5x01-Eleventh Hour

Story:  The 11th incarnation of the Doctor crash lands, saves the world, and gets the girl (well, he gets a new companion).

  As an introduction to a new Doctor this episode does the job.  As a story, this one left a few things to be desired.  Anyone who has watched the entire new series will remember when the Doctor (David Tennant) met his new companion Martha Jones in the Season 3 opener.  In that story an escaped alien prisoner was hunted by the Jadoon, who transported a hospital to the moon to quarantine the alien.  Using the "escaped alien prisoner" narrative was a little bit of a let down, especially since it's a new series and a new companion.  Too many coincidences.
  What saves the episode and gives it 3 Tardises out of 5 is the way the story was told.  The Doctor visits Amelia Pond at 3 different times in her life, once when she was a little girl, and fixes the crack in her wall, which allowed an alien prisoner to escape, then 12 years later when he captures the prisoner and saves the world, and then 2 years later when he asks Amy to join him. (the TARDIS has some problems).  The chemistry between Pond and the Doctor is really good. 

Things I liked:

• Amelia Pond (the young girl)-Brilliant acting.
• Amy Pond (grown up)-Again, brilliant acting, casting, and character.  She refuses to be awed by the Doctor, like Donna Noble, but is not "OY!" about it.  Instead she has the gentleness and playful nature of Rose Tyler.  She is not intelligent like Martha, but is clever.  Like all companions, she notices things that others don't.
• Dialogue:  "You're Scottish.  Fry something."  "Basically, run."  
• The TARDIS seems to be alive.  At the end of the episode the key to it glows with energy similar to the Doctor's when he regenerates, and he calls her "dear."  I had read that they were going to make the TARDIS more alive, and  I am all for it, as long as its low key and not in your face.  Talking is right out of the question.  Oh, and not to mention the new TARDIS interior.  A bit less organic and more industrial.  Oh, and the pinball machine is win.
• The TARDISs' control being a bit wonky.  See above.

Things I didn't like:

• The Doctor's new taste bud gag went a little too long.  

• Amy's wedding dress scene.  I understood that Amy was going with the Doctor to get in some excitement before she got married and settled down to a boring life.  Even before the shot of the dress, this was evident. 

Meh:

• Foreshadowing:  The crack is a foreshadow of some epic end of season extravaganza.  We get the crack in Amelia's room, the prophecy from the alien prisoner, and the read out on the TARDISs' screen.  Fine...yawn...thanks for the hint.  Now can you turn off the 50 foot neon "FORESHADOW" sign plskthx?

Other thoughts:
I have the feeling that Amy is destined to die.
Where was her aunt?  There seems to be some backstory that may be filled later.

Next Time:  The Beast Below

5x02-The Beast Below

Story:  The Doctor and Amy visit Starship UK, a vessel fleeing a burning Earth.  But the ship has a terrible secret...

The story was an excellent one-off.  As the sun heated up, the world's population escaped in giant ships divided by countries.  Starship UK was the last but they had trouble with their engines.  Like a miracle a space creature called a starwhale comes along.  The engineers captured, harnessed, and, using torture, goaded the beast to carry their ship away.  Now Starship UK uses Police State-styled tactics to keep its population in line, and ignorant of the truth  And true to form, the Doctor decides to meddle.  Caught in a moral dilemma between saving a creature who is the last of its kind, and dooming the passengers of Starship UK, the Doctor decides to kill the beast's higher brain functions.  But Amy has other ideas.  Seeing how the creature treats children, she decides to end the torture and let the creature decide what to do.  The starwhale stays, and in fact the only reason it came to earth was to help Starship UK.  A happy ending to a very good episode.  4 Tardises

Things I like:

• Amy Pond made the ultimate decision to free the starwhale.  Contrary to most Dr Who canon, the companion saved the day.  
• The Doctor has a problem with this.  Yes, I like this.  When there is a terrible decision to be made, the Doctor makes it and takes the terrible responsibility.  I think the Doctor was a bit jealous of Amy making the right decision when he didn't see it.  But the reason he has companions is to, as he puts it, "stop him." 
• Liz 10, the Queen of Starship UK.  I found her very likable, in the "King trying to stop the conspiracy" sense.  

Things I didn't like:

• The end, which showed the crack.  Sigh...foreshadowing.

Other thoughts:

• Watching the episode again, I saw that the crack had appeared AFTER the Doctor and Amy arrived.  Is Amy causing the cracks?  First the lack of information on Amy, and now this.  
• Interestingly enough, this story jibes with the history of Earth from waaay back in Tom Baker's time, from "The Ark in Space." 

Next Time:  Victory of the Daleks