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'My Corduroyed Life' - Mark A's Journal
And it's about time...
I've had this review half written since seeing the show over two weeks ago (Cheers for that, Bowch), but mcphee was so adamant about the no spoiler thing, that I withheld posting it. I’ve never understood the no spoilers thing, I love spoilers, but I guess that’s because I’ve always been so damned impatient.
It’s still something of a dream come true that Doctor Who is back. After all, it’s well over fifteen years since the last Sylvester McCoy series, and nearly ten years since the doomed to fail Paul McGann American pilot. There have been the Big Finish audio plays which more than carry the legacy, but I really never thought that I’d see the it come back on the telly, ever. I’m still finding it difficult to believe, but there it was! The TARDIS back on the telly!
When I heard that the first episode was to feature the autons, I was a bit sceptical. The autons were cool and frightening in the 70s, but could they pull it off in 21st century? The answer, in my opinion, is just about.
I liked the story, but I did think there were holes in the plot and a lot of stuff wasn't adequately explained due to the restriction of a 45 min episode length. I really do think that the 45 minute episodes don’t really suit Doctor Who. In the past, the storylines of Doctor Who have always been slightly longer and more complex (and self-contained) than, say, an episode of Buffy, and that’s going to take some getting used to. The big thing is that the ‘peeeeew, woo, woo, woo’ won’t be a cliffhanger any more. The ‘peeeeew, woo, woo, woo’ cliffhangers are a part of Who history! Why not make 24 thirty minute episodes, and have some two parters with the ‘peeeeew, woo, woo, woo’ cliffhanger?
Another thing, it seems like it's been a little dumbed down and made a bit more easy access and simple for kids. Having listening to the somewhat dark Big Finish audio plays recently, there is a marked difference. The Big Finish stuff is wonderfully complex and full of moral ambiguity, but first impressions of the new series is that it’s much more light-hearted. However, maybe that’s the point? The Big Finish stuff was aimed at die-hard fans in their 20s and older, and the telly series has to get a new generation of kids involved. Actually, I’ve just thought: I’m whinging like a Star Wars fan who doesn’t like episode 1 here, so I’ll shush.
I like the way the Doctor has 'gone northern' and is a little bit alien, and Christopher Eccleston is a fantastic choice. He’s quirky, likeable, and enthusiastic: exactly how the Doctor should be. Much to my surprise, I thought Billie Piper was actually very good too! The only ‘yuck moment’ being the nauseating grinning run to the TARDIS right at the end (you know, ‘peeeeew, woo, woo, woo’).
I really like the new theme tune. It’s acceptably eerie and is faithful to the original, but with a nice bit of strings.
The special effects just passed, but I've always been a stickler for ropey CG and the wheelie bin scene grated a little. Okay, the ropey CG wheelie bin grated a lot. Auton boyfriend was fine, but ropey CG wheelie bin was rubbish. Having seen the trailer for episode 2, I think that the special effects are always going to just pass: not cheesy and rubbish, but just not quite as good as the American big budget stuff. That’s fine, as long as the stories are strong.
Overall, I think I'd give it 7/10 for a good pilot for a show that looks like it's going to go from strength to strength and be fantastic! I just hope the sproggles, on whom the programme's future depends, do too!
Woo! Doctor Who!
Have fun,
M x
Current mood:
excited.Current music: The Doctor Who theme... Obviously!.