ALARIS' REVIEWS

30th April 2010
Doctor Who: The Eleventh Hour (2010)

I'm writing this review partly because all my Doctor Who (1963) reviews have been scathing, despite the fact that I quite like the series. The Eleventh Hour is the opening episode for season five, showcasing the new head writer Stephen Moffat, new Doctor (Matt Smith), new companion (Karen Gillan) and new production crew.

I've been anxiously anticipating the new season, since former head writer Russell T. Davies went a bit off the rails in the later seasons, and while I applaud former Doctor David Tennant's commitment to the show, he never quite hit the same dramatic mark for me as the previous Doctor, Christopher Eccleston.

The good news is: Smith makes a respectable showing as the eleventh Doctor. Manic, peculiar and funny, he's watchable enough, and I only hope that he brings it when the series hits the serious dramatic notes.

The bad news is: the new companion, Amy (Gillan), is deeply underwhelming. While the character will hopefully improve as the series goes on, Amy comes across as slightly slow and bland. My favourite companions are spirited, funny, and independent, like Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and River Song (Alex Kingston). My least favourite companions are those with a crush on the Doctor, like poor Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), and apparently Amy.

The uncertain news is: brilliant writer Moffat isn't in top form with this episode, but it's still enjoyable viewing. The Eleventh Hour is a mediocre Doctor Who episode, with some lovely moments as well as some clunky ones. It's a competent introduction to the new look series, and I'm excited to see what Moffat does with the universe. Extra points for adding rooms to the Tardis!

Verdict: A promising debut for season five of this fun, classic science fiction series.

If you like Doctor Who , you'll probably like this.