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frameofmind6First impressions: It's really not the same show. Like, at all. I mean, at least not any more than the whole 2005 reboot in general was the same show as the old version. Which, come to that, probably changed dramatically multiple times within its own three or so decades.
Ultimately I think it's probably a good thing that it's really not the same show (different sonic screwdriver, different inside of the TARDIS, different musical leitmotifs, different opening credits, different visual look/feel, different cast of companions -- and of course, new-new-new Doctor... ;). Throughout most of the episode I found myself periodically snapping at Matt Smith to change out of my Doctor's clothes and get his own damn sonic screwdriver (though a little part of me did mourn when Doc's lovely blue and silver one finally melted to oblivion) -- and as much as I desperately miss my Doc, I sort of tested myself throughout it by asking every so often, "Would this be better if he were here right now?" And generally I found the answer was no. Not because I don't like him better (which I absolutely do, sorry Matty... ;), but because everything else was just so different and strange that he would have felt out of place, and that would have been worse than not having him at all. In short, while I would kill to have more David Tennant episodes in the abstract, I think that if things were going to change, it's best that they made a clean break and changed everything all at once.
(On a side note, re Matt Smith wearing Doc Ten's clothes -- how is it possible that David Tennant's clothes are TOO LOOSE on anybody? What is this guy, made of toothpicks???)
As for Matt Smith himself and his interpretation of the character, well, I suppose it's hard to say just yet. I seriously doubt that he (or anyone) will ever come close to topping David Tennant in my personal estimation, but that's hardly a fair measure given that I'm in love with him (and frankly, am really more of a David Tennant fan than I am a Doctor Who fan, much as I do enjoy the show). All that said, he's interesting and quirky, and he did make me laugh a few times, which is good -- a step in the right direction. On the other hand, he also strikes me as being a bit green as an actor. He has a little bit of that fresh-out-of-drama-school, "look ma, I'm acting!" quality to him. I don't quite completely believe him -- I can see him working. Which is really to be expected -- he's only 26, for heaven's sake. David Tennant had the same thing when he was in his early twenties (see "Takin' Over the Asylum" for evidence -- he's great in it, but definitely a bit on the green side...) -- it's just something you have to grow out of. And I'm 85% sure that this is a genuine observed opinion, not just the result of my deep-seated desire to find fault with him for the sin of not being David Tennant... ;)
I'm also curious to see where they're going to take the character from here developmentally. I mean, DT's Doc had a wonderful sort of depth and humanity and vulnerability to him that developed over time, with each new companion he gained and lost, and each new victory that came at a price. In some ways, if I'm honest, I know that by the time he left, it was also sort of the right time in the narrative for that character to get a reboot, because the little scars were piling up on him a bit, and he was getting weighed down by it. There was a lot of pain and darkness under the surface of the last couple of seasons, especially the specials -- and that was good, but it couldn't just keep going in that direction forever. It would have gotten to be too much. So, sort of as I was saying earlier, there's a selfish side of me that just wanted him to keep doing it forever and have everything not ever change -- but there's a more practical and creatively pragmatic side of me that realizes everything pretty much worked out exactly as it needed to. Anyway, I just have to keep reminding myself that my Doc is still around -- he's off living happily ever after with Rose in the alternate universe. Duh! ;)
So, yeah, a little sidetracked -- but anyway, what I was saying is that I'm curious how they'll develop this new-new-new Doctor character, if they'll be able to give him the kind of dimension they found in the last one. That's all.
Oh -- and on a side note, what a weird, random surprise to see Olivia Coleman from Peep Show and That Mitchell and Webb Look show up as a Doc Who baddie with six-inch fangs. Sophie's had her bitchy moments, but I've never seen her do that before...lol...
Aaaand now I need to go and watch a Doc Ten episode. Because, of course.
