Goblyns Hoard said:
I caught the first episode and I'm going to echo most of the thoughts already given - it was an intro and I hope future stories have a bit more plot.
I liked the second episode quite a bit more than the pilot, which I enjoyed but wasn't overwhelmed by. It was still a bit too simplistic, story-wise, but there were some really great character moments, and the effects were really interesting and not as CGI-Obvious as in the pilot episode. I think it is a harbinger for things to come, though I was admittedly disappointed that it wasn't a multi-part episode with cliffhanger. Looks like there will be a few of those coming this season, though, so that's good.
One thing I really enjoy is the more cinematic feel to the new episodes. I enjoyed the new look to the film of the pilot (not the video camerawork I recall from the Dr. Who of yesteryear), the locations were, for the most part, rather obviously small sets and things (the basement of a Shopping Mall, the Sewer, a house). The second episode really opens things up quite a bit, and you get a real sense of being on an otherworldly setting (a space station). I wish we'd get to see the interior of the TARDIS a bit more, though. I heard it described as being sort of organic looking, like a brain, somewhere, but to me it looks more like a Jules Vernish sort of interior.
(Aside- on the filmstock issue- I didn't watch much of the later Dr. Who, post-Davidson, but it seems to me that some of the Davidson and Baker era Whos used film rather than video, but maybe it was only during the outdoor location shoots, which they seemed to have more of than previous Whos).
I think Eccleston is doing a good job with the quirkiness and general character of the Dr. and that a lot of the differences come as a sign of the general changes that have come about since... bringing the Dr. up to modern times a bit more. I do think they've made a mistake with his outfit - he shouldn't be so mainstream in look.
I agree with the trendy look to the Doctor, but I will note that he does seem delightfully out of place in Victorian London (in the trailer for the next episode), wearing that outfit, while Rose wears period clothing. In that respect, at least, he seems very Doctorish. It also looks like a lot of the episodes upcoming will be taking place in the past, so he should look suitably eccentrically time-displaced. Just not in present-day London.
As to Eccleston, I'm still out on him. I think he does some really good work, but for the comedic bits, he seems to be mugging for the camera too much. His dramatic scenes are great- he's got a really good couple scenes in the second episode. His comedy is too much of a mixed bag for me. Some times he seems suitably quirky, but not campy. Other times, he has such exaggerated reactions, that it is obvious that he's acting. Now, admittedly, he is playing an alien, one to whom human emotion is not necessarily a natural thing (and in fact, there is some backstory alluded to in ep. 2 that would explain why the human-loving Doctor may, in fact, be acting at being happy-go-lucky), but it still sticks out like a sore thumb to me.
I do like him, but I wish he'd tone it down a bit. Then, too, I think he's probably still finding his footing in the first two episodes, and I like him enough to give him time to grow on me more.
Unfortunately I missed the second episode - does anyone know if it's being re-broadcast at anytime?
Don't know for sure- you might check
this page at Outpost Gallifrey. They have several listings of airtimes. I'm sure there's a BBC webpage with schedule listings somewhere, too.
