When Amy Pond meets the Tenth Doctor Who

Awesomest. Picture. Ever.

It was taken during the recent Radio Times Cover Party. Look at Karen and David. Priceless!

[via Life, Doctor Who and Combom]

'Sherlock' Star Turned Down Role of the Doctor on 'Doctor Who'

Sherlock star, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, has revealed that he turned down the role of the Doctor on Doctor Who.

The Sun claims that Cumberbatch, who is getting rave reviews for is role of Sherlock Holmes in the re-invented series from showrunner guru Steven Moffat, was offered the iconic role when former Tenth Doctor, Scottish actor David Tennant, decided to leave the Tardis behind.

But before deciding to turn down the role, the 34 year old actor revealed that he had a discussion with Tennant about playing the iconic character and what it would entail :

"David and I talked about it but I thought it would have to be radically different. And anyway I didn't really like the whole package - being on school lunchboxes."

So instead of setting up shop in the tardis, so to speak, Cumberbatch settled for Baker Street instead.

Most recently, Cumberbatch hinted at a possible Doctor Who appearance in the future. As to what, when and who is up in the air.

Take note that The Sun still claims that Matt Smith will leave Doctor Who after the next series (which would be series 6) - which I seriously hope won't happen.

Smith is absolutely terrific as the Eleventh Doctor and I've grown to like him a lot, just like Cumberbatch is a terrific Sherlock Holmes.

Essentially, I believe the right actors got the right parts.

And also, Smith signed a three year contract with the series so unless the actor really badly wants out of the role, I doubt it will happen.

Source

David Tennant Rumoured for High Profile 'The Avengers' Role!

The Los Angeles Times has listed David Tennant as being a possible replacement for Edward Norton in the role of Bruce Banner / Hulk for the upcoming The Avengers movie.

If true, this would be a fantastic role for Tennant, who is best known the world over as the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who.

Other names bandied about are Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody and Nathan Fillion.

David Tennant is an absolutely marvellous actor and would be ideal in the role, but please bear in mind that it's a rumour.

Nothing will be officially announced until next week's Comic-Con, where everyone expects Marvel to reveal who will play the Hulk on The Avengers.

Source (scroll way down)

Info on David Tennant's Role in the Fright Night Movie Remake

Recently, David Tennant was added to the cast of the Fright Night movie remake, which stars Anton Yelchin as Charlie Brewster, Toni Colette as his mother Jane and Colin Farrell as his new handsome vampire neighboor Jerry.

Tennant plays Peter Vincent, role that was originally played by Roddy McDowall in the original movie. //Film has some information on the role:

We know that David Tennant from Dr. Who is playing Peter Vincent, the showman and pseudo-expert on vampires that Charlie recruits to help fight Jerry. The character has a smaller role here than in the original, but there’s an interesting possibility in the script that could lead to Tennant fans getting a pretty neat performance out of him. I’m not sure if that angle is going to be treated as the script suggests it should.

[//Film]

I'm rather sad to hear that the role will be less substantial in the remake than it was in the original. However, I'm sure David Tennant will be splendid in it.

The movie will be in 3D and is set to be released on October 7, 2011 

Matt Smith Teasing New Doctor Who Costume?

There was a recent press screening of The Pandorica Opens and Matt Smith teased the possibility that he may be wearing a new outfit for next year's series 6 of Doctor Who:

There are five or six of us involved in that process - I was involved. Actually I went to a costume fitting this very morning for next year, which was very interesting!

I've just heard, basically, 'Tell him he can't have a hat unless it's written down that he has a hat!'. So let's see. There's going to be a whole back and forth now.

Smith also added that:

I've always said that I think it will evolve but I'm very pleased that the costume feels it has an element of the professor.

But just practically, we film in November and it's freezing! And just a tweed jacket can get a bit cold, so who knows...

[Digital Spy]

I'm thinking the fitting is not about an entirely new costume but rather perhaps a variation of it, like when David Tennant 's Tenth Doctor started wearing a blue suit. Or, most likely, it could be for a new coat. I do remember Smith previously mentioning that he'd like to have one for his Doctor.

Anyone liking the idea of Doctor Eleven possibly having an entirely new outfit?

Doctor Who 5.12 & 5.13 Very Spoilery Pics!

The Return of three very familiar ''faces.''

Below are very spoilery pictures from the upcoming last 2 episodes of Series 5 of Doctor Who, The Pandorica Opens and The Big Bang. You can see them after the break.

