(no subject)

It's really a bit late to be reviewing Sunday's Doctor Who, but nevertheless, here goes - very impressionistically.

I was a bit dubious about David Tennant, firstly because I liked Chris so much, and secondly because the only thing I could recall seeing him in was Goblet of Fire, and Barty Crouch Junior is not exactly the most Doctor-ish character imaginable.  However, it just goes to show that I should have had more faith in his acting ability...

The Doctor actually spends most of the first half of the episode unconscious, but although we returned to Rose's house, I didn't feel that the 'soap' element was getting out of hand.  Rose's confusion about what was going on, and her grief about the loss of the Ninth Doctor, was effectively portrayed.  In fact, it was a pretty good evocation of the feelings of those of us who loved the last series, and were a bit worried about how the new one would work out.  It also dealt well with the questions regeneration always raises: who is the Doctor, really (and yes, we had the 'Doctor Who?' gag), and what remains constant in his identity.

But t would hardly be Doctor Who without a few good scares.  We had a very sinister take on brass bands, and a killer Christmas tree (which just goes to show you should always go for real pine over plastic!), and a wonderful swordfight conducted by the Doctor in pyjamas and dressing gown. If you think that sounds a bit Hitchhikers' Guide, then your mind works the same way as RTD: the Doctor observes 'Bit Arthur Dent, isn't it?'  I suppose that sort of intertextuality is a matter of taste, but it worked for me...

What I had more reservations about was the scattered references to RTD's new 'adult' project, Torchwood.  While what was going on - they were building anti-alien defence systems, basically - was reasonably easy to work out, but I think it will get annoying if such references keep cropping up.

On the other other hand, the sting in the episode's tale was well handled, and somewhat sobering.  I'm somewhat disappointed in "Harriet Jones, Prime Minister", but it was all too horribly plausible - rather reminiscent of the Belgrano affair, in some ways - and the Doctor showed an impressive grasp of how to play dirty in politics.

The trailer at the end was most intriguing - K9, Cybermen and Sarah-Jane Smith coming up.

So all in all, I'm inclinded to agree with the new Doctor: 'It's going to be fantastic!' 

If only there was an epi next week....