Smith and Gillan stepping up

When David Tennant departed our screens as the legendary Doctor on New Years Day, critics, admirers and actors alike believed that nobody could replace him in the way he portrayed the Tardis-flying timelord. Four months later and 27-year-old Matt Smith has already taken his role as the Doctor in two episodes that saw the actor for his true ability.

On first observation of "The Eleventh Hour", to me Smith seemed a mockery of the legend Tennant left behind him, however the old saying "patience is a virtue" took effect in true style, as he surprised me in his ability. He was surprisingly good, and if I saw the man I would apoogise. I was overly critical of the show's first ten minutes. It seemed very focused on the Doctor's consumption of various food types ranging from baked beans to fish fingers with custard. It seemed irrelevant to the episode's storyline, and even though writer Steven Moffat wanted to implicate the transition from Doctor Number 10 to Doctor Number 11 in classical style, his attempt at portraying it seemed rather lacklustre.

Nevertheless, the episode as a whole for one Smith to get suited to his new role. It was ideal, nothing too extreme but nothing too easy. The threat of incineration from an alien empire because of the escape of an alien prisoner. Its presence on Earth meant that the planet would be burnt until Prisoner Zero was found. Now because of the Doctor, as usual, he was found and the Earth was saved. As an episode its not one that is going to set off the excitement scale, but it was ideal for Smith the play the role and convince the audience he is up to the task of replacing Mr Tennant.

I do admire one thing about Smith though. He realises the expectation put upon him after his predecessor's five year reign. He respects it, and within the episodes "The Eleventh Hour" and "The Beast Below" he eventually came into his own and became the actor he is known for, and not copying the ability of Tennant.

Karen Gillan on the other hand has work to do. As yet, I haven't been too impressed with her skills as the Doctor's new assistant. Her lack of constructive advice and support for the Doctor is not impressive for a show which has seen strong characters like Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), Martha Jones (Freeman Agyeman) and Donna Noble (Catherine Tate). Gillan plays young Scottish woman Amelia Pond, better known as Amy. The character was introduced as a young girl alone in her Aunt's house, to which The Doctor enquired as to why she was alone. Young Amelia was played by 10-year-old Caitlin Blackwood. Blackwood is the cousin of Gillan, and achieved the role after Gillan persuaded show directors to let her play the part. Amy Pond was only seven when she was first introduced to the show, able to cook for herself despite an unusual childhood. Next time she crossed paths with the Doctor she was 19, working as a kissogram which Pond herself describes as "a laugh".

To me, her role as Pond seemed very poor in the series' first episode. She just seemed a bit lost in the role, and it seemed to overwhelm her. She didn't really offer any kind of brilliance we expect to see from the assistant of a world famous timelord because she just seemed too simple. However, I was put to shame during "The Beast Below" when her act of brilliance stopped the Doctor killing a fellow alien, as well saving millions of British citizens on the spaceship carrying Britain.

What is known is that on Saturday 17th April, Smith and Gillan will be put to the ultimate test and have the chance to prove any doubters wrong. They come up against The Daleks, the Doctor's oldest and most deadliest enemy in an episode which sees Moffat bring back the historice war leader Winston Churchill. One thing's for sure, it is sure to be an exciting episode if the Daleks are involved, and it will be more than interesting to see how The Doctor and Amy Pond respond to the biggest threat in timelord history.

Many Thanks for Reading

G-Man