So glad you found the joy in The Empty Child/Doctor Dances. It's does a great job, introduces a memorable character and, I think, treads the perfect line between some really quite grisly horror darkness - right down to alluding to child abuse - and some wonderful comedy - Spock, the banana - and the banter between Rose, the Doctor and Jack is wonderful. This was a perfect episode for me - easily the best from S1 in my book, and a real put Moffat on the radar as a future show-runner. Plus, of course, just this once, everybody lives.
It's also got the setting - when I grew up in London we still had bombsites, they were one of the main places you would play. Also most families had lost somebody during the war and there was an increasing feeling that we had made a choice between making stand against the odds or coming to an arrangement and for once we had had got it right despite the enormous cost. So I invest a lot in that little scene where Rose tells Nancy she's a Londoner and that bad as things look we don't lose. It's my favourite Rose moment by a mile. Definitely in my top ten as a two-parter.
If you ever get into Torchwood you'll see A LOT more backstory to Captain Jack. But without any details, he basically IS an unscrupulous, untrustworthy, money-grubbing character... until he meets the Doctor. Then he becomes a Han Solo-ish lovable scoundrel who can have flexible ethics at times but is a good person at heart and would never betray the Doctor or his companions.
Firstly, you look absolutely lovely. You're so dressed up. The dress, the jewelry, the HAIR. I don't think I can get my hair to stay like that. I love that you said you grew with Donna. That's so nice when that happens. I feel like that with some characters in TV shows and films. Not often, but some times.
The Empty Child/Doctor Dances two-parter definitely has a different vibe to it when you go back and rewatch it, especially after seeing more episodes with Jack. Also knowing what the reveal at the end is puts certain scenes into a different light. I always look forward to those episodes when I marathon season one.
Trying to guess what you have prepared for us every next day is a pretty fun game. Yes, it's the top-10 of RTD era and The Night-Day-Time, but what else? It's so exciting! Looking forward your December videos!
Sure... there are some eps I LOVE that you have low on your overall list and I have some that I HATE that are high on your list, but not only is it YOUR list, but you take the time to explain your reasons and that's really what matters!
Loving the countdown. Fun fact, Doomsday was filmed before The Satan Pit. The last scene David and Billie filmed together was the ending. David was so choked up, he could barely get out his line. Doctor Who: They make everyone cry; including the cast and crew.
Appreciating Doctor Who December so much - thank you. Gratified to see Empty Child / Doctor Dances go up so much in your estimation on rewatch - a real new-who classic for me :)
I love "Smith and Jones". It's my favourite companion intro episode of the RTD era. "Planet of the Ood" was also a favourite of mine. "Boomtown"... let's just disagree on that. Same with "Waters of Mars". Jack definitely wasn't trustworthy the first time we met him. Your instincts were right. Thanks for doing these!
Thanks for the Video, great watch! I think that Waters of Mars really becomes truly great if watched back to back with The fires of Pompei. It is like a two part episode, with the exception that Donna did not make it to Mars. On second thought maybe one needs to also watch the Journeys end two parter for the point about fixed time with the Dalek notkilling the commander to make sense...
One of the great things about Doctor Who being made by BBC Wales is the fantastic Welsh talent they hire for their shows. Mali Harries as Cathy the pregnant reporter in Boom Town; Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper from Stolen Earth/Journey's End/Torchwood (she also plays the clairvoyant maid Gwyneth in Unquiet Dead); and Catrin Stewart as Jenny from the Paternoster Gang are just a very few.
