DoctorWhoSeries5

Doctor Who Series 5 (2011)

Now that I’m an accredited Doctor Who source (I was quoted in a book! A British book about Doctor Who!) I felt it was time to review the fifth series of our beloved franchise, and take a good hard look at the massive changes that a new show runner and Doctor have given us, the faithful viewer.

First, and probably most noticeable to everyone, the Doctor has regenerated from the pretty, slightly rat-faced appearance of David Tennant, to the…interesting (okay, fine, I’ll say it, he looks like Odo from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine with hair) appearance of Matt Smith. As a whole, I do think this is a change for the better.

The Doctor, usually, has been one fugly older dude. It wasn’t until Paul McGann played the titular role once (in the Fox made-for-TV movie) that we really started to see Doctors who were, for lack of a better term, attractive. Right now, you’re probably screaming “WHAT ABOUT PETER DAVISON?” at your screen, but remember, I said ‘usually’ at the very start of this paragraph. Going down the list, William Hartnell? Fugly. Patrick Troughton? Fugly. Jon Pertwee? Fugly. Tom Baker? Fugly. Peter Davison? Not fugly. Colin Baker? Extra fugly. Sylvester McCoy? Slightly attractive, in that grandfatherly ‘going to play psychotic mind games with you’ kind of way.

You get the point.

I’ve noticed the change from Tennant to Smith has really alienated some fans, or at least the American ones. I think that has a lot to do with the American public at large only being exposed to two regenerations at this point. When Christopher Eccleston regenerated into David Tennant, it was only after a season, and statistically, most American fans didn’t really catch onto the show until the middle of Tennant’s run (series two) or the start of series three. So not many people really experienced loving a Doctor only to have him ripped away from you before you had your fill (and honestly, would you rather have not enough of something rather than too much?).

Matt Smith is arguably the finest amalgamation of traits from Doctors’ past. He fits better into the series mythos as a whole, and while Tennant holds a special place in my heart, Smith’s Doctor is my Doctor. He had me at ‘fish fingers and custard’.

Series five also marked the end of Russell T. Davies’ amazing run and the start of Steven Moffat era. Moffat brings a different style of storytelling to the table and it’s a nice and welcome departure from the Davies’ style. I’m not slamming Davies at all, mind you, but series five could have easily tried to piggyback that style, because it was successful and well done, instead of taking some risks that pay off favorably.

Moffat isn’t afraid to allow plot threads dangle from series to series, and the hints dropped throughout the episodes until the finale reveal an incredibly deep and intricate plot that really make me tout series five as the best written series to date. You know that a show is put together well when people who don’t even like Matt Smith’s portrayal of the Doctor are discussing the intricacies of the plot and how they tie everything together, for weeks on end, with a passion I had only seen LOST fans engage in (back when people cared about that show. Remember? I kind of do…).

We also get two new companions, Amy and her boyfriend Rory. Amy, while very hot, is overall a far less interesting character because, in a lot of ways, she’s Rose Tyler with red hair and a Scottish accent. Rory, on the other hand, starts off a little like a carbon copy of Mickey Smith (except white) but eventually becomes my favorite companion of all time. When it all comes down to it, Rory does everything out of his love for Amy. While the adventures on board the TARDIS are interesting and sometimes fun, Rory’s every act has Amy in mind, trying to keep her safe or protect her. You can almost tell that he knows at some point the Doctor isn’t going to be able or willing to save her, and he’s going to catch her when she falls. It’s the subtleties of Arthur Darvill’s performance as Rory that really make that character shine.

Before I finish this one up, if you don’t watch any episode of this series except one, make it ‘The Lodger’. The Doctor has to become a flatmate with a man named Craig, and hijinks ensue. Craig also features in an episode from series six, and I’m really hoping he might have the chance to become a regular companion.

Check this out, keep an open mind, and remember, bowties are cool.

4 out of 4

reviewed by Seth Moore