Series Rewatch: DOCTOR WHO (2005), S1E01 "Rose"
So, in addition to anything that just strikes my fancy to watch, I had the urge to re-watch something, and I finally settled on something long overdue for a re-watch. And here we go...
Little observations:
* After so many years in the wilderness, the first episode of "NuWho" goes so right where the 1996 Fox TV movie went so very wrong. It distills down the entire premise into something very simple and easily accessible. Russell T. Davies doesn't load us down with a truckload of nostalgia-driven continuity references, or a needless regeneration sequence. Nope, what we get is quick, simple, streamlined, and effective.
The episode smartly focuses in on Rose Tyler herself, only introducing the Doctor himself a few minutes into the show when Rose is menaced by a classic-series enemy that we haven't seen in FOREVER: The Autons. Backing Rose into a corner and then bringing in the Doctor when, out of nowhere he grabs her hand and says "RUN!", is just genius. Its a hook that works like a proverbial charm.
* Jackie, Rose's Mum, is a hilarious piece of work. But really, woman, are you going to come onto a strange man when ROSE is in ANOTHER ROOM? Anyway, it doesn't work, as the Doctor couldn't care less. HAW!
* The stuff with Clive being a conspiracy nutter who has info on the Doctor is well-handled, and adds extra gravitas to the mystery of the title character. Conversely, the burping, Mickey-eating rubbish-bin was a touch too silly. But hey, its Doctor Who. You gotta have some camp somewhere, right?
* Rose's introduction to the TARDIS is extremely well-handled, as is the Doctor's complete obliviousness to the fact that the looming London Eye is exactly the transmitter he's just described to Rose. Fortunately, she's able to point him in the right direction.
* Murray Gold's scoring is still lush and gorgeous after all these years. There's an argument to be made that its too in-your-face for incidental music, but its wonderful regardless.
* The Doctor's conference with the Nestene Consciousness goes pear-shaped (ew, PEARS!) when his anti-plastic chemical and the TARDIS are discovered. However, we get this marvelous bit from the Doctor when the Consciousness accuses him of attacking it:
"That's not true. I should know, I was there. I fought in the war. It wasn't my fault. I couldn't save your world! I couldn't save any of them!"
The first REAL hint of the impact of what the Doctor would later call the last great Time War, and Eccleston's despairing, guilt-ridden delivery is absolutely on-point.
* Poor Clive. His wife and son manage to escape, but he becomes casualty numero uno of the main Auton attack. Also a casualty, whatever little trinket Jackie had purchased for herself on her late-night shopping run. When the shooting starts, she tosses the little bag back onto the escalator and flees. Alas little consumerist token, we never knew ye.
Bonus points for the use of the classic Auton-weapon sound-effect. Also, the sheer scale of the Auton attack is something that classic WHO would have pulled off only with great difficulty, and is exceptionally well-done here. Although, to its credit, the Autons were well-handled in Spearhead From Space in 1970, and one could argue that they've never been scarier. Even here.
* The Doctor is in a pickle. Restrained by the Autons, he cannot use the anti-plastic. And while Rose has no A-Levels, no job, no future, what she DOES have is a bronze medal from the Jericho Street Junior School under 7s gymnastic team. Its also possible she's watched a little BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER at some point. One axe blow allows her to reach a chain, and she swings her way into rescuing the Doctor and saving the Earth to boot.
* When the Doctor offers to allow Rose to travel with him, she initially rejects the offer because she needs to find Jackie, and someone has to take care of Mickey who is a real coward's-coward here. The Doctor is obviously disappointed, and leaves, before quickly returning because his initial offer neglected to include the fact that not only can the TARDIS travel anywhere in space, but also travel in TIME. I love how Rose smiles and he just steps away from the door, because he knows that did the trick. Rose is coming along.
Sadly, Mickey is just abandoned here. He may have been a complete coward here, but Rose's abandonment is pretty damn cold. Not everyone is going to react well to being eaten by a rubbish-bin and held captive, watching all sorts of shit blow up and nearly getting killed in the process, only to be saved by a weird dude who has a box that happens to be bigger inside than out. Anyway, there will be repercussions later.
Anyway, the Doctor and Rose Tyler are off on their next adventure. And don't forget, lots of planets have a north!
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