Friday, April 30, 2010
By Rachel Bracker
Editor-in-Chief
Most television shows must end when their main actor decides to move on, because he or she simply can’t be replaced. The British have managed to create an exception to this inherent rule with an exceptional show: “Doctor Who.”
The series originally aired continuously from 1963 to 1989 but was revived five years ago to the delight of science fiction fans at home and across the pond. Despite the show’s gratuitous use of modern television gimmicks like love triangles and special effects, “Doctor Who” still held its charm with a quirky sense of ‘humour’ and season-long story arcs.
In its fifth season, a new Doctor (Matt Smith), a new companion (Karen Gillan) and a new head writer for the show (Steven Moffat) stand at the helm of the TARDIS (the blue police box used to travel time and space), ready to do what “Doctor Who” does best: mix the past and the future with frightening and wonderful fantasy.
The first episode, “The Eleventh Hour,” aired three weeks ago and clearly lays out what viewers can expect from the show. There is a villain whose scariest trait is its psychology, a little bit of humor to break up the drama and a very clever hero assisted by a somewhat clever human companion.
Smith, the eleventh Doctor, had some very large Chuck Taylors to fill. David Tennant, voted best Doctor by “Doctor Who Magazine,” may be better known to Americans as Barty Crouch Jr. in the “Harry Potter” movies, but has also played Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company and recently voiced Spitleout in “How To Train Your Dragon.” Tennant’s lanky exuberance and joyful optimism contrasted with sorrowful spells and dark descents, giving the character both charisma and depth.
Smith’s Doctor still combines whimsy with drama, but carries a subtler seriousness, in an almost self-deprecating way. This Doctor wears tweed and a bowtie, which hints that he will be less manic and more silly, while still staying sharp enough to outwit bad guys.
The new companion, Amy Pond, does not seem to be as impressive as those in the past. The previous three companions all had clear strengths: Rose Tyler was resourceful, Martha Jones was smart and Donna Noble was confident. All of them encouraged the Doctor to act compassionately and wonder at the amazingness of the universe. Gillan has given Amy some spunk but was overshadowed by Smith in the first episode. However, her personality should emerge later on in the season.
But, the most exciting element of season five is its new head writer, Steven Moffat. He has written some of the the best episodes of the previous seasons: “Empty Child”/“The Doctor Dances,” “Blink,” “The Girl in the Fireplace” and “Silence in the Library”/“Forest of the Dead.” These episodes, which employed fear of the unknown and carefully planned cleverness (think Hitchcock meets Sherlock Holmes), earned him a BAFTA and a Hugo.
The man who revived the series, Russell T. Davies, who also served as head writer for the first four seasons, often relied on sexual tension and character-driven stories to keep audiences interested. He also made every finale an explosion of season-long arcs stitched together, a technique that was often unnecessary.
Moffat bases his plots on setting, as they should be in a show about traveling through time and space. He also has a fetish for villains that you can’t see, intriguing viewers unimpressed by visual effects and drawing the audience further into the plot.
Now, more than ever, is the time to start watching “Doctor Who” because the new season is off to a striking start. Season five promises to deliver solid science fiction stories with a healthy mix of humor and humanity, as the Doctor even manages to make the bowtie cool again.
The show airs on BBC America at 9 p.m. on Saturdays and is appropriate for all ages.
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