Doctor Who, S04E01 - Partners In Crime
Tuesday, April 15th, 2008
I was feeling a bit on the dubious side when faced with the prospect of watching the new series of Doctor Who.
To explain, it was the majority of series three that spoiled it for me, with the Christmas special (the Kylie episode) being the final nail in that particular coffin. But more on that train wreck some other time…
So it came to Saturday evening and I was, at best, ambivalent in the face of watching more New Who. But after talking about it with Ruthy, the voice of reason, it was then decided I’d give it a go.
I have to admit it was better than I was expecting. But then, to be honest, it couldn’t be much worse.
The story was fair for an series opener, a diet company drawing the fat off people to create new bodies for a new race.
The typical chase wasn’t as pointless as usual, the Tate woman was reasonable and the Doctor was his usual effervescent self.
That’s the thing. Perhaps by series four it should be trying harder? Not that it was a particularly bad job of the first episode. As I said, Tate was good. Well, not good, but not bad. She was just, well, she was there. She fulfilled the basic requirements of a companion. She was there, she got in the way and she gave the Doctor someone more immediate to save.
The Doctor was played with the usual gusto by David Tennant. He had some quality moments, any of the scenes in the company building and the scene with him and Tate through the windows on either side of Miss Foster’s office. Quality stuff.
And the supporting cast were good, Sarah Lancashire was excellent as Miss Foster and Bernard Cribbins was a star as the grandfather.
So, final words: good, a mild return to form but must try harder.
I was feeling a bit on the dubious side when faced with the prospect of watching the new series of Doctor Who.
To explain, it was the majority of series three that spoiled it for me, with the Christmas special (the Kylie episode) being the final nail in that particular coffin. But more on that train wreck some other time…
So it came to Saturday evening and I was, at best, ambivalent in the face of watching more New Who. But after talking about it with Ruthy, the voice of reason, it was then decided I’d give it a go.
I have to admit it was better than I was expecting. But then, to be honest, it couldn’t be much worse.
The story was fair for an series opener, a diet company drawing the fat off people to create new bodies for a new race.
The typical chase wasn’t as pointless as usual, the Tate woman was reasonable and the Doctor was his usual effervescent self.
That’s the thing. Perhaps by series four it should be trying harder? Not that it was a particularly bad job of the first episode. As I said, Tate was good. Well, not good, but not bad. She was just, well, she was there. She fulfilled the basic requirements of a companion. She was there, she got in the way and she gave the Doctor someone more immediate to save.
The Doctor was played with the usual gusto by David Tennant. He had some quality moments, any of the scenes in the company building and the scene with him and Tate through the windows on either side of Miss Foster’s office. Quality stuff.
And the supporting cast were good, Sarah Lancashire was excellent as Miss Foster and Bernard Cribbins was a star as the grandfather.
So, final words: good, a mild return to form but must try harder.