A battered Dalek. It appears to be in an exhibit of some sort.

The Silurians are returning and we also have some Weevils, who are rather ''indigenous'' to Torchwood (I can almost hear the Torchwood theme right now, haha).

The Sycorax are back! We saw them last in ''The Christmas Invasion,'' David Tennant's first full episode as the Tenth Doctor! 

The Doctor facing the battered Dalek.

Rory!!!! I love Rory. Really happy to see him. But, hum, something's not right with Amy though.

Little Amy Pond is coming back! 

Amy facing the Pandorica. Probably from the last episode, ''The Big Bang?''

Source

Thanks to Denyalle for the heads up!!

Chris Nolan will NOT recast The Joker for Batman 3

Ever since the death of Heath Ledger --- who gave such an amazing and chilling performance as The Joker (which nabbed him a posthumous Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor) --- people have often speculated whether or not director Chris Nolan would ever bring back the character in Batman 3 by recasting the part.

Taking the story from the latest issue of Empire Magazine, Obsessed with Film posted Nolan's answer online:

“No”, says Nolan emphatically and unhesitatingly. He resists elaborating simply because, quite understandably, he says, “I just don’t feel comfortable talking about it”.
[Obsessed with Film]

I for one simply agree with that decision. I believe Ledger's performance was so unique that it would be crazy simply to try to imitate or recreate it.

Besides, there are still some fascinating Batman villains to choose from for Batman 3 like The Riddler (I'm still plugging David Tennant for the role!), Bane, Catwoman (maybe to a lesser degree) or even The Penguin if he's handled well enough.

Does anyone else agree with Nolan's decision?

Doctor Who - Flesh and Stone Review

What a fantastic episode! Brilliant! Let's just get it out right now: Steven Moffat knows how to spin a yarn and he does it really beautifully with The Time of Angels and Flesh and Stone. The two-parter story will probably go down as one of Doctor Who's finest ever. I often found myself thinking about how much Flesh and Stone reminded me of Aliens in it's opening scenes. There was the same sense of urgency and panic – deftly supported by Murray Gold's incredible soundtrack - when the Doctor and the others have to escape the clutches of the advancing Weeping Angels.

Hanging upside down from the hull of the Byzantium.

Basically, Flesh and Stone is a second episode that doesn't disappoint and it boasted a great resolution to The Time of Angels' cliffhanger. I mean, what's not to like about finding out that our endangered group found themselves hanging upside down the hull of the Byzantium spaceship thanks to a question of gravity? (the Doctor gives a bit of a scientic explanation to tell us how it was made possible).

It's all about gravity.

But even when the whole situation seemed bleak, it was fun to have some funny quips coming principally from the Doctor; and it never detracted from the viewing experience. It was simply refreshing that he was so blunt and honest about the peril they were in. For example, there's a scene where the Doctor tells Amy that she's dying, while River is just trying to sugar coat the situation from an obviously panicking Amy, and then he tells her to shut up so he can think. The Doctor also becomes quite funny again with his further dealings with ''Angel Bob''. Oh yeah, Angel Bob is back.

Hey, who turned off the lights! Oups, wrong episode!

With The Time of Angels, and even more so with Fesh and Stone, Steven Moffat has created an even more effective and dangerous monster with its Weeping Angels. He is purposefully advancing the Angels' mythology. As was implied in The Time of Angels, the creatures are no longer gently killing their victims by sending them back through time. And nothing was more dramatic than when Father Octavian (Iain Glen who was just fantastic here) had his neck and head caught in the grasping arm of an Angel. The horror of that scene is amplified when we hear the sound of his neck being broken just as the Doctor rushes through an opened sass, leaving the Bishop to his death on this one's insistence. It didn't sit well with the Doctor, but he knew he could no longer help the Bishop.

Is this Doctor Who or Aliens? 

I have to Bring up Matt Smith's performance again. His Doctor is usually calm in outward appearance but there is an intensity brooding underneath. He usually doesn't show feelings as much as David Tennant's Tenth Doctor did, but in this episode Smith was really effective. His outbursts of anger were rather surprising but justified, and he was obviously loosing control of his emotions while trying to keep control of the situation. Smith's way of conveying the Doctor's emotional reaction to leaving Father Octavian to his death was poignant and subdued. Tears were simply welling in his eyes. We all know that people die because of the Doctor - Davros tortured him on that to point back in Journey's End. I also love the bluntness of Smith's Doctor - I'm still laughing at how many times he seems to say ''shut up'' to people – and he never sugar coats the truth, though he doesn't reveal everything either. He's brilliant and his mind keeps going a hundred miles an hour while trying to figure out the correct and perfect solution, and Smith easily makes it come across in the way he talks and moves about.

