The Eleventh Hour

*****Spoiler Alert*****

****Do not read if you don't wanna know****

I was disappointed not to be able to watch the first episode of the new Doctor Who series at the same time as 8 million others, but it started around the time that I had to go to work. I was therefore incredibly pleased to find that iPlayer had it available to watch within 2 hours of it finishing, which, in my experience is very quick indeed for them!

My anticipation of the new series was almost spoiled with the opening sequence. The TARDIS was flying across the London skyline with the (new) Doctor hanging out of the door by his fingertips. I know this may sound a bit strange for someone watching a sci-fi show about a time-travelling alien hero, but I found it a bit difficult to believe that someone of his slight build would be able to hold on in those conditions with not even a raised lip on the doorstep of the TARDIS to grip onto, being pulled by the inertia of the erratic movements the ship was making through the night sky. I let it slide and hoped for better from the rest of the show.

Then came the titles and theme tune. Strike 2. I had no problems with the titles, though they were far from impressive. But what have they done to the theme tune? It was all background noise and not much tune! I desperately hoped that, if the third strike did come it would not come immediately and spoil my whole hour (and a bit) of viewing.

It was good to know, when the story started proper, that there were still going to be some leftovers from previous series'. Background haunting ululations have been synonymous with scene-setting in the previous shows and I love that they have remained along with the always brilliant dramatic music.

The star of the show, just beating Matt Smith to himself to the post, had to be young Caitlin Blackwood, who plays Amelia (the younger version of Amy Pond). What a superb little actress and one with apparently little-to-no experience. Let us hope that she gets to reappear somewhere later in the series.

Matt Smith plays a slightly bumbling, uncoordinated and slightly confused "still cooking" new Doctor very well and it does make me wonder how much of this kookyness will remain as part of his new personality, at least some I hope.

The scene with Amelia giving him the foods that he is asking her for, only to have him spit them out again is great. Ending up with fish fingers and custard (drawing similarities with him previously needing salt and a shock when poisoned before) was great, but I was disappointed that it wasn't choc ice and chips (Brits of a certain generation will know what I am talking about).

I was also left wondering, when Amelia showed the Doctor an apple with a smiley face on it, if this was a precursor to an upcoming episode with the hinted-at Smilers, whatever they are.

Another disappointment, though not a third strike (yet), was Rory. Though played well, by Arthur Darvill, he is a bit of a cliché character very similar to Mickey Smith in many ways. He is a young unassertive guy who surround himself with assertive women (Amy & Dr Ramsden = Rose Tyler & Rita-Anne, Mickey's nan). I hope that he isn't going to develop in exactly the same manner as Mickey did. In fact I will be happy with seeing very little of him. The neighbour, Jeff, on the other hand, can pop up (fnar) at any time he wants to. Tom Hopper, who plays him is a very sexy guy and, in his first scene, in which he is face to face with the Doctor (or as close as can be given the height difference), my over-active imagination thought that they were going to kiss!

I loved it later, when the Doctor bursts into Jeff's room to use his laptop (and finds that the defensive Jeff is almost certainly looking at porn). I was imagining that it would be gay porn, because of my attraction to the actor, but this was immediately ruined when the Doctor tells Jeff to get a girlfriend.

The whole Raggedy Doctor theme, stemming from Amelia's description to her family, friends and psychiatrists is interesting, hopefully leading to a future story, possibly involving her self-made toys of the Doctor. I love that everyone who knows Amy has heard of and almost instantly recognises, the Raggedy Doctor.

The appearance of Annette Crosbie as Jeff's nan was great and even more so was the cameo appearance by Patrick Moore which was, in my opinion well overdue. And he was given a great line too, when the Doctor asks the collective experts if they have any questions, Patrick asks "Who's your lady friend?" The Doctor simply replies, "Patrick, Behave!"

A definite prelude of things to come this series, and probably the main theme and story to be resolved in the series finale double episode comes when Prisoner Zero explains that it didn't make the crack in space-time that allowed it to escape and that "the universe is cracked," "Pandoracle [sp] will open. Silence will fall." Intriguing.

The Doctor's confrontation with the Atraxi AFTER he has called them back to Earth is great. Basically he wasn't happy with them just threatening Earth and then "walking" off without a "sorry." They needed to be scalded and he knew that he was the man to do it. A brilliant scene where he steps through the hologram of all his past incarnations in his newly acquired clothes and reaffirms to yet another alien race that Earth is protected. By him.

Doctor: "Hello, I'm the Doctor. Basically. RUN!"

It is great television and will be undoubtedly used as an iconic clip for years to come. I liked it especially as it was further reinforcement that Paul McGann IS included in the television series' canonicity. [side-note: I loved that Paul McGann appeared in this Easter's Jonathan Creek with also co-starred Sheridan Smith, Doctor and companion from the Big Finish audio adventures. Superb]

After all the action you almost forget that the TARDIS was shrouded in smoke the last time we saw it and, when the Doctor draws his "regenerated" TARDIS key out of his pocket and runs back to find her, you almost think that we are going to be cheated out of seeing the brand new interior until next time. When we do get to see inside though there certainly is no disappointment. It is magnificent. The first thing I noticed was a coat/hat stand in the doorway, brilliant. Lots of levels. Lots of "normal" things incorporated into the TARDIS control panels (old-fashioned typewriter, pinball puller thingie etc etc). Loved it.

He goes back to fetch Amy, once again misjudging time by 2 years and invited her in by clicking his fingers to open the door (a trick taught him by the soon-to-return Professor River Song [Alex Kingston]).

The whole episode is full of memorable, and probably soon-to-be iconic lines, such as:

Amelia: "Who are you?" Doctor: "I don't know yet. Still cooking."

Doctor (after just walking into a tree): "Steering's a bit off!"

Doctor: "You're Scottish. Fry something!"

Doctor: "Beans are evil. Bad, bad beans!"

Doctor: "Wibbly-wobbly, timey-whimey" makes a welcome return.

as does:

Doctor: "What? WHAT? WHAT?"

Doctor: "Twenty minutes to save the world and I have a post office! And it's closed!"

Doctor (upon showing Amy into the TARDIS for the first time): "Anything you want to say? Any passing remarks? I've heard them all" Amy: "I'm in my nightie"

Doctor: "I am definitely a mad man with a box"

All in all, not a 100% successful episode, but pretty close considering the 2 strikes early on. I've watched it twice and will no doubt see it again in the very near future. It was crammed full of potential links to future story lines and that isn't even including the "Coming Soon" section just prior to the credits, depicting a Dalek (again), a Cyberman (again), Winston Churchill, Vampires, Weeping Angels and much, much more. Though not convinced about the adult Amy Pond, I think this could be a great season. Lets hope.