After the thrilling cliffhanger to Bad Wolf, we're immediately off and running in this series finale. Jack has used the extrapolator from Boom Town to rig up a force field around the TARDIS and The Doctor flies it straight into the Dalek armada, then around Rose to rescue her. It's a badass and confident start and it's about to become more so. Because the Doctor is about to confront the Daleks. His 'Oncoming storm' speech isn't overplayed, but it's delivered with such intensity that if you weren't already sold on this showdown between the Doctor and the Daleks before it, you should be afterwards.

This is such a good scene, but I'm just going to point out 2 things that I especially like. The fact that the Daleks have become insane, and turned into effectively religious zealots, with the Emperor believing himself to be a God is a little weird, but all the better for it. I don't think it really adds anything to the narrative. I know the Doctor says it makes them more dangerous, but you could strip all of it out and the episode would play exactly the same. It's mostly just there for flavour, but I like the way it tastes.

The second thing is how this scene ends. The Doctor has confronted his enemies and instilled some fear within them. He confidently, defiantly returns to the TARDIS, closes the door and then defeatedly rests his head against the door as we can hear the Daleks screaming on the other side. It's a brilliant beat that after a few moments that give the audience hope that he can win, we immediately see that the Doctor is already feeling beaten and any hope we might've had has been stripped away.

We return to what used to be Satellite 5, where the Doctor reveals his plan. He's going to use the tech on board to transmit a Delta wave to wipe out the Daleks. He needs time (3 days) so he and Rose get to work building it whilst Jack takes the remaining inhabitants to mount a defense and hopefully give the Doctor the time he needs. There's a nice scene where Rose and the Doctor are discussing what they can do (like flying back in time a week to stop the Daleks then, but the Doctor explains why that's impossible) and there's an exchange that becomes important later. The Doctor suggests that they could just fly away and leave history to take it's course. Rose immediately refuses and the Doctor realises the idea never crossed her mind. Then the music swells into a more hopeful, heroic score as the Doctor excitedly says he knows what to do (something about crossing his own time stream), then he and Rose head into the TARDIS. The Doctor asks her to hold down something as he needs to quickly go outside. He leaves the TARDIS, stops and turns looking dejected, and with his sonic screwdriver, he sends Rose away. For the second time this episode the Doctor has given the audience some hope, then immediately taken it away.

Rose is on Earth with Mickey and her mum whilst 200,000 years later the inhabitants of the Game Station are battling the Daleks (who are also destroying the Earth at the same time) and the Doctor is building a Delta Wave. It is revealed that it's entirely possible for the Doctor to build the Delta Wave, but not refine it. Therefore he would create a weapon that would destroy all life in it's blast radius (including the citizens of Earth) and not just the Daleks. The Doctor is conflicted about whether he can kill all of these innocents to defeat the Daleks (and thereby save trillions more who the Daleks would surely later kill if he allowed them to survive) or not. Captain Jack gets a nice moment where he reassures the Doctor that he has never doubted him and never will, and will trust him to whatever he thinks is right.

The stuff with Rose on Earth is more interesting to me however (apart from the Bad Wolf stuff, which I think ends up not really being much of anything, especially considering how much it's built up). I love the scene in the chip shop because Rose essentially explains the mission statement for this Doctor and this revival of the show. She explains that the Doctors biggest weapon is how he inspires people to be better and do the right thing. How it's important to stand up and not to give up (calling back to the previous conversation she has with the Doctor in which she never even considers doing anything other than standing up to the Daleks). This inspires Mickey to help her try to open the heart of the TARDIS, which Rose believes will then read her mind and know to send her back to the Doctor. Mickey's mini cooper can't get the job done, but after a great heart to heart between Jackie and Rose (both Billie Piper and Camille Coduri are exceptional here) where Rose tells Jackie that her dad would want her to stand up with the Doctor. Jackie says he wouldn't before Rose tells her how she met Pete, and that she was the woman who was with him when he died. Jackie reluctantly understands why Rose must get back, so borrows a more powerful truck which gets the job done. However when they open the heart of the TARDIS it doesn't just send her back to the Doctor, but empties the entire Time Vortex into her.

So yes this is absolutely a Deus Ex Machina, and I absolutely understand why people may not like it. Especially because I don't think writing Bad Wolf a bunch of times throughout the series and turning Blon into an egg at the end of 'Boom Town' count as adequate setup. But honestly, for the most part I don't care. Narratively it may be a lazy way to conclude the story this way. But, from a character perspective it allows for very satisfying and entirely earned emotional payoffs for both The Doctor and Rose. RTD has always been more interested in character than he is in plot. This has always been both a strength and a weakness of his (here it's probably both). But, I personally like it more than I dislike it in this instance.