The Doctor thinks there's something wrong with Amy.

There's nothing like a comfy chair to talk to Angel bob.

I have to go back to the Weeping Angels again, and say how brilliant it was of Moffat to use as story element an Angel in Amy's eye, or more specifically, in her brain. Like the image of the Angel in the recording was coming alive in The Time of Angels, so it was in Amy's brain. Effective, clever. It was made even spookier by Amy's own countdown to her doom. Since it was killing Amy, the temporary solution devised by the Doctor was for her to close her eyes. Subsequently, it lead to a frightening moment when Amy has to escape the clutches of the Weeping Angels with her eyes closed. And she does that by putting her complete trust in the Doctor. I loved the fact that because Amy's eyes were closed the whole time, we finally saw the Angels moving and turning their heads, slowly going towards Amy. It made the scene all the more creepy and scary. Thank you Steven Moffat.

There's that crack in the wall again.

The Doctor finds himself in the clutches of the Weeping Angels!

Karen Gillan was quite good in these scenes and I was happy and relieved that she wasn't the one figuring out all the answers and saving the day again. But our Amy seems to be very important – much like Donna was in series 4 - in the main story arc of the season. I will come back to that in a little while.

The Doctor needs Amy to trust him.

The Doctor and River Song looking for the base-code of the crack in the universe.

Taking a back seat to the Weeping Angels is River Song, who has little to do here, and who's identity has become even more muddled by the end of the episode. It's no longer as simple as wondering if she's the Doctor's wife. We learn that River was in prison because she killed a man, but Moffat goes to great length to keep us in the dark as to his identity, while at the same time dropping hints that it could be the Doctor himself. I'm not fully sure about this because Father Octavian, who knows about the man River killed, didn't know the Doctor. I think that the man (we are told many times he was kind and good) she killed could be someone entirely new that we haven't met yet.

The Angels are killing the power in the forest.

Things are about to get dangerous for the Doctor, River and Father Octavian.

Alex Kingston was brilliant again, and I find myself looking forward to her comeback in the last 2 episodes of the finale. She reveals a spoiler to the Doctor  - a sneak preview - that she will see him again when the Pandorica opens; and it was made quite clear that she has already gone through that event before. After all, she did say that she keeps meeting the Doctor in the wrong order. I wonder what Moffat's plans for River Song really are, and I'm hoping to see the mystery resolved by the end of Series 5.

The Doctor knows what's coming up for Father Octavian and feels helpless.

The concept of Time is very important in Flesh and Stone. We learn from the Doctor that no one seems to remember the events of the Cyberking in London (The Next Doctor) or the Daleks stealing the planets (Series 4) because, as he discovers, time seems to be currently rewriting itself (it makes me wonder if Steven Moffat is trying to erase in some way what was done previously under Russell T Davies and if the timeline will be properly restored by the end of series 5). But the Doctor himself remembers it all happening. And was anyone else puzzled by the Doctor's reaction when he realized that time could be re-written? Is it possible that the Doctor plans to change some things regarding his timeline? Again it's all very mysterious, but the notion of Time was strongly pondered here. And let's not forget gravity! It too played an important and central role in Flesh and Stone. Time and gravity, gravity and time.

Amy tries to escape the clutches of the Angels eyes closed. Where is that seeing dog when you need one?

Things don't look so good at the moment but worry not! The Doctor has a plan.

The Weeping Angels story is resolved quite a bit before the end of this episode, and after the trepidation felt for the first 35 minutes or so, everything calms down and we are slowly ushered into the next part of the story. Amy decides to fess up to the Doctor and tells him she is getting married the next day, on 26th June 2010 (which is the supposed air date for the last episode of series 5). 26 06 2010 is also the base-code of the universe that showed on the small computer thingy the Doctor was using earlier: It's the exact time when the explosion creating the crack in time and space is happening. At the end of the episode, the Doctor suddenly realizes the importance of that date.

There's nothing like a good handcuffs joke to lighten the mood.

The Doctor is cracking a wide smile here!