(We're easing in...slowly but surely... ;)
Ultimately I think it's probably a good thing that it's really not the same show (different sonic screwdriver, different inside of the TARDIS, different musical leitmotifs, different opening credits, different visual look/feel, different cast of companions -- and of course, new-new-new Doctor... ;). Throughout most of the episode I found myself periodically snapping at Matt Smith to change out of my Doctor's clothes and get his own damn sonic screwdriver (though a little part of me did mourn when Doc's lovely blue and silver one finally melted to oblivion) -- and as much as I desperately miss my Doc, I sort of tested myself throughout it by asking every so often, "Would this be better if he were here right now?" And generally I found the answer was no. Not because I don't like him better (which I absolutely do, sorry Matty... ;), but because everything else was just so different and strange that he would have felt out of place, and that would have been worse than not having him at all. In short, while I would kill to have more David Tennant episodes in the abstract, I think that if things were going to change, it's best that they made a clean break and changed everything all at once.
(On a side note, re Matt Smith wearing Doc Ten's clothes -- how is it possible that David Tennant's clothes are TOO LOOSE on anybody? What is this guy, made of toothpicks???)
As for Matt Smith himself and his interpretation of the character, well, I suppose it's hard to say just yet. I seriously doubt that he (or anyone) will ever come close to topping David Tennant in my personal estimation, but that's hardly a fair measure given that I'm in love with him (and frankly, am really more of a David Tennant fan than I am a Doctor Who fan, much as I do enjoy the show). All that said, he's interesting and quirky, and he did make me laugh a few times, which is good -- a step in the right direction. On the other hand, he also strikes me as being a bit green as an actor. He has a little bit of that fresh-out-of-drama-school, "look ma, I'm acting!" quality to him. I don't quite completely believe him -- I can see him working. Which is really to be expected -- he's only 26, for heaven's sake. David Tennant had the same thing when he was in his early twenties (see "Takin' Over the Asylum" for evidence -- he's great in it, but definitely a bit on the green side...) -- it's just something you have to grow out of. And I'm 85% sure that this is a genuine observed opinion, not just the result of my deep-seated desire to find fault with him for the sin of not being David Tennant... ;)
I'm also curious to see where they're going to take the character from here developmentally. I mean, DT's Doc had a wonderful sort of depth and humanity and vulnerability to him that developed over time, with each new companion he gained and lost, and each new victory that came at a price. In some ways, if I'm honest, I know that by the time he left, it was also sort of the right time in the narrative for that character to get a reboot, because the little scars were piling up on him a bit, and he was getting weighed down by it. There was a lot of pain and darkness under the surface of the last couple of seasons, especially the specials -- and that was good, but it couldn't just keep going in that direction forever. It would have gotten to be too much. So, sort of as I was saying earlier, there's a selfish side of me that just wanted him to keep doing it forever and have everything not ever change -- but there's a more practical and creatively pragmatic side of me that realizes everything pretty much worked out exactly as it needed to. Anyway, I just have to keep reminding myself that my Doc is still around -- he's off living happily ever after with Rose in the alternate universe. Duh! ;)
So, yeah, a little sidetracked -- but anyway, what I was saying is that I'm curious how they'll develop this new-new-new Doctor character, if they'll be able to give him the kind of dimension they found in the last one. That's all.
Oh -- and on a side note, what a weird, random surprise to see Olivia Coleman from Peep Show and That Mitchell and Webb Look show up as a Doc Who baddie with six-inch fangs. Sophie's had her bitchy moments, but I've never seen her do that before...lol...
Aaaand now I need to go and watch a Doc Ten episode. Because, of course.
(We're easing in...slowly but surely... ;)
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Date: 2010-12-03 06:37 am (UTC)I did manage the Eccleston to Tennant transition -- but that was made easier by the fact that the whole point of my watching the show in the first place was because I was curious about DT. Although I was surprised to find how attached I had gotten to Eccleston by the time I got to the end of that first series. When I saw him actually turn into DT, I was a little wary. That didn't last long though. And I have seen a few Tom Baker episodes too, which is a whole different thing -- but there's something very different about watching people who played the character before the person you're attached to, and watching the person who took over afterwards...
Ah well. I'm sure I'll muddle through somehow... ;)