"Doctor Who," the lively science−fiction series that has been a BBC institution for over 50 years, returned to BBC America this week with a refreshed cast, fronted by newcomer Matt Smith, and a renewed sense of whimsy and reverence for its enigmatic and loveable titular character.
The original "Doctor Who" debuted a day after the Kennedy assassination, but since then the show has been produced on and off, as the Doctor — a benevolent, ageless time−traveling alien — has "regenerated" into the bodies of 11 different actors. Notably, writer Russell T. Davies revitalized the series in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor and Billie Piper (who can now be seen on Showtime's "Secret Diary of a Call Girl") as his human companion. Smart writing and slick, but still endearingly low−budget, special effects garnered a new, hip audience and eventually earned Davies a spin−off — "Torchwood," soon to be Americanized for Syfy.
After the first season, charming Scot David Tennant became the Tenth Doctor and successfully drove the series for nearly 50 episodes. After Davies' fourth season of "Who," he and Tennant both stepped down, and the show was handed off to Davies' highly regarded deputy, Steven Moffat. In a controversial choice, Matt Smith was cast as the Doctor. An internet kerfuffle ensued, as fans were concerned that the 27−year−old is too young, too pretty or somehow contrary to the spirit of the role.
In the season premiere, titled "The Eleventh Hour," Smith undoubtedly soothes his naysayers. The Doctor is a peculiar role that requires rapid−fire, off−kilter dialogue to be delivered with a cocktail of whimsy and heart. Smith's Doctor cares deeply for children and the helpless, yet he has the confidence to stand up against seemingly impenetrable forces. Moreover, he's a guide to the strange and wonderful for Amy Pond (the sprightly Karen Gillan), his new companion.
In "The Eleventh Hour," the audience first meets Amy as a seven−year−old when the newly regenerated Doctor crashes the TARDIS, his spaceship/time machine that takes the form of a phone booth, in her backyard. Amy is charmed and delighted by the "raggedy doctor" as he adjusts to his new body and helps her decipher the strange voices she hears in her house at night. The Doctor promises her an escape and says he'll be back in five minutes — but when the TARDIS reappears, 12 years have gone by.
All grown up, Amy is now a spunky and disillusioned young woman. But after the Doctor literally saves the world, she is entranced all over again and eagerly jumps in the TARDIS without mentioning that the next morning should be her wedding day.
Smith and Gillan have great chemistry, and Smith makes it easy to see what has Amy so starry−eyed. He's appealingly confident and composed about his strange surroundings, and his trust in Amy shows his inherent kindness.
Smith seems to be spitting out information so quickly that he can bury the Doctor's emotional foundation, which has come to the fore since the rest of his race was destroyed. The Doctor acts like he travels through time as a whimsical observer, but as Amy points out, he often chooses to interfere out of the goodness of his heart — because he is "very old and very kind and the very, very last."
Beyond the performances, Moffat has thus far lived up to expectations as the series' premiere writer. The dialogue is full of wit and the dangers seem very real. "Doctor Who" has always been a reliable show for heart as well as frights, and "The Eleventh Hour" delivered both in equal parts. Moffat has wisely used the opportunity of the reboot to tell stories that speak to the heart of the Doctor's character. In that way — though "Doctor Who" is a venerable television institution — this is the perfect place for a new viewer to jump into the show and fall for it for the first time.