Before I end this review, I have to talk about the last scene of Flesh and Stone, where Amy literally throws herself at the Doctor, and almost forces herself on him – even more openly than Rose or Martha ever did. Amy is a much more liberated character. And it was sort of refreshing, even downright hilarious, to see. At the same time, it's quite bold for a television series that is aimed for kids. Amy is plainly letting the Doctor know she wants to have sex with him, and at one point she rushes to her bed to wait for him to take her. I just love how the Doctor seems to be completely clueless when anyone is so blatantly hitting on him. But of course, the Doctor realizes that something is definitely going on with Amy (I mean, why would it ever cross his mind that a woman could be interested in him because he is kind, funny, heroic, sweet and kinda hot! Something MUST be wrong with that woman right?). I just hope Amy wont turn into a superwoman or something.

Amy literally coming on to the Doctor. Sex please!

Next week, The Vampires of Venice, which looks like a good, fun episode, and is written by Being Human creator Toby Whithouse. Oh, and Rory's coming on board! The Doctor needs him to get Amy to behave right?

My grade for the episode: A+

Some Favourite Quotes:

The Doctor: Nobody panic! [sees no one does] Oh! Just me then.

Amy: OK, so we've basically run up the inside of a chimney yeah? So what if the gravity fails?
The Doctor: I thought about that.
Amy: And?
The Doctor: And we'll all plunge to our death. See? I've thought about it.

Father Octavian: Good work Doctor!
The Doctor: Yes! good good good . . . good in many ways, good you like it so far.

Father Octavian: Doctor Song, I've lost good clerics today. You trust this man?
River: I absolutely trust him.
FO: He's not some kind of mad man then?
River: I absolutely trust him.

The Doctor: A forest in a bottle on a spaceship in a maze. Have I impressed you yet Amy Pond?

The Doctor: Ah! There you are Angel Bob. How's life? Sorry! Bad subject . . .

The Doctor: Get a life Bob! Oups! Sorry again . . .

The Doctor: [To the crack in the Byzantium's wall] So what are you? Oh. . . that's bad. Ah! that's extremely not very good.

The Doctor: [To Amy] Of course you're scared. You're dying. Shut up!

River: There's a plan?
The Doctor: I don't know it yet I haven't finished talking. Right! Father, you and your clerics you're gonna stay here and look after Amy. If anything happens to her I'll hold every single one of you personally responsible – twice. River, you and me we're gonna go find the primary flight deck which is . . . [licks his finger, holds it in the air and follows an invisible draft] a quarter of a mile straight ahead and from there we'll stabilize the wreckage, stop the Angels, and save Amy.
River: How?
The Doctor: I'll do a thing.
River: What thing?
The Doctor: I dunno, it's a thing in progress, respect the thing. We're moving out.

The Doctor: [to both River and Father Octavian] What? Are you thing engaged or something?

The Doctor: Cracks! Cracks in time, time running out – no couldn't be couldn't be. But how is the duck pond the duck pond if there aren't any ducks. And she didn't recognize the Daleks. OK, time can shift, time can change, time can be re-written. How? Oh! [later] time can be unwritten!

The Doctor: I wish I'd known you better.
Father Octavian: I think sir, you know me at my best.

River: See? I told you I could get it working.
The Doctor: River Song, I could kiss you.
River: Ah well, maybe when you're older

River: You, me, handcuffs. Must it always end this way?

River: You'll see me again quite soon. When the Pandorica opens.
The Doctor: The Pandorica! Ha! That's a fairy tale.
River: [laughs] Doctor, aren't we all? I'll see you there.
The Doctor: I look forward to it.
River: I remember it well.

The Doctor: Can I trust you River Song.
River: If you like. But where's the fun in that?

Amy: So, do you comfort a lot of people on the night before their wedding?
The Doctor: Why would you need comforting?
Amy: I nearly died. I was alone in the dark and I nearly died. And it made me think . . .
The Doctor: Well, natural, I think sometimes yes well lots of times . . .
Amy: About what I want. About WHO I want. You know what I mean?
The Doctor: Yeah! No . . .
Amy: About Who [nods towards him] I want.
The Doctor: Oh! Right yeah! No, still not getting it.

The Doctor: Amy, listen to me. I am 907 years old. Do you understand what that means?
Amy: It's been a while?
The Doctor: Yeah, no! No! No!

The Doctor: But you're human! You're Amy! And you're getting married in the morning! [realizes] in the morning . . .

