It was always going to be a risk for the BBC to revamp Doctor Who–few television programmes inspire as much rabid and cultish adoration. With the 2005 series, however, the BBC have really outdone themselves. Their updated Doctor Who is a revelation: a cult science fiction series that has real mass appeal, and works for both children and their parents. Christopher Eccleston is an inspired and charismatic Doctor–he leaps around the sets with an unrestrained glee, like he’s a child running amok in a toy shop. His enthusiasm in downright infectious. His sidekick Rose (Billie Piper) adds a real human touch, particularly as she gradually and believably matures from in-over-her-head city kid to tough-minded interplanetary hero. Much of the credit must go to writer Russell Davies, who has a much-practiced knack for finding popular appeal without dumbing-down his ideas, and who appears to have let his imagination run riot. Even the special effects, whilst not of a big-budget cinematic quality, still manage to strike a balance between cheesiness and realism. Thrilling, funny and thoroughly entertaining, this Doctor Who is a hero for the new millennium. –Robert Burrow
“I DON’T BELIEVE IT, I’VE MORPHED INTO A GAS MASK” ‘The Long Game’ is slick, stylish and very cool (in more ways than one), and is set in the far future on Satellite 5 – a broadcasting satellite. Russell T Davies takes a satirical swipe at ‘The Media’ in this highly entertaining ‘tongue in cheek’ episode, featuring excellent guest stars: Simon Pegg (The Editor) and Tamsin Greig (the nurse). However, the most mischievous thing about this, is to do with the new (and very temporary) assistant, Adam who Rose picked up at the end of ‘Dalek’ as her latest boyfriend, who the doctor describes as being “too pretty” (he may even be jealous) – that is, until he and Rose realise what an irritating spineless wimp they’ve picked up. The Doctor (doesn’t suffer fools gladly) Eccleston, kicks him out, which should have happened to an assistant called Adric back in the 80’s, who was allowed to stay on until he met with his death (crashing a Space Freighter into Earth), and that is what I think this is sending up.
Who’s the mummy? The episodes on this DVD mark the turning point into true quality. The two previous DVDs contained episodes that were very hit (‘The Unquiet Dead’) and miss (the dreadful second episode ‘The End of the World’). Happily, all four episodes on this volume are superb and they display a cohesion, intelligence and emotional impact sadly lacking in previous stories.
Scary These are some of the greatest episodes in the whole series. The Long Game is my least favourite episode of Doctor Who, but it does have an eerie perfomance from Simon Pegg. It’s set in Satellite Five, where something sinister is controlling the human race from behind the scenes. Father’s Day is brilliantly scripted, acted wonderfully, and had the scary Reapers. In it Rose goes back in time to the day her father dies, but saves him, which brings the Reapers in too fix the wound in time. By killing everyone.