After what seems to have been an eternity, Doctor Who Series 10 is about to return to our telly. We were lucky enough to see the first episode – ‘The Pilot’ at yesterday’s press preview. So here’s our “spoiler-free” insight to the new opening episode.
And what an opener it is. Doctor Who is back to basics and a cracking introduction to new companion Bill Potts played by Pearl Mackie.
Bill is a bright and clever woman who lives with a foster family and works in the kitchen of a university where she should be attending classes. But she’s curious and wants to learn. So spends her free time sneaking into various lectures – one in particular Time and Life presented by a mysterious man known only as the Doctor. But Bill has not gone unnoticed by the Doctor.
Steven Moffat titled this episode “The Pilot’ for a specific reason. It is a new start for this long-standing show. Bill is full of questions and curiosity and with just the right amount of bright-eyed wonder. There is definitely an echo back to Eccleston and Piper’s first episode, Rose.
Peter Capaldi puts in an outstanding performance. He is fast talking and quick witted with great eyebrows. We all know that the Doctor loves to perform. And he’s at his best showing his new companion the wonders of the blue box stood in the corner of his office and how beautiful and fantastic the TARDIS is.
We can’t forget that Doctor has two companions this time around. Matt Lucas’ Nardole back for more. This bumbling, woolly hat wearing alien is still there to stop the Doctor from feeling lonely and he is a lot more than the Doctor’s dogsbody.
This series is about the return of classic monsters for series 10 and episode 1 has your basic monster Doctor Who plot complete with mayham and destruction and lots of corridor running.
Enough said, if we carry on we get into spoiler territory. Oh, before we forget, keep your eyes peeled on the NEXT TIME trailer. You’re in for a shock.
‘The Pilot’ written by current showrunner Steven Moffat and directed by Lawrence Gough is a worthy opener to this new series. It sets the scene beautifully for what will be no doubt be an epic final series for the Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi.
Doctor Who returns to BBC One and BBC America on April 15th.
