Rose

Rose, the pilot episode of the new series of Doctor Who, can best be described as "promising". There is a lot to like about it, and a few minor quibbles. In essence though, the show's creators got the important things right. 

Opening Title Sequence:

In a word: inspired! A wonderful updating of the classic 'time tunnel', with a Tardis bouncing through the vortex, below 3D credits. The theme music is wonderful; a subtle recreation of the classic signature tune before the synth-heavy meddling of the 1980s. 

Characterization:

It was implied that there had been a recent regeneration, due to the Doctor looking into a mirror, and puzzling over his face. That may explain the schizophrenic first half of the show, where the Doctor is alternately giddy, flippant and then reflective and thoughtful. But, if we're not reading things into the character, such as this, then it seemed uneven. Yes, the Doctor is alien, and yes, he doesn't necessarily have to behave as a normal person behaves; but, there's a fine line between an eccentric character and a badly written character. They skirted that line fairly closely in the pilot.

Acting:

The dynamics between the Doctor and Rose will make or break the show. They will be the only consistent thing between episodes, and on this count, the show scores high marks. The actors have an easy rapor and watchability, which should only strengthen over time. All supporting actors score fine marks. It sports some of the most consistently well acted scenes of the series.

Editing:

The editing was fast-paced, something never before accomplished on this show with the three-camera setup. It gives the show a very contemporary, cinematic feel. Periodically, editing seemed to be a bit too jumpy, especially during characters' conversations, where it seemed unwarranted, however, this may be a rough edit and prone to change prior to broadcast.

Soundtrack:

The incidental music is a major weak point. In a word: generic. In two words: generic and overpowering. It is common practice to have generic music on early edits of films, so I suspect (hope) this is the situation. It is hard to believe it can be composed by the same person who did such a wonderful job of the theme. The music, rather than subtlely enhancing a scene, totally overpowers it. It is loud, generic, and very similar to the wall-to-wall music of the 1980s series.

Plot:

The plot, while interesting, is nothing special. Autons and the Nestene Consciousness are back again. That is not a critique per se, just an observation. As a pilot episode, the main purpose of the plot was to introduce the principal characters and give them a believable motivation for wanting to be together as companions by the end of it. On this count, it succeeds very well. If in doubt, look at the episode title: Rose, not The Auton Invasion. Rose is the focal point of the plot, and the strengths of the plot are in discovering what sort of life she lives, and why she would give up everything she knows to become a companion of the Doctor.

Pacing:

Probably the most serious critique is one of pacing. Where the classic series was prone to padding out a plot to 6 episodes that could easily fit into 4, here we have the opposite. The pilot could easily have been 90 mins instead of 45 mins, and maybe better for it. The makers of the series should have seriously considered making the pilot a movie. The pilot is a whirlwind of activity; plot points, character introduction, subplots... there's a lot going on! Almost too much for 45 mins. The more time people spend running around hitting all the plot points, the less time there is for characterization; those quiet moments between the storm where characters can interact 'normally'. An introductory episode by its nature is not a normal episode, so I would hope the series will settle into a more traditional groove in later episodes.

Humour:

There is a lot of humour in the Pilot, numerous visual gags, and general silliness. That is not to say it is being played as a farce or an ironic variation of the original series, merely, that the characters are written in such as way as to appreciate the absurdity of their situations (ie. fighting man-eating wheelie bins, or fighting disembodied mannequin arms!)

Special F/X:

Computer effects were a mixed affair. The Nestene Consciousness and various bolts of energy at the conclusion were not quite on par with with what I had expected, and were generically CGI. Other computer effects, such as a massive explosion at the start of the episode were wonderful. Where the effects excelled was in the realisation of the Autons. Of course, for any Doctor Who fan, F/X can't be a top priority! ;-) And, as before, these effects may be temporary and due for revising before broadcast.

Tone/Atmosphere:

The pilot starts with a bang: literally. Very dark and atmospheric. When the Autons first creak to life in the basement of a department store, it is genuinely creepy. However, it doesn't last. Very early on, it becomes more of a light-drama/comedy and the brooding, atmospheric scenes later on have a hard time making any impact because of it. By the time the Doctor confronts the Nestene Consciousness at the conclusion, it seems less threatening than a dark basement with a lurking mannequin.

Overall, this is a very watchable episode from the point of view of a fan. Many of the building blocks of a great series are there, not all in perfect proportion, however, but the foundation is solid. Without wading into any of the extensive backstory of The Doctor, the first time viewer will see him more as an enigmatic figure, who keeps his origins and past very close to his chest. All you really know is that he's a decent person/alien, who wants to make a difference for the better. But, really, that's all you need to know. Hopefully, my few critiques will shake themselves out as the series finds its feet.