Now, I've already seen all of these before, but the second season of the new Doctor Who debuts tonight on Sci-Fi. This is the Christmas episode, which was on BBC1 last Christmas. Now, somehow, I've managed to see this one, and if you didn't like Christopher Eccleston's portrayal, I strongly recommend watching this to see what it's like when a Doctor regenerates. It doesn't always go well.
But, Tennant is really intriguing as the Doctor, and seems much more comfortable in the role then Christopher Eccleston. In this episode, the Christmas Invasion, he's mostly absent, recovering from the shock of absorbing the entire time vortex of the TARDIS. He's not well, and he's asleep for most of the episode. But, of course, Earth is invaded in a very interesting way, and will he save the day?
Tennant is probably only known to Americans in his role as Barty Crouch Jr. in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I've never seen him in any other role, but last week I caught a glimpse of him on a show on BBC America. It was odd for me, because after watching all of Season 2, he IS the Doctor. He's roughly my age, and grew up watching the show just like I did. As tonight's episode progresses, he takes on the role and makes it his own.
Because of the way Russell T. Davies decided to reboot the show, we didn't watch Eccleston's regeneration. It happened off camera, which hasn't ever happened before. Even Paul McGann's transformation into the ill-fated FOX incarnation of the show was depicted. Eccleston was great in the role, but I feel many fans don't really accept him because of this oversight. I would have loved to have seen Eccleston do a second season, but he decided against it, didn't want to be typecast.
But, the transition from Eccleston to Tennant is beautiful, with the Ninth Doctor sacrificing himself to save Rose Tyler. I'd urge those who didn't immediately take a shine to him to tune in tonight. If you're new to the Doctor, this is a much better season to become acquainted. The Ninth Doctor was plagued with inner torment over his role in the end of the time war (which is all depicted in books), but the Tenth is reborn anew, and the next thirteen episodes after tonight show his evolution. By the end of this season, you'll see he takes his place in the pantheon of the Time Lords.
And yeah, it's cheesy, and it's British, but that's what makes it so damned good.
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