Doctor Who: Series 31 (2010)

It's a couple of weeks since the Doctor Who finale, and there's a gaping hole in the Saturday night TV schedule. This series seemed to pass fairly quickly. My verdict on the new Doctor and his show then... 

Matt Smith has been great as the new Doctor, initially there was more than a hint of David Tennant in his portrayal, but as the series has gone on he made the role his own, with flashes on anger and panic that never troubled the previous incarnation. I've enjoyed the numerous references to his old faces too, and Steven Moffat, the new show runner, has done an excellent job in making the series feel fresh yet familiar. 

There have been some really strong episodes, mostly towards the latter half of the series, including the one with Vincent Van Gogh, 'Amy's Choice' and the two-part finale - the first half of which was among the best TV I've seen. Rory, the new semi-companion, was good fun, and the way all of the adventures tied together at the end was great. There were also a few ho-hum episodes such as the obligatory Dalek one and the drawn out two parter with the Silurians.

I've not been convinced by the new companion Amy Pond though. She seems permanently set to shout mode, and doesn't have a great range of expression. I'm sick of the sight of her legs too - why are they trying to sex up Doctor Who? I must add a caveat actually - adult Amy Pond as played by Karen Gillan I find a little annoying, young Amelia Pond as played by Caitlin Blackwood in the cracking season opener and finale was a joy to behold. I and others I know would much rather watch young Amelia than Amy. But towards the end of the season Amy got a little less annoying, though she never became as good as Donna Noble. 

Alex Kingston's River Song was probably the series highlight - whenever she appears in the Doctor's timeline ('spoilers!') she's always an enigmatic, charismatic bonus. I hope we don't learn too much about Song in coming series, and that she remains at least partly shrouded in mystery. If only she could be the Doctor's full time companion, having an older actress adds a bit more gravitas and a counterpoint to young Matt Smith's performance, and the chemistry between the two has been just great. Maybe she could have a spinoff of her own?? I'd certainly watch it (as long as it was better than the first two Torchwood seasons). 

So this series has been a big hit with me, with the only slight downside being that I've never really got behind Amy Pond. Hopefully she'll be a bit more 3-dimensional next series, and I'm hoping that now Rory is Mr Pond, Arthur Darvill will get promoted to star billing in series 32.