The Doctor: It's you, it's all about you. Everything is about you!
Amy: Hold that thought [goes to lay on her bed].
The Doctor: Amy Pond. Mad, impossible Amy Pond. I don't know why, I've no idea, but quite possibly the single most important thing in the history of the Universe is I get you sorted out right now.
Amy: That's what I've been trying to tell you!

Matt Smith's Doctor To Appear on The Sarah Jane Adventures!

The BBC has just issued a press release about it's upcoming series 4 of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

The most exciting news is that New Doctor Matt Smith will be visiting Sarah Jane and the gang in the upcoming season. This special episode will be written by Russell T. Davies and it will definitely be interesting to see how the former Doctor Who showrunner will pen the Eleventh Doctor. Matt is the second Doctor to visit Sarah Jane at number 13 Bannerman Drive. Last year, David Tennant's Tenth Doctor came to the aid of his former companion in a two-parter titled The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith. This episode also happens to be the last timeTennant played the Tenth Doctor.

The news that another former companion will be showing up as well is certainly no less exciting. Though I am not familiar with Jo Grant, I'm looking forward to see the interaction between the two former companions. The new season of The Sarah Jane Adventures is gearing up to be very exciting!

Below is the full press release:

Sarah Jane Smith is reunited with another of The Doctor's former companions, Jo Grant (Katy Manning), in a new series of The Sarah Jane Adventures, set to air on CBBC this autumn. They'll be joined by The Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith), in a special edition of the show penned by executive producer Russell T Davies.


The two episodes will see The Doctor and his two former time-travelling partners caught up in an alien-busting adventure that will entertain Doctor Who fans of all ages.


Elisabeth Sladen, who plays Sarah Jane comments: "It's a fantastic script and I can't wait to work with another Doctor and hope Matt has fun with us. I've known Katy for ages and I am delighted to be working with her. I last met her in LA but this time we will be in Cardiff. LA was good but Cardiff is better."


Katy Manning, who recently returned to live in the UK again, adds: "Playing Jo Grant again is something I never really considered. I was gob-smacked when they told me and I am over the moon. What an incredible little treat. I come home and this is one of the first things that happens."


Executive producer Nikki Wilson says: "We are absolutely thrilled to be introducing Sarah Jane and the gang to both The Eleventh Doctor and Jo Grant, and to have a script penned by Russell T Davies is the icing on the cake!


"Viewers are in for a real treat, with an action-packed story full of Russell's usual wit and warmth, which takes the gang inside a secret base beneath Snowdon and introduces brand-new vulture aliens, the mysterious Shansheeth. All this, plus a trip to an alien planet – a first for The Sarah Jane Adventures."


Featuring the usual mixture of thrills, laughs and scares, the fourth series promises fun with enemies old and new, including the terrors of the Nightmare Man and a dangerous journey back into history.


A galaxy of guest stars are lined up to appear in the series and include Laila Rouass (Primeval, Footballers Wives) and Cheryl Campbell (Pennies From Heaven), whilst David Bradley (Argus Filch in Harry Potter) will provide the voice of the Shansheeth.


The Sarah Jane Adventures is executive produced by Nikki Wilson and Russell T Davies and produced by Brian Minchin.


Writers on the fourth series include Phil Ford (also co-producer), Joseph Lidster, Rupert Laight, Gareth Roberts and Clayton Hickman. The Sarah Jane Adventures is a BBC Cymru Wales/Children's BBC production. [BBC Press Office]

Thanks to Nancy for the heads up!

Tennant, Who and Torchwood get Noms for Constellation Awards!

David Tennant's reign as the Doctor may be over, but the Scottish actor is still receiving nominations for his tremendous work on Doctor Who!

The Constellation Awards (more information in this post) have rewarded David Tennant with a nomination for Best Male Performance in a 2009 Science Fiction Television Episode for his role as the Doctor in ''The Waters of Mars.''

The actor is in the company of Gareth David-Lloyd who played Ianto Jones on Torchwood ''Children of Earth: Day 4'', Jensen Ackles (Supernatural ''The End''), Misha Collins (Supernatural ''The Rapture''), John Noble (Fringe ''Grey Matters), Robin Dunne (Sanctuary ''Pavor Noturnus and Ron Livingston (Defying Gravity ''Kiss).

Doctor Who is also nominated for Best Science Fiction Television Series of 2009 alongside Being Erica, Defying Gravity, Stargate Universe, Sanctuary, Flash Forward and Supernatural.

