27 Mar 2005
Dr. Who
I watched the first episode of the new Doctor Who last night with some degree of trepidation. I loved the series as a kid (despite the fact that it scared me silly and resulted in lasting phobias), so I worried that they would wreck it by making it too serious and slick. I needn't have worried. There may be spoilers ahead, so if you haven't seen it yet, don't read on.
I think that the first thing they got right is the casting. Christopher Eccleston is terrific as The Doctor. He injects just the right mixture of mad, manic, funny and dangerous into his character. The Doctor should be a bit dark and unpredictable under his jokey exterior, and I think he showed that perfectly. He reminded me a little of Tom Baker in that respect; Tom always seemed to be teetering on the edge of madness, and you could never predict what he would do next. Billie Piper — as his companion Rose — also surprised me. It might be a little early to tell, but she seems to playing Rose as the non-screaming, non-bimboid variety of companion, which is very refreshing. She and Eccleston seem to also have great chemistry together which helps a lot.
The second good decision was in not trying to keep up with the quality of the special effects in feature films. The first episode at least featured reassuringly rubbery monsters and cheap locations. The trick is to do it with a bit of tongue-in-cheek humour. There was a fantastic scene in the first episode when the disembodied plastic arm of one of the animate, killer shop dummies — the Autons — leapt out from behind the sofa and tried to strangle the Doctor. On the one hand, it was very funny and reminded me of Eric Morecambe doing his bit from behind the curtain where he pretends to be strangled, but on the other it was actually quite creepy.
The episode was a partial remake of a much earlier one shown in the 60s (and repeated several times) in which shop dummies come alive and start shooting people with guns concealed in their hands. I'm pretty sure that this episode was responsible for my phobia of shop dummies throughout childhood. I couldn't walk past them without being terrified, and there was no chance of going somewhere like Madame Tussaud's without me totally freaking out. So thanks, BBC, you seem to have revived that particular fear again. I'll be avoiding walking past shop windows for a little while, I think.
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I downloaded it this morning and watched it this evening--oh, let us give thanks for the miracle of the internet--and I'm very pleased indeed. Goofy and dark and cheesy and flashy and fun fun fun. My inner eleven-year-old is practically dancing around the room at the moment. The new TARDIS interior was a surprise--I wonder if they'll ever mention how the control room suddenly got so much bigger?--and very cool. Rose does look like she'll shape up to follow the Leela-Ace lineage of companions, which would be great. I can't see the 'screaming helpless girlie' model working with today's audiences, for one thing. (It's also nice to have a Doctor who's kind of a hunk. Hubba.) Loved the music too. The theme song manages to capture all the important elements while being new and exciting at the same time. If it's this good now, I look forward to seeing what it's like once everybody has had some time to get used to the place. Wheee!by Andrew Willett @ 28/03/2005 5:04 am • Permalink
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"Iâll be avoiding walking past shop windows for a little while, I think." And wheelie bins... I ended up watching it with a crowd of relatives as we had a family reunion over the Easter weekend, watching as a large group definitely added to the atmosphere, especially for those sitting on plastic seats. Very promising.4
I grew up in Greece (sounds so much better than saying 'I'm Greek'...) and never watched Dr Who the first time round. I'm living in the Netherlands now and watch the Beeb on satellite FTV and I was really looking forward to the first episode of the new series. Verdict: once I managed to suspend my disbelief (rather over-developed at the age of 34 1/2!), I really really enjoyed it. Christopher Eccleston is yummy and Billie Piper was a very pleasant surprise. I will definitely keep watching! PS. May I nominate 'Every planet has a North...' as the best line on TV lately?.by Hara @ 28/03/2005 2:03 pm • Permalink
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Good summary - I thought about the same as you, but would have said it less well
Weren't the scary dummies also used in The Avengers? It's a clever idea to have scary faces without exaggerated or distorted features - the blankness is creepier.
by pete @ 28/03/2005 4:04 pm • Permalink
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I watched the episode a few weeks ago when it was "leaked". As of yet, the show is not signed with any broadcasters here in the states, which is an absolute shame. I thoroughly enjoyed "Rose" and hope to watch more episodes as I can get my hands on them.7
Russell Dyas: Wasn't Ace the sidekick of Sylvester McCoy's Doctor? If so, I think I may have erased the memory from my brain. I think she was a sidekick after my own heart, but he was terrible. Or the writing was terrible then, one or the other. Da Goldfish: Yep, it's bigger, and more organic. I like it, though. It still makes the 'wheerk, wheerk' noise when activating, which is important, I feel. Andrew Willett: Well, I think if the inside of the Tardis can be bigger than the outside, then the inside can probably be bigger than it used to be on the inside, without breaking any more laws of physics
. I'm sure that they can misplace or gain a few cubic metres when skipping between time and space -- it's the Time Lord's equivalent of leaving your umbrella on the bus.
And, yes -- Mr. Eccleston is very easy on the eyes The leather jacket helps...
ijw: Eeek! You've reminded me that I should also worry about being eaten by wheelie bins! Thank goodness we don't have one, or I'm not sure that I would sleep soundly at night.
Hara: Yes, suspension of disbelief is a very important part of the whole Dr. Who experience, and always has been. In the old days, they had a worm-like monster that was an actor wriggling along the floor, wrapped in bubble wrap. If you listened carefully, you could hear the popping...
Yes, you may nominate that line. It was excellent. For those who didn't see it (this is from memory):
Rose: If you're an alien, how come you talk like you're from the North?"
The Doctor (a little defensively): "Lots of planets have a North"
pete: Probably -- perhaps that was another source of my phobia? Brrrr.
geoff: America needs Dr. Who. Start a campaign
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"The new TARDIS interior was a surpriseâI wonder if theyâll ever mention how the control room suddenly got so much bigger?" Maybe Changing Rooms got hold of the Tardis & knocked through into another room! There were plenty to choose from with the library, swimming pool, cricket pavilion, cloister, wardrobe room and those endless corridors that Tom Baker kept getting lost in... Ooh, nasty thought, Smiley Carol Smiley as a companion. -----
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Yes me and my "better half" watched this today and yes he tongue in check was just right as that how original was. I also was surprised by Billie Piper reminds me a bit of sidekick ace now there was a sidekick... sorry miles away thinking of childhood crushes there. Anyway Russ Peace Out----- Absolutely. I loved it! I was utterly transfixed on Saturday night. Not only that, but I videoed it and have now watched it seven times. But then, I am a complete and total nutbag. Is it just me, or is the TARDIS exterior now twice as big as it used to be?by Da Goldfish @ 27/03/2005 11:03 pm • Permalink