Thoughts on the new Dr Who
on Apr 04 in General by Dan
You know what? I think everything is going to be OK.
Yup, definitely ok. Blimey.
But my raging hormones aside, last night’s Dr Who was great. Full of genuinely funny lines and a fantastic cameo from Patrick Moor. I was a little perturbed by Amy’s wimpy boyfriend – do we really need another one of those? I know Micky toughened up towards the end of Tennant’s run, but this new one seems a bit of a re-run. And there was something else that felt a little retrodden too – but I won’t go into that as it’s a spoiler.
But on the whole it was fantastic.
I had a quick search on twitter after the show and couldn’t find a single negative voice – which must have been a bit of a relief for Matt Smith. This role is either going to make or kill his career. I saw a tweet from my antipodean pop culture guru and Midnight Movie Club podcast co-host Lee saying “Completely sold on the new Doctor : perfect”. I wouldn’t go that far: I think it’s a little early to call yet. But I did like him, and am optimistic that he’s going to turn out to be great.
And as for Amy Pond, the new companion. Well as I say – blimey.
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I was particularly fond of his line:
“20 minutes to save the world and I’ve got a post office and it’s shut”
I am very happy with the direction this is going – I’ve had a pretty good weekend for science fiction what with V and SGU as well.
.-= Lee´s last blog ..The first Doctor Who cards have pencil on them =-.
@Lee, yes, and the line about the Scottish frying everything amused me too.
It didn’t take very long for MS to win me over. I as grinning throughout most of the show.
.-= Clair´s last blog ..Sprung =-.
@Clair, he was good – although did seem very Tennatny throughout a lot of it. And we didn’t have to put up with the bow tie.
Oh this post gives me hope! I couldn’t bring myself to watch it yesterday. I couldn’t face the possibility of hating Mr Smith and then losing the one TV show that I truely look forward to. I may have the strength to watch it now.
.-= Slugs´s last blog ..Three =-.
@Slugs, no – it’s ok. I think it’s goig to be ok. It wasn’t the strongest episodes by any means, but it was a solid start.
Yup – like Clair I was grinning from ear to ear – several actual laugh out louds and even a bit of gleeful clapping. I thought it was a better debut than Tennant’s – and we all know how that turned out… so yes, great things to come I am sure :)
.-= MrsW´s last blog ..When all else fails, bribe them =-.
@MrsW, yes, a solid debut and hopefully he’ll build on it. I haven’t quite got a grip on his character as yet.
Is there a new Dr Who? Blimey, what’s happened to Patrick Troughton then?
.-= notSupermum´s last blog ..Some things just need celebrating =-.
@notSupermum, oh dear.
I’m not a Dr fan, but couldn’t they have a woman as Dr instead? He changes anyway. (This may be completely impossible in the story – don’t know.) Why is it always a female sidekick only?
.-= Mwa´s last blog ..A new strategy =-.
@Mwa, There has been a female doctor, have you never seen the curse of fatal death? One of the best ever Doctor Who episodes.
.-= Clair´s last blog ..Sprung =-.
@Mwa, they are overdue for a female Dr it’s true. I’m guessing next time.
There have been some male companions in the past – the best one in my opinion was Bernard Cribbins. He was truely excellent and it’s a shame he isn’t still in it to be honest.
@Dan, It’s been mooted before, but I really can’t see it myself. That said, if the right writers did it…
.-= Clair´s last blog ..Sprung =-.
@Clair, I dunno – Catherine Tate did a half decent job as a time lord I thought, although granted she wasn’t the Dr.
@Dan, but that’s sort of my point, I don’t have a problem with female timelords, but can’t see The Doctor being female.
.-= Clair´s last blog ..Sprung =-.
that ‘assistant’ makes me want to start watching Dr Who less randomly (I’ve seen a bunch of episodes of a bunch of Dr Who’s randomly on tv).
Another tv-serie..hmm maybe it’s good Lost and Supernatural are almost finished :)
.-= Arjan´s last blog ..Youtube Saturday: Beirut – Scenic world =-.
@Arjan, she is even nicer on the show. As I say – blimey!
MS was very good, but the episode itself as a bit poor in my opinion. I think I expect too much from Moffat, the writer of the episode and Who head honcho. Moffat’s previous Who episodes have been by far and away the best of the past few series but this new episode felt like it had been written by the eternally frustrating Russell T Davies (the previous head writer). The baddie was a total let down and don’t get me started on the CGI. However the humour was excellent (even if the naff background music typical of the RTD series does attempt to spoil it – I don’t need silly music to tell me we are at a funny bit. Gods, they’ll be having a laughter track next.).