Back on the Game Station the Daleks have killed everyone except the Doctor. Lynda's death being particularly awful (in a good way), but Jack is also dead. The Dalek's are confronting The Doctor who has his Delta Wave, but he can't release it if it'll kill everyone. He proudly calls himself a coward and accepts his death. He's going to die anyway, and he'd rather die as a good man (or rather Time Lord). The Doctor we meet at the start of this series would've released the Delta Wave in an instant. Now though, the Doctor has changed from the haunted survivor he once was. Meeting Rose and having his faith in the universe restored has made him a better man, just as he's made others better throughout the series. He's already killed untold scores during the Time War, and he refuses to commit another act of Genocide. Fortunately he needn't because Rose returns.

The story then wraps up with Rose killing the Daleks, resurrecting Jack and saving the Doctor. The Doctor has to absorb the Time Vortex from her to save her life (I'm not crazy about the kiss, but it's not episode ruining or anything). This in turn brings about his regeneration into a very young looking David Tennant.

I'd like to briefly talk about Eccleston now that we're at the end of his tenure, and say that I think he's a truly great Doctor. He's unlike any other Doctor, yet still undeniably the Doctor. Part of me would love to have seen more adventures with the 9th Doctor, but the fact that he had 1 series that gave him a clear character arc is probably one of the reasons I think so highly of him. Other Doctors have continued in the role after their emotional arc had reached it's natural conclusion, and it is pretty much always to their detriment. So as annoyingly brief as his run was, it is probably all the better for that.

His final scene is excellent though. He not only gets a charming, emotional sendoff that shows the actor/character the right amount of respect, but the scene also introduces regeneration clearly. This scene is important because if the Revival messed up this scene and the concept of regeneration, I really think the show would've had a much harder time thriving. So thank you Mr. Eccleston.

All in all a reall good finale. It's not perfect by any means. I think the action sequences are generally pretty weak, the conclusion is narratively too easy etc... But as a culmination of Series 1 and as a sendoff to Christopher Eccleston, this episode is in a word, Fantastic.

The Parting of Ways might very well be my favourite of the New Who series finales, even after all this time. I don't think any other run manages to so elegantly seed the ideas of "Bad Wolf" throughout the series and pay it off so well with the creation of the Bad Wolf entity. In just a few short minutes they tie in content that would be drawn on in the future and it feels like most other series are simply trying to imitate to varying degrees of success in the series that would follow Eccelston's short but memorable run.

Everything about this episode really holds up well. It's great pay-off to the big ending of the last episode. There's good action as the Daleks just plow through all these defences that had been carefully set up by our characters, cementing their sense of threat we first saw in the Dalek episode.

Even the Time War content is paid off nicely, with it being sort of implied the Doctor is just doing his last-minute, desperate manoeuvre to once again just try to wipe out the Daleks rather than letting them wipe out everything else.

Some of the effects are a little dated, but with fantastic acting all around, especially from Billie Piper who really sells her transformed state, and obviously Christopher Eccleston who gives us a memorable farewell, I'm easily sold on what we get in terms of effects and enjoy this story from start to finish. It's a classic story of the Doctor up against all odds, and prevailing against brute force and despair. A very important episode to the franchise, and a brilliant send-off to a short lived, but much loved Doctor. Absolutely part of the must-watch run of episodes in series one, a run that kicks off from Rose and pretty much includes every episode in between. For all the faults of the first series, the entire thing is very watchable and all comes together pretty nicely as an introduction to the world of Doctor Who.

📝8/10

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

"The Parting of the Ways: A Farewell Fit for the Ninth Doctor"

The second part of Doctor Who’s Series 1 finale, The Parting of the Ways, pulls out all the stops with a thrilling blend of action, drama, and spectacle. The stakes are higher than ever, with an all-out war between humanity and the Daleks, the return of the Dalek Emperor after decades of absence, and Rose reconnecting with Mickey and Jackie for a pivotal role in saving the day.

Christopher Eccleston delivers a powerhouse performance in his final episode as the Ninth Doctor, capturing the fierce intensity, emotional depth, and complex morality that define his character. From the Doctor’s willingness to sacrifice everything to stop the Daleks, to his quiet moments of doubt and compassion, Eccleston showcases a multifaceted portrayal that makes his Doctor unforgettable. His farewell scenes with Rose are tender and deeply heartfelt, providing a moving end to his tenure.

The supporting cast also shines. Nicholas Briggs gives chilling life to the Dalek Emperor, whose unhinged religious zealotry adds a new layer of menace to the Daleks. John Barrowman’s Captain Jack remains steadfastly heroic, and his unique sendoff teases intriguing developments for his future in the Whoniverse. Billie Piper, meanwhile, gives another standout performance as Rose, especially in the latter half of the episode when she rises to the challenge of saving the day.

