The Parting of the Ways

Series end, so excuse me if I get a bit indulgent....

A colleague of mine has a young relative who has been watching this series. Apparently, his latest 'trick' is to open the letterbox of his front door and intone "Are you my mummy?"

The children shown on 'Doctor Who Confidential' visiting the Blackpool exhibition were as thrilled to see a Slitheen as they were a Dalek...Seeing their happy faces, I was reminded of my younger self, visiting the Longleat exhibition soon after I had 'fallen' for this wonderful programme; that moment had happened with 'Castrovalva' episode one; so the Fifth Doctor is *my* Doctor....

Point is...this season has been totally 'inclusive' and we have a new generation of fans out there; and I think that is terrific. Personally, I agree with Tom Baker that no-one has ever 'failed' as the Doctor. Peter, Tom and Patrick are my particular favourites, but every Doctor has a following and this will continue...which is well cool. So....for a lot of people, Chris Eccleston will be *their* Doctor. Even if Chris might currently feel a bit ambivalent about his time on the programme, I hope (and believe) that he knows this. So I want to say...thanks, Chris. You did us bl**dy proud.

Ahhh....Billie. Obviously I should be getting around to the episode I'm supposed to be reviewing, so I'll keep this short....*Superb* performance. Throughout. Reached a peak here, but there weren't any troughs! Give her a flaming BAFTA...what a star.

Oh yeah, 'The Parting Of The Ways'....Beautiful. Classic. Ten out of Ten, again...Might sound silly, but I'm still feeling quite emotional about it all, so just some disjointed thoughts about the episode...

Captain Jack...Excellent. We see a man here doing the right thing because he is fundamentally decent. Brilliant performance by John Barrowman, who has really excelled in the role.There were a lot of great 'Jack moments' in this episode. "We've got a fully functioning force-field...try saying that when you're drunk.";his rousing call to arms; his kissing his friends goodbye; his 'death'....I'm pleased it's not the end of the Captain. I've just got my fingers crossed that, as we didn't actually see the 'extermination effect' on Lynda, she might've somehow survived too...and maybe 'hooked up' with Jack? She was such an appealing character and I loved the moment when she and the Doctor get really awkward and completely fail to kiss...Awwww. And the look on Roses face! Green monster time, which is pretty apt in this show! (Okay, I thought Jo Joyner was gorgeous, too...)

The script was rammed with quotable lines, but I particularly liked the scene when Roses 'loses it' in the Cafe and and gives her "He takes a stand..." speech about the Doctor. When she talked about her Dad too...very rewarding stuff. Mickey and Jackie coming through when push came to shove was also a lovely touch.

(Switch to 'Smug mode') I was convinced that Rose was Bad Wolf, but kept quiet, even to my friends who have followed the series. Billie really *shone* in the scene when she was 'at one' with the Time Vortex. (To the Dalek Emperor; "You are tiny..." Go, girl!)

I don't know whether all the kissing (Jack/Rose/Doctor) will go down well with everyone, but context was everything here. The Doctor *knew* the implications when he 'absorbed' the Vortex, thus saving Roses life...and I am a complete sucker for self-sacrificing gestures. (Fifth Doctor fan, see!) I found it very touching when the Doctor and Rose kiss and, in effect, he signs his own death warrant. The Ninth Doctor 'returns the favour' as Rose had saved in his life in the very first episode. There is clearly a deep love that has developed been these two and I have not got a problem with that...I think this Doctor always knew he wasn't going to last long, you know.

The final scene...awesome. Superbly done. That final shot of Chris smiling (not gurning, thank you very much!) and then...BAM. We have a new Doctor. Goosebump time. So...

Cheers, Chris. You know what? You were fantastic.

Hello, David. Welcome aboard. I think you are *going* to be fantastic. Just those few moments at the end seemed so *right*, y'know?

Thanks to all and sundry for making me feel like a kid again of a Saturday evening. There are so many other moments I could go on about because I think this was a bit of a masterpiece...but I think I'll s*d off before I turn into a complete 'luvvie'!!

Liked it when the "Ann-droid" got blown up, by the way....Don't diss us Welsh, eh, Russell?! (Not being at all serious. I'm sure Miss Robinson got the joke!)

It's gonna be an extra cool Christmas this year... 'See' ya in December!