However I was very excited seeing the “Coming Soon” clip at the end, and as I said MS was very good. An excellent casting decision me thinks. Perhaps I was expecting too much of a first episode – with all the establishing of leading characters and what not perhaps it was too much to expect a decent plotline and convincing baddie :)
@Craig, I take your points, and agree with them. But this was a debut – and as such I was expecting sub standard baddies and the like. It happened on the other two incarnations too.
The lines were funny, the Doctor was good, and the companion was great. All in all I’m happy with 3 out of the 4. Especially as the plots are likely to get better.
Please forgive me…
I’d walk across broken glass NOT to have to watch one single episode of Dr Who, its a taste that I never aquired as a child and never will.
.-= Gary´s last blog ..A Hell of a Bargain =-.
@Gary, you are dead to me.
Doctor Who is a treat my 7 year old and I love watching together.
Even he was worried about the new doctor because he just adored DT (had his hair like him and everything). But we were won over and I thought the writing was just excellent.
Hope Matt S breaks out away from being too like DT in future episodes (which from the trailer look bloody great).
Crack in the wall? Bloody scary as hell.
And Gary, we geeky nerds will welcome you over to the dark side any time you change your mind!
.-= Tara´s last blog ..Disneyland Resort Paris: A 7 year old’s view =-.
@Tara, I didn’t find much of it scary to be honest – which was a little disappointing. I pretty much agree with Craig above for the actual storyline. But it was a very promising start – which is the main thing.
I kind of got out of the habit of watching Doctor Who a while back but picked it up again at Christmas.
Last night’s episode definitely left me wanting more!
Oh and the new companion? If I were inclined to swinging the other way? I would.
:)
.-= Insomniac Mummy´s last blog ..Kreativ Blogger Award – Seven things you might not know about me… =-.
I loved it too, though I had faith in Stephen Moffat. Dudelet and I watched it together and I’m pretty sure he was impressed. I know what you mean about a certain “Ah, not altogether new” moment, though.
Still, altogether a quantum leap from the weaker moments of the last series. And there was definitely a moment when he showed a kind of Tom Baker level of authority that we didn’t entirely get from Mr Tennant.
.-= dadwhowrites´s last blog ..“Randy Described Eternity” =-.
I’m afraid to tell you that I, a lover of TV and science fiction for over 30 years now, have never seen one single episode of Dr. Who.
If I were to start watching now, where would I begin? I see on Netflix that I can stream 2005′s Season 1, with Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper. Would that be a good place to start?
.-= Idaho Dad´s last blog ..Photo Friday – Something Old =-.
It doesn’t air here for a few weeks. It’s not fair!
.-= Avitable´s last blog ..Music that just doesn’t do it for me =-.
Big thumbs up for the new Doctor here. Matt Smith is great because he’s funnier. Amy needs to get a longer skirt though, IMHO. We loved the Post Office line too, real laugh out loud stuff, but the BIG question is who is Amy getting married to? Wimpy Rory the Nurse or Handsome Beefcake but Totally Dim Jeff? I need answers!
.-= Maggie´s last blog ..Maaary is a little lamb… =-.
am I the only geek that doesn’t like Dr Who????
(answers on a postcard of a darlek)
x
Apart from last year’s specials and Christopher Eccleston’s spell, I haven’t seriously watched it since Jon Pertwee was the Doctor! But I watched it on Saturday, mostly at the request of my son, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I had to stop it as those teeth were scaring my son, but I recorded the end and watched it later. Never thought Doctor Who would make me do that.
.-= Steve´s last blog ..Good Friday 2010 =-.
I’ve heard it’s very good, but I always rent them all at once a season behind so I don’t have to wait between episodes and I can gorge myself on a whole season in a few days :-) Can’t wait to see it though.
.-= Keith Wilcox´s last blog ..Scrabble: Now for Stupid People =-.
Well, I hate to be a dissenting voice… so I won’t be.
.-= Rol´s last blog ..Doctor Songs =-.
Well I’m not a die hard fan, but have to say I warmed to Tennent after a few shows but really liked Matt immediately. My FIL was most displeased that he was eating like a pig though – until we explained why.
But what about Lost, 24, Fringe, True Blood, Warehouse 13, Dexter ???
Gail
Saw the first MS episode last night, and quite enjoyed it! I’d only made the Moffat-”Press Gang” connection fairly recently, but his writing style certainly rang plenty of bells last night. I’m hoping Matt continues his evolution away from the David Tennant style- dadwhowrites is spot on with the Tom Baker observation, I think!
Of course the Doctor is goo-ood.
With 3 episodes in, I have full faith in Matt Smith. But yeah, as I said in my post, I just want Amy to be a bit more sane and a little less hyper or too quick with solutions.
The episodes have been quite good so far, and I cannot wait for the 4th one. We’ll discuss about that too innit.
.-= Sujoy´s last blog ..Review: Doctor Who Series 5 Episode 3: Victory of The Daleks =-.