?

It's back.

I could leave it there, really. I'm not a fanatical whovian by any stretch of the imagination. I watched most of the Jon Pertwee era, through the Tom Baker years and by the time Peter Davison took the role my interest had more or less faded. I've followed the hype for the latest incarnation with interest, even if only from the point of view of having a good, fantastical bit of telly to watch on a Saturday night with the kids.

So, how did it stand up?

I'll assume that most of you out there will have seen it, either on tv tonight or via *hem*, *cough* other means. The things that didn't work were the occasional ropy bit of CGI (will we look back with fondness in years to come, in the same way that we pine for wobbly sets and rubber aliens?), and some scenes that seemed awkward - the doctor grappling with the autons whilst Rose stood looking on, pontificating, seemed to drag on for far too long.

The good things were far and away in the majority though - Christopher Eccleston is superb in the role, bringing humour and gravitas at the same time. There was a palpable edge of danger in some of his alien behavior - you did get the feeling that this was a Doctor who could make mistakes, and lose sight of the whole picture whilst trying to save the world. Billie Piper as Rose, is a slightly different kettle of dramatic fish. She does a good job of running around, and asking questions at the right time, but I think that we will need to see a bit more of her to make a final judgment.

The best spent money though, was in the Tardis set which retains enough to be familiar whilst impressing with the scale and detail. The scenes of Auton mayhem were similarly good with lots of screaming, breaking glass, explosions and the iconic wrist guns.

It's not perfect, but I would say it was at least on a par with the first episode of Buffy (not entirely co-incidentally being broadcast on Five at the same time), and we all know how that ended up.

I know where I'll be at seven o'clock for the next thirteen Saturdays - do you?