Doctor Who | Episode Review - 1x01 "Rose"
Decided to chuck my two cents in with the already large pool of opinions out there... besides, everyone loves reviews, right? :)
Doctor Who
Episode One
"Rose"
Well, what can I say? First thoughts? AWESOME. HOMG SO EXCITED. I think one of the most difficult things to explain to people who just don’t ‘get it’ about Who is the awesome-factor. I mean, you can describe to someone what the show is about and it sounds like it has an interesting premise. But the experience you get from actually watching an episode - any episode, from the worst to the best - is simply nothing short of fantastic. (And I’m not just saying that to get us all in the mood for a bit of Nine.)
That said, despite my fangirling excitement to watching a sci-fi show that has, not only explosions, but aliens (!) and romance (!!), “Rose” is … not exactly Russell T Davies at his best. In fact for a pilot of a season that hadn’t been on TV for nigh on two decades, it’s actually a little bit lame.
British TV has always seemed to lack the ‘wow’ factor that seems to lord it over so many American shows (Supernatural, House and Glee to name a few); but it makes up for this with its honest rawness. There’s a quality to nearly every BBC show (from Jonathan Creek to Life on Mars) that expresses such earnestness that it’s hard not to like it sheerly on that merit alone. Although this can sometimes mean the shows come across as a bit silly or gimmicky, a little ‘less sophisticated’ (a term I have grudgingly used to describe Who on occasion, though only in terms of production value), in actual fact I’d much rather watch something real than something synthetic. And that’s very much what we get with Doctor Who particularly - something real (aside from, you know, all the fiction).
So what do we get, exactly? Well, let’s talk about the good, to begin with.
For those of us who came into the beloved show as sci-fi virgins (as I imagine many people did), it packs quite a punch. The episode didn’t need to be particularly important or outstanding plot-wise, as that wasn’t the point (that said, it still would have been nice). “Rose” succeeds in introducing the characters superbly. Not only do we instantly get a feel for who both Rose and the Doctor are, we also get their dynamic (the bickering scene by the London Eye) laced quite nicely in with everything else. The two are immediately comfortable with one another and, as such, so are the viewers.
The scene where Rose discovers the TARDIS (and all its … surprises) is particularly special. I think that was handled absolutely beautifully, both by the writers and the actors and, well, just the whole team in general. It’s not milked for its epicness, it’s just out there, plain and simple. Good, honest, raw.
And, of course, the end scene! Who couldn’t love the iconic words, “Did I mention, it also travels in time?”. As far as I know, this is one of only very few instances where the Doctor has outright asked somebody to come with him. Initially at least, we see nothing too special in Rose1. She’s awesome and feisty and pretty, for sure, but... just a character, in amongst the myriad of those given. It’s the Doctor’s interest in her that makes her special, and that’s a theme that continues right across the seasons.
Now let’s shift to the slightly less pleasant topic: the criticisms. I’m going to be the first to raise my hand and say it: this is one of my least-favourite episodes. Character-wise it’s important and even good, but the production and plot of this episode is so... goodness, it frustrates me to no end. If every episode had been of a similar standard to “Rose”, I dare say the show wouldn’t have become nearly as popular as it did. Fortunately, RTD really is a good writer and produced/wrote some far, far better works throughout his run. It’s just a bit of a pity his weaker episode was the one that re-opened the season.
I don’t want to be too critical of this pilot, because all pilots get a bad rep (anyone who’s seen House will wonder, I’m sure, what on earth they were playing at with the colour values) - they’re pilots for a reason, they’re a “dip your toe in the water” experience and, as such, shouldn’t be taken on level ground with the rest of the season. Still, I would have preferred something a little more meaty, plot-wise, and something that didn’t feel as though Russell T Davies had walked around going, “I NEED INSPIRATION FOR AN ALIEN. ERM. OH LOOK, THAT SHOP HAS DUMMIES, THAT WILL DO.”2 It’s the kind of thing that makes Doctor Who seem more silly than serious. But then, I can’t criticise that too much, either, as that’s also the one of the reasons why I love it.
In amidst the in-jokes and the budget and the somewhat dubious lines, or the eye-raising scene of choice, there is a very serious and heart-warming story about a broken, lonely man who is mended by the woman he learns to love. But, as with all journeys, they begin with a step. And Doctor Who’s first step into the new world in 2005 was, overall, pretty successful.
1There are those who would debate this, especially the hardcore fans. I’m talking on a more general-audience level.
2I know the Autons were a monster from the original series, and it was more than likely a device to hook in some older viewers as well, but come on.
When all is said and done, this episode is worth watching. Unless you're a hardcore fan you probably won't come back for a re-watch, but it serves its purpose nonetheless.
I give this episode a neat little: ★★★☆☆ (3 out of 5).
TL;DR. Overall, I think this episode is at least watchable. It's a bit cringe-worthy in places plot-wise, but it more than makes up for this with wonderful characterisation and promises for the future. A decent beginning, at least. Feel free to share your thoughts in comments!
