So then, what did we think?

[matgb]

K, spoiler free review. Um, didn't Karen/Amy look great in that outfit?

I thought the first ten minutes or so were both OTT and self-indulgent, but did work as a nice setup for 11 and Amy. But then it began to grab me.

Anyone else? I suspect there'll be spoilers in the comments. Some of them will come from me.

Comments

[matgb]

Including this one.

I liked the silliness of stuff like the swimming pool being in the library, and the overall TARDIS remoddelling itself was nice.

For once I appreciated not knowing in advance that Amy works as a kissogram and isn't actually a WPC, that worked well. My disbelief suspension was already failing because of the ludicrously short skirt.

I wasn't complaining about the skirt, mind, but it was a little unbelievable.

Liked the way he dealt with the aliens right at the end, with the nice little set of clips from old shows, but it was a bit Smug!Doctor that I was hoping we'd move away from now Tennant's gone. But it's not like smug is a new trait, so...

Also, watching the confidential was bearable, there was no Rusty to annoy me. Wonder how long it'll take before Moff does that to me instead.

Trying not to spoil...

[charamei]

I think they had a bit too much to set up - introducing a new Doctor, and a new companion, and her family, and the alien of the week. But I definitely liked it.

The first scenes were a bit OTT, but I liked the weird food. Looking forward to more of that.

As for Smith, he reminded me a bit of the good parts of Pertwee, without the misogynistic crap that makes Three unwatchable. Love.

[jassanja]

I was a bit fed up with the 10th Doctor so I was looking forward to 11, and he didn't disappoint in this first episode

I'm not sure yet how I feel about Amy...

Link to meta/review

[boji]

I wasn't sure if I should place this in a separate entry, or if you prefer meta linked off the comm from this review post as they do on LJ. Erring on the side of caution:

Stephen Moffat's Who a children's classic? That thought, and others on fairy-tale subtext behind the cut. Or, why I loved it.

Here on my Dreamwidth.

One day I will succeed at writing short meta. Today is not that day.

[jamie77]

Not terribly keen on the pre-titles bit, just seemed a bit inconsequential and screaming a bit 'Look we are a British show because here's the London Eye and look Big Ben!'. The Doctor's entrance in the garden post-titles was grand though.

On the subject of titles, the sequence itself was okay but the latest arrangement of the theme tune, not so sure. Irrittating continuity announcer over the end credits prevented one from having a real listen at the end.

Matt Smith was fine; like David Tennant he has been given a great look by the wardrobe department. Certainly upon first viewing nowt jumped out that screamed out 'Oo, he's different' other than of course that he is not David Tennant, not Christopher Eccelstone or indeed Paul McGann, Sylvester McCoy et al.

As openers go, probably the best since the show's return in 2005. 'Rose' always suffered from being the opening night that had to say for the first time after so long, 'This is Doctor Who...' whereas 'Smith and Jones' got into a bit of a pickle with resolving its plot. 'The Eleventh Hour' though know its audience (or the majority of it) know that it is a show about 'a mad man with a box who travels in time and space'

Indeed, one might say after seeing the trailer at the end (and gosh, there are some spoilers!) and from a quick glance at the episode guide in the Radio Times that it is a show that will play very much to the forumla established in years past - trip to the future for the new friend of the Doctor, adventure in the Earth's past with noted historical figure...

[charamei]

I developed coherence overnight and made an actual post.

Spoilers abide within it.

[dreamingpixels]

All I can say without launching into a long, ridiculous ramble is that it was amazing. I loved every minute of it!

My review

[gominokouhai]

is over here: in short, loved it.

[susanreads]

I must come back and read all the reviews people have linked! Meanwhile, here's my spoilery reaction post. I forgot to mention the new title music: I didn't like it, but maybe it'll grow on me.

[lunarwolfik]

Karen/Amy was delightful and gorgeous in her police outfit. (Although I wish she had been an actual policewoman cause that would have been AWESOME)

As much as I loved Ten, I was prepared and ready to give Eleven a fair chance. And he totally rocked it. I loved the sheer exuberance and cheerfulness that he had, moving beyond the heavy burden of so much death and pain that Ten had gone through at the end. In one word, I'd say Eleven is bouncy. And the bowtie was adorable!

Amelia is my favorite little kid ever and I wish she would come back, although Amy is equal parts awesome (she stood up to the Doctor quite easily, and that's always a good thing. Trapping him with a car via his tie was just an inventive way to do so. I'm guessing that's part of the reason for his choice of bowtie, because he knows Amy is not afraid to drag him around by a tie.

My one qualm was the new music...I liked the old music and opening, it was good stuff!

However, overall, two thumbs up!

(Also, sorry for rambling so much. The Doctor brings out the squee.)