BOOK OF LISTS: TOP SIX DOCTOR WHO EPISODES - NUMBER FIVE

The end-of-year countdown continues. This time, we're looking at a New Series episode. 

Normally, New Who is at a disadvantage in these. There is so much more Classic Who to choose from that Law of Averages dictates stories from that era will just show up more. But New Who is made up mainly of single episodes that tell a complete story whereas the episodes of the Classic Series are always part of a larger tale. Episodes from 2005 and onwards are more likely to make a stronger impact on their audience because of this. 

So we will see a higher percentage of New Who stuff making it into this list because of this. Hope that doesn't bother you Classic Who Purists, out there....


NUMBER FIVE 

Some might say that a story like Rose has an unfair advantage in countdowns like this. It's an episode you're going to notice more just because of the importance it holds in the history of the show. That if it had just shown up somewhere in the middle of Series One it would have been appreciated in an entirely different manner. To some extent, people who might believe this are a bit right. Rose does stand out for me more because it is the very first episode of the New Series. For this reason, alone, it does make a very strong impact.

Fortunately, we have the 96 Telemovie as evidence to contradict some of this claim. Paul McGann's one-and-only foray into Televised Who should hold a special place in everyone's heart because it also represented an attempt to resurrect the show in the same way that Rose does. And yet, I'd be given to bet that the 96 Telemovie is pretty low on anyone's list of all-time favorite episodes. For some of you, it might even be damned close to the bottom!

What this says to me is that, regardless of the importance an episode might play in the history of the series, it still needs to actually be good. Rose, without a doubt, is a very good piece of television. As first episodes of a new show go, Rose does an excellent job of introducing the central premise of the series to its audience. It displays some interesting characters that we definitely want to learn more about. And it promises that more fun is to come if you keep watching.

But this isn't the full extent of Rose's job. Yes, it is introducing a show to a new audience. But it's also re-introducing a series to its old fans. A far more complex task. But, again, it accomplishes this with great finesse. The nods to its past re-assure us that this is the same show and not a re-boot.

First and foremost, it uses a well-loved monster that we've seen a few times in the Classic Series. It makes a couple of very conscious visual nods to Spearhead From Space while doing so. The opening shots in both stories are quite similar to each other. There's also another magnificent tracking shot in both stories where the camera follows two characters walking together and talking. Referencing Spearhead made good sense. Both herald a very new era in Doctor Who. One might also say that the use of symphonic scoring and very filmic cinematography link it quite nicely to the 96 Telemovie where we see these sort of effects being employed for the first time.

But the most beautiful touch of nostalgia was the fact that they found the same audio effects for when an Auton's hand hinges open and fires. My fanboy heart burst beyond its rib cage for just a moment when I heard that sound for the first time. As someone who has loved Doctor Who to death for so many years of my life, hearing that noise showed me that serious measures were being taken to keep New Who in the same continuity as its previous 26 seasons. That meant a lot to me.

We've got another very simple plot, here. But, with the amount of work the episode has to accomplish with all its introducing and re-introducing, the Doctor trying to hunt down the Nestene Consciousness and confront it is all the room the story has for a plot. We're perfectly happy with this. The fact that an absolutely beautiful monologue still manages to get squeezed in to all this business, however, is absolutely splendid.

That monologue is truly a magical moment. But it's not the only one. And this is another factor that really ingratiates the episode to me. My heart still goes ever-so-slightly aflutter during specific moments. Rose first entering the TARDIS would be another moment like this. Or Clive getting all spooky as he postulates on the Doctor's nature. Or, best of all, the Doctor grabbing Rose's arm and proclaiming: "Run!". It's just such a great way to meet him for the first time.

There are a slew of moments like this. Which makes re-watching the episode great fun every time. It puts me back into what I went through the first time I saw it. How I sat there fervently hoping they would get it right. As Rose starts running into those TARDIS doors at the end of the episode, a huge feeling of relief washed over me. They did get it right. I still feel that every time I enjoy this story.

I didn't always agree with the choices RTD would go on to make with the show. But I am thankful that he totally nailed it with Rose. It led to a triumphant re-birth of my favorite television program, ever. Sixteen years of sadness was well and truly over. And that's one more thing I feel every time I watch this episode. It's hard not to put Rose into a list like this. It's an important story that recognizes what it needs to accomplish and knocks it out of the ball park. Which is an amazing thing to see.



That's Number Five. We'll be back again shortly with the next one. Another New Who episode, in fact. Which one? Wait and see....   



Didn't catch Number Six? Here it is: 
https://robtymec.blogspot.com/2018/11/book-of-lists-top-six-doctor-who.html