I know, it took some time. About two years ago, I took my first step through the door of the TARDIS and was amazed by the infinity inside that blue hut. Now, I’ve pulled my old notes from the dusty shelves and I’m going back to the sad but tough leather jacket era of the 9th Doctor, to 2005, when the modern series started. If you’re ready, read Christopher Eccleston’s “Fantastic!” Let’s take a time journey, episode by episode, accompanied by the line.
I had watched the Doctor Who series before and now I started it again and decided to review the sequel seasons. S01E01 – Rose: A Hello and a Thousand Hustle It all started with plastic mannequins that came to life in a store basement. Russell T. Davies chose a risky but sincere path when starting the modern series. Rose Tyler’s ordinary life, holding the Doctor’s hand and saying “Run!” We saw what kind of chaos it evolved into.
Although the visual effects of the episode feel a little “old” when viewed today, the uncanny feeling created by the models (Autons) is still there. S01E02 – The End of the World: See You in Five Billion Years Where does the Doctor take Rose on her first journey? To the destruction of the Earth, of course! Five billion years in the future, we meet the strange alien races gathered on Platform One. From plastic surgery addict Cassandra to the mysterious Face of Boe, this episode showed us how diverse (and sometimes how selfish) the universe can be.
The “cultural shock” that Rose experienced and the fact that she knew that her house would turn into a cloud of dust put the emotional weight of the series on our shoulders from the second episode. “With a taste of your lips, I’m on a ride… you’re toxic, I’m slipping under.” Toxic, I really don’t understand what it’s about. S01E03 – The Unquiet Dead: Ghosts of Cardiff and Dickens After the future, the direction is past!
On the snowy streets of Cardiff in 1869, together with Charles Dickens, we pursued the “Gelth” race in gaseous form that resurrected the dead. The Victorian atmosphere was the first successful example of Doctor Who’s famous “adventure with a historical figure” formula. The clash of Dickens’ rationalism with the Doctor’s impossible reality was one of the most enjoyable moments to watch. S01E04 We meet the Slitheen family, who have infiltrated the highest levels of government and spread fear mixed with fart jokes.
Although these two episodes were criticized for their childish humor, they actually contained a solid satire on media manipulation and the fear of nuclear war. In addition, these were the episodes where the pieces that would be very important in the future of the series, such as UNIT and Harriet Jones, fell into place for the first time. S01E06 – Dalek: Pure Hate Here is the crux of the season, perhaps the entire modern series.
A single Dalek trapped in a secret museum underground. But a “single” creature is scarier than a whole army. The pure hatred and fear we saw in the Doctor’s eyes when he encountered the Dalek was proof of why Christopher Eccleston became a giant. In this episode, we felt in our bones what the Time War was and why the Doctor was so injured. The sentence “You would make a great Doctor” still rings in my ears. S01E07 – The Long Game: Information is Power, Manipulation is Greater Power In the distant future, we are in a media station that controls humanity’s entire information flow.
The character “The Editor”, played by Simon Pegg, was the face of the terrible manipulation that kept humanity stagnant. The episode not only planted the seeds of the “Bad Wolf” mystery leading up to the season finale, but also showed us that not every companion of the Doctor is suitable for the TARDIS (Bless you, Adam!). S01E08 – Father’s Day: Rose’s desire to meet her father turns into a tragedy that shatters the timeline.
We saw how far the rule of “you can’t change time” can be stretched and the cost of this bending through the Reapers. It was an episode with such a heavy emotional burden that we witnessed how an ordinary person (Pete Tyler) could turn into a hero in those moments when even the Doctor was helpless. S01E09 S01E11 – Boom Town: Ethics Debate at Dinner The famous dinner with a surviving Slitheen (Margaret Blaine) while charging the TARDIS in the Cardiff Rift.
It was an episode where the action stopped and ethics and justice were questioned. Should you send a criminal to death or give him a second chance? It was a quiet but profound break point where the Doctor’s “divine” decisions were questioned. S01E12 Christopher Eccleston showed us the rebirth of a war-weary god in just 13 episodes. The magnificent fiction created by the word “Bad Wolf” appearing in every episode is a lesson on how modern TV series should be.
Which episode made you feel the most nervous or which scene did you shed your tears? Let’s meet in the comments and discuss lore. Coming soon is Season 2, the 10th Doctor and the infamous “Allons-y!” I will be before you again with the exclamation. Until then, take care and never, ever blink! (Though those were the next season, but that’s okay, don’t blink.) See you!
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