As someone who’s always been on the periphery of the Doctor Who phenomenon, admitting to not being a dedicated fan feels like a confession. My exposure to the series has been sporadic, catching episodes here and there, leaving a significant gap in my TV viewing history – a Tardis-shaped void, if you will. However, that’s all potentially about to change with the arrival of Doctor Who Season 10.
Recently, I attended the premiere of Doctor Who Season 10, an experience that served as my proper introduction to the Peter Capaldi era beyond a somewhat underwhelming Christmas special. That special, while festive, struck me as leaning too heavily into silliness, lacking genuine suspense, and feeling narratively rushed with jokes that didn’t quite land. But the Season 10 premiere, titled “The Pilot,” offered a dramatically different and more engaging experience.
This season opener cleverly positions the audience alongside the Doctor’s newest companion, Bill Potts (played by Pearl Mackie). Bill is introduced as a curious university canteen worker who captures the attention of the Doctor (Peter Capaldi), who is undercover as a university lecturer while secretly guarding a mysterious object. The narrative unfolds as Bill gradually uncovers the Doctor’s true identity and becomes entangled in his world, working alongside him to unravel the enigma of a peculiar and unsettling puddle located behind the university.
For a Doctor Who novice like myself, this setup was remarkably effective. Bill’s fresh perspective mirrors the audience’s potential unfamiliarity with the Doctor’s intricate universe. The episode functions partly as a comprehensive primer to the character of the Doctor and the extraordinary, often bewildering, world he inhabits. Showrunner Steven Moffat himself highlighted this intention during a Q&A session following the screening, stating, “The story begins again. We actually were thinking: let’s do an episode that explains the entire format.”
Beyond being an accessible entry point, “The Pilot” achieves a superior tonal balance compared to the aforementioned Christmas special. One of my previous reservations about Doctor Who stemmed from its occasionally overly family-friendly comedic tone, which at times veered into cheesiness. In stark contrast, this episode skillfully incorporates genuine suspense. The mysterious puddle, initially presented as a lighthearted puzzle, takes a genuinely creepy turn, delivering a series of effective jump scares. These moments were genuinely startling, prompting a conscious effort to maintain composure and avoid any undignified reactions in front of fellow journalists.
The episode also successfully integrates humor. Mackie delivers a standout performance in her debut as Bill, embodying a refreshingly direct and pragmatic personality. This contrasts amusingly with Peter Capaldi’s characteristic blend of blustering eccentricity and Matt Lucas’s cheerfully quirky Nardole. The dynamic between the trio is immediately apparent, suggesting a promising chemistry that bodes well for the entirety of Season 10. Their interactions are sharp and witty, providing levity without undermining the underlying sense of mystery and danger.
While “The Pilot” is a strong start, it’s not without minor imperfections. A few moments still flirt with a slightly theatrical or “hammy” style – though this could be attributed to my heightened sensitivity to such elements. Additionally, the subplot involving Bill’s romantic interest felt somewhat underdeveloped and rushed, lacking the depth and nuance present in other aspects of the episode.
However, these minor shortcomings are easily overshadowed by the episode’s overall success. “The Pilot” effectively establishes a compelling narrative and sets a promising trajectory for Season 10. It genuinely feels like the commencement of something significant and engaging. While I can’t definitively speak for long-time Doctor Who devotees, the enthusiastic audience reaction at the premiere suggests that “The Pilot” was well-received by seasoned fans as well. But crucially, for anyone who has been curious about Doctor Who but unsure where to begin, Season 10, episode 1, “The Pilot,” presents itself as an ideal and welcoming point of entry. It’s an episode that intrigues, entertains, and effectively opens the door to the vast and captivating universe of the Time Lord.
