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Doctor Who: The Pandorica Opens: Exploring the Worlds of the Eleventh Doctor
"I remember you! I brought the others back, I can bring you home too! Raggedy Man, I remember you and you are late for my wedding!" Amy Pond, The Big Bang
Since its revival in 2005, Doctor Who has been transformed from cult franchise into an award-winning, multi-platform, flagship BBC One drama watched by millions each week. A prime example of the 360-degree television experience that British broadcasters are hungry to commission and develop, Doctor Who is also central to the revitalisation of family viewing long thought impossible to resurrect. In 2010, the regeneration of Tenth Doctor David Tennant into Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith saw the keys to the Doctor Who kingdom ceremonially handed over from Russell T. Davies to new showrunner Steven Moffat. His first series was a highly anticipated moment of change in the production regime of this long-running show. Moffat and his team proved that they could again catch lightning in a bottle, with their Doctor Who continuing to entertain audiences in the UK and internationally. Matt Smith, joined by Karen Gillan as new companion Amy Pond, was an immediate critical success as the new Doctor.
Cult television and film blogger Frank Collins has significantly expanded upon the original reviews from his popular Cathode Ray Tube website to examine this latest series of adventures. He provides an in-depth analysis of episodes, characters, themes and ideas, and places Doctor Who within the wider cultural context of contemporary social, political, historical and psychological debates. A unique view of a television icon, providing much food for thought, this book is essential reading for fans of the new series.
Since its revival in 2005, Doctor Who has been transformed from cult franchise into an award-winning, multi-platform, flagship BBC One drama watched by millions each week. A prime example of the 360-degree television experience that British broadcasters are hungry to commission and develop, Doctor Who is also central to the revitalisation of family viewing long thought impossible to resurrect. In 2010, the regeneration of Tenth Doctor David Tennant into Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith saw the keys to the Doctor Who kingdom ceremonially handed over from Russell T. Davies to new showrunner Steven Moffat. His first series was a highly anticipated moment of change in the production regime of this long-running show. Moffat and his team proved that they could again catch lightning in a bottle, with their Doctor Who continuing to entertain audiences in the UK and internationally. Matt Smith, joined by Karen Gillan as new companion Amy Pond, was an immediate critical success as the new Doctor.
Cult television and film blogger Frank Collins has significantly expanded upon the original reviews from his popular Cathode Ray Tube website to examine this latest series of adventures. He provides an in-depth analysis of episodes, characters, themes and ideas, and places Doctor Who within the wider cultural context of contemporary social, political, historical and psychological debates. A unique view of a television icon, providing much food for thought, this book is essential reading for fans of the new series.
270 pages, Paperback
First published December 6, 2010
About the author
Frank Collins
4 books1 followerAs a freelance writer and film and television researcher he has contributed to a number of books and websites about recent and archive British television and cinema.
His essays were included in Arrow's Withnail and I, Woody Allen: Seven Films 1986 -91, and Count Yorga Collection Blu-ray releases and essays were also commissioned for Indicator's limited edition Blu-rays of Alan Parker's Birdy, Ken Loach's Fatherland, and two recent box sets: Hammer Volume Six: Night Shadows and Robin Hood At Hammer.
His most recent publication is Kinda: The Black Archive #62 and is, like his Warriors' Gate: The Black Archive #31, published by Obverse Books. Previous books include I.B Tauris's Doctor Who: The Eleventh Hour - A Critical Celebration of the Matt Smith and Steven Moffat Era (2013) and Doctor Who - The Pandorica Opens: Exploring the Worlds of the Eleventh Doctor (2010) for Classic TV Press.
His essays were included in Arrow's Withnail and I, Woody Allen: Seven Films 1986 -91, and Count Yorga Collection Blu-ray releases and essays were also commissioned for Indicator's limited edition Blu-rays of Alan Parker's Birdy, Ken Loach's Fatherland, and two recent box sets: Hammer Volume Six: Night Shadows and Robin Hood At Hammer.
His most recent publication is Kinda: The Black Archive #62 and is, like his Warriors' Gate: The Black Archive #31, published by Obverse Books. Previous books include I.B Tauris's Doctor Who: The Eleventh Hour - A Critical Celebration of the Matt Smith and Steven Moffat Era (2013) and Doctor Who - The Pandorica Opens: Exploring the Worlds of the Eleventh Doctor (2010) for Classic TV Press.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 20, 2018
" I am and always will be the optimist, the hoper of far flung hopes, the dreamer of improbable dreams." - 11th Doctor
Matt Smith as the 11th Doctor, the youngest actor to portray the time traveling time lord. Taking over the doctor's life after David Tennant was scary for him and fans who LOVED David. However, after the first episode with Matt majority of Whovians knew that Matt was going to be an amazing doctor. And Frank Collins has provider readers with a deep look into the 11th Doctor's episodes. He looks at the characters, themes, ideas, quotes, and what drives the doctor to be the person that he is.
Matt Smith as the 11th Doctor, the youngest actor to portray the time traveling time lord. Taking over the doctor's life after David Tennant was scary for him and fans who LOVED David. However, after the first episode with Matt majority of Whovians knew that Matt was going to be an amazing doctor. And Frank Collins has provider readers with a deep look into the 11th Doctor's episodes. He looks at the characters, themes, ideas, quotes, and what drives the doctor to be the person that he is.
July 22, 2021
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3699335.html
It's a very dense and scholarly examination of Matt Smith's first thirteen episodes as the Eleventh Doctor, with a lot of references to studies of pop culture which I haven't read and to some which I have. I think the balance is about 20% "I already knew that" to 70% "Hmmm, that's interesting" and 10% "Oh come on, no way", which is reasonable for a book of this kind.
It's a very dense and scholarly examination of Matt Smith's first thirteen episodes as the Eleventh Doctor, with a lot of references to studies of pop culture which I haven't read and to some which I have. I think the balance is about 20% "I already knew that" to 70% "Hmmm, that's interesting" and 10% "Oh come on, no way", which is reasonable for a book of this kind.
October 7, 2020
Great book, so interesting as it gives you the big picture on the themes that Steven Mofiat wove into season five.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews