Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. It takes no time at all for the new team to establish its authority; the new "Who" feels at once traditional and fresh, and completely right.
  2. Reviewed by: Andrew Barker
    Sharply satirical and playfully dorky without getting bogged down in its own mythology, this iteration should continue to broaden the show's appeal beyond its twin fanbases of Comic-Con lifers and Anglophiles, though both groups will certainly give their seal of approval.
  3. Reviewed by: Randee Dawn
  4. Though Moffat's written some scary stuff for The Doctor before this, Saturday's season premiere feels like a fresh start.
  5. Smith's work in "The Eleventh Hour" showed us exactly what Moffat saw in that audition...."Eleventh Hour" is also a great build-up for Karen Gillan's immensely likable Amy Pond, who has by far the most interesting, emotionally resonant backstory of the modern companions.
  6. It's obvious from the start that a familiar hand is at work in the storytelling, and 27-year-old Mr. Smith is as game as his predecessors in committing whole-hog to the crazy and delivering the drama.
  7. Reviewed by: Matt Roush
  8. 75
  9. Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    Allowances must be made for a scene-setting episode introducing an entire new cast, and the show could easily get back in the groove next week. But perhaps, once the new Doctor gets the hang of the Tardis, he could go back to late 2009 and pick up Mr. Davies, just for a consult.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 183 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 28
  2. Negative: 5 out of 28
  1. Sep 24, 2010
  2. MickeyS.
    Apr 18, 2010
    As a long time Dr. Who fan, I found this episode was brilliant.
  3. KD
    Apr 17, 2010
    What on earth has happened to doctor who? I remember the first of the new series being great, with Christopher Eccleston's darker more interesting doctor who, much more thought out plots that you could actually follow with decent special effects that looked believable and wasn't made only for kids. Lately however it seems to have turned into a CBBC show with rediculous plot lines that sound almost as if they where thought up by a child. The special effects make me wonder what has happened to the BBC spcial effects budget in the last year, since this seasons have been absolutely dreadful. Notthe doctor who I remember at all. Full Review »