When I first tried watching Doctor Who back in, like, 2012ish, I bounced off of this and End of the World pretty hard. Revisiting it now, I understand why - the plot isn't amazing, the tone is wonky and inconsistent, and it has a very specific brand of early 2000s energy that, at the time, I didn't really vibe with. My perspective is a lot different now, though - these days I tend to value character work a lot more and it's hard to deny that Rose excels at it.

In ten minutes I felt like I perfectly understood who Rose, Jackie, and Mickey were and what their relationships were like, and in twenty, I understood why Rose was so fascinated with the Doctor. The choice to frame the episode from her point of view was an inspired one; it lets us wonder who the Doctor is alongside her and allows for a number of pretty brilliant reveals throughout the rest of the season that work even for veterans of Classic Who. It's far from perfect, but I appreciate it for the groundwork it does and for kickstarting maybe the best series arc Doctor Who has ever done.

Notes:

• + Scene: Love the intro, and how it focuses on Rose and Mickey - it feels very mid-2000’s pulp TV
• + Tone: Great building of tension leading up to the Auton reveal
• + Character: Rose automatically rationalizes the Autons as a joke being played by a group of students
• + Dialogue: “Nice to meet you, Rose. Run for your life!”
• + Character: Rose is so shaken up by the events in the building that she runs in front of a car
• ++ Character: The scene at Rose’s house does a great job of establishing the dynamic between her, Jackie, and Mickey: Mickey initially seems genuinely concerned, then when he realizes she’s safe, he immediately reveals that he has other priorities, and Rose is completely fine with this; she doesn’t even *want* his attention right now. Jackie keeps trying to find ways to get money off of the incident, Rose wants nothing to do with it, and is annoyed with Jackie as a result
• + Character: In the wake of the previous night’s events, Rose has forgotten to turn her alarm off and we get a repeat of the shot from the start of the episode
• + Scene: lol @ the Doctor shooting Jackie down
• + Character: While Rose rants about the events of the previous night, the Doctor ignores her and plays around with some stuff in her house to establish his level of intellect and some of his oddities, and also his incompetency with cardistry because he can’t be good at *everything*
• + Character: Rose assumes that the Doctor, like Mickey, is just messing around with the hand, until it attacks her as well, at which point she suddenly starts to take things a lot more seriously
• - Plot: Jackie’s timing with the hair dryer is a *little* convenient
• + Character: The Doctor calls Rose’s bluff when she threatens to tell people about the incident
• + Character: He refuses to explain himself to Rose; he’s closed off, and doesn’t want to form any more close bonds for reasons we don’t know yet. He goes so far as to act condescending and dismissive towards her, but she’s too persistent to be put off
• + Dialogue: “Do you believe me?” “No.” “You’re still listening”
• ++ Scene: The Doctor’s monologue about being able to feel the turn of the Earth is phenomenal
• + Character: Rose runs back when she hears the sound of the TARDIS disappearing, mostly just to show the audience that it’s gone, but it works
• + Dialogue: “Any excuse to get in the bedroom. Don’t read my emails!”
• + Character: Rose googling random s**t about the Doctor is the most relatable thing in the universe
• + Character: Clive is immediately great, Mickey gets some great characterization here as being super protective of Rose
• + Scene: They just copied and pasted this low quality shot of Christopher Eccleston into important historical events lmao
• + Character: “He has one constant companion: Death” great foreshadowing of the series arc
• - Tone: The bit with Mickey getting eaten by the garbage can is kind of corny and tonally inconsistent with the rest of the scene
• + Character: Clive telling Rose that he thinks the Doctor is an alien time traveler is what pushes her over the line
• -- Plot: The Mickey auton is stupid, it’s funny but it’s also completely ridiculous that Rose wouldn’t notice he’s different
• + Character: Rose’s first reaction to Auton!Mickey running rampant is to pull the fire alarm
• + Character: she keeps trying the gate and doesn’t go into the TARDIS until she feels the need to beg the Doctor for help again, then she immediately leaves in shock, runs around, and when Auton!Mickey starts breaking through she runs back in
• + Character: The Doctor didn’t even think about the fact that Mickey is dead, and is much more concerned with the Autons, and is incredibly dismissive *again* towards Rose for caring so much about her boyfriend
• + Scene: The show briefly interrupts the character moment for a plot beat to happen, but goes back to it quickly
• -- Scene: It’s a little jarring how quickly Rose forgets about the fact that her boyfriend is dead and asks the Doctor about his accent, though it does sort of help demonstrate that she didn’t care *that* much about Mickey
• + Scene: Nice visual gag with the London Eye
• + Character: You can really feel the Doctor’s distaste for emotional bonds as a consequence of the Time War
• - Tone: The Nestene Consciousness has… less than amazing VFX lol
• - Plot: It’s a *little* convenient that Clive and Jackie just happen to be at the same shopping mall when the transmitter activates
• + Scene: Rose gets a really great climactic moment with the swinging from the chain
• + Character: Through all of the action and important character beats with Rose and Doctor at the end of the episode, the episode still remembers to give Mickey an in-character reaction to the TARDIS and the recent events
• ++ Character: Rose shows a lot of complex emotions in response to her decision to turn the Doctor down on his offer, you can really see the regret in her eyes and the slight smile that creeps onto her face when she hears the sounds of the TARDIS rematerializing
• + Character: Wow, Rose is *awful* to Mickey lmao

• Plot: -4
• Character: +22
• Theme: 0
• Tone: -1
• Dialogue: +3
• Scenes: +6
• Final grade: +26, B

You can find an in-depth explanation of my review system at https://pastebin.com/BDpANg3b

Love that Rose hated her bf so much that she couldn't tell he was replaced by a living water bottle. Hidden Praxeus prequel methinks.

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”.

Review #2

The Start of an era

This episode changed everything. Before this doctor who was a little tv show with wonky sets and wobbly monsters. This is where that changed. Rose is a fun story but I really don't like Rose but we'll get to that in the later episodes I'd give this story a 8/10

I started with this episode over 10 years ago, and am now rewatching it as I'm getting back into Who (I stopped watching partway through 12, didn't have access to it for a while). The effects are kind of cheesy being from 2005 but this is a really good introduction to The Doctor and the concepts that make up the basics of this show. Now that I've seen some Classic who, the Autons were a nice choice to start off with (though I think Spearhead was a bit better as an episode).

RIP Clive