forgot.

In short, I trust this show on casting. Bring on Matt Smith!

They had a really annoying "gadget, gadget" robot in Water of Mars, and they made me love in him the end, too!

Gadget Gadget was a good robot. I can't fathom how the world explained those three Mars people suddenly being back on Earth, or how the Doctor apparently thought everyone would just cheer and forget the utter impossibility of it.

No, I mean, I know the Doctor "dies" and regenerates as a new version of himself, but I thought they meant to kill him for reals. Not that they could without ending the show, but if he knows he's just going to pop up somewhere with a new body and some different personality quirks but the same memories and basically the same person, what is really the big deal about "dying"?

Granted, I ask this as someone who's seen maybe five episodes ever, so maybe it's quite clear to everyone else.

Zen, they're hyping this to a previously unseen degree this time around. It really shouldn't be this big a deal.

In completely unrelated news, Alison Moyet look amazing.

Thanks, Tom.

Tennant was funny on Graham Norton. "Of course I've had a male assistant. Jack assisted me in all sorts of ways."

Wait... they showed Water of Mars in the US and I missed it?

Bring on Matt Smith!

Can't agree more. And I'm saying that will all my love to Tennant (hell, he's in my Famous Foursome!), and I'm very sad to see him leave. I do love him dearly.

But.

FFS, he has The Moffat at his side, people. The Moffat. This guy can write some shit that leaves me at the edge of the seat, heartbroken, craving and begging for more. I thought I'll never get used to Tennant after Eccleston, and the former became my favorite Doctor after 20 minutes on the screen. So with Moffat at his side, and his not-too-bad looks, I want to see where they'll take the Doctor, and me, next.

Megalomaniacal Doctor bordering on Master-like crazy was CREEEEEEEEPY.

And watching The Doctor be so uncharacteristically still during that one long segment was completely unnerving and heartbreaking. David Tennant can convey more with his face that most actors can with the most eloquent oratory.

Not that they could without ending the show, but if he knows he's just going to pop up somewhere with a new body and some different personality quirks but the same memories and basically the same person, what is really the big deal about "dying"?

They haven't explained this at all. But when he thought his daughter had died, he said "She was too much like me." The Doctor should have thirteen incarnations, but I think he believes that since Gallifrey is gone, he may not have many regenerations left. They should be explaining why he thinks that, of course, since he's already regenerated at least once (and used regeneration energy to stay the same another time) since the destruction of Gallifrey.

It might not be dying-dying, but it is some sort of dying. That's how I always explained it to myself. Plus, he doesn't have endless regenerations, right?