The Daleks, though not as prominent as one might expect, are effective in the moments they’re given, functioning as relentless killing machines that claim key characters before the narrative takes an unexpected turn. While the reversal of their carnage—thanks to Rose’s transformation into the Bad Wolf—leans heavily on the deus ex machina trope, the emotional weight of the resolution keeps it engaging.

The episode revels in its melodramatic beats, particularly the Doctor’s decision to abandon Rose for her safety and his impending death. While these moments lose some impact upon rewatching, knowing how events unfold, they remain pivotal in shaping the story’s emotional core.

The climax, where Rose absorbs the Time Vortex to become the Bad Wolf, is visually and thematically grand, even if the resolution relies on a touch of sci-fi convenience. The Ninth Doctor’s sacrifice to save Rose, culminating in his regeneration, is bittersweet and sets the standard for future regenerations in the modern era. The "I think you need a Doctor" line might be a little on the nose, but it serves as a fitting full-circle moment for this incarnation’s arc.

Final Thoughts:

Eccleston’s regeneration into David Tennant ushers in a new chapter for Doctor Who, marking the beginning of what many consider a second golden era for the show. The Parting of the Ways may stumble here and there with its pacing and reliance on tropes, but it remains a thrilling and emotional conclusion to a groundbreaking first series, honouring the Ninth Doctor while paving the way for a bold new future.

This is a classic for Russell T Davies, finishing off the first series, and the 9th Doctor's era as a whole in style. RTD's efforts typically go into shaping the series and the characters but here you can see what he is capable of when all of his energy goes into writing. Its magnificent. Various threads from throughout the series are used for maximum impact here - Bad Wolf, the Time War, Rose talking to Jackie about her father, the heart of the TARDIS, Satellite 5, Mickey's doomed relationship with Rose. It all comes together and feels like a satisfying whole. Hey - even the Face of Boe gets a mention as a quiz question.

RTD's genius is the way he mixes pop culture (Big Brother, What Not to Wear, The Weakest Link) with high drama (holocaust-like charnel houses) whilst making the whole story hang together in a natural way. Oddly the pop culture elements have aged very well, though you'd have to imagine they would be streaming on demand rather than watching scheduled TV by this point in the future.

The Doctor messed up in The Long Game and now the Daleks have taken hold of Satellite 5. And what a show they put on. The thousands of Daleks filling the screen is quite unlike anything the show has managed to produce up until this point. Its a huge payoff to Dalek earlier in the series - and genuinely chilling stuff. We're led to think Lynda is going to be the new companion - awkwardly trumping Rose's affections but no - Lynda dies in horrific fashion at the hands of the Daleks and Rose gets The Doctor's dying kiss.

Whilst a huge battle breaks out in and around the satellite, loyal Rose attempts to get back to the fight - and eventually saves the day, despite The Doctor trying to keep her out of action. The scenes with Jackie and Mickey back on Earth help keep the whole story grounded and relatable. Clever old Russell, keeping non-fans and fans alike enthralled. Though he must have had an eye on fans when the script appears to reference the 8th Doctor TV movie as the Daleks are revealed in this instance to be half human (the Daleks respond with "BLASPHEMY!").

Captain Jack, Rose and The 9th Doctor make such an incredible team. I always feel joyous when I get to the bit where Jack is brought back to life, but then so disappointed when he gets left behind. I wish we could have had more of that team.

Of course, I also wish we'd gotten more of Christopher Eccleston in the role too. After whetting our appetite he bows out following the best series of the show to date (in my opinion it is ever so slightly better than Tom Baker's season 12). He carries so much humour, emotion and pathos in this story - it is a triumph of acting. Thank you Chris, for everything.

Now... who's this new guy?

This is absolutely one of the best episodes of Doctor Who ever made, and at its core, it is very simple. It is the triumph of love and compassion over hate and evil, and told in such a beautiful way. The Doctor is on Satellite Five with Jack mounting a suicidal defense against the Daleks. The Daleks are somehow worse than ever, they are self-hating religious zealots who kill for no reason other than sadism. When you look at the world today, how many people wish they could exterminate anyone unlike them? Then Rose is back home in London, completely failing to live an ordinary life. The Doctor taught her a different way to live, to be brave and confront evil. The choice is given to the Doctor again: all of humanity as collateral damage with the destruction of the Daleks. He chooses "coward every time", but his effect and kindness on others is rewarded by Rose arriving and cleansing the Daleks. Everyone is great, from Lynda with a y's horrific silent extermination death, Jack's glee in the defense knowing he dies, Jackie's reaction to Rose saying she was there when Pete died. This is a marvelous episode, and I think only The Doctor Falls has it beat in terms of finales. What both episodes have in common is that it isn't about winning a victory at any costs: it's about fighting for what's right even if the universe is against you. Bravo Doctor.