The Parting of the Ways

Well, It's been quite a ride.

Before this season, I couldn't bribe my nine-year-old step-daughter Jessica into watching Doctor Who. And just as I had written off any chance of her fandom, came ROSE. She started slowly, just peering over my shoulder as Autons blasted through the shopping malls of London. By the end of the episode she was asking to see more.

We went through Dickens and farting aliens (though neither of us were terribly amused by the farting), The Jagrafas and "Are you my Mummy?" with delight.

She also came to learn three important Doctor Who rules:

1) Don't get attached to side characters ("Oh, I like her. That Tree Lady is beautiful. Hey, wait...is she...?")

2) Anything is scary ( She's terrified of The Daleks, of course, but The Gelth and The Empty Child sent her behind the sofa, as it were.)

and, of course....

3) Just because The Doctor says the Daleks are finished doesn't make it so.

After last episode's fantastic cliffhanger ( After hiding behind me during all the "Exterminates!", she asked "Why do you LIKE them so much?"), We jump headfirst into the Action. Jessica practically bit her nails during the first ten minutes while I stayed right at the edge of my seat. I couldn't believe my eyes! Dalek missles! Dalek in the TARDIS! The Dalek fleet! She nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of this episode's surprise guest star, The Dalek Emperor. I was less surprised thanks to recognizing his voice in the trailer (After all, he's appeared in plenty of Big Finish audios), but his extreme makeover was a joy to behold.

As the episode went on, Jessica became less scared of the Dalek voices and became engrossed in the story. I don't blame her. How can I convay how thrilling it is to see all the things DOCTOR WHO couldn't show before in it's history. No more invasions by three Daleks in the grass, no sir! Now it's HALF A BLOODY MILLION DALEKS!

Squeeel....

During his hopeless mission , The Doctor says goodbye to Captain Jack (After Jack kisses him goodbye, Jessica looks at me slack-jawed. "Is he gay?!?" Funny how much innuendo flew over her head in the last four episodes..) and tricks Rose into taking the TARDIS home ("whhat's he doing? He tricked her!")

We were very happy to see Mickey and Jackie again.

(note to RTD, they are a BIG hit in my household. Bring them back often next year..)

After opening the "heart of the TARDIS", Rose becomes Super-Rose and saves the day. This pleases Jessica no end, as she's quite fond of Rose Tyler and sees her as a hero on par with The Doctor.

Then comes the end.

Jessica is heartbroken to see her hero die. I don't blame her one bit. In thirteen episodes, Christopher Eccleston has tied with Tom Baker as my favorite Doctor. Besides, Jessica tells me that he's "cute".

Truthfully, she doesn't want to watch anymore.

She's lost "her" Doctor.

I would be concerned ,except I know from experience what happens next.

It starts with peering over my shoulder....