I try not to think about Doctor Who when it’s between seasons because it just makes me miss it that much more. The wait is now over as the newest series began in the US on BBC America this weekend and it did not disappoint. The Impossible Astronaut introduced a complex story that looks as if it might play out over the entire upcoming season (and may have even started before anyone realized). We’ve seen a lot of wild preview images for this year including a bearded straightjacketed Doctor that suggest a lot twists and turns coming up. Seeing them unfold one week at a time should be delightfully agonizing.

I’m sure I will spoil things moving forward.

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KevinMLD is always looking out for me and my interests when he’s out and about in the world, and that includes the internet. Whether he comes across an action figure he thinks I’ll be interested in or sees an article I’ll want to read, he’s sure to send me a note.

Tonight, he pretty much made my week.

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It’s been a long time, but the new season of Doctor Who came to BBCAmerica last week. The show opens right where the last episode left off, with the TARDIS crashing and the new Doctor holding on for dear life while everything burns, before going to new opening credits complete with a new logo. I’m probably going to spoil some things here, but not everything.

The Doctor finally crashes seemingly in response to young Amelia Pond’s prayers to Santa help with a crack in her wall. After the two meet, we get a great scene with a regeneration crisis revolving entirely around the taste of food in a new mouth that begins with apples and is finally satisfied only by fish sticks and custard.

The scene sets up the new Doctor and Amelia’s whole relationship brilliantly. We get to see Matt Smith really establish himself as The Doctor along with Amy, but without having to compete for attention with Karen Gillan who plays Amy as an adult. We also learn that Amy is very observant, not afraid to ask questions, not afraid of anything really except the crack in her wall. So it must be a scary crack…

After determining the crack is in fact a crack in space and time and closing it, we learn that something called “Prisoner Zero” has escaped through it to Earth. Before he can investigate further, the Doctor is forced to run back to the TARDIS after sensing a greater emergency. He tells Amelia he’ll be back in five minutes, and even though you know what’s going to happen, it’s still heartbreaking when she packs her suitcase and waits for the Doctor to return and the five minutes becomes 12 years.

Upon returning to find the adult Amy, we learn that Prisoner Zero is a creepy shape shifter that’s been deceptively hiding in Amy’s house all this time. Also during the twelve year gap, Amy has been through 4 psychiatrists trying to cope with meeting her “imaginary friend.” As the adventure continues, we see that everyone in Amy’s life (her aunt, her cousin Jeff, her “boyfriend” Roy) recognizes The Doctor from Amy’s cartoons and can’t believe that he’s real.

One of the greatest aspects of this episode is that even though all of the Doctor’s usual gadgets like the TARDIS, psychic paper, and the sonic screwdriver are present, they were taken off the table giving The Doctor only has 20 minutes to save the world from the Atraxi who have come to Earth to recapture Prisoner Zero. There are also some great twists like the references to “the human residence” and the way Prisoner Zero takes advantage of the years it’s had to bond to Amy.

The dialogue is brilliant throughout, but I particularly enjoyed the Doctor’s credentials when convincing the world leadership to listen to him: “the real proof to Fermat’s theorem,” “why electrons have mass,” and “faster than light travel with two diagrams and a joke;” and the ominous words Prisoner Zero leaves the Doctor with: “The universe is cracked. The pandorica will open. Silence will fall.” The threats made to the Atraxi were also great, and the video reel of the Doctor’s history on Earth sent chills down my spine. I love this show.

All in all, this was a great first episode for all involved setting up the new players and threats. I am always a concerned that I’m not going to like the new Doctor whenever he regenerates, but each time that goes away pretty quickly. Matt Smith is fine and may even turn out to be great. This was certainly a good start. I already love Amy Pond. It’s interesting that the Doctor is traveling with an other redhead whose wedding he’s delaying. I also remember noticing the music and liking it quite a bit.

The commercial breaks on BBCAmerica featured inside looks on the new season of the show with interviews of Executive Producer Steven Moffat and the cast (thanks, BMW). This show is in great hands and we even get a glimpse of how things might come together as the season plays out when Amy asks why The Doctor why he wants her to come with him. The Doctor passes it off as loneliness but we see a prominent crack on a screen inside the TARDIS and the music gets ominous. I’ll save my wild speculations for another post though.

The next episode of Doctor Who airs tonight at 9PM on BBCAmerica.

More on Doctor Who 2010:
2010 Season Preview / The Beast Below

I’ve been watching Doctor Who for almost 25 years.  One of my fondest memories is the exact moment I realized I had to know everything there was to know about the show. I’m going to write a whole lot here about what’s on my mind while we’re between seasons. Again, I want to warn anyone that might not want read any of this to turn away.  I’d hate to waste your time or spoil anything for you.  As a disclaimer, I just want to point out that I do not have any advanced knowledge of the future.

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Here’s a quick weekend follow up to two of last week’s posts.

Just when you thought the puzzle was complete, Marvel filled in three more little pieces that could turn Spider-Man’s world upside down in 2010.  Is that Peter and Mary Jane’s long missing baby?  Would Marvel go back to this story after dropping it like a radioactive potato 13 years ago?  Only time will tell, but while I’m incredibly excited for things to unfold I’m reserving judgement.

Doctor Who – The End of Time has aired in its entirety in the U.S. and an international trailer for the next season is now available from the BBC for all to see.  Some exciting things are planned for the new Doctor and as far as I’m concerned they can’t get here soon enough.  Looking through the chatter regarding the trailer, Matt Smith already has some fans as well as detractors, but I’m willing to trust the show in the hands of new executive producer Steven Moffat, writer of some of my favorite episodes including The Girl in the Fireplace, Blink, and Forest of the Dead.

More on Doctor Who 2010:
2010 Season Preview / The Eleventh Hour