We wrapped up Game Day yesterday with a group viewing (a few hours timeshifted) of the first episode of the new season (and new ) lead of Doctor Who.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
I want to watch it again, as it was late, I was tired, and I’d done plenty of convivial celebrating. That said, I’m pretty pleased by the New Doctor, the Eleventh in that line, as played by Matt Smith.
Smith has, so far, done a good (if frenetic) job of not seeming too young. That was the main critique/concern of him when announced, but with his improbable hair and bowtie, and unflagging self-confidence, Smith “felt” much more mature than the early shots of him gave the appearance of being. It’s a first outing, and those can be a bit odd (consider Eccleston’s first, or Tennant’s for that matter), but Smith does a good job here, with nothing specific to criticize.
The story in “The Eleventh Hour” is a good intro to Steven Moffat’s new tenure as lead storywriter and executive producer. Like most of the first outings, it’s a busy introduction to various folks — and Karen Gillan’s Amy Pond (special nod to Caitlin Blackwood as a fine youngster version of same) introduces well, a classic spunky Companion. There are threats to the world, alien criminals, invasions fended off, and some trademark Moffat creepy-spooky, not to mention a bit of foreshadowing (“the Pandorica will open, silence will fall”). The Doctor comes across as confident and unflagging, and, so far, I’m pretty pleased.
On to next week!
Something more noticiable is who-ever did post production sound needs his volumn control fingers breaking. The Music drowned out speach in parts of episode 3, and it was an anticlimax- I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected. It was ruined in places.