Saturday night’s alright for frighting

So, watched the new-new episode of Doctor Who season 3 (29) Sunday night. A little late, but then, I am five thousand miles from Blighty. But I would walk five thousand miles and I would walk five thousand more to watch it, so absolutely nowt would stop me getting to it.

Enjoyed it much like a ten year old would, I imagine. Rhino-aliens, running, shouting, sonic screwdrivers both broken and new, human-looking aliens, thunderbolts and lightning – very very frightening, the moon, Chuck Taylor’s, new girls with half a brain, old Doctors with omnipotent ones… it were all there, alright. What’s not to like? I have to say, as a series opener it hit the spot. Not a lax moment there.

So New Bird seems up to the job, then. But of course she does, otherwise she wouldn’t be int series. Seems very nice. I might even like her, seeing as she’s not a complete brainless bit of eye candy. Not that she’s not a stunner, but that’s not all that she’s there to do, I think. And the Doctor’s… well, the Doctor. Crying over his broken sonic screwdriver – and then getting a replacement. Where does he get them, anyway? Is it summat you just buy off a shelf? Or do you go int shop and find a sign saying ‘please ask at counter fert sonic stuff’?

And a quick-change of shoes, too. I have to say, I was rolling around laffing as he was trying to ‘expel the radiation’. Although, after the Tennster’s turn on The Friday Night Project and Graham Norton, there was a looooong moment of horrible trepidation as I wondered just how he’d accomplish this. But then, this is a kid’s show for grown-ups, so you couldn’t have him plumbing the depths of slapstick just fert TV’s sake. Except then he did as he tried to get his rather fine red Chuck Taylor off. Leaving him as The Man With One Red Shoe! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-haaaa!

No, seriously, he’s done well not being a complete replica and yet not being too over the top – yet. I did sense a rather weird Casanova-type moment when he was pretending NOT to believe the alien was The Bad Alien. I half-expected him to say “go on, you’re an alien, aren’t you? Aren’t you? I spied you!”

And him sat up in a hospital bed ~ how does someone manage to look so innocent and so omnipotent at the same time? Boggles the mind.

But what did they do to his hair? Seriously, that peak of Dover-like proportions needs a good stiff drink to make it relax ~ it’s way too rigid. It were alright when it were just kinda floppy and all over the shop. Much more Doctor-ish. I mean, come on, does he look the type to stand in front o the mirror and arse about wi his hair? Really?

Music – ah, now then. I am a sucker fer film and TV music, anyone’ll tell you that. I think I’m liking the new “Martha’s Theme” thing, but I noticed they used an outstanding “Song For Ten” score all the way through, too. Beautiful.

And nice to see the girlie who used to help Messers Fry and Laurie wi all their early skits (yes, the 'you scumbaaaaaag!' wifey). And there were so many nice touches of dialogue, so many wee tweaks that kept it amusing and light and fluffy and everything that Saturday night telly should be. I think there were only two moments of ‘now if I appear to be carefree, it’s only to camouflage my sadness, and to shield my pride I try to cover this hurt with a show of gladness’, but they were over swiftly enough. I did like Martha’s dig at his suits, the tie gag, the rain going up, the shedding of the shoe, and his mouthing along to her shocked realisation that the TARDIS is “bigger on the inside!” Much like his pockets. Apparently.

Anyway, that’s yer lot, I have to go work. Soopytwist!


Tags:
Doctor Who ~ BBC ~ David Tennant ~ Freema Agyeman ~ Casanova ~ Martha Jones ~ TARDIS ~ Chuck Taylors