Doctor Who "The Beast Below"

Episode 2 of the new series of Doctor Who aired on Saturday. It was titled The Beast Below and was again written by Steven Moffat.

I have to say that any Moffat episode is packed with ideas. This one had a 29th Century UK roaming the stars (probably influenced by James Blish's Cities in Flight books). Add to that the detail of a police state controlled by "smilers" (spooky fairground-booth mannequins) plus a voting system that lets you choose to "protest" or "forget" every five years.

I'm liking Matt Smith's performance as the Doctor. Maybe its because he mentioned favouring the second Doctor in interviews, but he does remind me of Patrick Troughton. I'm quite fond of Troughton's version of the Doctor so that's no bad thing.

Karen Gillan gives another feisty performance as Amy Pond, even when she is forced to spend the episode running around in her nightie. We learn that she's been having doubts about her impending wedding.

My favourite moment of the episode involved the Doctor and Amy escaping from the beast's mouth by the Doctor triggering it's sick reflex. "This isn't going to be big on dignity," offers the Doctor apologetically.

Added to that a hint of the next episode, Winston Churchill phoning the doctor with the shadow of a Dalek visible on the wall...

Doctor Who, The Eleventh Hour

In case it escaped your attention Doctor Who started tonight on the BBC with Matt Smith as the new Doctor and Karen Gillan as Amy Pond. I have been looking forward to the new series mainly because Steven Moffat has taken over producing the show and tonight's episode, the one-hour long The Eleventh Hour, did not disappoint.

I won't regurgitate the story here, other than to say that Steven Moffat has, as usual, constructed a perfect little plot. Just as one would expect from the writer of Blink from season three (The Weeping Angels!) and the Library two-parter (The Data Ghost! River Song! The Vashta Nerada!) from season four.

For many people David Tennant was the definitive doctor but I think Matt Smith will do just fine. For example the opening "apple craving" scene could have just turned out self-indulgent and annoying but he made it work. "You're Scottish, fry me something!" (which I note is alreadying being quoted online.)

Karen Gillan was great as Amelia/Amy Pond. You did get the sense that encountering the "raggedy Doctor" who told her he would be back in five minutes really messed up her life. I suspect we may find out exactly how in future episodes. I have little doubt that she will turn out to be my favourite companion.

Also a nice little touch near the end when the ten previous Doctors are seen in the alien "eyeball".

The rest of the season looks great with the return of the Weeping Angels, River Song, Cybermen and Daleks in World War Two.

Finally here are cover scans of the current issues of the Radio Times and Doctor Who Magazine. Oddly enough it seems I chose to buy the cover of DWM featuring Karen.

Funny that...

Karen Gillan as new Doctor Who companion

This is a bit of a redundant post as I'm sure if you follow Doctor Who you will have seen this already over the weekend. But just in case you haven't... Karen Gillan has been announced as the new companion for the fifth series of the new Doctor Who.

The new episodes won't be on TV until Spring 2010 but I assume they are gearing up to start filming around now.

Karen was in the Roman episode from the last series so I need to go back and watch that one again.

She is also the first red-haired companion since... well, the last one I suppose.

I have high hopes for the new series as Stephen Moffat is taking charge. He was responsible for the episode "Blink" in the third series. I still maintain that story was one of the best episodes of any TV series I have ever seen.

Ever.

Here's the news as reported on the BBC News website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8073734.stm