Review: Doctor Who is back in a big way
Doctor Who is back, and it’s better than ever. The Doctor will see you now.
WARNING: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR SERIES 10 OF DOCTOR WHO. TIME IS A TIMEY-WIMEY BALL, BUT THERE WILL BE NO GOING BACK IF YOU READ THIS. THIS POST IS A FIXED POINT IN TIME. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Even though I’m as big a Whovian as ever the last couple of seasons of Doctor Who have been underwhelming to me. I wanted to fall in love with Peter Capaldi’s Doctor, but something was missing. The great thing about Doctor Who is that you want to jump on the TARDIS and travel with the Doctor. It’s hard to do that though when you feel like the Doctor doesn’t even seem to want to be traveling with the Doctor.
The first episode of series 10 changes all of that though. Pearl Mackie brings the fun back to Doctor Who by being the first genuinely engaging companion since Amy Pond. (Sorry Clara fans, I know you’re hurt by this, but you’re also wrong.) Pearl Mackie’s Bill Potts allowed Capaldi to finally find that wonderful sweet spot where his personality could shine through and yet you still wanted to board the TARDIS and go on an adventure with him. Nardole played by Matt Lucas also seemed to take on new life when engaging with Bill Potts. Bill Potts is going to be very good all around for Doctor Who.
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The story of “The Pilot” was also excellent. I honestly can’t think of a Doctor Who storyline that introduces a new companion that’s better. Perhaps the first encounter of Amy Pond and the Doctor, but the second half of that story gets away a bit.
Steven Moffat said that series 10 would be one of those points where you could start watching Doctor Who even if you’d never seen the show before and dive right in; and he was right about that. This episode does explain everything… well most things, that you need to know about the Doctor. What’s even better is that it doesn’t feel forced or drag on for a seasoned Whovian.
Capaldi’s Doctor has never seemed more centered than he does teaching in a college. His professor’s office was wonderful with a pencil jar full of his old sonic screwdrivers. Also on his desk were pictures of his granddaughter and River Song. The picture of his granddaughter was particularly important because it obviously alluded to his new relationship with Bill Potts.
Doctor Who hasn’t been this much fun in a long time and Capaldi has never shined as the Doctor more than he did in “The Pilot.” If all of series 10 is this good we are going to once again really miss our Doctor when he regenerates.
We give Doctor Who series 10 episode 1 “The Pilot” an A+
What did you think? Did you enjoy “The Pilot” and new companion Bill Potts? Let us know in the comments below.