fragmentary

We watched the premiere of the new season of Doctor Who, and I’m tentatively liking Matt Smith, so far. He’s no Eccleston, but he’s certainly better than Tennant was in his early episodes. His version of the Doctor seemed to lack something, but it remains to be seen whether that’s a result of the new writing and direction, or if Smith just needs time to grow into the role, much as Tennant did. He’s great at getting across the energetic and excited side of the Doctor, but so far there’s no sign of the gravitas that should come from over 900 years of life, and I’m skeptical that he’ll ever be able to get that side of the Doctor across. In fact, between Smith’s decidedly youthful performance, the arbitrarily revamped TARDIS and other changes to the show, I find myself not thinking of this new show as Doctor Who at all — I really think of it as a spin-off about the Doctor’s much younger nephew.

It is for all intents and purposes a whole new show, with new actors, new characters, new writers, new TARDIS, new music, new opening and a new logo — Which is strange, because it used to be that the re-envisioned, rebooted remakes of shows would be years apart, and clearly separated. Now it happens so soon that they try to pretend it’s still the same show, even when it’s not. I kinda miss Doctor Who. But I’m looking forward to seeing what this new show, that also just happens to be called Doctor Who, brings us.

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