Russell T. Davies gets a nomination for Best Overall 2009 Science Fiction Film or Television Script for his Torchwood ''Children of Earth: Day 1'' script, while Michelle Ryan is nominated for Best Female Performance in a 2009 Science Fiction Television Episode for her role of Lady Christina de Souza in Doctor Who ''Planet of the Dead.''

Please go here to read the complete list of nominees.

Doctor Who ''The Eleventh Hour'' Draws in 8.4 Million Viewers

The numbers are in! More than 8.4 Million Viewers in the UK tuned in to watch Doctor Who and Matt Smith and Karen Gillan's first outing as the Doctor and his companion Amy Pond.

According to the BBC, David Tennant's first outing as the Doctor also drew in about 8 million viewers while his exit on january 1st 2010 drew in 10.4 million viewers. [BBC News]

All in all, it's really a great start to the show now under new management with Steven Moffat as show runner.

Doctor Who: ''The Eleventh Hour'' Inside Trekker Review

The Dawn of an Era is upon us, but for the third time in 5 years, so is a new Doctor. And so the question was: will Doctor Eleven go down in history as a great Doctor or will we want to forget him as soon as the episode is over?

I was very excited to finally see what Steven Moffat had written as his first episode as the new Doctor Who show runner. I was also really looking forward to Matt Smith's first appearance in the role of the Time Lord. I had no real fear that Matt Smith would be good, but as a fan of David Tennant's Tenth Doctor, I was a bit worried as to how I would actually react to this new Doctor.

I have to say that I soon as a few minutes had passed my worries completely vanished. At the end of the episode all I could think of was that the mission was accomplished.

Though a bit different in style and feel, The Eleventh Hour was a rollicking, hectic, funny, scary and suspenseful story that brought the viewer along on a fantastic roller coaster ride.

Matt Smith was absolutely brilliant as the Doctor, bringing the same manic energy as David Tennant did, but with a different dash of charm. He was also more subdued than Tennant in his deliveries, speaking in a lovely soft voice.

Karen Gillan was also quite good and gave the viewers a different kind of companion. She was curious and brave, less in awe of the Doctor than Rose or Martha - she was more like Donna in a way – but with a different type of spunk and energy. This was important since we, the viewers, are meant to see each Doctor Who adventure in the eyes of the companion, not the Doctor.

The plot was simple but the story simply grabbed you by the arm and never let off.

The Doctor's Tardis crash lands in young Amelia Pond's backyard
The episode opens up with a Doctor barely hanging on for his life, gripping the sweep of the Tardis door, dangling dangerously outside, with the Sonic Screwdriver in his mouth, with the Tardis basically on fire and exploding and out of control. There's even a funny moment when the Tardis and the Doctor are heading right for Big Ben and he barely avoids getting his privates squished by the lightning rod at it's top.

The opening sequence – and the entire episode - is, of course, accompanied by the great Murray Gold's bombastic music. Gold has been with the series ever since it debuted in 2005 and his scores are always fantastic: who can forget the wonderful chorus when the Tardis towed the Earth back in place in Series 4's Journey's End? But I digress here.

Young Amy: ''Who are you?''
The Doctor: ''I don't know yet. I'm still cooking.''
Since the start of the episode takes place minutes (one minute apparently to be exact) after the ending of The End of Time and the Tenth Doctor's regeneration, the Eleventh Doctor is still wearing the same outfit throughout most of the episode. It will take about ¾ of the episode's running time before the Doctor changes into his Eleventh Doctor's garb in a sequence that reminded me of the time when the Eight Doctor found his own outfit through the Halloween Costumes lying around in the hospital locker where he had previously died and regenerated (But I digress yet again). It was a simple but yet efficient scene when Doctor Eleven found his new outfit. After all, he had to change.

The opening sequence was different with a different logo and different letterheads which were rendered in a metallic style. At first I was a bit lost until the theme music creeped in a few seconds later. I was in familiar territory.

The plot of the Eleventh Hour itself was quite simple: After the Tardis falls to Earth, the Doctor finds himself in England, in the courtyard of a desolate home, where young Amelia Pond comes upon the Tardis and the Newly Regenerated Time Lord. A Time Lord who has no idea what he looks like at that point. Ensues a rather ridiculous scene where Amy prepares different food for the Doctor who basically hates everything since he's still regenerating except for fried fish and custard – together – which he eats with gusto.

The real story begins when Amy mentions a crack she's discovered in her room which automatically intrigues the Doctor who goes to investigate. There, with the help of the trusty Sonic Screwdriver, he discovers that a certain Prisoner Zero has escaped and that a big-eyed alien, its guardian presumably, is looking for it.

