Two weekends ago, a most anticipated “Doctor Who” premiered in the UK with Matt Smith as the eleventh Doctor and Karen Gillan as Amy Pond, as the new Companion. The premiere was met with praise, applause, the expected criticism, and even “too sexy” by some. This article contains mild spoilers considering that “Doctor Who” premieres on BBC America this coming weekend.
Complaints about “The Eleventh Hour” being too sexy centered on the fact the “perceived sexual content” in that the new Companion, Amy Pond, works as a kiss-o-gram, in the premiere episode dressed in a skimpy policewoman’s outfit with miniskirt. Her “repertoire also include[s] nuns and nurses’ outfits.” Quotes from UK viewers reported by “The Daily Telegraph” show disapproval of this “sexy” content:
“Why did she dress up as a tarty policewoman? Surely that’s not fitting for a family show.”
“They’ve completely demeaned Doctor Who by replacing good episode stories with sl*tty girls,” another stated.
Gillan defends her character’s choice of wardrobe:
“I tried on different things and when it came to the short skirts, I just thought it was right. I mean, look down most high streets and girls Amy’s age wear that. It’s not that weird. Short skirts show that Amy is confident and comfortable about her look. You have to have confidence to wear something like that.”
Executive producer, Piers Wenger attributes Amy Pond’s look and persona to showrunner and writer Steven Moffat’s desire for a “sexy” new companion:
“The whole kissogram thing played into Steven’s desire for the companion to be feisty and outspoken and a bit of a number. Amy is probably the wildest companion that the Doctor has travelled with, but she isn’t promiscuous. She is really a two-man woman and that will become clear over the course of the episodes. Sci-fi has a long and happy history of sexy female characters and long may that continue.”
There were also complaints about the Doctor changing his clothes to his new signature look of a tweed suit and bow tie in front of Amy and her boyfriend at the conclusion of the episode.
Overall, the reaction seems positive to this new season of “Doctor Who” despite these complaints. Both “The Guardian” and “The Independent” like Matt Smith as the new Doctor, approving of the energy Smith brings to the reincarnated Doctor and his adoption of the “over-the-top eccentric, devil-may-care manner” of David Tennant’s Doctor.
“The Mirror”’s critic, Jim Shelley, was less enthused about the likeness between the David Tennant and Matt Smith Doctors, but admitted that Smith “gradually shook off the Tennant-isms and found his own voice.”
“The Telegraph”’s Benji Wilson gives Matt Smith an “A+” and calls Karen Gillan’s Amy Pond as “fine foil” to the Doctor. Wilson had only one complaint about the show, feeling that “in a post-‘Avatar’ world, or even in a post-‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’ world, BBC budgets and the special effects they can pay for are never quite going to cut it.” Wilson gave props to new showrunner, Steven Moffat for his “clever” and “audacious” script and his nods to previous Doctors.
“The Daily Record”’s Nick Hanlon said that “The Eleventh Hour” “paid homage to the past and set up Smith’s version as a man not to be messed with.”
Watch the US premiere of “Doctor Who” on BBC America Saturday, April 17th 9/8 C on BBC America in the States.
Check out this new teaser trailer for this new season of “Doctor Who”
[Source] Telegraph, Mirror, Telegraph, Daily Record
