Yay! My first review. This review will contain spoilers for the episode, but I’ll try to keep any future knowledge out of this, as well as talk about the Classic series. There will be a dedicated section at the end where I’ll talk about that and I’ll blur out overt spoilers there as well.

PLOT

So, I’ll be real– the plot is not super complicated and, in my opinion, acts more as a vehicle for the characters rather than the other way around. This is not a bad thing, however, as I feel getting to know the characters in the first episode is more important than a great plot. As long as you can establish everything you need to know about the world, the plot doesn’t need to be ground-breaking. More about the characters later though. While the story isn’t complicated, it isn’t nonexistent. The Autons were an excellent choice as the enemies for this episode, as their blending in on Earth makes it reasonable for Rose to get up with them, since she works in a clothing store! I also think that they are downright creepy when they need to be, and work really well in the basement of Henrik’s when Rose first encounters them.

The episode leans into the investigation side of the adventure, and we also get to learn the world as Rose does, which is an excellent choice. The episode is named after her, after all. Since the story isn’t just non-stop running around and fighting things, it makes the Auton attack really pop and have real stakes and fear attached to it.

CHARACTERS

The true heart of this episode is the characters. RTD does an excellent job in setting up the characters we are going to be following this season, as well as making us care about them. They each feel rich and alive, even those who don’t get as much screentime, like Jackie. Her interactions with the Doctor are hilarious.

JACKIE: I'm in my dressing gown.

DOCTOR: Yes, you are.

JACKIE: There's a strange man in my bedroom.

DOCTOR: Yes, there is.

JACKIE: Well, anything could happen.

DOCTOR: No.

We very easily get a sense of her character, and Camille Coduri plays her excellently. You can tell she cares for Rose despite all her bothering her to get another job because of how shook up she is after Henrik’s blows up. Also, her being there during the Auton attack really raises the stakes of that situation because we care about her.

Mickey does get the short end of the stick in this story, between Rose’s dismissiveness of him and getting kidnapped and replaced by the Autons. However, I honestly felt like I couldn’t completely take one side or the other, because when Rose gets hurt, sure, he comes running to see if she’s okay, but he also is trying to prioritize watching a sports game. (I’m not British, would this mean a soccer (football?) game? Cricket?).

MICKEY: Now, come on, you deserve a proper drink. We're going down the pub, you and me. My treat. How about it?

ROSE: Is there a match on?

MICKEY: No, I'm just thinking about you, babe.

ROSE: There's a match on, ain't there.

MICKEY: That's not the point, but we could catch the last five minutes.

I also like how their relationship isn’t always toxic– while you sort of get the sense that they’re sometimes hanging on by a thread, they also have very genuine moments. Rose’s sadness over Mickey’s possible death is palpable and very real. Billie Piper is an incredible actress and really gets to show off her skills in this story.

ROSE: I'll have to tell his mother. Mickey. I'll have to tell his mother he's dead, and you just went and forgot him, again! You were right, you are alien.

And finally, the true heart of this episode: Rose and the Doctor. At the start of the episode, it’s very clear that the Doctor has decided to go full lone wolf, helping Rose only enough to get her out of danger and away from him. In fact, he’s rather callous.

ROSE: Whoever they are, when Wilson finds them, he's going to call the police.

DOCTOR: Who's Wilson?

ROSE: Chief electrician.

DOCTOR: Wilson's dead.

When he continues chasing the Auton lead, he’s almost annoyed to discover that it’s led him right back to her. The bit with the cat flap is incredibly funny, and the balance of humor and seriousness really defines this episode.

DOCTOR: What're you doing here?

ROSE: I live here.

DOCTOR: Well, what do you do that for?

ROSE: Because I do. I'm only at home because someone blew up my job.

DOCTOR: I must have got the wrong signal. You're not plastic, are you? No, bonehead. Bye, then.

Even though he’s running off as soon as he can, he still lets her tag along, and even decides to reveal the alien nature of the Autons, and himself.

DOCTOR: It's not a price war. They want to overthrow the human race and destroy you. Do you believe me?

ROSE: No.

DOCTOR: But you're still listening.

Whatever he’s gone through has made him lose his faith in people. Despite the fact that he still cares very deeply for the people he’s helping, even the Autons who are trying to launch an invasion, he’s incredibly dismissive of Rose and Mickey, calling humans “stupid apes” and telling them to “leave the domestics outside”. But Rose is able to chip away at his walls, and it’s lovely to see how their friendship evolves in just this one episode.

