BLOGS

Saturday, April 17, 2010: Doctor Who

by Angel Cohn April 17, 2010 6:03 AM
Saturday, April 17, 2010: Doctor Who

The Doctor has returned. He's got a new look (the eleventh incarnation is played by relative newcomer Matt Smith), a new companion and a new TARDIS. Additionally there is a new logo, a slightly tweaked theme song and a new head honcho (Stephen Moffat took over for Russell T. Davies). That's a lot of change for Who fans to absorb at once, and a bunch of big shoes to fill, but the spirit of the show is still there, and the first episode is a dizzyingly paced fun episode that introduces the still transforming new Doctor and cleverly unveils his new companion, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan).

While I was one of the skeptics of this new young fella (Smith is the youngest ever doctor at 27), I quickly found myself enjoying his nutty and a bit clumsy take on the role, especially after the beautiful, but bleak episodes that capped David Tennant's run on the series. There are no tears to be shed watching this episode, in fact, it most closely resembles some of the more lighthearted episodes back when the Doctor and Rose were first setting off on their adventures together. There are aliens, time travel, a broken-down TARDIS and the looming destruction of earth that the good Doctor has to stop at all costs.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it, and I think it is also a good intro episode for folks who want to dive into the series. Check it out for yourself tonight on BBC America at 9 PM.

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15 Comments

April 17, 2010 9:30 AM
Tom
Reply

I sooooo need to get BBC America back. This looks good.

April 17, 2010 10:00 AM
Craig
Reply

I've watched the first two episodes of the new season, and Matt Smith is doing an impressive job so far.

April 17, 2010 12:17 PM
John
Reply

So where the fuck is Jacob? This is his domain.

April 17, 2010 3:45 PM
Jenn
Reply

I too have watched the first two episodes and though they weren't perfect, I must say that Matt Smith has been doing a wonderful job filling the void left by David Tennant. I could easily see Matt becoming my favorite doctor!

April 17, 2010 3:54 PM
Olivia
Reply

Ugh, Jacob is overrated. Loved the first two episodes, though!

April 18, 2010 3:06 AM
Jason
Reply
replied to comment from John

Personally hoping for more of a recap and less of a thesis of how gnosticism reflects the sociology of being ginger and Scottish, or whatever he chooses to write about instead of the actual episode.

April 18, 2010 3:11 AM
Jason
Reply

Hopefully demian will recap. I'm not really interested in reading about how the psychology of being a Scottish girl in England reflects on the alien outsiderness of the Doctor or whatever thesis Jacob chooses to write about instead of actually recapping the events of the episode.

April 18, 2010 11:48 AM
Heather
Reply

Personally, I'm really hoping that Jacob will recap. I love the insight and eye for big ideas that he brings to the party, which makes his recaps a must-read for me. I can't wait to see what he'll make of the much-heralded "dark fairytale" feel of this series!

April 18, 2010 2:24 PM
Al
Reply

I hope Jacob recaps. These recaps wouldn't have a use for me without his writing.

April 18, 2010 6:33 PM
Dema
Reply

I'm with those hoping Jacob keeps his Freshman-Philosophy-course hands out of the new Doctor Who recaps. More snarky wit, less maudlin musings. Spare us your drivel, as the Brits would say.

April 18, 2010 6:49 PM
Jennifer
Reply

I loved it. I found Matt Smith to be refreshingly amusing, and looked forward to more of his episodes.

April 18, 2010 6:51 PM
Jennifer
Reply

Oh, and I can do without Jacob recapping Who. His AI recaps used to be funny; now they're just annoying. Really, his personal life isn't relevant - just talk about the bloody episode.

April 19, 2010 9:05 AM
Amber
Reply

I love Jacob’s recaps. I don’t watch AI or Gossip Girl but I eagerly wait for his recaps of them (and all the other shows he recaps). As for Demian recapping, I don’t think Doctor Who is the type of show he would like but he would be fine as long as he left behind that annoying, imaginary dragon stuff.

April 19, 2010 11:42 AM
Winninghamster
Reply

Jacob's recaps are the best thing about this website, full of fire and music, etc.

April 19, 2010 12:27 PM
Tom
Reply

I'm on the Jacob bandwagon. With all the changes in staff over the past few years, it's been his recaps that have been bringing me back. And while they can get lecture-coursey, they also get me to think about shows I already loved in new ways. Hell, I've quoted some things he's had in his recaps. My favorite: "Everything you want, in the worst possible way." I read the BSG recaps a lot.

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