TV Review: Doctor Who - The Eleventh Hour

As it has not aired in America yet, this review will be spoiler free.

Doctor Who is an amazing show. I don't just mean to watch, but in the sense that it is an amazing production. From early on in the show's life, they wrote in a plot element that would allow the show to survive the one thing that has ended many shows before it. That being, the loss of your lead actor. The Doctor's ability to regenerate has allowed the show to survive actors moving on and changes in production staff. Unfortunately, these transitions can be rough at times.

Needless to say, when I first saw Matt Smith was going to play The Doctor, I wasn't completely sold. Not only does he come under scrutiny for being the youngest actor to ever take on the role, but he also has to follow one of the most popular Doctors of all time. Being one of the people that loved David Tennant, it would be a hard sell to get me on board. I have been very frank with my hesitance. So does the Eleventh Hour set the show's best foot forward?

Yes. Matt Smith over the course of the sixty-five minute episode started to put my mind at ease. His portrayal of The Doctor is very likable and not too far off from his previous incarnation, maybe even a little more light hearted. It's hard to tell after just one episode, but it seems as though the show is taking a break after what was some hard hitting and dark drama to wrap up Tennant's run. Maybe it's just Smith's youth, but the Doctor really does seem to be glowing with life this episode... sometimes literally.

But to give all the credit to Smith would not be fair. The new head writer and executive producer Steven Moffat has to be given his due. Moffat is no stranger to Doctor Who. He has actually wrote multiple episodes over recent years, including my two of my personal favorites "Silence in the Library"/"Forest of the Dead" and "Blink."

In "The Eleventh Hour" we are introduced the Doctor's newest companion Amy Pond, played by the beautiful Karen Gillan. She seems to be a clever and fast thinking type. She also comes across rather secure and charismatic. I think with some time, proper writing and some good acting, she might end up being a fan favorite.

The episode itself is pretty standard Doctor Who fare. As with previous Moffat stories, there is a focus on perception. The Doctor, fresh off his regeneration, crash lands into a young girl's garden and quickly befriends her. It is not long after that she tells him of the scary crack in her bedroom wall and in typical fashion it turns out all is not as it seems. The crack is actually not just a crack in the wall, but a crack in space time. Events unfold and The Doctor finds himself with only 20 minutes to save the Earth from being turned into a giant cinder.

The writing for the episode is fast paced and very kinetic, though there is little action to speak of. As is par for the course recently, the sci-fi is there but not overwhelming. The bulk of the action takes place between The Doctor and his new companion as he tries to figure out how he is going to save the world.

Overall it is a strong first outing for this new cast and crew. It looks as though the season is going to be action packed and full of surprises (Seriously, did anyone else see that Dalek with the Union Jack on it?) I hope that the quality of the show keeps up and maybe we get off Earth a little bit more? Please? Pretty please?

Instead of my typical witty picture rubbish, enjoy one of the amazing trailers for the new run of Doctor Who.