ROSE: You were useless in there. You'd be dead if it wasn't for me.

DOCTOR: Yes, I would. Thank you.

THEME

The theme of this story is again attached to the characters. To me, this one is about the fact that while bad things can happen to you, you shouldn’t let them change you for the worse. Sometimes the hardest thing is to be kind when the world hasn’t been to you, and this is really evident in the Doctor’s conversation with the Nestene. It’s evident that he’s had to do things he really regrets, things that impacted entire planets like the one the Nestene comes from.

DOCTOR: That was just insurance. I wasn't going to use it. I was not attacking you. I'm here to help. I'm not your enemy. I swear, I'm not. … 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 way his voice breaks is so heartbreaking, and Christopher Eccleston is just astounding in this role throughout. He’s funny, but he’s so, so sad, and nowhere is it more evident than here. He truly feels for the Nestene, defending them by saying “it’s terrified” even as it attacks innocents.

LANGUAGE AND MUSIC

The dialogue in this story is sparkling. I kept just writing quotes in my notes as I was watching. Here’s a couple of my favorites:

DOCTOR: That won't last, he's gay and she's an alien.

DOCTOR: It's all right, I've stopped it. There you go, you see? Armless.

ROSE: Hold on a minute. You can't just go swanning off.

DOCTOR: Yes I can. Here I am. This is me, swanning off. See you.

ROSE: But that arm was moving. It tried to kill me.

DOCTOR: Ten out of ten for observation.

ROSE: I'd better tell you now. My boyfriend's waiting in the car, just in case you're going to kill me.

CLIVE: No, good point. No murders.

ROSE: If you are an alien, how comes you sound like you're from the North?

DOCTOR: Lots of planets have a north.

DOCTOR: This planet is just starting. These stupid little people have only just learnt how to walk, but they're capable of so much more.

And of course there’s the turn of the Earth monologue. I mentioned it before, but the duality of the comedy and the tragedy of this story is deftly handled. Also, the music by Murray Gold is excellent. The eerie music that plays when Rose first enters the TARDIS is so atmospheric, and gives what could be a comedic moment that dramatic edge. There’s also the scene where Rose is walking around in the basement, and there’s no music at all, just the soundscape and some whistling which makes the scene so creepy.

SPECTACLE

Here is, of course, where we must address the Auton in the room– Plastic Mickey. Much has been said about the CGI in this episode, and I am certainly not breaking new ground. It really does not hold up, and a lot of early 2000s CGI doesn’t, especially on a Doctor Who TV budget. The Nestene and the infamous trash bin also do not look good. However, the practical effects used on the Auton dummies look incredible. Obviously not really possible for the Nestene or garbage bin, but I think there may have been a way to make Plastic Mickey look better. Rose can only be so dismissive of him before we start to lose our suspension of disbelief when he looks like that. Ah well.

The locations they’ve chosen look great, especially the basement of the clothing store, and the Powell Estate. The Tylers’ apartment is also great, and Rose’s room is so Rose, and a really great way of establishing her character and background really early on. Also, shoutout to Rose’s wardrobe.

MISC

• the parallels of Mickey messing with the Auton arm and the Doctor being attacked by it
• the background man who starts screaming when Plastic Mickey’s head pops off– he really goes for it and its brilliant
• the London Eye bit
• Clive’s face when the Auton’s gun-hand opens up

FINAL SCORE

Overall, I really like this episode, and it’s also a really good opener besides that. It reboots the series well, paying credence to the original while still setting itself apart with new story elements. My original rating for this was a 4/5, and I’d give this an 8/10, keeping that same score. It’s not perfect, what with the CGI and the plot occasionally taking a backseat, but the characters and atmosphere really make this story shine!

CONNECTIONS TO THE PAST AND FUTURE

The Autons, of course, were introduced in Spearhead from Space. I love that the show finally got to do the Auton attack scene that was originally planned for that story here. Eccleston’s miming being choked by the Auton arm is so Pertwee.

Also, the Doctor being implied to be early on in this regeneration, I love the bit where he looks into the mirror and comments on his appearance, and tries to do card tricks and fails.

Clive’s theories feel a little less strong when you know about regeneration, and how the Doctor doesn’t travel in time linearly, so how are the only photos he has are of Nine? I know that originally RTD wanted pictures of other Doctors but couldn’t for some reason, but clearly Clive knows about them because he calls Nine “Rose’s Doctor”.