newcritics

(The first season of the regenerated Dr. Who starts tonight on WTTW, one of Chicago’s PBS stations. Check your local listings to see if it’s coming to you.)

As a child I remember stumbling upon the Doctor occasionally on PBS. (We didn’t have cable and I was (and remain) a bit of a couch potato, so I watched a LOT of PBS.) I always watched Dr. Who with fascination, utterly confused. I knew it was the same program but every time I caught it it’s appearance had wildly changed.

At first I stayed away from the new series of Dr. Who. I would see commercials for it when I watched Battlestar Galactica, but thought it just looked a little silly. The fact that Christopher Eccleston was playing the 9th Doctor was intriguing, but not enough for me to tune in.

This changed when I was at my parents and I caught an episode of the second season with David Tennant this winter. The episode was “The Girl in the Fireplace” and I was completely hooked. I did what I could to catch myself up on what I was missing. (To be perfectly honest, I am currently harboring a huge crush on Tennant.)

The effects on the show remain slightly silly, as do some of the aliens, but that is part of Dr. Who’s charm. The effects are balanced by the great acting by the main characters. There is a balance of seriousness and fun. Billie Piper does such a wonderful job as Rose, the Doctor’s companion. Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to like her. I was put off by the bleached hair and former child pop star-ness of Piper, but I’m glad I was wrong. I’m going to miss her when I finally see the third season.

Both Eccelston and Tennant are marvelous. They give different shadings to the Doctor, but there is a unity between their performances. Plus they play the Doctor as they should. He’s a traveller who is fascinated by, and often gleeful about, the new peoples and places he encounters. He has all of time at his fingertips and he just wants to learn more.

Rose is the Doctor’s most tangible connection to the human race, and he so dearly loves humanity. The Doctor revels in humanity. He loves humans’ curiosity and perseverance, even when both cause major problems for everyone involved. All of the episodes are suffused with with this love and appreciation for humanity’s strength and weaknesses. It’s this love and giddiness that must be how the two actors tie their performances together. Both have wonderfully warm, wide grins.

Remember to check your local PBS listings on when Doctor Who airs and check it out, if you haven’t already.
Cross-posted.