Boom Town (TV story)

Well here we are. Took me long enough. I'll excuse why this one took so long in one of the sections below, but please know I put a lot of effort into the reviewing of episode 13 in particular. This is Part 4 of my reviewing all the episodes from the Russel T Davies era. (Previous installment: https://tardis.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003595667 )

These last three episodes contain a good episode, an opposite of good episode and a… well you can see that one for yourselfBut now, let us begin.

Episode 11: Boom Town

• This episode was worse than I remember to be honest. It was pretty solid for about 20 minutes or so, with great character interactions and comedy, then it devolved into boring filler pretending to be substance and I really wanted to turn it off. The dialogue in this episode, especially after the first 20 minutes, was astonishingly bad on rewatch. Every exchange between the Doctor and the Slitheen made me roll my eyes into the back of my head. It’s so cringeworthy and on-the-nose and it’s not nearly as smart as it thinks it is. It’s telling you it’s putting the Doctor in a ‘morally hard situation’ and that it’s ‘contributing to his arc’. The reason the Doctor’s arc so far has worked as well as it has, is because it was subtle, but also clearly there. This episode throws subtlety completely out the window. On top of it, this battle of morals doesn’t even get a satisfying resolution. It’s just completely wasted in a pretty contrived, idiotic climax. Captain Jack doesn’t do anything in this episode and I kinda forgot he was in it for a good chunk because he adds nothing. The Mickey and Rose subplot is better written than the rest of the episode, but it ultimately doesn’t add anything to Rose’s character and very little to Mickey’s, and most of it we already knew. On top of it Mickey acts incredibly clingy and it’s kinda annoying. Honestly just talking about this lame episode is making me hate it more. The only thing it adds is the ‘heart of the TARDIS’ for the finale. It’s just a placeholder episode telling you it’s not, and easily the worst episode of the season. (D)

Episode 12: Bad Wolf

• Part one of the two part finale, ‘Bad Wolf’ was a solid start for the end of the season. It is however, nowhere near as good as its successor, ‘The Parting of the Ways’. In fact, I think this episode is the perfect mid-tier for the episodes of the season. It’s a solid, good episode with a lot of great in it, but it’s not on the same level as the very best ones. I think the dark tone is both a blessing and a curse for this one. Russel T Davies really loves that darker tone, but here it just feels more unpleasant than it probably should. It does wonders for the story, but I also lose a little enjoyment from it. Still, the story itself is a good one. Once again, this season is simply not afraid to paint the Doctor in the wrong and question his previous actions. This episode does it in a different way than most of the season; instead of the Doctor doing a morally wrongful action, he takes an action that he preserves has the right thing and he turns out to be wrong. The Doctor learning that his interference in Satellite 5 only caused more pain to the human race is almost heartbreaking, but a sign that he still needs to grow to become a good Doctor again. He didn’t consider the potential consequences of his actions, he was worried about the consequences of Adam’s instead. I know a lot of people really dislike ‘The Long Game’, but in my opinion, it is nothing short of brilliant in the way it subtly sets this up. It’s still not an amazing episode, but it deserves more credit. Anyway back to this episode. The ending reveal (which I won’t spoil to people who haven’t seen this season) is extremely well handled and makes perfect sense. The dramatic stakes of the story are very much there. By this point you know how much the Doctor cares about Rose, and as a result you care about their relationship. And I think that’s all of what I have to say? Overall, not the best episode of the season, but a strong start to the finale, and a pretty good episode anyway. (B)

Episode 13: The Parting of the Ways

• (Warning minor spoilers below. Sorry I couldn't help myself this time. Too much to talk about.) Well, here we are. The finale. The last episode of Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor and Series 1 of the revival. So… where to begin? I’m going to start by explaining why this review took me so long. It’s mainly because of this episode. I just had no idea what to write about it. Last time, I called ‘The Empty Child’ my favorite episode of the season. I wrote that sentence before I had rewatched this episode. When I posted that review, I had seen this episode, so I was semi-lying when I said that. I wasn’t sure yet if I preferred this episode, but I did have a feeling that statement would come to a lie. And I was 100% right. This is my favourite episode of the season, and one of my favourites of Doctor Who in general. It wraps up the overarching plot of the season and the Doctor’s character arc beautifully. Every action the Doctor takes in this episode means something. I absolutely adore how his final choice isn’t presented as ambiguously right, it’s just his choice. A choice he almost definitely would not have made at the beginning of this season. It’s through his experience with Rose that he’s come to this place, which is why it is most important to him that she stays safe. She means everything to him because of the way she changed him, and above all he wants no harm to come to her. This character dynamic is so beautiful and satisfying, that the final scene in the episode almost made me cry. The 9th Doctor is easily one of the best Doctors, in terms of character, acting performance; the whole thing. The dark tone of the episode also works way better than the tone of the previous one. It’s more compelling, horrifying and tragic. The music is… oh my gosh the music. In my previous reviews, I’ve forgotten to compliment the music, but it was impossible here. It fits the story and tone so perfectly and elevates every dramatic beat to an absolute maximum. I love the philosophical elements of the story too, about Rose’s fear of living a normal life. The Daleks in this episode aren’t amazing themselves, but they serve as a perfect ultimate threat for the Doctor. This episode is just truly amazing all around. The climax of one of the greatest overarching plotlines in all of Doctor Who. An exceptionally well told story about an extraordinary man, scarred, traumatised, and hardened by a terrible experience, who comes to feel and love again thanks to his friendship with an ordinary human girl. Absolutely brilliant, as the late 9th Doctor would put it. (S)

Full Season Episode Ranking

1. S1 E13 The Parting of the Ways (S)

2. S1 E9 The Empty Child (A)

3. S1 E10 The Doctor Dances (A)

4. S1 E3 The Unquiet Dead (A)

5. S1 E8 Father's Day (A)

6. S1 E6 Dalek (A-)

7. S1 E1 Rose (B+)

8. S1 E12 Bad Wolf (B)

9. S1 E2 The End of the World (B-)

10. S1 E7 The Long Game (B-)

11. S1 E5 World War Three (C)

12. S1 E4 Aliens of London (C)

13. S1 E11 Boom Town (D)

Overall, a spectacular season of television. One of my favourite Doctors and stories to this day. It’s what got me into the show in the first place. It’s what made me such a fan of the show, and while I think the last two seasons of the Russel T Davies outshine it, it’s still an excellent, excellent season. Please, please, if you for some reason haven’t, check it out. It would mean the world to me. Until I review Series 2, see me in the comment sections. Bye!

Reviewing episodes 8-10 of Series 1 of the Doctor Who REVIVAL | Fandom...got the title right. Yeah anyway once again…tardis.fandom.com