Born Again / Pudsey Cutaway

its alright

👍🏼(7.7) = GOOD!

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

Originally broadcast during Children in Need in 2005, this minisode served as a transition between Parting of the Ways, the Series 1 finale, and The Christmas Invasion, the 2005 Christmas special. It’s the first new scene we get with David Tennant as the 10th Doctor, as he gets used to his new body and tries to convince Rose that he truly is the Doctor.

This is a weird little story, with a young-ish David Tennant wearing a leather jacket and being all fun and giggles, while an astonished Rose has difficulties accepting him. Mostly played for laughs, it also carries surprising narrative depth. It’s funny, exciting, and intriguing, as it leads directly to The Christmas Invasion.

A fantastic little deleted scene that I personally feel is required viewing between The Parting of the Ways and The Christmas Invasion. It makes Rose's actions and reactions in the Christmas special more understandable and sets a good basis for the new Doctor. Tennant is still coming into his own, but the base of what the Tenth Doctor will become is all there. A two-line exchange also lets us know that Rose didn't immediately forget about Jack, and it was the Doctor who chose to leave him behind.

You know, having first watched this part of this series long after it had already aired, I had never seen Born Again until just now.

It's, uh, fine. Not anything too special. Rose's reaction to the regeneration felt quite well done and Piper acted it well. Tennant still seems to be getting used to things, though. It is really neat seeing him so early in his career after the 2014 specials, but there is something a little off about the whole special and performance compared to when the show hits its stride with the Tenth Doctor.

A great little piece that is essentially a deleted scene/prequel to The Christmas Invasion. While short, it does give more weight to the effect of The Parting of the Ways on Rose. This is a great addition to any rewatch.

A little more could have been made of David and Billie’s first scene together. It relies too heavily on there being a new Doctor in town and providing a link between series one and two. It could have, without pushing the characters too far, given us slightly more insight at this pivotal moment of post-regeneration.

Rose’s reaction “can you change back?” Is understandable and provides the anchor for the scene. It’s another one of RTD’s great shifts from how companions reacted to things in the classic series versus the new series. It’s realistic that there would be a period of adjustment and discomfort.