Rose is an excellent opening episode. It wastes very little time hooking us on the action, while introducing us to a strong cast of realistic-feeling characters on the side. The Doctor is excellent, as is Rose and the rest of the characters. I was not a Doctor Who fan when this first aired, but I can imagine how it must have felt: yes, this was new and different, but it was also fun and exciting, gritty and realistic. And still Doctor Who. Everything here, from the music to the directing to the sets to the effects, I feel is working to reinforce this: still Doctor Who, just new and modern.