The Eleventh Doctor:

Amy:

Spoiler

I'm so glad they let her use her natural accent. Absolutely love that they've continued giving us companions that aren't afraid to stand up to the Doctor and tell him no. That was one of the things I liked best about Donna and Amy is continuing it. And it's great fun watching her bully everyone in her hometown.

Guess I'll throw in my two cents on the new episode...

The Doctor:

Amy:

The TARDIS:

The Special Effects:

The Sonic Screwdriver:

I'm actually sort of thinking about dipping my toe into the Doctor Who fandom...I've never really been much interested before (although I saw a few episodes with the...ahem bald Doctor, and the girl whose name was Rose, I think?), but the Doctor and the "companion" this time seem much younger, and more...idk, interesting? Anyway, would I need to have a detailed knowledge of all the previous seasons/Doctors to watch this one? Or can I just jump right in and find stuff out as I go along?

Also, not being a Doctor Who fan, I've always wondered this: The Doctors are always changing...is it the same doctor, new actor, or is actually a new Doctor...? In the world of Doctor Who, have the previous seasons/Doctors happened, or do they always start completely fresh when the new Doctor appears?

Jump right on in Val. They usually give enough information that you don't "have" to know the background.

Same Doctor. New actor. New actor brings a new aspect to the Doctor so later actors have to bring it all together.

Previous seasons have happened. Its just a new Doctor. Or in the words of the Doctor "same man, new face".

I'm still not quite sure I understand...the "same man, new face". So, the current Doctor will realize and acknowledge the previous "faces" of Doctors before him...?
Don't they find that a bit odd?

By acknowledge do you mean know about it? Yeah. He has all his memories intact. Basically his body "regnerates" into a new one when he is dying. He can't do indefinitely, but he can do it 12 times.

His previous companions don't usually recognize him unless they were there when it happened or they see the TARDIS.

In an episode called School Reunion, Sarah Jane Smith, a companion from the original run (3rd & 4th doctor), comes in and recognizes the Doctor and the Doctor remembers her as well.

I would strongly suggest starting from the beginning of this new series, but that might be just me. I mean, it's not like the season are very long anyway, only 13 or so each season. They do reference characters in previous seasons, and I think you'd really like David Tennant (not the, ahem, bald doctor. The one who comes after that one. Barty Crouch, Jr. ). And Donna.

So yeah, I'm always in favor of starting a series from the beginning, because I never like to be confused. They are kind of "starting anew" with this season though, so I don't know.

In any case, I think you should start from the beginning.

On this new season, Doctor, Companion, TARDIS, and Sonic Screwdriver:

Doctor:

I was fully prepared to despise him, like Booky. But I ended up really, really liking him a lot. I still get a kick out of the actor's name being Matt Smith. Hehe, Mr. Smith anyone?

Companion:

Amy is awesome. I love her accent, and I love her personality. I think she'll be very good for the Doctor.

TARDIS:

Meh, still getting used to this change. It's not bad, but I'm not that excited about it either. The outside looks nice though.

Sonic Screwdriver:

P.S."Brooklyn!"

Kat: Oooh, that makes much more sense! Thanks!

Ryan--by "start at the beginning of the season" Do you mean start where the new doctor comes in? Cause that's what I was planning on doing...how many episodes have been out so far, is it just one?

In the States, it is just the one. "The Eleventh Hour" is the name of the episode. It has enough backstory in there to set it up without being overwhelming.

I said "start at the beginning of this new series" meaning, seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, and then 5 of this "new" series. As in, not start from the beginning beginning, way back in the 1960s.

In the US only 1 episode is out on BBCA. On BBC, three episodes are out.

P.S."Brooklyn!"

I still haven't watched a whole series, and the episodes I have seen have been all out of order. I think you should be ok, Val If you ever want something that isn't Series 5, you might like Blink--it stands on its own, it's a fabulous episode, and it has Carey Mulligan (although not much Doctor). So.

Sonic Screwdriver:

Amy

Matt Smith is quite good, but I never did understand the hordes of people who wail when any Doctor leaves because the next one will obviously be horrible.

The Beast Below

Spoiler

is my favourite episode of the first three--especially the first half. I love it when they're dropped into some bizarre situation and have no idea what the logic behind everyone else's actions is.

I loike the new Tardis, and the new screwdriver (It's green!!!*shock*) but I don't think Matt Smith lives up to David Tennant, really. David was more energetic, more lively. Amy annoys me too, Alyosha. She tries too hard, I think.
I think The Beast Below had the potential to be really scary, with the Smile-y things, and the actual beast. It was mildly disappointing compared to other Steven Moffat episodes, like the Empty Children with the 9th Doctor. That scared the living daylight out of when I was nine.

~Queeny!

I watch a lot of British TV and have tried several times to get into Doctor Who, but I never could. It just wasn't exciting enough for me, or I didn't like t he characters, or it was too much Sci-fi. I don't know really, I couldn't ever put my finger on what caused me to dislike it, but I just did. I tried watching both Eccleston and Tennant. So, I thought, to be fair, I ought to give Smith a try. I thought his first episode was phenomenal. He's a brilliant actor, is tons of fun, unbalanced, and overall enjoyable to watch. And the new companion Amy is wonderful too. Val, I would recommend jumping in here even if you don't like the earlier seasons.

Matt Smith:

Karen Gillan:

Sonic Screwdriver, TARDIS: