The UK pace thread is over here. They are two weeks ahead of us, so if you wish to participate over there, be prepared for spoilers. This thread is for those who do not spoilers, and would rather not watch using less than legal means.
Meanwhile - over here in the US (where we have seasons), we just got to meet the eleventh Doctor. What did everyone think?
I liked him. He’s not just doing a rehash of David Tennent’s Doctor, but seems to be giving him a distinct personality.
It was also interesting how they addressed that the TARDIS has been changing subtly outwardly, and massively inwardly over the last 50 years.
I really like him. The new gal makes me feel funny, and my 7 year old twin boys are really digging the whole Dr. Who…well, one is, the other frequently jumps behind the couch.
The Doctor never hooks up with a homely girl, does he. I’m curious as to how expensive Amy’s lovely little country house would be in real life small town England. Could Amy really afford to live there on a kiss-a-gram girl salary (or maybe the Aunt still pays the bills)?
As for Matt Smith, enjoyed him more than I feared given some of what we saw in the trailers…
I was under the impression that the country house wasn’t hers, that it might be her parents, or the aunt, or whatever…I don’t think she got it right out of finishing school as a graduation present.
Perhaps it was cheap as they thought in only had 5 rooms instead of six on the second floor?
The new doctor was a little manic, but seems to be making the part his own. I hope he settles down a little, but so far I like him anyway.
I very much like Amy, the new companion. I never did like Donna, not sure exactly why, and Amy seems like she has the independent attitude coupled with a more likable personality.
You know, for all the comments I’ve read about the new, young Doctor being really weird looking, I actually thought he was kind of hot, albiet in a goofy, nerdy sort of way.
Amy appears to be a fun new companion. Her wide-eyed looks in the promo trailers kind of put me off, but she won me over. Saw a few signs of the old “Rose/Martha/companion who has an unrequited love for the Doctor” syndrome, but I’ll give the new production team the benefit of the doubt that they intend to throw a curve-ball in there.
Rory however a throwback to “Icky Mickey.” the irritatiing, rival love interest. Please let him get trapped in alternate universe soon.
In fact, even the new opening music & sequence I can stand. Don’t especially consider them an improvement, but they’re not working my nerves as (from what I’ve read) they are other people.
I’m liking Eleven a lot. Although I was guaranteed to be biased in his favour in reaction to the unfair poo-pooing he got from the moment Smith was cast, I enjoyed him more than that can explain. And the little girl they got to play young Amy in the early scenes (of Eleventh Hour…I assume that’s the episode you just got…I had been under the impression you guys were a week ahead of us here in Canada , but it looks like this side of the Atlantic is synced) was well cast, from a looks perspective.
And the writers seem to agree that Smith is a bit on the weird looking side (and he clearly has a good humour about it) - look at the regeneration scene (shown in The End of Time, and the first few minutes of The Eleventh Hour) - he’s checking out his new face - his nose got ‘I’ve had worse’, and his chin earned a ‘blimey!’ Then when face to face with Prisoner Zero in the form of him and Amy his reaction was ‘is that really what I look like?’ (Or something in that realm.) Yeah, he is cute in a rather awkward way, but the awkward can’t be denied.
I grew tired of the last season - I blame the companion as much as anything, and we quit watching about midway thru - we watched the “double decker bus” episode and enjoyed it, and then watched the “end of time” just before the premiere of this new season/Dr.
Really liked the new one - had that sense of excitement back that i haven’t seen in a while - hopefully they can keep it up.
Hated the music; loved quips. I’m still longing for Tennant but I’m happy to give Smith a chance.
The Doctor is getting younger even as he gets older. Some of Matt’s rubbery face when he finds his food distasteful is a bit shocking. But I’ll be happy to see good use of it. I expect that it can be put to good use having some manic gleeful moment suddenly turn on a dime and appear menacing.
I worry that the writers will forget a key point - the Doctor should fix disruptions in time without alerting the world to these fantastic events in their midst. Here in the opening we have Doctor communicating with world scientists, proving superior knowledge, and imparting a computer virus. The old Doctors would reveal themselves only to a handful and sneak a computer virus in. It’s great that he got the nobody involved (“Why me?” “It’s your bedroom”). That’s what the Doctor does. He solves the big stuff but let’s some others in on the action. I worry now that the Doctor will elbow out the companion’s contributions.
I liked the spooky atmosphere. Without "boo"s jumping out from around a corner, Moffat has created a creepiness in his scenes.
Amy is a good strong companion and wants to travel because she has a childish sense of adventure. Perfect for the adventures to come.
I don’t know if you get Doctor Who Confidential over there (basically a “behind the scenes of that episode” programme airing afterwards) but Young Amy and Normal Amy are actually cousins, which explains the similar looks.
I hope “new Doctor immediately wrecks the Tardis” isn’t going to be a theme; the old boat can only take so much. Ten pinballing it off apartment buildings was bad enough, but at least he landed it upright, and that after Rose broke the console with a tow truck. Eleven nearly totaled the thing, and no companion to blame. I did like the dialog though:
“You’re soaking wet.”
“I was in the swimming pool.”
“You said you were in the library.”
“So is the swimming pool.”
And then giving Amy the orientation speech I’m sure he wishes he gave to all new companions: “Do exactly what I tell you, don’t ask stupid questions, and don’t wander off.” Too bad she was only seven at the time; we’ll see soon if she remembered any of it.
I squee’d. I love the Doctor just as much as I ever did. He’s got the energy and the joy, and that’s what counts.
Matt Smith is a touch odd looking–I admit to pointing this out frequently in the run-up–but he’s cute nevertheless. On the other hand, Karen Gillian is jaw-dropping, I’ll-be-in-my-bunk gorgeous.
There’s an abridged version of Doctor Who Confidential on BBC-A’s website, but it doesn’t mention that Amelia/Amy are related. I had sort of thought BBC-A played DWC after new eps in the past–am I mistaken? I was going to set the DVR for it. The eps I’m buying from iTunes–we don’t have BBC-A in HD on Dish here. Watching it in 3:4 SD when there’s a perfectly good widescreen HD version out there is just no fun.
He has Ten to blame - Ten’s the one who kept himself from regenerating long enough that it ended up being more like a Quickening then a Regeneration and blew up the Tardis’s insides.
I liked it overall, though I thought the plot dragged a little at times. I was horribly grossed out by the food scene. Why would the doctor suddenly think it’s ok to spit food all over the floor of a stranger’s house just because he’s regenerated and is learning what foods he likes? It was disgusting and rude
I really liked Smith. I was nervous when I learned how young he was, mindful of Davison’s belief that he was, in retrospect, too young to play the Doctor back in the 80s. But Smith doesn’t really strike me as a twenty-something; he sort of effortlessly assumed that slightly paternal attitude the Doctor tends to have toward the humans in his midst, and it worked really well. Can’t wait for the next episode.
Come on, no mad props for the All-Doctors recap at the finale?
I’m curious as to how expensive Amy’s lovely little country house would be in real life small town England. Could Amy really afford to live there on a kiss-a-gram girl salary (or maybe the Aunt still pays the bills)?
I love the Doctor just as much as I ever did. He’s got the energy and the joy, and that’s what counts.