On the other side of the crack is a prison, from which Prisoner Zero has escaped. The big eye belongs to its Atraxi guardian.
Of course, Prisoner Zero escapes into Amy's house, and the Doctor has to leave young Amelia with a promise to return in five minutes because the burning and regenerating Tardis is chiming with that ominous cloister bell sound that we've all heard before. The five minutes really turns into 12 years for Amy Pond, who had waited for the Doctor in vain and, as we later learn, had to consult 4 psychiatrist – that she bit – because they had told her the Doctor was all in her mind. It was funny stuff well played by both Matt Smith and Karen Gillan. The delivery was perfect.

The Doctor is handcuffed to the radiator by an older Amy Pond, real profession: kissogram.
Then the Doctor has 20 minutes to save the world by bringing Prisoner Zero to the Atraxi (or vice versa) or the whole world will be incinerated (something that wont sit well with the doctor). In this 20 minutes we have a duck pond, cell phones, laptops, firetrucks, hospitals and the Shadow Proclamation. And running. And ducking. Whewwwwww!

The reunion between the Doctor and Amy is not an easy one as the Doctor doesn't realize yet that he has been gone for twelve years and Amy is not sure that it's her Doctor that has returned.

The Doctor Pleads with Amy to help him.
As for the alien itself, it turns out to be a multiform who's original form is that of a giant, transparent grey eel with big teeth (rendered in somewhat poor CGI due to the BBC budget cuts) which can mimic people from the memories of comatose patients because apparently that's what it does. On the other hand, the Aliens that are looking for Patient Zero are called the Atraxi, whose ships happen to look like giant silvery snowflakes with a huge eye in it's center. I found they were very reminiscent of the Racnoss's ship from the Runaway Bride Christmas special.

The Atraxi's ships, hovering above planet Earth.
So the Doctor had twenty minutes to save the day and he did so (with two whole minutes to spare) with the help of Amy Pond, her boyfriend Rory (whom she used to make dress as the Doctor – this really made me laugh and showed Amy's obsession with the Doctor) and a friend called Jeff whom I decided to call Captain Awesome UK (in reference to Captain Awesome from Chuck whom he reminded me of).

Rory, the Doctor and Amy
The entire episode was full of energy and Matt Smith conveyed with brilliance the spirit of the Doctor. Ever since Christopher Eccleston's Ninth Doctor and culminating with David Tennant's Tenth, the Doctor has been a figure bound with limitless energy. A character larger than life who was simply dashing about the universe and saving it. Smith's Eleventh Doctor was at once charming, childish, and Time Lordy. In fact, he was perfect.

The multiform is taking over Young Amy and the Doctor's appearance.
Smith's interpretation of the Time Lord was spirited and enthusiastic but not overly so. Most importantly, he was simply adorable and boyish. I for one salute Steven Moffat's astuteness in choosing Matt Smith as the new Doctor, he clearly saw something in him that we would relate to.
The Doctor gets completely naked in front of Rory and Amy to change, with Rory turning his back and Amy drinking it all in.
''Hello, I'm the Doctor. Basically, run.''

This was also Steven moffat's series now. It was no longer Russell T. Davies. There was a slight but definite change in style. Yes, the opening was very ''Davies-like'' but then the atmosphere changed when the Tardis crash landed in young Amy's backyard. The music became more ominous. There was a crack on the wall that was really a crack created by two parts of space and time that should not have come together. There was a scary alien with huge serrated teeth that became even more scary when impersonating other people - the man and his dog for example. There were comatose patients lying in an hospital ward who all called the Doctor's name at the same time and things that can only be seen by the corner of the eye. Moffat all the way.

Look closely at the lower wave. It looks like the crack in young Amy's wall.

On his views about what and who the Doctor should be, Moffat was always very vocal that the Doctor should be a guy in his 40s – though with boundless energy nonetheless. In a 1997 interview with Doctor Who magazine #279 Steven Moffat said: I don't think young, dashing Doctors are right at all. The Doctor should always be a little more Picard and a bit less Kirk. He should be 40-plus and weird-looking – the kind of wacky grandfather that kids know on sight to be secretly one of them.
Doctor Eleven, played by 27 year old Matt Smith, is the youngest Doctor ever. A wise and perfect casting decision by Steven Moffat.