'Boom Town' isn't one people talk about as being horribly bad but it's not generally considered particularly good (which I personally agree with). Not a lot happens plot-wise and the resolution is a deus ex machina but it does have interesting character commentary. *20 - The End of the World* (Similar to 'Rose', it does a great job of introducing things. It showcases the kind of show that 'Doctor Who' is, develops the Doctor and Rose further and has pretty good special and visual effects) *19 - Planet of the Ood* (It's very fun while being particularly dark and emotional) *18 - Gridlock* (As a kid, I probably would have said this is one of my least favourites but I've grown to appreciate it so much more as I've grown up. It's premise is maybe questionable but it presents interesting ideas and a grittier tone, with really nice character writing - both the society of people in the cars and the protagonists; the Doctor in particular) *17 - New Earth* (I don't understand the distaste for this story. I find it thoroughly enjoyable throughout. It presents interesting ideas, great visual and special effects, great costumes, it makes you feel sorry for the villain in her death (although her acceptance of death is maybe too rushed), and it's a lot of fun) *16 - Midnight* (It's a perfect portrayal of cabin fever) *15 - Blink* (It has likeable characters, and the protagonist in particular is played very well by Carey Mulligan, a great villain, and a well-told story) *14 - Father’s Day* (It an emotional story with good character writing. It's a shame that great episodes like this (dealing with the topic of changing time) are made effectively redundant by episodes that ignore the continuity later) *13 - Human Nature/The Family of Blood* (A brilliant, emotional story with great characters. The villains were creepily played by their respective actors; particular credit to Harry Lloyd who played Baines/Son of mine. I like the addition of Tim Latimer, also very well-played by Thomas Sangster. I like it when non-essential elements are added to stories, just for the sake of making it more interesting - although that can go wrong - and that applies to an extent to that character and the extension of his story past the end of the main one. The one flaw I have with the episode is its resolution as the Doctor destroys the villain's spaceship really easily, they presumably give up, and he proceeds to put them in a state of eternal torture which is completely out of character. I think that last part could have worked if it had been framed differently as the punishments aren't necessarily excessively torturous. The way it's framed makes the Doctor comes across as plainly cruel though which isn't fair. There is a sort of beautiful irony to that whole portion of the story in the way the Doctor's character and the villain's punishments are handled so I enjoy it, ignoring the wider context but at that point in the Doctor's life, it doesn't flow with his character) *12 - Dalek* (Fantastic portrayal of the Daleks. Again, there's a beautiful irony to it as it stops the Dalek at hand being a threat to others and then has it kill itself for the sake of pointing out how inherently evil the Daleks are. The Doctor's character and backstory is also explored really nicely and Christopher Eccleston plays him brilliantly. On a less obvious note, I think the setting is created very believably as in the bunker feels like a real place) *11 - The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances* (A very well-told story, incorporating a bunch of different elements (story and character), all of which are interesting. The historical setting is also well-created and the villain is definitely creepy)
I'm really happy to see Waters of Mars so high on the list. I love that episode and I remember the first time around thinking, How can she not be affected by this? I thought the Dark Doctor was terrifying and the whole thing was terribly sad.
I love 'Waters of Mars', almost anticipating it since Fires of Pompeii, with the introduction of certain events must happen. It had to be a tragic episode, and it was done brilliantly, with the Doctor's shift too far sold convincingly. But, I have to disagree, the Adipose are incredibly cute. Also available as silicone stress toys that you can crush or punch. Their tiny hands waving to Donna from the transporter beam. I also loved The Empty Child/Doctor dances, for me feeling darker and more dangerous than many episodes. The pain, and the tragedy without a malicious villain behind it. (Jack doesn't count, he's a conman and careless not wicked). I believe he was only meant to be in for one season, but was so well received they gave him more appearances. Yeah!
My thoughts: 20) The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit: I really liked that one. Space base, big cast, kill them off one-by-one. 19) Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways: One of the better finales. 18) Smith and Jones: Not a bad introduction for a new companion. Not brilliant in my opinion. 17) The Runaway Bride: It's okay. Donna really makes that episode. 16) Planet of the Ood: Well rounded episode. Nice to have a human villain. 15) Boom Town: Definitely beats the other Slitheen episodes. Works well for a really low budget episode. 14) Army of Ghosts/Doomsday: The first episode is great but the second lets it down a bit. The whole phone call scene is brilliant though. "This is not war. This is pest control." 13) The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances: Great two-parter. 12) Partners in Crime: Great comedy intro for Donna. That mime scene. 11) The Waters of Mars: This would be #1 for me. Horror, darkness, tragedy, the dilemma the Doctor is put in, and how he ultimately resolves the situation before realising it was the wrong thing to do.
Boom Town is polarising, so I'm not surprised that it ranks pretty high. I don't like it but I know a lot of people do. The Runaway Bride is the one that I'm most surprised about being so high.
