Most have agreed that the BBC’s decision to revive Doctor Who has proven inspired, with the Christopher Ecclestone-led ‘first’ series proving a critical and ratings success. Yet when Ecclestone announced he was departing the role after just one season, eyebrows were raised. Could the momentum be kept going for a second series?
Absolutely. The seamless casting of David Tennant as Ecclestone’s successor in the TARDIS has been equally inspired, and while it’s a fair debate as to whether he matches the standards set by his predecessor, the show rarely lets you draw breath to think about it.
This second series collection kicks off with the 2005 Christmas special, which finds the Doctor struggling to overcome the effects of his regeneration, just as the Earth happens to be being invaded. It’s a smashing episode, and many of the thirteen that follow manage to match it. Particular highlights? There’s “School Reunion”, which cleverly works old favourites K-9 and Sarah-Jane back into the mix, while “The Girl In The Fireplace” finds the Doctor in a slightly more romantic frame, “The Idiot’s Lantern” is a super, snappy episode set just before Coronation Day, while the two-part “Impossible Planet” and “Satan Pit” shows just how far you can stretch a BBC budget.
Yet the series will ultimately be remembered for different reasons. The triumphant return for the Cybermen for one, and the depature of Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler in the superb final two-parter, which also happens to see two of the Doctor’s deadliest foes waging war. And while it’s not unfair to say that this series of Doctor Who hasn’t been without one or two low moments too, the vast majority of it has been really quite brilliant. Fast, energetic, well-written and cracking entertainment, you’re only left wondering how they can top all this next time round… —Simon Brew
A time travelling triumph. After all the hype surrounding the excellent first series, this second one continues where that left off with 13 more episodes of equally good quality.Whilst it is sad that Ecclestone left after just one series of the show the impact is lessened for two reasons. Firstly the format allows there to be a change of lead actor, and secondly the fact that Tennant seems to be more in keeping with Doctors of the past. While Ecclestone has confessed he was never a huge fan of Doctor Who, Tennant is the total opposite and this can been seen in some of his performances in how he portrays The Doctor. There appears to be little bits of previous Doctors creeping out every now and then. The chemistry with Billie Piper also remains strong and she still appears to be having the time of her life.With series one it was Daleks and this year the main villains are (my personal favourites) the Cybermen. They are in four episodes in total across the series and they are all excellent. To say any more about these may spoil it for people who haven’t yet seen them.The remaining 9 episodes vary in quality from the sublime (Impossible planet/Satan pit) to the truly dreadful (The idiots lantern). That said the stories vary so wildly that I’m sure peoples favourite episode will also vary in the same way.Overall if you enjoyed the first series then you will love this. There is enough for a new generation of viewers (although my 6 and 8 year old nephews are still getting their heads round how the Doctor can change!) but also enough nods to the past to keep us over 30s happy. In short, “Fantastic”!!
‘Fantastic’ I love the second series of Doctor Who, mostly because of the brilliant writing of Russel T Davies and the amazing charisma of David Tennant, especially when coupled with Billie Piper. Every episode has one or two quotes that you will remember that will make you laugh everytime you think of them.Mickey:”What’s a horse doing on a spaceship?”Doctor:”Mickey, what’s pre revolutionary France doing on a spaceship, get a bit of perspective.”The Girl in the Fireplace is a masterpiece, the monster in The Satan Pit and the Impossible Planet terrifying, the Absorbalof hilarious.I would reccommend it to anybody!
In a word – WOW! This series of Doctor Who is amazing from start to finish.The opening episode The Christmas Invasion introduces the new doctor David Tennant. It starts a little slow but picks up well.The start of the season proper is New Earth. This episode brings back the villain Cassandra from Series one’s End of the World. The episode is highly entertaining with a truly emotional ending.The following episode Tooth & Claw is when the series really heats up. Tooth & Claw set in 1879 sees the doctor and Rose meet Queen Victoria. The villain in this episode is a werewolf. This episode is truly scary and with a story that keeps your focus on the screen for the entire 45 minutes.School Reunion brings back the much loved assistant Sarah Jane Smith with the also highly loved K-9. However, seeing these two characters return is not the only high-point of the episode. Anthony Head plays the alien headmaster of a school hoping to decode the laws of the universe to try and change it to benefit his species.The Girl in the Fireplace is one of the best episodes of Doctor Who since the revival. A love story set in the future and the past with the doctor and a mysterious girl from the other side of a fire place become unexpectedly close after the Doctor saves her.Rise of the Cyberman/Age of Steel sees the return of the Cybermen – a classic enemy from the old series. When trying to bring back old foes it can sometimes seem a bit forced, however here it is done professionally well. The cybermen are a scary enemy that will have you hiding behind the sofa :PThe idiots Lantern is a weaker episode of the series but still worth watching. Set in the 1950’s for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. An alien gets inside the televisions and eats the souls of of people watching.The impossible planet/Satin Pit is possibly the highest budget doctor who to date and the story does not disappoint. the doctor and rose land on a planet that is underneath a black hole but for a mysterious reason is not being sucked in. The crew of a space craft on the planet are drilling to the centre of the planet to discover what is down there to keep the planet safe. The doctor loses the TARDIS in a quake and is therefore stuck on the planet with them. What they discover down the pit is the biggest enemy of them all.Love & Monsters is an episode that is either loved or hated. The episode doesn’t focus on the doctor and rose but those of a cult group who wish trying to find out about the doctor. This episode is enjoyable if not looked upon too seriously.In the episode Fear Her, it is evident that a low budget was used. Set in London at the time of the 2012 Olympics, children keep disappearing but no one knows why. It is up to the Doctor and Rose to discover the problem and save everyone that has gone missing. Not the best episode of the series but again worth watching.The finale of the series – Army of Ghosts/Doomsday is a great episode. Bringing back the classic enemies Cybermen and Daleks. A war on Earth between three species. Humans, Daleks and Cybermen with a timelord fighting the human corner. Who will win the battle. See the emotional story of the end of Rose.The series is brilliant, defiantly worth the price. Believe me, you will not regret the purchase of this 6 disc DVD.