Friday, March 2, 2012

Doctor Who Watch-a-long – Season 1 Episode 1 "Rose"


As an effort to justify our somewhat obsessive T.V watching Meghan (Of Coffee and Wizards and @MegTao on Twitter) and myself have decided to undertake a Doctor Who Watch-a-long. We'll be starting with the beginning of the 2005 relaunch and will be posting about one episode each Friday, on our respective blogs. We hope you'll join in – whether as a re-watch or to discover the Doctor for the first time!

*just a heads up each post will contain spoilers for that episode and then one's before it*

Episode Summary
In the episode, Rose Tyler meets a mysterious stranger called The Doctor in the department store where she works, while being attacked by shop window dummies called Autons. She then starts to investigate him and together they uncover an alien plot by the Nestene Consciousness to take over the Earth. Rose and the Doctor manage to beat the invasion together and she accepts his offer to travel through time and space with him in the TARDIS.

Thoughts on the Episode
Like any good first episode “Rose” gives us a basic introduction into the major players and themes of the series. We get to see the debut of Christopher Eccleston as the ninth doctor and Billie Piper as Rose Tyler, his newest companion. Previous to my Doctor Who addiction I knew Billie from her role on Secret Diary of a Call Girl and it was quite the shock to see her in such a down to earth role instead. But this down to earth quality is one of the reasons I love her so much. She's such a real person! She looks a regular girl instead of a super model and it really helps me imagine myself trading places with her.

Albeit the plot of this episode is a little silly. Especially when the living plastic begins replacing real people instead of just mannequins. Although it doesn't help that Rose's boyfriend – Mickey – the first victim of the living plastic, is already a goofball before anything crazy happens. But I don't think the silliness should be seen as a negative. It gives the show that campy feeling it's had throughout the years and gives you a good idea of what you can expect from the rest of the season.

What did you think of “Rose”? Thumbs up or thumbs down?

3 comments:

  1. There were some pretty ridiculous moments, eh? Like when the garbage can burped Mickey I was like...really? XD

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  2. It's very silly, as is much of the Who that came before it, but to its credit this episode does have one of the best lines in all of Doctor Who.

    "Pleasure to meet you Rose! Run for your life." All combined with that winning, terrifying grin of Eccleston's.

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  3. I just watched this one and I really liked it. It was a bit campy but I think that's part of what made it so fun to watch. I really liked Billie. I think she'll be a fun character.

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