So at last the eleventh Doctor Who has arrived, debuting well along with his first complete Doctor Who episode, ‘The Eleventh Hour’ over the Easter weekend within the UK. The hour-long first episode of Doctor Who series 5 was written by new series entrant Steven Moffat, and if it’s a great instance of things to come with this collection, then followers of the longest running science fiction TV show in history are in for an excellent ride. Matt Smith is instantly likeable as the eleventh Doctor who, who, regardless of his youth, brings with him a great deal of that all-essential genius and gravitas that the part at all times needs.
He is instantly into the character, and commands every scene he is in. Amy Pond, performed by Karen Gillan, is going to take slightly more getting accustomed to, and I am by now sick of everybody going on about just how engaging she is. Hopefully the focus will shift to her acting and the stories as soon as she’s not rushing round in a kinky policewoman’s uniform. This primary story in the eleventh Doctor Who series is a pretty standard earthbound SF story, but it is in how things are brought to a climax that the fantastic thing about Moffat’s writing lies.
The way through which the eleventh Doctor Who triumphs over the newest menace, and saves the planet in just 20 minutes, is excellent. The episode is superbly put together, and whereas the effects are a bit unwieldly sometimes, it is probably the best ‘New Doctor’ episode we have had since the show came back in 2005.
The editing and direction are good, however the music is not ideal in a number of places, most particularly the latest version of the Doctor Whotheme tune. I do like the brand new title arrangement however. The latest TARDIS is superb, the eleventh Doctor Who is very promising and Amy exhibits potential. In all, it’s an important start to what will with a bit of luck be a significant series of this authentic establishment of genre tv.
