For many of us Whovians, it all started way back in 2005. After a few unsuccessful attempts are favourite Sci-Fi show returned with Christopher Ecclestone and Billie Piper as the leading roles of the Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler, respectfully. And the best thing about it, it wasn’t a spin-off or a reboot; it was a continuation of the original series, albeit with a time gap for the protagonist. Yes, the series returned on 26th March 2005 with better special and practical effects than ever before. It is a known fact that Series One touched the hearts of millions from more than one generation, heck I started on Series 2 but I think Series One is better than two (in my opinion). I’m here to tell you guys who haven’t seen the series to watch it as it is a great series. Here is my NuWho Retrospective, building up to the 50th in November.
EPISODE 1: ROSE BY RUSSELL T. DAVIES
To say that former executive producer and head writer, Russell T. Davies done a good job was an understatement. What RTD did was so simple, yet so relevant. He turned a simple Sci-Fi show into a modern drama with several genres dipping into the series. For a start the episode opens with a bang – seriously the Ninth Doctor blows up Henrik’s Department Store. From the word, ‘Run’ I loved Nine, Ecclestone done a great job of portraying the Doctor and so did Billie with Rose. The Secondary Characters – Jackie Tyler, Rose’s mum and Mickey Smith, Rose’s boyfriend (at the time) brought a lot to the episode, never before had Doctor Who centred around family, only ever the Doctor and his companion. The episode attracted many viewers, therefore broadening the population of Whovians. This is the ‘An Unearthly Child’ of the 21st Century.
EPISODE 2: THE END OF THE WORLD BY RUSSELL T. DAVIES
In my opinion, ‘The End of the World’ bridged Classic Who and NuWho, the guests on Platform one looked eccentric and like the Classic series aliens yet the impressive Special Effects looked modern and astonishing for a television series budget. I think this is a good episode; it takes the audience to a far future which is what I enjoy to see and is what many Whovians enjoy to see. And this is also the episode that we learn what happened to the Time Lords, it was heartbreaking for classic fans.
EPISODE 3: THE UNQUIET DEAD BY MARK GATISS
‘The Unquiet Dead’ is an important episode for NuWho as it was the first episode to go into the past and more importantly was the first episode to feature historical figures. Simon Callow had a great performance as the wordsmith, Charles Dickens; this episode was also the first episode to feature Eve Myles who would go on to play Torchwood’s Gwen Cooper. The episode had an interesting plot and was generally scary at times, having Dickens in the episode was the icing on the cake.
EPISODE 4 & 5: ALIENS OF LONDON/WORLD WAR THREE BY RUSSELL T. DAVIES
I’ll admit this story is not one of my favourites, but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t like it. Most fans will agree with me that ‘Aliens of London’ was a disappointment for what it was trying to achieve yet ‘World War Three’ was an improvement. But I will say that the episode can make you a fan of the show. The story featured the return of Jackie Tyler and Mickey Smith as well as the first appearance of the Slitheen Family. I thought one of the great things this episode did, was that it demonstrated what the family of the companion feels when the companion starts travelling. The missile launch in ‘World War Three’ was really suspenseful. The only problem in part two is that the Slitheen were a bit too silly for the series.
EPISODE 6: DALEK BY ROBERT SHEARMAN
Another very important episode, introduction of the Daleks to the New Series, and writer Robert Shearman had done a phenomenal job of reincorporating of the Doctor’s most deadly foe to the series. The Lone Dalek was terrifying; once it was regenerated from time energy it went all out to kill everyone in Van Statten’s Vault including the Doctor, heck most importantly the Doctor. It was just one creature, yet it almost killed everyone in the underground base. This is a gem of an episode, which is a must see for new viewers.
EPISODE 7: THE LONG GAME BY RUSSELL T. DAVIES
Although this is my least favourite episode of the series, that doesn’t mean I won’t praise the RTD. I loved the way that this episode featured loads of tid-bits towards the finale of the series, there were threads hinting towards the finale which no one noticed until the finale. One of my many gripes about the episode is Adam Mitchell, the unpopular companion whom nobody likes; I ended up hating him by the end of the episode. Anyway although its not the best episode, it is certainly a vital episode.
EPISODE 8: FATHER’S DAY BY PAUL CORNELL
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m not the biggest fan of Rose, yet I’ve got to say…I really liked her in this episode. This is my favourite episode to centre around Rose Tyler. I love how the Doctor and Rose’s relationship is tested within this episode, the Doctor’s angry at Rose for changing history and Rose is angry at the Doctor for not being happy for her. Although I loved Rose in this episode, the stand out performance was by Shaun Dingwall, otherwise known as Pete Tyler, Rose’s late father. Although I’m a guy, I’ve got to say, get the tissue’s ready because this is a tear-jerker.
