The inevitable verdict!post
Well now, for weeks I've been very wary of the coming of this day. I saw the filming photos and went 'Nyyyuuhh...'; I saw the adverts and went 'Hmmm...' and I saw the new TARDIS and went 'Myeeeh...' Those, translated into something coherent, are noises of uncertainty and doubt. I was not going to start slagging off, or squeeing about what I hadn't seen.
But now I feel fully able to pass judgement and I have to say...
I love Matt Smith.
I'm sorry, but he is fabulous. David is still my Doctor at the present, but Matt is a very capable and epic successor. He's adorable, he's dorky, he's funny, he's quick, he's intelligent, and most of all he is the Doctor. No doubt about it. He's kept just enough of Ten's mannerisms and quirks to make it absolutely believable that he's the same man, but he's brought a whole load of new things to the role, which means I'm not judging him against Ten.
I loved the opening scene, with the garden being all ethereal and creepy, and I also adored the young version of Amy Pond. I watched it with my friend Ali, and I have to admit that when the Doctor started talking about how he fell into the swimming pool, which was in the library (we lol'd), I turned to her and said 'We always knew there was a swimming pool and a library on the TARDIS!' We, of course, being us fic writers :) The Doctor eating fish fingers dipped in custard also had us wondering whether Matt really ate that for the scene or whether it wasn't really custard - if he did then kudos to him because that must have been nasty :/ We were hoping he'd settle for bananas as his preferred food actually :P
I thought it would be a scarier episode than it was - it seemed like it was going to be at the beginning, and then it became less so. But I didn't mind. It was, however, quite hilarious. There were loads of those great Doctor-y one-liners in there that just make Who, which I loved. But amid the humour, there was some poignancy too - little Amelia packing her suitcase and waiting outside for the Doctor had me going 'Awwwww'.
I still don't feel like I've really seen enough of Amy yet to know her as a character. We've seen her being slightly frosty with the Doctor, and sceptical, but I'm looking forward to seeing warmth and emotion as she begins to bond with the Doctor. Then we'll see what sort of a person she is.
The plot had me slightly confused at times, but then Who always does - I'm like 'Huh? How does that work? Is that logical?' Then I remember that pseudo-science doesn't need to actually work, and it's best to just accept it. If the Doctor understands, then that's good enough for me :)
Despite not warming to the new TARDIS release photos, I liked it when I saw it on screen. It still has the feel of the old TARDIS, but it's quite exciting to see it revamped. Besides, I feel like a new Doctor needs a new TARDIS - it's a fresh start, which is why I also like the fact that the sonic's been updated. The old TARDIS and sonic are associated with David in my mind, so it's right that Matt should have his own.
Think that's about it really. Can't wait for next week's episode. To anyone who's dead against the new series and will not be watching it, I understand your decision and wouldn't contest it, but I would recommend just trying it. You might be surprised. I know the first episode has surpassed my expectations. I'm treating it like it's a new show, and I'm fully ready to embrace a new era of Who. Because at the end of the day, while I loved the Tennant era, I am a Who fan - not just a Tennant fan. It was through Who that I came to love Tennant, and not the other way round. I can love both Ten and Eleven - and Nine, of course, don't forget Nine - without having to choose sides. Ten/Donna will not be forgotten, but Eleven/Amy is the next adventure :) *cringes at own cliché*
Have a lovely Easter tomorrow everyone.
But now I feel fully able to pass judgement and I have to say...
I love Matt Smith.
I'm sorry, but he is fabulous. David is still my Doctor at the present, but Matt is a very capable and epic successor. He's adorable, he's dorky, he's funny, he's quick, he's intelligent, and most of all he is the Doctor. No doubt about it. He's kept just enough of Ten's mannerisms and quirks to make it absolutely believable that he's the same man, but he's brought a whole load of new things to the role, which means I'm not judging him against Ten.
I loved the opening scene, with the garden being all ethereal and creepy, and I also adored the young version of Amy Pond. I watched it with my friend Ali, and I have to admit that when the Doctor started talking about how he fell into the swimming pool, which was in the library (we lol'd), I turned to her and said 'We always knew there was a swimming pool and a library on the TARDIS!' We, of course, being us fic writers :) The Doctor eating fish fingers dipped in custard also had us wondering whether Matt really ate that for the scene or whether it wasn't really custard - if he did then kudos to him because that must have been nasty :/ We were hoping he'd settle for bananas as his preferred food actually :P
I thought it would be a scarier episode than it was - it seemed like it was going to be at the beginning, and then it became less so. But I didn't mind. It was, however, quite hilarious. There were loads of those great Doctor-y one-liners in there that just make Who, which I loved. But amid the humour, there was some poignancy too - little Amelia packing her suitcase and waiting outside for the Doctor had me going 'Awwwww'.
I still don't feel like I've really seen enough of Amy yet to know her as a character. We've seen her being slightly frosty with the Doctor, and sceptical, but I'm looking forward to seeing warmth and emotion as she begins to bond with the Doctor. Then we'll see what sort of a person she is.
The plot had me slightly confused at times, but then Who always does - I'm like 'Huh? How does that work? Is that logical?' Then I remember that pseudo-science doesn't need to actually work, and it's best to just accept it. If the Doctor understands, then that's good enough for me :)
Despite not warming to the new TARDIS release photos, I liked it when I saw it on screen. It still has the feel of the old TARDIS, but it's quite exciting to see it revamped. Besides, I feel like a new Doctor needs a new TARDIS - it's a fresh start, which is why I also like the fact that the sonic's been updated. The old TARDIS and sonic are associated with David in my mind, so it's right that Matt should have his own.
Think that's about it really. Can't wait for next week's episode. To anyone who's dead against the new series and will not be watching it, I understand your decision and wouldn't contest it, but I would recommend just trying it. You might be surprised. I know the first episode has surpassed my expectations. I'm treating it like it's a new show, and I'm fully ready to embrace a new era of Who. Because at the end of the day, while I loved the Tennant era, I am a Who fan - not just a Tennant fan. It was through Who that I came to love Tennant, and not the other way round. I can love both Ten and Eleven - and Nine, of course, don't forget Nine - without having to choose sides. Ten/Donna will not be forgotten, but Eleven/Amy is the next adventure :) *cringes at own cliché*
Have a lovely Easter tomorrow everyone.