Down to Earth with a bump!

This is my first posting in quite a while. Partly this is because I've been too busy to write anything; partly it is because I couldn't think of much to write about and partly it is because I haven't been very well of late. However, there is a new series of Doctor Who on so I had to write something.

The Woman Who Fell To Earth is the first episode of the 11th (or possibly 37th) series of Doctor Who and features a new Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), a new ensemble cast (Mandip Gill, Tosin Cole and Bradley Walsh) a new lead writer (Chris Chibnall) and new soundtrack (Segun Akinola). So this is really the newest new Who since the show returned in 2005. So how did I find it? Well, to be frank, just a little bit disappointing.

I wouldn't say I hated this, exactly, I just thought it could have been better written. I'm prepared to cut it a fair bit of slack as it was trying to introduce lots of new characters and also introduce the whole show to a potentially new audience. However, the best way of doing this is surely to "show-don't-tell". There seemed to be vast quantities of needlessly explanation when a simple scene without dialogue would have made the point far better.

On the theme of "show-don't-tell" why no TARDIS? If you are trying to pull in a new audience then show this key element of the series, don't just talk about it.

The "monster of the week" was just a take off of the Predator. There's nothing wrong with that but what was the point of the tentacle thing? The story should have concentrated on the mystery of the Doctor and anything else was surely just a side show to give the characters reason to interact (the faithful old McGuffin).

From a technical viewpoint they have apparently gone to great expense to film this is ultra-high definition, which no-one can receive, in an 18:9 aspect ratio, which no-one has, but they didn't even bother to broadcast it in Dolby Digital which previous series have done and which makes the most of the sound editing.

On the plus side:

• I loved Jodie. I had really hoped that she would be good but I think she has pitched it perfectly. Hopefully that will knock the whole woman as the Doctor thing on the head.
• The other lead cast members all seem likeable and I think Bradley will be outstanding once his character is filled out somewhat. 
• The music was brilliant. I loved the arrangement of the theme tune at the end and I am looking forward to the new opening titles next week. 
• Having the companions (inadvertently) abducted at the end of the episode actually makes some sense and is very much in keeping with the history of the show.

I remember when JNT took over Doctor Who, he changed the look and feel of it without altering the main cast. It took a few stories to really get into its stride (I think it took off at Full Circle). I suspect that is the case here: the ingredients for a really great show are all there, they just need to be mixed correctly. I'll be stuck on a ship in the North Sea for next week's show so I'll have to watch it delayed. I suspect some sort of Likely Lads escapade may follow! Anyway, I'm hoping it's upwards and onwards from here.