EPISODE 9 & 10: THE EMPTY CHILD/THE DOCTOR DANCES BY STEVEN MOFFAT
Now we get to the story which I had nightmares about the first time I watched it, seriously I was terrified. This episode was the first canonical episode to be written by the infamous Steven Moffat and the first appearance of fan favourite, Captain Jack Harkness. This episode in my opinion (and many others) was a masterpiece, I can truly understand why this was Christopher Ecclestone’s favourite episode because it was truly brilliant. The episode also featured the always brilliant, Richard Wilson as Doctor Constantine. The whole cast was brilliant in this episode. This is truly a favourite of mine.
EPISODE 11: BOOM TOWN BY RUSSELL T. DAVIES
NO! The Slitheen are back! Oh, well the one that was featured was much better than the previous appearance. This put the Doctor in the place of an executioner (so to speak) and Rose in the place of a guilty girlfriend. The moral of this episode is, you can’t keep a relationship going with someone on Earth while travelling in the TARDIS. I’ll admit this episode was a bit cheesy.
EPISODE 12 & 13: BAD WOLF/THE PARTING OF THE WAYS BY RUSSELL T. DAVIES
Okay guys, it’s the big one, the series finale. And what a finale it was, this episode although not my favourite story of the series it was still utterly brilliant. I loved the way it spoofed many British Television Shows and I respect Channel 4 for allowing the BBC to use Big Brother in the episode (I’m still not a fan though). This is one of the best finales the series has had, I honestly love this episode and so do many people. This episode showed the true potential of the Daleks as it shown the power of an army of them. I loved the send off they gave Christopher Ecclestone, who was absolutely brilliant in the role of the Ninth Doctor. I just can’t express how much I wish Ecclestone stayed on as the Doctor for at least one more year.
All in all, Series One was a fantastic (pun intended) series to introduce the series to a new audience. As soon as I watched the series on DVD I wanted to watch it all over again. Like put in disk one, Allons-y. Thing about Series One is that there is not one terrible episode, weak – yes. But never terrible, I love Series One and I hope you guys did too.
10: ‘The Long Game’
9: ‘Aliens of London’/ ‘World War Three’
8: ‘Boom Town’
7: ‘The End of the World’
6: ‘Rose’
5: ‘Father’s Day’
4: ‘The Unquiet Dead’
3: ‘Dalek’
2: ‘Bad Wolf’/ ‘The Parting of the Ways’
1: ‘The Empty Child’/ ‘The Doctor Dances’
EPISODE 1: ROSE BY RUSSELL T. DAVIES
To say that former executive producer and head writer, Russell T. Davies done a good job was an understatement. What RTD did was so simple, yet so relevant. He turned a simple Sci-Fi show into a modern drama with several genres dipping into the series. For a start the episode opens with a bang – seriously the Ninth Doctor blows up Henrik’s Department Store. From the word, ‘Run’ I loved Nine, Ecclestone done a great job of portraying the Doctor and so did Billie with Rose. The Secondary Characters – Jackie Tyler, Rose’s mum and Mickey Smith, Rose’s boyfriend (at the time) brought a lot to the episode, never before had Doctor Who centred around family, only ever the Doctor and his companion. The episode attracted many viewers, therefore broadening the population of Whovians. This is the ‘An Unearthly Child’ of the 21st Century.
EPISODE 2: THE END OF THE WORLD BY RUSSELL T. DAVIES
In my opinion, ‘The End of the World’ bridged Classic Who and NuWho, the guests on Platform one looked eccentric and like the Classic series aliens yet the impressive Special Effects looked modern and astonishing for a television series budget. I think this is a good episode; it takes the audience to a far future which is what I enjoy to see and is what many Whovians enjoy to see. And this is also the episode that we learn what happened to the Time Lords, it was heartbreaking for classic fans.
EPISODE 3: THE UNQUIET DEAD BY MARK GATISS
‘The Unquiet Dead’ is an important episode for NuWho as it was the first episode to go into the past and more importantly was the first episode to feature historical figures. Simon Callow had a great performance as the wordsmith, Charles Dickens; this episode was also the first episode to feature Eve Myles who would go on to play Torchwood’s Gwen Cooper. The episode had an interesting plot and was generally scary at times, having Dickens in the episode was the icing on the cake.