There you have Steven Moffat, who in 1997 gives his opinion as to what the Doctor should be like, only for it to be shattered in the rebirth of Doctor Who in 2005. Sure, Christopher Eccleston was in is 40s but he was far from being the grandfather type! And so was David Tennant who was even younger. We know that the Mof was looking for a man in his 40s when he was looking to cast the Eleventh Doctor but it is sort of funny that he ended up hiring the youngest actor ever to play the role of whom he envisioned as a ''wacky grandfather.'' So I have to raise my proverbial hat at his definitely extraordinary choice of Matt Smith.

Going back a bit storywise with the episode, I am taken by Prisoner Zero's statement to the Doctor that the “Universe is cracked, the padorak (sp) will open, silence will fall.” Are we to think that we are currently looking at some sort of new Bad Wolf story/theme that will reverberate throughout series 5? In my opinion the answer is yes. I believe that Steven Moffat has a huge arch planned for us this season. And again, I am reminded that the Doctor mentioned Venice specifically during the episode and we do know that there will be an episode titled Vampires of Venice later in the season. Coincidence? I think not.

The Doctor and Amy go for a trip in the Tardis
So all in all, it was a great first episode and a perfect introduction to the newest cast and crew of Doctor Who. Every character was well-cast and likeable. There was not one that I didn't like (as was the case of Mickey and Martha later in the series for me).

My grade for the episode: A

Some Favourite moments:

• Young Amy praying to Santa
• When the Doctor revealed there was a pool in the library (a room we've never seen before and I hope we'll see it)
• The Doctor walks right into a tree because it's early days and the stearing's a bit off.
• While chained to the radiator, the Doctor inhaled sharply, reminding me instantly of David Tennant's Tenth Doctor.
• When the Doctor couldn't wrap his head around the fact that Amy was a kissogram
• When the Doctor took the laptop away from Jeff and it was clearly implied that Jeff was looking at porn
• The Doctor writing a computer virus by texting on a phone.
• The Doctor mentioning Twitter
• The Doctor gets naked with Amy Pond looking on with an interesting smirk on her face as her fiancee asks her if she's going to turn her back and she answers no.
• When the Doctor refers back to the Shadow Proclamation
• When Amy Pond's first comment upon entering the Tardis was not: it's bigger on the inside; but rather ''I'm in my nighty'' – classic.
• When we get to see all the Ten Doctor incarnations that came before.
• The Doctor clicks his fingers to open the Tardis doors, as he did at the end of Forest of the Dead. Total. Squee. Worthy. Moment.
• The Doctor working with NASA, Jodrell Bank, the Tokyo Space Center, ESA, a certain Patrick Moore and CSIPRO from the comfont of Jeff's room.
• The world's clocks are set to Zero - like Prisoner Zero - in order to save the world.

Some Favourite Quotes in no particular order:

• The Doctor: ''Can I have an apple? All I can think about. Apples. I love apples. Maybe I'm having a craving! That's new, never had cravings before.''
• Young Amy: ''Are you OK?'' - The Doctor: ''Just had a fall all the way down there right through to the library. Hell of a climb back up.'' - Young Amy: ''You're soaking wet.'' - The Doctor: ''I was in the swimming pool.'' - Young Amy: ''You said you were in the library.'' - The Doctor: ''So was the swimming pool.''
• The Doctor: ''Twenty minutes. I can do it. Twetnty minutes the planet burns run to your loved ones and say goodbye or stay and help me.'' - Amy: ''No.'' - The Doctor: ''I'm sorry?''
• The Doctor: ''Get a girlfriend Jeff''
• The Doctor: ''Who the man? Oh, so I'm never saying that again. Fine.''
• The Doctor: ''Hello, I'm the Doctor, basically, run.''
• Prisoner Zero: ''The Universe has cracked, the pandorac (sp) will open, silence will fall.''
• The Doctor to his newly regenerated Tardis: ''Oh, you sexy thing.''
• The Doctor, upon seeing Patient Zero as himself: ''Well that's rubbish. Who's that supposed to be?'' - Rory: ''It's you.'' - The Doctor: ''Me? Is that what I look like?'' - Rory: ''You don't know?'' - The Doctor: ''Busy day.''
• The Doctor: ''I'm saving the world. I need a decent shirt.''
• Amy Pond: ''I grew up'' – The Doctor: ''Don't worry, I'll soon fix that.''
• The Doctor: ''I'm the Doctor. I'm worse than everybody's aunt.''