Not quite sure of the media hype and fuss made back in this era when the Doctor changed hands, but certainly it seems to be far from the 'announcement show' and big 'special' episodes that we get in the modern shows. By contrast this serial feels almost apologetically introducing the new Doctor with soft touches and a generally open approach to who he is. He spends a lot of time pitched just below the previous Doctor in terms of manic running around, but still able to command a situation and resolve it; his cricket whites suggest a more 'controlled' character too - but we'll see. I don't remember how it goes, even though my earliest Who memories are of Davidson in the role as I started watching around this time.
As a serial itself, it seems to spend too long getting the Doctor on his feet (literally) and the plot is left too long to really flesh out. Some decent ideas in there, and a 'classic' villain too, but it didn't really engage or excite me as I would have liked the opening of a new Doctor to have done. Davidson is fine though, and ironically seems the most comfortable despite having all the pressure on him. Of the companions I don't really care for any - characters or performances; it also feels really cluttered having 3 of them kicking around. The supporting cast are so-so, and although it isn't really his fault Ainley is the Master in the same way as I have Rolex and Bell & Ross watches that I got in China - they look very much the same and they do tell the time, but they're really not the same quality as the original.
We'll see how the season settles into the new Doctor, but this first serial doesn't offer a great deal to get overly excited about, even if it does have some nice ideas and elements.
As a serial itself, it seems to spend too long getting the Doctor on his feet (literally) and the plot is left too long to really flesh out. Some decent ideas in there, and a 'classic' villain too, but it didn't really engage or excite me as I would have liked the opening of a new Doctor to have done. Davidson is fine though, and ironically seems the most comfortable despite having all the pressure on him. Of the companions I don't really care for any - characters or performances; it also feels really cluttered having 3 of them kicking around. The supporting cast are so-so, and although it isn't really his fault Ainley is the Master in the same way as I have Rolex and Bell & Ross watches that I got in China - they look very much the same and they do tell the time, but they're really not the same quality as the original.
We'll see how the season settles into the new Doctor, but this first serial doesn't offer a great deal to get overly excited about, even if it does have some nice ideas and elements.