Who?

Doctor Who, a BBC science fiction series that ran between 1963 and 1998, and restarted a couple of years back, is quite dear to my heart. The first novel-length books I read as a child were Doctor Who novelisations, and I guess first impressions last; these days, when I write, I'm still haunted by the need to recreate that sense of desperately wanting to know what happens next.

So, did tonight's first episode, featuring a new companion, Martha Jones, measure up? More or less. This was a Russell T Davies script (Queer as Folk), and it contains elements diagnostic of his approach: cultural references, children's TV atmosphere, corridor running, fairly unoriginal aliens; but this guy can blister through a story with a speed normally associated with montages. The science is wonky as ever - that troubles me more these days than it used to - and it still feels rushed, but the overall product is entertaining. It focuses on the relationship between the Doctor and his new companion, and has set the scene for an interesting journey.

So, yeah, I want to know what happens next.