So passed the years -- '91, '92, '93. It was in the Thirtieth Anniversary season that I first caught wind of a major hope for the show's resurrection. Over the succeeding couple of years, this became the Doctor Who telefilm, the brainchild of Philip Segal. Was it worth a five and a half year wait?

Oh, yeah. :-)

THE DOCTOR (Paul McGann)
McGann really is the highlight of the story, almost effortlessly slipping into the role of the Doctor in a natural and convincing manner unlike any of his predecessors with the possible exception of Tom Baker. The Eighth Doctor is eminently likeable but decidedly alien, despite his (in my opinion rather unnecessary) half-human heritage. Determined and almost simmering with intensity, uproariously flippant, and yet possessing a Davison-esque vulnerability, the Eighth Doctor is a Doctor I very much want to get to know; I firmly believe he has the potential to be as popular as Tom Baker. He's also quite different from the other Doctors, although the character is definitely geared mildly towards Tom's mold (for obvious reasons). He's no Fourth Doctor rip off, however, and will, I'm sure, grow yet more distinct with more time to develop.

THE DOCTOR (Sylvester McCoy)
Alas, Sylv, we knew you well. He really deserves two or three more minutes to show off his character, but McCoy nonetheless slips easily back into the role of the Seventh Doctor. My heart nearly broke when he was gunned down, and again when he finally passed away on the operating table. The Seventh Doctor has earned a special position to me, having led fandom through the show's absence, and to finally see him depart is... melancholy. He shall be missed.

GRACE HOLLOWAY (Daphne Ashbrook)
Although not a great character, Grace proves an able an mildly interesting companion; certainly, she fares better in her debut adventure than many other companions. The worst thing I can say about her is that as a whole she comes off rather distant and it's hard to warm to the character. This is not to say she's unlikeable, however, and I'm sure she'd do well with a few more stories under her belt. The keys to a good character are there -- in a 90 minute movie, there just isn't enough time to fully exploit them. Do I want her back as a regular companion? Well, you could certainly do worse.

ERIC ROBERTS (The Master)
He's no Delgado, but Roberts delivers an able and often chilling performance, thankfully never descending into Ainley-style OTTness. The new Master is very much a darker Delgado, still possessing the charisma but also a ruthlessness and coldbloodedness not seen before -- the scene where he breaks his wife's neck made me bristle. One interesting question I have about the Master is whether his eyes are supposed to be serpentine or feline, because although he spends some time in a (well done) ethereal snake form, he also acts in a feral, cheetah-like manner at the end. Something to ponder...

THE SCRIPT
On the whole, it's a classy piece of work -- simple but engaging, doing a great job of introducing Doctor Who's key elements to new viewers without boring longtime fans. It's not overly confusing (although I do have some queries regarding the Eye), and keeps up a great pace while infusing the show with a lot of good humor. There are a couple of moments I could do without -- the miraculous return to life of Grace and Chang Lee is, frankly, rather cringeworthy -- but these are kept few and far between.

THE DIRECTION
The more I think about it, the more I grow to respect Geoff Sax's work. His direction is done in a rather artsy style which enhances the eccentric nature of the show -- something which is very much to the movie's benefit. His concentration on echoing and contrasting two ideas -- Christ and Frankenstein -- gives the movie a nice addition layer which will give viewers cause to think about what they just watched and not just digest it and move on. And, fortunately, neither are overused and are kept nicely subtle.

THE TARDIS
In all honesty, I'm not overjoyed by the new console room. I think it's just a little overblown and too busy, reminding me a little too much of the console room in the '60s Dalek films. That said, it does look very nice and although I have misgivings that doesn't mean I dislike it. The console is particularly nice, and I like the wood panelled design and the old TV. The holograms in the ceiling are a little much, though.

THE THEME MUSIC
I love it. Portentous and enchanting, it's a really fabulous arrangement. I can see how it could take some people a few listens to get used to, though.

THE KISS(ES)
Didn't bother me in the least. As McGann has said, they're not licentious moments. Indeed, the first two are done in a very reactionary manner such that they're almost discountable and the last is so innocent you'd swear the Doctor was a teenager on his first real date. Which is exactly how I'd want it to be. Well done.

THE HALF-HUMANNESS
Well, I think it's unnecessary but I'm still a little unclear about its exact relevance to the Eye of Harmony; this bears a rewatch so I won't condemn it. That said, as the Master indicates, this does make sense and I'll be interested in seeing what's done with it.

THE REGENERATION
Surprisingly subdued to the extent that it makes the Pertwee/Baker regeneration look flashy (well, almost :-)). The reasons for the Eighth Doctor's initial amnesia also make perfect sense, and is well portrayed.

THE KISSES TO THE PAST
Really good. They're not too prevalent and won't have any affect whatsoever on non-fans, but are great for longtime Who viewers. From the long scarf in the locker to the appearance of the Daleks (despite their slightly over-squeaky voices) to the gold dust (I wonder who that's for ;-)), I was in Heaven.

IN CONCLUSION
I am seriously impressed. I've been a little on edge for months now, afraid that my constant defense of the telefilm here on the newsgroup would blow up in my face. Well, I feel vindicated :-) and I'm overjoyed at what Segal and company were able to accomplish. While by no means perfect, the TV movie is nonetheless a fine return for Doctor Who and bodes well for the future. If no series results from this, there is no justice in the world.

Despite the Doctor's statements to the contrary, you can't turn back time. And after seeing the telefilm, that doesn't bother me in the least. Welcome to 1996, Doctor Who. Glad to see you again.

7/10.

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