Further thoughts on the Eleventh Hour

[kilroy]

Because fansnark is an integral part of the experience, let's get some of the fiddly detail bits out of the way:
* I find it amusing that the TARDIS is being intentionally retro with the controls. I always assumed stuff broke and the Doctor just fixed it with whatever was at hand-- but no, now the TARDIS reconfigured itself and we get a typewriter for a console. It actually looks like there aren't enough controls to make it fly anymore to me, but I'm sure I'll get used to the new controls. And their wiggling moving bits.
* Yes, the Atraxi looked silly. I freely admit this. But I think back to the Mechanoids, and the Creature in the Pit, and I try not to let it get to me.
* I wish we'd have a boyfriend with a spine for once. It seems like all we've been getting are doormats, and that makes me sad.
* Not so sure I like the new theme, but graphically the new intro is ace (lightning bolts!). I think maybe the tone is just a little too X-Files for me to wholly embrace. We've gone from the neighborhood of theremins to actual theremins.
* I was hoping we'd get away from the over-arching plot, but it's back again. The MYTH computer. "Silence will fall." The cracks in the universe. The mysterious reason why the Doctor wanted Amy along. Although I must say, "the Pandoracle" is exactly the kind of term I'd come up with. My solace here is that the metaplot may provide a reason why we're getting Daleks and Cybermen again even though both races should have been destroyed; if they manage that, I'll call this a win.
* Not a fan of Amy's OMG look. The big goggle eyes just make her look like an idiot. Or a deer in headlights. Also not really a fan of her Kiss-O-Gram job; three out of four new series companions have been young attractive females unable to find real work. It's okay for them to have real jobs, guys, truly.

All right, snark over with. Now the love:
* OH MY GOD Matt Smith. This reminds of Paul McGann's TV movie-- the new Doctor just walks in and owns it. This one's going to be brilliant. Literally the only complaint I have about him is he's hasn't differentiated himself much from Tennant yet, and given how awesome Tennant was that's hard to feel any real ire about. :-)
* The companion origin story. I just... only Steven Moffat. It's complex and emotional and brilliant. She's also going to be a little bit of damaged goods because of the process, which is something I like to see in a companion. It takes me back to Ace; it seems like Amy is extra-feisty because a little ways down she's really vulnerable.
* The TARDIS being really, really big again. I have my fingers crossed that we go back to some earlier traditions-- Amy gets her own room, which we get to see; we get to wander around inside the TARDIS a little, looking for the swimming pool, the library, the cloister room...
* The Doctor's relationship with the TARDIS. Just... *swoons*. Finally the old girl gets the love she deserves. He compliments her, and not in a defensive way! He thanks her!
* The dialogue. This has been a consistent high point of the new series, and the tradition continues. I can think of very few shows that are this snarky and yet genuine, and able to shift gears this quickly. "Faster than light travel with two diagrams... and a joke!"

Things that I need to see more of to decide:
* In a lot of ways I think Steven's going to be keeping it childish. The floating eyeball monster and the food-spewing may be a trend that continues through this team's tenure. I'm not particularly worried about it, but I am aware that I'm not a child; I need the other stuff to keep to the same high quality for me to stay wrapped up in the series.
* Amy. Unlike the Doctor, she did not immediately knock my socks off (at least apart from her looks). Her initial rating is merely "ok," sort of in the Nyssa/Liz Shaw/Martha category of enjoyment for me. In a worst case scenario she turns into a neurotic whiner that I want to die at the end of the season-- the seeds for it are there. But the seeds are also there for her to be an awesome fearless fireball of a companion. She needs a few "Fuck Yeah!" moments, and she needs to demonstrate her competent independence from the Doctor. Given the writers, I give her a very good chance of the latter... but we'll just have to see.
* The inevitable kissing. It's there in the previews. I just... not another romance? Please? One kiss will make me grumpy but I'll get over it. Another person crushing on the Doctor and I'm going to go cry.