Not impressed with the new series of Dr. Who
OK, I've not posted here, but my rant was really too long to fit on FaceBook ;)
Lets start with the new doctor. Sorry, he's too much of a blunt instrument. I don't like how he keeps shouting about his resume every episode, and he really has no subtlety basically shouting at the Baddie of the Week "I am the Doctor, I'm scarier than you! Back off!". We've gone from a playful man who, while a little clumsy did pull of genius well, and had panache, to a bull in a china shop with a time machine. The look and smile that speaks volumes is gone, Matt Smith's face only really conveys one expression well - a vacant one, which means everything else has to be done in dialog, and it's not often done well.
Second, I'm getting sick of the Daleks to be honest. Or more correctly, I'm getting sick of them being 'finally destroyed for the absolutely last time, truly gone honest!' only to have had "one ship survive" and have them brought back and rehashed again. The Daleks have been great villains, but c'mon, you have the entire universe and all of time to use as your plot devices - surely you can come up with a new Big Bad (to use a Buffy term) for a new doctor.
Third, if you are going to bring back the Daleks, why make them look like power rangers (or as I call them, candy-cane Daleks)? They just look silly now, not scary. Bright colors does not really give off a 'super-bad villain' vibe, it just screams 'kid friendly!' Additionally, seriously, the daleks have a super powerful repository of Dalek DNA - and not only does it not recognize existing daleks, but it some how recognizes the authority of the DOCTOR to activate it? And why would they bother to build something that lies dormant in a state that can be destroyed (as they state the others were) in the first place? Lamest plot ever.
Fourth, ok, we're only 3 episodes in with the new doctor and companion - but why does EVERY single episode have to be one where all is completely lost until Amy comes up and draws out a human emotion or shows compassion or something like that to save the day at the last second. Proving that the Doctor does not understand love, and every problem (so far) is solved by it in one way or another. It's getting formulaic.
Don't get me wrong, I was really looking forward to Steve Moffat taking over. After having is writing in Coupling crack me up every episode, and having him write some of my favourite episodes in the previous series (Blink, Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances) I had high hopes for the writing. But so far it has just been formulaic and has not really drawn me in. Maybe part of it is the new doctor and companion capturing my attention (note: it's not just the fact they're new - I liked David Tennant immediately - and Freema Agyeman for that matter).
One other thing I'm missing is there is no tension between the companion and a family life around her. I mean one of the hallmarks of the new series has been the doctor first being hidden from the family (or part of it in Donna's case), and then through the events (usually of a single episode) the family gets to see the doctor for who he is, and usually supports him. And then, though not necessarily frequent characters (especially for Martha's family), they became important ones later in the series. So far, all we know is Amy is engaged, but there is no other family to speak of, and no tension there at all.
I guess that is more like the classic series, but I liked that aspect of the new series. I found it incredibly satisfying watching Jackie and Mickey, then Martha's parents (Francine and Clive), then Wilfred (and eventually to a smaller degree, Donna's mother Sylvia) go from actively opposing to fighting for or with the Doctor. Watching him slowly win their respect, even though they are only briefly involved with him, and they know he is putting their loved one in terrible danger frequently.
I will still watch The Doctor each week, but really, I hope it gets better, because so far I'm just plain underwhelmed. I am hoping the expansion of the role of the Weeping Angels will liven things up - you know, a new villain (apart from Blink) to sink our teeth into.
Lets start with the new doctor. Sorry, he's too much of a blunt instrument. I don't like how he keeps shouting about his resume every episode, and he really has no subtlety basically shouting at the Baddie of the Week "I am the Doctor, I'm scarier than you! Back off!". We've gone from a playful man who, while a little clumsy did pull of genius well, and had panache, to a bull in a china shop with a time machine. The look and smile that speaks volumes is gone, Matt Smith's face only really conveys one expression well - a vacant one, which means everything else has to be done in dialog, and it's not often done well.
Second, I'm getting sick of the Daleks to be honest. Or more correctly, I'm getting sick of them being 'finally destroyed for the absolutely last time, truly gone honest!' only to have had "one ship survive" and have them brought back and rehashed again. The Daleks have been great villains, but c'mon, you have the entire universe and all of time to use as your plot devices - surely you can come up with a new Big Bad (to use a Buffy term) for a new doctor.
Third, if you are going to bring back the Daleks, why make them look like power rangers (or as I call them, candy-cane Daleks)? They just look silly now, not scary. Bright colors does not really give off a 'super-bad villain' vibe, it just screams 'kid friendly!' Additionally, seriously, the daleks have a super powerful repository of Dalek DNA - and not only does it not recognize existing daleks, but it some how recognizes the authority of the DOCTOR to activate it? And why would they bother to build something that lies dormant in a state that can be destroyed (as they state the others were) in the first place? Lamest plot ever.
Fourth, ok, we're only 3 episodes in with the new doctor and companion - but why does EVERY single episode have to be one where all is completely lost until Amy comes up and draws out a human emotion or shows compassion or something like that to save the day at the last second. Proving that the Doctor does not understand love, and every problem (so far) is solved by it in one way or another. It's getting formulaic.
Don't get me wrong, I was really looking forward to Steve Moffat taking over. After having is writing in Coupling crack me up every episode, and having him write some of my favourite episodes in the previous series (Blink, Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances) I had high hopes for the writing. But so far it has just been formulaic and has not really drawn me in. Maybe part of it is the new doctor and companion capturing my attention (note: it's not just the fact they're new - I liked David Tennant immediately - and Freema Agyeman for that matter).
One other thing I'm missing is there is no tension between the companion and a family life around her. I mean one of the hallmarks of the new series has been the doctor first being hidden from the family (or part of it in Donna's case), and then through the events (usually of a single episode) the family gets to see the doctor for who he is, and usually supports him. And then, though not necessarily frequent characters (especially for Martha's family), they became important ones later in the series. So far, all we know is Amy is engaged, but there is no other family to speak of, and no tension there at all.
I guess that is more like the classic series, but I liked that aspect of the new series. I found it incredibly satisfying watching Jackie and Mickey, then Martha's parents (Francine and Clive), then Wilfred (and eventually to a smaller degree, Donna's mother Sylvia) go from actively opposing to fighting for or with the Doctor. Watching him slowly win their respect, even though they are only briefly involved with him, and they know he is putting their loved one in terrible danger frequently.
I will still watch The Doctor each week, but really, I hope it gets better, because so far I'm just plain underwhelmed. I am hoping the expansion of the role of the Weeping Angels will liven things up - you know, a new villain (apart from Blink) to sink our teeth into.