Who's on First (in Canada)

[newnumber6]

So, I watched the first episode of the new Doctor Who, airing here in Canada for the first time in North America (ha-ha!)

Overall I enjoyed it. I like the chemistry between the characters and the new Doctor seems pretty good so far, a little goofy, but that's not a bad thing in a Doctor. Occasionally the accents made it a little difficult to understand what was said, but it wasn't a problem for the most part - usually just minor conversational lines.

I've heard some people seem it was rushed, and compared to most Doctor Who stories I've seen, it is... but I should point out that most Doctor Who stories I've seen were half hour episodes, so this was pretty much like a two-parter. Not quite so bad when you look at it that way... and really, with this particular story, I don't think it needed to be much longer (although other stories probably would)

Slightly more spoilery thoughts (on the choice of villain and the new companion's motivations) behind the cut


I'm not sure the Nestene Consciousness was the best choice for an opening episode. They're a little cheesy, and yeah, Doctor Who is cheesy, but for the first step out on a new show trying to gain audiences that haven't really been exposed to it, it might not have been a mistake... I enjoyed it because I've watched Who before, but while watching it I kind of got the feeling that someone coming into it new would find it a little silly and turn it off.

Previews for the next episode look good, and I have much higher hopes now that they're out of the trouble of having to introduce the new companion.
Speaking of, I'm pleased, I kind of enjoy the 'jumping into adventure' philosophy behind her coming along... I had a feeling she might have joined up due to losing important people in her life. Actually choosing to leave them because it's a once in a lifetime chance in her nowhere-life sat a little better for me, interest-wise. (I don't think it's going to happen, but I do kind of wish they'd pick up a second regular companion along the way... my fondest companion memories are when he had Jamie the 17th century Scotsman and Zoe the far-future scientist both on the Tardis at once).


Overall, good though... but it's one of those things that gives me a goofy smile after watching it because of memories - one of those franchises that I'm already sold on as long as they don't really screw up in the first go. That pitfall avoided, I'm mostly happy.

Comments

[angelophile.livejournal.com]

Well, the first episode here topped the ratings war and drew in 10 million viewers - not a record but a fairly high figure. I honestly think it didn't matter who they chose for the first episode bcause people were going o watch it anyway and while the Autons were a goofy choice, thy were also rather a fun choice. As an attempt to appeal to the whole family it wasn't a bad move IMHO.

The second episode saw viewing figures of 8 million - still not bad and still ahead of its rival programming. The show also scored higher than normal for television drama in terms of audience appreciation - 81 out of 100.

[newnumber6.livejournal.com]

I was more thinking about places like North America, though. I get the feeling (and maybe I'm wrong) that, what with the Christmas specials and such they have there, there's more of a mainstream acceptance and knowledge of Doctor Who in England, whereas here it feels much more like a cult thing, only a minority are even aware of it (and most of them being over a certain age). So as an effort to expand the audience there, as a first introduction, if I were in charge, I might have tried to go with a different first villain so as not to turn people away with the silly before you can hook them on the Doctor and the Tardis.

[angelophile.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I see what you mean, but this is a Dr Who that's aimed very much at a British audience - it's no wonder Sci-Fi turned it down because a lot of the humor is instinctively English. The last movie tried very hard for an "international" tone and failed to be popular over here simply because it wasn't British enough. I get the impression what the BBC were aiming to do was satisfy the British audiences and it it travelled, it travelled. An attempt to make anything "international" usually dooms it to failure - Dr Who did what it's always done best - slightly tongue in cheek British sci-fi.