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A Doctor Who a Day - Day 10 - Review: Bad Wolf & The Parting of the Ways

Updated: Jan 5

The Doctor, Rose and Jack approach the Dalek Emperor
@BBC

Doctor Who Series 1, Episodes 12 & 13, Bad Wolf & The Parting of the Ways

Original Air Date: 11th & 18th June 2005


“Rose, before I go, I just want to tell you, you were fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. And you know what? So was I.”


Christopher Eccleston, I really would have loved another series with you, I really, really would have!


What a travesty that we only got one series of Nine and Rose. 


Despite my sadness at losing Eccleston, I did enjoy this finale. The start now looks VERY dated. Big Brother, although that is back again isn't it? The Weakest Link, although that is back again isn't it? I am not sure what the other programme was called, but if my memory serves me well, it was an older, shitter version of Queer Eye. Even though none of those shows do anything for me, it was still fun to watch the Doctor in the Diary Room.


"You are the weakest link… goodbye!"


I enjoyed the slow realisation that all of these game shows are deadly. Billie does an amazing job in making Rose go from having a laugh to being in total fear of the Anne Droid. John Barrowman also gets naked!


I guess until the big reveal this is a bit of a slow burner, with some fun (at the time) references to other TV shows. Then suddenly a fleet of Daleks are in the sky and Christopher Eccleston is being a bad arse mother hubbard!


Those final few moments of Bad Wolf are what make this series so bloody good. It is simple, there are no big explosions, and it is just Eccleston and Piper being marvellous.


"They survived through me!"


I still repeat this line to this day. When the Doctor gets aboard the Dalek fleet we have so many good moments. The booming voice of the god of Daleks, 'worship him', Nine being both funny - Is that it? Useless! Nul points - and epic - Doesn’t it just burn when you face me? Also when he works out the Daleks are insane and he rests his head on the door inside the Tardis, after acting so confident in front of them, that was a real, oh shit, we are in trouble moment.


It must have been so thrilling for long-time fans to see all those Daleks and their spaceships whizzing around Earth on their TV screen when this was first broadcast.


RTD went bigger in his finales after this one, but I don't think that affects this one in the slightest. The best scenes didn't need explosions, because we got scenes like Rose, Mickey and Jackie in the cafe. Again, another scene that sums this era up. Quiet, brilliant. Rose convinced me to love the Doctor anyway!


Then we get the Bad Wolf pay off. Now it isn’t so fun having something like this running through a series, but to me, at the time, Bad Wolf was so cool. Rose as the Bad Wolf was a great moment and a really fitting end to a brilliant series that she was very much a big part of. It seems strange to think she was belting out pop songs not long before this was filmed, it must have been a big gamble to cast Billie Piper in this role, but boy did she pay them back over the years.


"You know what they call me in the ancient legends on the Dalek home world? “The Oncoming Storm”. You might have removed all your emotions, but I reckon right down deep in your DNA there’s one little spark left. And that’s fear. Doesn’t it just burn when you face me?"


Nine regenerates as only Christopher Eccleston could regenerate, a great line, no fuss, bang, all done. Obviously the show wasn't established and there were the behind the scenes issues, but it seems quite odd to watch such a no fuss regeneration after all the specials and speeches we have had since.


Now, where was I? Ah yes, that's right… Barcelona!!


Was this a fitting send off for the Ninth Doctor? Let me know in the comments below.


David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor. His mouth is open and he is in the Ninth Doctor's leather jacket, orange regeneration energy still shooting out the top of his head.
@BBC



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© by Matty James

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