EPISODE 4 & 5: ALIENS OF LONDON/WORLD WAR THREE BY RUSSELL T. DAVIES
I’ll admit this story is not one of my favourites, but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t like it. Most fans will agree with me that ‘Aliens of London’ was a disappointment for what it was trying to achieve yet ‘World War Three’ was an improvement. But I will say that the episode can make you a fan of the show. The story featured the return of Jackie Tyler and Mickey Smith as well as the first appearance of the Slitheen Family. I thought one of the great things this episode did, was that it demonstrated what the family of the companion feels when the companion starts travelling. The missile launch in ‘World War Three’ was really suspenseful. The only problem in part two is that the Slitheen were a bit too silly for the series.
EPISODE 6: DALEK BY ROBERT SHEARMAN
Another very important episode, introduction of the Daleks to the New Series, and writer Robert Shearman had done a phenomenal job of reincorporating of the Doctor’s most deadly foe to the series. The Lone Dalek was terrifying; once it was regenerated from time energy it went all out to kill everyone in Van Statten’s Vault including the Doctor, heck most importantly the Doctor. It was just one creature, yet it almost killed everyone in the underground base. This is a gem of an episode, which is a must see for new viewers.
EPISODE 7: THE LONG GAME BY RUSSELL T. DAVIES
Although this is my least favourite episode of the series, that doesn’t mean I won’t praise the RTD. I loved the way that this episode featured loads of tid-bits towards the finale of the series, there were threads hinting towards the finale which no one noticed until the finale. One of my many gripes about the episode is Adam Mitchell, the unpopular companion whom nobody likes; I ended up hating him by the end of the episode. Anyway although its not the best episode, it is certainly a vital episode.
EPISODE 8: FATHER’S DAY BY PAUL CORNELL
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m not the biggest fan of Rose, yet I’ve got to say…I really liked her in this episode. This is my favourite episode to centre around Rose Tyler. I love how the Doctor and Rose’s relationship is tested within this episode, the Doctor’s angry at Rose for changing history and Rose is angry at the Doctor for not being happy for her. Although I loved Rose in this episode, the stand out performance was by Shaun Dingwall, otherwise known as Pete Tyler, Rose’s late father. Although I’m a guy, I’ve got to say, get the tissue’s ready because this is a tear-jerker.
EPISODE 9 & 10: THE EMPTY CHILD/THE DOCTOR DANCES BY STEVEN MOFFAT
Now we get to the story which I had nightmares about the first time I watched it, seriously I was terrified. This episode was the first canonical episode to be written by the infamous Steven Moffat and the first appearance of fan favourite, Captain Jack Harkness. This episode in my opinion (and many others) was a masterpiece, I can truly understand why this was Christopher Ecclestone’s favourite episode because it was truly brilliant. The episode also featured the always brilliant, Richard Wilson as Doctor Constantine. The whole cast was brilliant in this episode. This is truly a favourite of mine.
EPISODE 11: BOOM TOWN BY RUSSELL T. DAVIES
NO! The Slitheen are back! Oh, well the one that was featured was much better than the previous appearance. This put the Doctor in the place of an executioner (so to speak) and Rose in the place of a guilty girlfriend. The moral of this episode is, you can’t keep a relationship going with someone on Earth while travelling in the TARDIS. I’ll admit this episode was a bit cheesy.
EPISODE 12 & 13: BAD WOLF/THE PARTING OF THE WAYS BY RUSSELL T. DAVIES
Okay guys, it’s the big one, the series finale. And what a finale it was, this episode although not my favourite story of the series it was still utterly brilliant. I loved the way it spoofed many British Television Shows and I respect Channel 4 for allowing the BBC to use Big Brother in the episode (I’m still not a fan though). This is one of the best finales the series has had, I honestly love this episode and so do many people. This episode showed the true potential of the Daleks as it shown the power of an army of them. I loved the send off they gave Christopher Ecclestone, who was absolutely brilliant in the role of the Ninth Doctor. I just can’t express how much I wish Ecclestone stayed on as the Doctor for at least one more year.
All in all, Series One was a fantastic (pun intended) series to introduce the series to a new audience. As soon as I watched the series on DVD I wanted to watch it all over again. Like put in disk one, Allons-y. Thing about Series One is that there is not one terrible episode, weak – yes. But never terrible, I love Series One and I hope you guys did too.
10: ‘The Long Game’
9: ‘Aliens of London’/ ‘World War Three’
8: ‘Boom Town’
7: ‘The End of the World’
6: ‘Rose’
5: ‘Father’s Day’
4: ‘The Unquiet Dead’
3: ‘Dalek’
2: ‘Bad Wolf’/ ‘The Parting of the Ways’
1: ‘The Empty Child’/ ‘The Doctor Dances’
