You've gotta feel a bit sorry for Matt Smith. On Saturday night, the eyes of the nation literally shifted on to him, as Doctor Who came rushing back to our screens with "The Eleventh Hour". Any actor taking on the role of the Doctor has got to be a bit nervous, what with its devoted fan base. Any actor taking the role in the new series should be even more nervous, it being the most popular drama on British TV.
And if that isn't enough, poor old (young) Matt Smith has to follow David Tennant. Possibly the most popular Doctor in the shows history. Say what you want about Tom Baker, I'm pretty sure he didn't have hordes of squealing fangirls, though I'm sure he would have loved it. So, does Smith pull it off? Is he the Doctor?
Well, yeah. He performs magnificently. Playing up the regeneration to allow little shots of both Eccleston and Tennant to shine through as he goes, he managed to assert a whole new personality in the episode. A more aloof Doctor, a little bit excitable, but not as hyperactive as his previous incarnation. Smith's most impressive ability really, is that he really seems like he is over 900 years old, despite being the youngest actor ever to play the part. It's in his voice and his mannerisms, but he's alien and it really works.
Kudos to Steven Moffat here as well, as he knows the main focus of this episode had to be on the new blood, and he truly gives them a chance to shine. The writing for both Amy and the Doctor crackles, with some truly funny lines. Karen Gillian looks set to be a companion to remember, as she makes her introduction proper by knocking the Doctor out with a cricket bat. She's also truly charismatic and feisty, with a Scottish accent to die for. She more than makes a match for the Doctor straight off the bat. (Hah! I'm on a roll.) The chemistry between the two is unbelievable, and in a move thats sure to annoy a vocal amount of fans, by the end they are really flirting.
Sadly, as the episode itself concentrates on their relationship, the plot itself is a bit weak. The actual circumstances of how the Doctor and Amy meet are great (12 years!!) and of course completely appropriate from the writer that bought us "Wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey." Prisoner Zero and the Atraxi however, were a bit weak. Olivia Colman was fantastically creepy in her turn as the monster at the end, but by that point it was a case of too little too late. It's also a bit hard to believe that the entirety of Earth was sitting on their hands while this was going on, leaving it to be solved by a few people on a web conference. Lead by Patrick Moore. Two other niggles; the Atraxi looked a wee bit naff. The idea of gigantic space-eyeballs is brilliant, it just wasn't very well executed. Also, the new theme tune. It doesn't seem like much of an improvement of the previous one, it frankly seems more like a slightly poor remix done by a music student. New intro effects are lovely though.
At the end of the day, these niggles aside, the episode did exactly what it had to do - proved the new guys had the chops, and it did that brilliantly. By the point that Smith walks through the hologram of his previous selves and makes a battle-fleet leg it by simply introducing himself and saying "Run", its safe to say the Doctor is back. The passion that has made the show so successful for the past five years is clearly still there, it pours out from it. Bring on the rest of the series.
Also, come on, Look at that! New TARDIS! New screwdriver, new companion, new Doctor, nearly a new show. But only nearly...
2 comments:
Nice review, I did like the fact he wasn't too much like tenant, I was afraid they would just keep a lot of his mannerisms as they were awesome :P
Agreed! By the end of it we've got a really unique new Doctor... very different from both Ecclestons and Tennants. Can't wait!
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