Satan Pit - best from season, possibly my favourite new who story Bad wolf - love these ones Smith and Jones - overlooked. Love it. Best season opener imo Runaway bride - it’s good . Planet of the Ood - worst Donna era story. It’s too silly in places. The human characters are cringey. Boom town- boring. Doomsday- good. I don’t like the exit. It’s the doctor/companion forming to the point the companion loves the doctor and wants to marry him etc. Mind you 10 is hot Empty child - used to be terrified watching this one. Love it now. Partners in crime - it’s ok. Plot is meh but performance is great Waters - good story
I didn't dislike Boomtown. While not one of my favorite episodes, I consider it a good "breather" episode before the season finale. My favorite scene is the Doctor, Rose, Jack, and Mickey talking and laughing at the restaurant. It's the kind of thing that comes off as both normal and special at the same time. I also was skeptical of Captain Jack when he first appeared. He had the charms of a con artist which he sort of was. But I came to accept him as one of the gang. Made me wish he had remained so after S1 instead of getting his own series. Curious what your top 10 Doctor Who episodes are, Jess.
Boom Town does have a little bit of 'stink by association' to it. It's unfair, it's a good episode, but there's a fair number of people who didn't like it purely due to it's connection to the Slitheen in general
It's pretty dull - but, dear god, the farting aliens? No wonder the cast played it for laughs. I'd be a lot more charitable toward Boom Town if didn't just remind me of Aliens of London/WW3.
Bob Dallas I think it has its moments, but the so called moral dilemma is bollocks, she is a mass murderer who planned to destroy the Earth. The doctor should have no problems dooming her, as he did Solomon the trader, who just killed one dinosaur. I give it a pass because they had to conjure another episode at the last minute out of existing characters and sets. The plot is still rubbish though.
12) I'm just realising the diet pills plotline almost represents the vanity and trivialness in Donna before she met the Doctor. Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.
Donna's reaction and empathy to the Ood really stands out in comparison Rose's. Donna: "Slave race, how horrible!". Rose: (punning on the species name): "... that's ood..."
It confirmed what I had felt during Fires of Pompeii - that Catherine Tate was going to be far more than a comic foil. I might well have put it in my top ten. And yes, I far prefer Donna to Rose. I think Billie Piper did a good job of representing the character as written but that character always tottered on the flip and shallow except when the dreadful Rose and Her Doctor theme was being evoked - and I really, really loathed that whole storyline.
Late comment but that was not Rose’s reaction at all. Guy: “Basic slave race.” Rose: “You’ve got slaves?” Girl: “Don’t tell me she’s one of those lot. Friends of the ood.” Rose: “Well maybe I am yeah, since when did humans need slaves.” Guy: “Well the ood offer themselves.” Rose to an Ood: “seriously, you like being ordered about?” Ood: “It is all we crave.” Rose: “Well I used to think like that. Long time ago.” There was just too much stuff going on for her to focus on them.
I remember at the time being impressed by your restraint at not cheering at the end of Doomsday 😏. I’m a huge Rose/ Billie Piper fan, but your refusal to get on board always amused me. Your Donna love I just have to accept as a quirk, but even I like her in Partners in crime. Not Runaway bride though...ergh, just awful. Still, she easily wins my most improved companion though. Back handed compliment? Yes, probably.
School Reunion is in your Top 10! That's enough to make me very happy :) I'm with you on Rose and Doomsday - I never took to the character;nor the romance angle.I was simply relieved to see her go! (...or so I assumed it to be at time). Personally,I would put The Empty Child two-parter into the top 10;but,there you go. Best story altogether? I'd nominate the Human Nature two-parter. Any bets?
Boom Town was RTD doing a low budget episode, so there was more money for the season finale. It gave the writers more chance to concentrate on the dialogue, rather than chase scenes. Nicely skewering the Doctor with the consequences of his actions, listening to a sociopath's defence.
Happy Industries It’s been 2 years but I thought I’d say I’d say she prefers the Moffat era, definitely liked the doctors and companions much more from what I could tell
eleventh hour, angels take manhattan and vincent arent rtd episodes, this is strictly rtd episodes, im guessing there will be a different list for moffatt era