Doctor Who
Episode One
"Rose"
Well, what can I say? First thoughts? AWESOME. HOMG SO EXCITED. I think one of the most difficult things to explain to people who just don’t ‘get it’ about Who is the awesome-factor. I mean, you can describe to someone what the show is about and it sounds like it has an interesting premise. But the experience you get from actually watching an episode - any episode, from the worst to the best - is simply nothing short of fantastic. (And I’m not just saying that to get us all in the mood for a bit of Nine.)
That said, despite my fangirling excitement to watching a sci-fi show that has, not only explosions, but aliens (!) and romance (!!), “Rose” is … not exactly Russell T Davies at his best. In fact for a pilot of a season that hadn’t been on TV for nigh on two decades, it’s actually a little bit lame.
British TV has always seemed to lack the ‘wow’ factor that seems to lord it over so many American shows (Supernatural, House and Glee to name a few); but it makes up for this with its honest rawness. There’s a quality to nearly every BBC show (from Jonathan Creek to Life on Mars) that expresses such earnestness that it’s hard not to like it sheerly on that merit alone. Although this can sometimes mean the shows come across as a bit silly or gimmicky, a little ‘less sophisticated’ (a term I have grudgingly used to describe Who on occasion, though only in terms of production value), in actual fact I’d much rather watch something real than something synthetic. And that’s very much what we get with Doctor Who particularly - something real (aside from, you know, all the fiction).
So what do we get, exactly? Well, let’s talk about the good, to begin with.
For those of us who came into the beloved show as sci-fi virgins (as I imagine many people did), it packs quite a punch. The episode didn’t need to be particularly important or outstanding plot-wise, as that wasn’t the point (that said, it still would have been nice). “Rose” succeeds in introducing the characters superbly. Not only do we instantly get a feel for who both Rose and the Doctor are, we also get their dynamic (the bickering scene by the London Eye) laced quite nicely in with everything else. The two are immediately comfortable with one another and, as such, so are the viewers.
The scene where Rose discovers the TARDIS (and all its … surprises) is particularly special. I think that was handled absolutely beautifully, both by the writers and the actors and, well, just the whole team in general. It’s not milked for its epicness, it’s just out there, plain and simple. Good, honest, raw.
And, of course, the end scene! Who couldn’t love the iconic words, “Did I mention, it also travels in time?”. As far as I know, this is one of only very few instances where the Doctor has outright asked somebody to come with him. Initially at least, we see nothing too special in Rose1. She’s awesome and feisty and pretty, for sure, but... just a character, in amongst the myriad of those given. It’s the Doctor’s interest in her that makes her special, and that’s a theme that continues right across the seasons.
Now let’s shift to the slightly less pleasant topic: the criticisms. I’m going to be the first to raise my hand and say it: this is one of my least-favourite episodes. Character-wise it’s important and even good, but the production and plot of this episode is so... goodness, it frustrates me to no end. If every episode had been of a similar standard to “Rose”, I dare say the show wouldn’t have become nearly as popular as it did. Fortunately, RTD really is a good writer and produced/wrote some far, far better works throughout his run. It’s just a bit of a pity his weaker episode was the one that re-opened the season.
I don’t want to be too critical of this pilot, because all pilots get a bad rep (anyone who’s seen House will wonder, I’m sure, what on earth they were playing at with the colour values) - they’re pilots for a reason, they’re a “dip your toe in the water” experience and, as such, shouldn’t be taken on level ground with the rest of the season. Still, I would have preferred something a little more meaty, plot-wise, and something that didn’t feel as though Russell T Davies had walked around going, “I NEED INSPIRATION FOR AN ALIEN. ERM. OH LOOK, THAT SHOP HAS DUMMIES, THAT WILL DO.”2 It’s the kind of thing that makes Doctor Who seem more silly than serious. But then, I can’t criticise that too much, either, as that’s also the one of the reasons why I love it.
In amidst the in-jokes and the budget and the somewhat dubious lines, or the eye-raising scene of choice, there is a very serious and heart-warming story about a broken, lonely man who is mended by the woman he learns to love. But, as with all journeys, they begin with a step. And Doctor Who’s first step into the new world in 2005 was, overall, pretty successful.
1There are those who would debate this, especially the hardcore fans. I’m talking on a more general-audience level.
2I know the Autons were a monster from the original series, and it was more than likely a device to hook in some older viewers as well, but come on.
When all is said and done, this episode is worth watching. Unless you're a hardcore fan you probably won't come back for a re-watch, but it serves its purpose nonetheless.
I give this episode a neat little: ★★★☆☆ (3 out of 5).
TL;DR. Overall, I think this episode is at least watchable. It's a bit cringe-worthy in places plot-wise, but it more than makes up for this with wonderful characterisation and promises for the future. A decent beginning, at least. Feel free to share your thoughts in comments!