Dalek

It isn’t the first time The Doctor’s been threatened with ending up as an alien exhibit, but I loved the Cyberman cameo and the fact that we were onto Episode 2 by Classic Series Standards immediately after Pre & Opening Titles.

We didn’t get to see much of Utah beyond the base, but it was totally convincing. Robert Shearman’s story was a strong one.

I always liked the boy-girl thing. Having Bruno Langley in it as Adam Mitchell striking up a mutual rapport with Rose made the series more human, not to mention contemporary since actors were instantly recognisable. Though by no means the chief requirement, Billie & Bruno ran down corridors and up stairs well together. The Dalek moved up them well too. Loved the new Dalek catchphrase: EL-E-VATE.

There was an Ursula Andress Moment where the chunkier ‘bling’ Dalek, complete with ID barcode, sucker head shrinker & X-ray exterminator gun bristled at sharing company with the Doctor and burst it’s bonds. Seems natural that a future project - whether TV or film - covers the Time War set up by Russell T. Davies. He’s highlighted the Daleks’ status by wiping out one of the more contentious aspects of the latter series: The Doctor’s home planet, Gallifrey. Nice move.

There was an interesting dynamic going on between The Doctor and the Dalek. Things have changed since Tom Baker refused or hesitated to wipe them out thirty years ago to the month (our time). Eccleston was in yer Dalek’s face about it. The Daleks’ response that The Doctor would make a good pepperpot himself stood as a gloating statement that it’s own ruthless motives were stronger and purer than The Doctor’s avowed intent of good. Similarly, The Doctor lost the argument with Rose when he was all for killing it. The Daleks are, as Eccleston put, the Kryptonite to his Doctor - and perhaps future Doctors. They may have the potential to turn him.

Christopher Eccleston is perhaps the strongest Doctor since Tom Baker. His Northern accent detracts not one iota; in fact it helps convey his character’s strength and passion. It would be impossible to imagine him as The Doctor without it.

The machine-gun battle sequence was mercifully void of the picture distortion video-tape often gave and was worthy of a feature film, while at the same time looking like a classic sequence from DR. WHO.

There was real tension when Van Statten reminded The Doctor that Rose was the woman he loved. No one could have doubted it. Lump in the throat moment when Rose, facing death thanked The Doctor as she “wouldn’t have missed it for the world”. But far from being exterminated, Rose had touched the Dalek in more ways than one (and I’m not talking Katy Manning Page 3 spreads!). By the same token I think Billie Piper’s portrayal and rapport with Eccleston’s Doctor has touched all of us in a short space of time by being so grounded and likable.

It was a very original move to open up the casing to show us the real Dalek aiming for freedom and a life beyond it’s genetic tyranny. Sad but somehow inevitable that it could not fully adapt.

Rose threw the Doctor’s suspicions about Adam being pretty back at him as two become three in the TARDIS (“I hadn‘t noticed”). Again, this Doctor can’t duck gay innuendo. If Rose disagrees with The Doctor she’ll tell him. She’ll neither agree to disagree (60s & 70s), or whinge (80s).