The 13th Doctor

[Johnw1104]

I was almost hoping they'd take a break after Capaldi.

I've adored his Doctor and it really seems like a Doctor that ought to face some legitimate mortality... He's become absolutely exhausted mentally and spiritually, has revealed that all of these experiences have knocked a few more screws loose, isn't even certain if he's a good person overall, and has demonstrated the positively insane lengths he'll go to in order to "win".

I absolutely loved the Hell Bent and Heaven Set development of his character, revealing he's willing to threaten his enemies when pushed and likely willing to follow through if not ordered not to do so by Clara (such as to Maisie's character). It was also cool to get a peek into his mind to see how it is he always finds a solution to every crisis, and his unwillingness to just die and "let them win" really drove home that the Doctor is something different from other Time Lords. Even they continue to refer to him only as the Doctor, fearing him as if they understand something most of us do not. I also rather enjoyed the use of the Bootstrap Paradox, revealing that it is Clara who whispered some monumentally important guiding principles into his ear that he himself later went on to teach her.

Heaven Sent was a clear favorite for me, but there were a few other great ones too... I believe his speech to the humans and Zygons was one of the greatest moments in Doctor Who, and whatever room was left to win me over was earned right there.

I'm going to miss him... his character just has the feel of someone who ought to die in a sacrificial manner or something; he's so frayed, damaged and exhausted that I just don't see how you replace all of that with a newer, happier model, unless she winds up having a similar disposition (which would be kind of boring). I'd read that Capaldi loves the character and wanted to do a fourth season, so this comes as rather a disappointment to me; I just feel like he's going out on the weakest narrative arc of his three seasons right now.