It's time for some more Top 10 lists, and now I'm tackling Doctor Who writers(of the televised show, that is) who have really added names to the episode list...
Now, Russell T. Davies(or as he's more commonly known, RTD) is of course the man who dragged the show back from the dead and served as showrunner from 2005 to 2010, during the Ninth and Tenth Doctor eras. I'm personally very fond of him and his more family drama-based incarnation of the show, as I felt it added an emotional core to the show and made it more enjoyable for kids to watch and connect the dots with. His writing wasn't all gold, of course, but he created a universe that was genuinely interesting to explore, which had something for everybody and felt downright epic at times.
So let's go back and see his 10 greatest achievements...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Boom Town - I love this one, because it's the only carefree episode featuring my favourite TARDIS team - the Ninth Doctor, Rose and Jack. The episode itself is a decent character dilemma that nicely ties up some of the story arcs running through Series 1. It's not perfect, but the regulars are on fire! The reveal of the Heart of the TARDIS towards the end is also a must-see.
9. Planet Of The Dead - This is not a very fondly remembered story, but watching it again, it holds up as a shamelessly flippant romp. It's not clever or witty, but the flying bus is a memorable gimmick and for once, UNIT is actually a welcome presence in the new series, mostly thanks to Lee Evans' dorky Malcolm. Comfort food has its place, and this episode fulfils it very well.
8. Aliens Of London/World War Three - Yes, the Slitheen fart. But think of it this way: it's used later by the Doctor to figure out who this race are. It's not a throwaway joke and is completely plausible as an alien characteristic. Other than that, this is a really great Earth invasion story that updates the genre by involving the government directly and being global in scope. The use of 10 Downing Street as the Base Under Siege is a particularly wonderful touch.
6. The Next Doctor - Cybermen, multiple Doctors, a mystery in Victorian London... this story is just a checklist of things that I like. It's got some great atmosphere and David Morrissey is a splendid guest actor who really gives his gimmicky character a lot of depth. I don't care for the lead villain(she wasn't really necessary or interesting) and I didn't like the actors chosen to play Jackson Lake's family, but apart from that, it's great fun.
5. Utopia/The Sound Of Drums/Last Of The Time Lords - Bringing back the Master in style! This three-parter perfectly embodies everything to love about the character - his ingenious plans, his camaraderie with the Doctor, his hypnotic powers and flamboyance. We even see a glimpse of the man the Master could've been if he hadn't gone insane. I think the only thing that could've improved this was if we had seen John Simm as Harold Saxon in previous episodes, so the character reveal would be more shocking. Although, I will say that I found all the political takeover stuff in the middle kind of tiresome. Watching Simm ham it up as a politician just isn't that funny to me.
4. The End Of Time - Now, there's no lying that this is an unhappy story. The Doctor's miserable attitude in this, coupled with some unique storytelling decisions(I think we can all agree the Master's magical potion resurrection was arrant nonsense) has made this a controversial episode amongst fans. But personally, I've always been fond of it. Heart-wrenching drama just appeals to me, and I like that the Tenth Doctor doesn't take his regeneration lightly at all. I loved the development of the Master's character and the conclusion of his drumbeat arc, and I thought Gallifrey's return was handled extremely well. Making the Time Lords a genuine threat again left the future of the show uncertain and mysterious, and the Doctor's storyline was even more tragic than before.
3. The Stolen Earth/Journey's End - A real party of a story, in which the various characters we've met and grown fond of over the years team up to fight off a Dalek invasion on present day Earth. Also includes the return of Davros for good measure. What a great pay-off for viewers who fell in love with the show. This is fan service at its best - meaningful and fun at the same time.
2. Bad Wolf/The Parting Of The Ways - A brilliant finale for the first series of the rebooted show, in which we see the Daleks restored to their rightful position as the most terrifying race in the universe. The Doctor is faced with a moral dilemma that mirrors his final moments in the Time War. Rose finally faces the changes she's been going through since meeting with the Doctor. And Captain Jack gets to be awesome as usual. This is blockbuster Doctor Who, dark and epic in scale.
1. The Waters Of Mars - If there's any story from the RTD era that left an impression, it's this one. This is a first(and only, unless you count Hell Bent), not just for the new series, but for the entire franchise: a story in which the Doctor truly becomes the villain and does the wrong thing. And it's handled so brilliantly: the Doctor always tries to help people even when it seems hopeless. But here, he genuinely shouldn't. And he can't handle it.
No comments:
Post a Comment