The Empty Child

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, along comes The Empty Child to raise the bar even higher. They must be putting something into the water in the BBC Production offices, because Doctor Who has to be one of the most consistently entertaining shows on television.

I've always loved Who stories set in the past, because when they're done right, they capture an innocence and offer a glimpse into a world that (to most of us) is long gone and nothing but a memory. The Empty Child does just that.

Rose's subplot had the potential to be more than just a bit silly. Being dragged over half of London by a barrage balloon? It's the Mill's spectacular special effects that save the day. The images of London during the Blitz are absolutely breathtaking. These are big-budget sequences worthy of any Hollywood movie.

Captain Jack (as played by John Barrowman) gives a good first impression. What's interesting is the juxtaposition of Captain Jack versus The Doctor. If this series had been made by Hollywood producers, Captain Jack Harkness would've been the lead heroic character. It's interesting comparing Jack's mercenary attitude with the Doctor's more humanitarian one.

The B-plot (Captain Jack and Rose) is very amusing and entertaining, but the main A-plot is the more interesting. Along with the Gelth (from the Unquiet Dead), I can now count the Empty Child as one of the creepiest creatures that I've ever watched in Doctor Who. And Doctor Constantine's horrifying transformation is definitely the single most disturbing sequence ever put into a pre-watershed timeslot. Yikes, just yikes.

But the best part of the entire episode (for me) was Florence Hoath's performance. She is obviously one of the main protaganists in this story. Part of the reason why this episode worked so well for me was purely through her convincing and deeply sympathetic performance. And I agree with many others, Florence Hoath's would make a perfect companion for the Doctor.