Doctor Who, Series 10, episode 1, The Pilot was perfect for an opener to the series and new companion, Bill Potts and to some extent a new Doctor with his memory wiped of having his first travelling companion since regenerating. If the show keeps this up then we may actually have a series arc deserving of the 12th Doctor. I guess it's no surprise that the last 2.5 series hasn't resonated with me (ergo the lack of posting). I feel the changes introduced in the show, starting even as earlier as the departure of the Ponds to Clara's character and the transition to the 12th Doctor, it never really found it's groove. The reason would be a combination of factors, which I am hoping the 10th series will learn from and correct itself. Given this first episode, it looks like it's off to a great start.
The episode
I feel the story itself was simple enough that it gave room for the new character, new setting, new character dynamic and relationships to grow. The story borrowed from other past adventures, such as the concept of the finding a compatible pilot similar to The Lodger, but extending the concept to acquiring passengers. Although, the latter extension, was weakened when it was twisted to match a more sentimental conclusion, a human promise made to not leave without another, taken out of context by an alien system protocol. Nevertheless, the simplicity of the plot lets us spend more time to learn about Bill and her reacting to the Doctor and his world.
The new companion
Bill (out of breath): Why do you run like that?
The Doctor: Like what?
Bill: Like a penguin with its arse on fire!
The Doctor: Ergonomics.
Bill Potts, portraited by Pearl Mackie, was fantastic and exactly what we needed in a new human companion to the Doctor after the know-it-all-intelligent-almost-comparable-to-the-Doctor, Clara. Bill to some extent was like Rose, an everyday, young woman who spends her day working, down time partying, and has her own family complex. But from her interactions with other characters in the episode we get to see her own personality shine through. We see her sense of mischief, from her little anecdote of the girl she unintentionally fattened by rewarding her with extra chips for each perve, as she served her at the canteen. Haha! Her curiosity and intelligence which she some how charms the Doctor into tutoring her and proves as she aces all her assignments. Her desires and fancies, as we notice her crushing on Heather and the chip girl she had fattened. Her level headedness and strength, as she composes against the Doctor's insult to her serving chips for a living. Her vulnerability, as we learn of her being a foster child and never having known her mother who passed away when she was only a baby. Her imagination and positivity, when she accounts that her mother use to say "you can smell the wind in some peoples coats", also revealing her aptitude in reading the Doctor. Lastly, her very human fear and disbelief when the world she thought she knew turns upside down and all is revealed.
The Doctor
Not too much is revealed about what the Doctor has been up to since we last saw him. Only that he has some how landed a gig as a university lecturer, accompanied by Nardole who he has fixed up with a bionic body of sorts; and is investigating a mysterious vault he has hidden on campus. What can we say but that the life of the timelord continues. There are more questions than answers and given the nature of the show the questions don't always get answered.
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