I'm giddy with excitement from the premiere of the new series of Doctor Who. I really enjoyed it. Where David Tennant was more or less a continuation of the Christopher Eccleston series, this one really felt like the kind of reimagining I tend to expect from a new Doctor. It does still have certain elements we've come to expect from Doctor Who 2.0--the running, the shouting, the sense of urgency--but we've really got a new characterization this time around, and it's quite exciting.
I liked Matt Smith. I don't know that Steven Moffat really needed the scene where we saw the previous 10 Doctors and Matt Smith stepped through the image to cement his place as the Eleventh Doctor, but as a fanboy, I certainly loved that moment. I thought Smith did well; I never felt the sort of unease I always get as the new Doctor shakes himself down and the new actor becomes comfortable with a characterization. (I think it took David Tennant several episodes to find the character, although in "The Christmas Invasion" it was obviously done to ease new viewers into the regeneration process.) Matt Smith's Doctor emerged fully formed, and much more playful, I think, than the last couple of Doctors.
I enjoyed the last year of Doctor Who specials, but it's nice to have something fun and less dire. I hope we can stay away from the whole idea of the Doctor as burning everything and everyone he touches for a while. I also hope we can steer clear of the romantic entanglements, which has already been done (and not always successfully, as I still don't much care for the first half of the Martha Jones season).
Becca and I are divided on whether or not a romance is being set up between the Doctor and Amy; I think they aren't, Becca thinks they are. I guess we'll see. I do like the new companion so far. It helps that she's incredibly adorable (freckle-faced gingers rule!), but I like her willingness to embrace the weirdness. I always give extra points to companions who get over shock quickly. I also liked introducing Amy as a 7 year-old and having her meet the Doctor that way. I felt like it established the Doctor as a sort of authority, someone older, very quickly. For me, it dispelled fears of a romance, since this new Doctor is so alien that he's almost casually arrogant about who he is, what he does, and how late that can make him. It also does a lot for audience members worried about taking such a young actor so seriously as the Doctor.
Bottom line: I'm thrilled to start another ride on the Doctor Who train. Matt Smith has my confidence. And I love the new design of the TARDIS.
Geronimo!
Sunday, April 04, 2010
And It Begins Again
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3 comments:
I thought it was an excellent first episode, and agree that Smith slipped right into the role and made it his own.
Looking forward to learning more about the (somewhat) mysterious Amy Pond!
One thing that helped Smith to fit in so well, i think this was his 4th episode filmed (they did this with Peter Davison) but first shown.
"People, do i look like People?"
I loved it.
I like it that Smith seemed to be hired to do the job and not blow us away - in other words, PLAY the Doctor and not wow us by the novelty of the casting, and do so through a script that is using the character as a character and not as a cypher for the writer's personal obsessions (the Davies Doctor didn't start out that way, but damn if the Tennant incarnation often end up being that).
A quick putting Tennant to rest - he seemed to nail it on the Christmas special and then struggle through the entire next season - I think partly because of the relationship with Rose, the were giving him utterly smarmy material to work with. Things got better the 3rd season, though it didn't really become a good show till half way through.
Moffat's Doctor was a breath of fresh air after the specials, which were fine, but nothing special as the moniker implies - the only one I thought was exceptional was the first Master, but Davies packed the second part with cliches, self-congratulatory nonsense, drawn out self-indulgence, and a story idea that fizzles out way too quickly - as well as a wholly unsatisfying conclusion for one of the Doctor's single best companions. By the time Tennant regenerated, Davies had managed to take a Doctor I had come to love and really make me glad he was gone! And that's silly since I adored Series 4.
But anyhow ... Smith reminds me a bit of the Sylvester McCoy style, with a focus on the Doctor's alien quality, and that's a great thing. I don't mind if there is a romance with Amy Pond because I'd believe it - I never for a moment believed the Doctor would fall for Rose.
Anyhow, this looks like it will be fun. I look forward to what comes.
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