Unadulterated Thoughts on New New Doctor Who

[nina_ds]

I haven't read anyone else's reviews, personal or professional, so here we go. Unadulterated.

Comments

[wendymr]

Fascinating! Although we disagree on a couple of points (Ten, of course, but also the new TARDIS interior), you and I are saying a lot of the same things about this episode. It was almost uncanny reading certain parts of your review. Mine's here, and likewise for me the jury's still out.

[nina_ds]

Yep, pretty similar!

I find Smith slightly less boring in this role than in others, but then the fact that I could more or less stand him was a relief to me. I wish they wouldn't push the "quirky" so much, though - compare that overlong food sequence with Nine rifling through the post at the Tylers' and, well…

I hate "cute", and one thing I loved was that little Amelia (btw, no way that child was seven, I thought she was eleven!) wasn't child-actor cute in appearance or manner. I do think Amy's going to be one of my favourite companions, though. She was kickass as a kid, and even if she took a while to grow on me as an adult, she did, and I think that was a smart thing for the character development. She'd learned to be wary.

[ms_sardonicus]

Just about gave up on DW but decided to give Moff and Smith a chance. I pretty much agree with you especially the repetition. I loved the nod to all the previous Doctors near the end (squee for CE) but then quickly realized this was the same way Ten battled the Vashta Narada of the Library episodes. With River Song and the Weeping Angels just around the bend, you have to wonder how self-indulgent and repetitive the Moff is going to be. Smith was interesting and a breath of fresh air over Tennant's Screamy McShoutypants emo teenager but it's still early. This is where Eccleston beat them all. I was sold on Nine in the first episode.

[nina_ds]

I had forgotten the Library callback, but I'm not surprised it's there (I kind of blocked the second half of that episode from my memory, it was too disgusting). Eleven is way ahead of Ten so far for me, as I mentioned in my review, because I was feeling kind of sick at the end of The Christmas Invasion. I don't think he's going to be one of my favourites, but if he can just be bearable, I'll be happy. Then again, the only Doctors I feel "get it" in their first episode are Two, Four, Eight, and Nine. Of course, it's fair that One took time to settle in, and Three was on the way to reshaping the character.

[nina_ds]

To be honest, I was so relieved not to hate him! I haven't got much past that yet, and he's still "cooking", as he said. He does seem a lot like Ten, but I agree, he doesn't feel so smug and overacted. Nine's "smug" always had that twinkle in the eye that said, "I know I'm completely full of it!", which I adore (or conversely, a kernel of pain that made it seem like a defense mechanism); but there's nothing that turns me off quicker than a character, actor, or both, who says, "Oh, God, I'm so cute! Adore me!" It pains me enough when Rachel Maddow gets all cutesy, and I adore her. Still occasionally makes me want to slap her. So how much worse when it's a character who doesn't have her redeeming intelligence and otherwise gracious mien.

[aingeal8c]

I enjoyed it. I was wary about Matt Smith but he out my fears to rest. If he can make the chracter a little more his own post-regeneration I'll be happy.

I hadn't thought baout the Peter Davison similarity but you're right.

Interestingly CLF took to him immediately, he's only ever taken to Tom Baker's and Christopher Eccleston's Doctors right off bat and now Matt Smith joins them (It took him up until Donna appeared for him to warm to Ten).

So yes looking foward to seeing what they do with it all.

[nina_ds]

I enjoyed it well enough - I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it, and given the track record, that's a triumph! I do find Smith awfully bland, but after awfully irritating? I'll take bland. I'm hoping/expecting him to settle in. I still don't think he's the best choice they could have made, but not the worst either. If they were going for a child, I would still prefer Harry Lloyd. That kid can be scary, vulnerable, weak, powerful, beautiful, ugly - all the things I want in a Doctor. And he's not even twenty-five yet. *sigh*

Yeah, the Davison thing really hit me harder than I expected. My feelings toward them are pretty similar, in that I think I'll be way more engaged with the companion(s).

[cheriola]

Since I already gave you my views on the characters, just this