Doctor Who, "The Eleventh Hour" (spoilers!)

[arduinna]

I liked this! It's going to be interesting to see where they go with the eleventh Doctor, since he seems to have shed the grief/guilt and anger of Nine and Ten. He seems to be back around to base-level inquisitive and quirky, with the inevitable arrogance layered on. If they're really going for funny with him, they're going to have to do a better job with the outfit, and add in some more whimsy. (Oh, Second Doctor, you are missed.)

Hopefully his tastebuds are finished growing, though; I can do without the spitting things out.

Amelia/Amy rocks; I already like her tons. I'm sort of sad we don't get 10-year-old companion Amelia, but I suppose that would have been bad for her in the long run. *g* She could have pulled it off, though; that was one unflappable little girl who knew her own mind. But I like grown-up Amy a lot, too, and I think she'll be a lot of fun; she's the sort of companion I like best, no-nonsense and with a sense of wonder and adventure, and willing to yell at the Doctor if he needs it.

I also liked that her childhood trauma isn't a deep dark secret; everyone in that village knew about the Doctor, which made me really happy. (Although not as happy as her making her boyfriend, whose name I am utterly blanking on right now, dress up as him when they were children. <3) I like that she dealt with it and moved on and made a life for herself, but never lost that unflappability and courage and adventurousness.

They also did an amazing job with the actresses; I was sure they had to be related, because they looked so alike, but the names in the credits were very different. therienne looked them up and found out they were cousins, though - fabulous casting.

Moffatt's still good with the creepy scary stuff. Just sayin'.

The best part of the entire episode, though, which I'm sure Moffatt didn't intend, was when the Doctor ran into Jeff's bedroom and said, "Laptop! Gimme!" and Jeff pulled away clutching his laptop saying, "No!", whereupon we had to pause while therienne and merryish collapsed into howls of laughter for about five solid minutes, because they have had that exact conversation far too often.

I loved the quick little homage to all the earlier Doctors. &hearts I also loved that they remembered the TARDIS has more rooms than the console room; it's felt weirdly cramped for the past several seasons, with no one ever going anywhere else. Yay for the pool and the library reappearing, and the cloister bell tolling!

The new TARDIS look... hm. I don't dislike it, but I'll need time to get used to it. I imprinted on the old clean, open, white console room from original-Who, so these new darker, more organic ones are just odd to me. At least it doesn't look so much like Moya anymore, though. *g* That always freaked me out in the previous version.

And spoilers for the "coming up on Doctor Who" season-ad at the end of the ep -- highlight to read:

Oh, this looks like a fun season! Daleks! (Including one that looked like he was in army fatigues, heeee) Cybermen! ANGELS OMG DON'T BLINK. (These are particularly scary when your friend inadvertantly pauses right on the image of three angels shrieking at you, omg.) Whee, fun! \o/

Comments

[ithildin]

Yes to all of the above. Watching with Nin, we had very similar group reactions [g]

[arduinna]

Heh - somehow, I am not surprised! *g*

[ninjababe]

I adored this episode... Hopefully, we can move away from the broody, angsty, angry doctor. Granted, it was nice for awhile, but it went on way too long...

I would've adored a little girl companion. But, as Ith pointed out, the Doctor would never bring a child as a companion from that situation...

I squeed at the homage.

As for Amelia/Amy, she reminded me of my personal favorite companion a bit... (Ace)

Can't wait for future episodes! All I'm going to say about your spoilers :-)

And, I'm still scowering the internet for a weeping angel statue... Sooner or later, I'm determined to give it to Ith as a gift :)

[merryish]

\o/ It's true, we do have that conversation on a weekly basis. =D Pretty much with exactly the same inflection and expressions of horror and dismay!

I was telling therienne this morning that I am not sure if 9 or 10 is "my" doctor. She says I don't have to pick, but everybody ELSE has one, so I feel like I should. Like, Rose is "my" companion, and I thought Eccleston would be my doctor, but I think... it is possible Tennant just barely edges him out.

The only thing I didn't like about this episode was that Tennant wasn't in it. :) Which isn't a reflection on what I think of New Guy - I think he may sort out all right in the end. I just miss Tennant, and possibly may never get over it.

I totally agree with you about the outfit. *shudder*

But if there's no more man!pain I will be very sad. I sort of like the Doctor's man!pain!