The Parting of the Ways

This fantastic series ended as excitingly as it began - with a flash and a wink of what is yet to come. I have an empty feeling inside me, after seeing Eccleston's last moments. You really were fantastic.

The episode was full of excitement and action. The Daleks using human flesh, and being tortured mentally because of this irony was chilling and you almost felt sorry for them. I wonder if that was why the Doctor dipped his head against the TARDIS doors when he got back into his machine; as if to say "The poor wretches!". They are the complete anaethma to this Doctor; they hate their own existence, he's just beginning to enjoy his.

The body count at the end of this was probably the biggest of the whole series. None of the supporting chracters survived, even Lynda! I really did think she was going to become a companion, and she is arguably hotter than Billie Piper (have you seen Jo Joyner's chin? mmmm). I was very surprised to see Captain Jack killed, but when he came back to life and tried to get back into the TARDIS, I did feel slightly short changed. Why bring him back to life, but then not have him join the TARDIS crew? That was my only quibble though with this episode.

I think after many years of seeing the Daleks as worthwhile enemies, this episode really made me scared of them. They appeared en masse - more Daleks in one area than we have ever seen before in the series. And the massacre on level 0 was so savage and indiscrimate I actually believed in the Dalek terror. Having them surround the whole station and round up the Doctor had me thinking, "Oh Lord! What are they going to do now?" Excellent. I reckon that human malice was still present in their bodies behind the armour.

The regeneration scene was done well, and Tennant is certainly a real contrast from Eccleston. It was weird hearing the Queen's English coming out of the Doctor's mouth again - Tennant almost sounded poncey to be honest. I'm sure he'll be fine though. I think the reason behind the regeneration should be have been clearer; the threat seemed to just creep up on him. It would have been better for the Daleks to exterminate the Doctor rather than have him suddenly go, "Oh crap I have to change".

Still a fantastic end to a fantastic series. Tennant's got some shoes to fill but I'm glad Billie Piper is still staying. While not every episode was brilliant, the majority were and we will look back on this season as a golden age. Just you wait. I remember Nev Fountain saying back in the 1970s fans were getting annoyed at the constant horror pastiches or alleged pastiches in the Hinchcliffe era, but now they dominate our top ten!

Roll on season two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight nine...