I was very impressed... finally.

The first episode seemed a mess, the second episode showed promise, but this one felt like a proper programme. One with atmosphere, ideas, acting and everything!

I am not saying it was the best thing ever (it still ranks behind 24, Twin Peaks, West Wing and a couple of other modern shows in my humble opinion), but it bodes extremely well for the rest of this series. It was a stock episode - and nothing of major import occurred - but the general quality was amazing.

My 6 year old was hiding behind her cushion, peeking out at the screen, and she has just been a bit scared after being told to go to bed. This is what we want!

Obviously not scaring 6 year olds willy nilly, but a television show with a bit of intelligence and atmosphere that the family can watch together and enjoy. This is the first time in years that I have watched an early evening show on a Saturday with any form of enthusiasm. I just cannot wait for the Daleks (and hopefully at some point the Cybermen and the Sea Devils).

Tonights episode involved aliens acting as zombies because they could possess the dead through the gases the corpses emit, with Charles Dickens saving the day. Ecclestone has finally learnt to smile without looking like he should be put in a straight jacket and Ms Piper looks good whilst being locked up (2 episodes in a row). The big character actor - Simon Callow - put in an interesting performance and looked like he wanted to be there - keeping the traditions of Dr Who intact. The script was tight, amusing and exciting, the FX convincing and the acting effective.

All in all, fantastic entertainment. Each episode makes me like the new series more and more. 

Can't wait for next Saturday, as it should be.

A creepy pre credits sequence sets us on another adventure in this reimagined Doctor Who series that would surely have had Mary Whitehouse up in arms. And in the words of the ninth Doctor, I think that's "fantastic!"

It's another great episode with some wonderful lines from Mark Gatiss and beautiful direction from Euros Lyn. Superb performances from all concerned, especially our two leads. Watching it really took me back to Saturday evenings when I was about seven or eight years old (once tonight's episode has finished, I half expected to have to go to bed!)

Christopher Eccleston simply IS the Doctor and watching tonight's episode really made me sad that he's not continuing beyond this season. If only there was some way he could be persuaded. He's funny, he's angry, he's intelligent, he's sad. And he's fallible. But most of all, he's brilliant. Particularly memorable is the sequence in the cab where he explains to Charles Dickens that he's his number one fan. 

And Billie Piper really is an absolute revelation. Brilliant since episode one, tonight she continued to show her excitement at the possibilities of time travel as well as a genuine strength of character that only hints at some more brilliance to come.

This is the third episode of the series...and the third time that a 'recent' war has been mentioned (a "time war"). Is this the Faction Paradox war from the BBC books, ending in the events of The Ancestor Cell? Or is this a different chronology altogether? I'm intrigued at the hints of what may be to come in the series.

And let us not forget the special effects which really are "special". According to Doctor Who Confidential it was one man who created The Gelth virtually on his own...and it's an amazing feat.

But if I were to quibble...and it's only a minor quibble...I might suggest that the pacing was a little uneven. The episode built up nicely, leading to the inevitable confrontation. But the resolution seemed a little too quick...and then the following scenes leading to the close of the episode too long, like padding. But it's a minor nit pick.

I loved it. Roll on next week!

Well, after (what I thought was an excellent episode of Doctor Who) 'The End of the World', we come to the third episode of the new series, this time written by Mark Gatiss. It had a lot to live up to compared to the fantastic previous weeks episode, and did it succeed? Well, not quite. The period setting was nicely achieved, and it was great to see the great Simon Callow at last making his long overdue appearance in Doctor Who in the shape of that other great man Charles Dickens, but (this might just be me) I was left yearning for a more futuristic story set on Platform 1. This wasn't a bad episode, but compared to the swift pace of the other two episodes I felt this one was a little bit flatter. There were some wonderfully spooky moments, as there should be in a ghost themed story, but parts of the episode were just too talky in my opinion and were quite boring, and brought the whole thing to a standstill at times, when it needed to be much quicker in pace.

Eccleston is certainly making the part of the Doctor his own, and is very likeable, but even he seemed a bit more restrained compared to the past couple of episodes. There was however some lovely dialogue between the Doctor and Dickens in the carriage, and Billie Piper as Rose is still a revelation. Once again she puts in a believable and strong performance which does wonders for the credibility of the show.

As for the monsters of this episode, the Geith, they were very well realised. These creatures made of Gas were a nice and original idea, and were never more terrifying than when they were occupying a dead person's body. I had flashbacks of 'The Curse of Fenric' when the Geith tried to get to the Doctor and Rose through the bars of the crypt. and the period setting itself brought back vivid memories of 'Ghost Light' , in fact, 'Ghost Light' would have been an appropriate and fitting title for this story! There were certainly shades of Season 26 in this instalment, and I could quite easily have imagined seeing Sylvester and Sophie in this kind of setting!

That is what's so odd, so far this episode has had more 'artistic' nods to the original series than the previous two, and yet I found the first two episodes much more fresher and energetic and new. What I'm saying is, being a fan of the original series 'The Unquiet Dead' should have appealed to me more than the other two, but it didn't! The story is reasonable and the acting on display is first class, even the script is peppered with some splendid dialogue, but altogether it just felt a little flat. 6/10

Marc Platt or Mark Gatiss?...I think Mr Platt's 'Ghost Light' just edges it!

Doctor Who goes back to its roots with a horror story set in a period setting. Classic Who and nicely realised by all concerned.

Doctor Who always works best with strong supporting characters that are convincingly written and well acted. A fact that arises I suspect from only having the Doctor and companions as true repeating characters. As viewer we need more characters to watch so the one time only characters gain an importance that they would not have in an episode of Star Trek for example…but forgive me I digress so back to The Unquiet Dead

This episode excelled in strong supporting character. Simon Callow was a most credible Charles Dickens playing him with real depth as a once brilliant and creative man who has slowly been reduced to feeling that for all his brilliance his creativity had run dry. His psychological turn around by the end of the episode put a smile on my face. Here was now a man who had again remembered what it was to live and that life was ever full of possibilities and wonder. Something that Doctor Who itself taught me many years ago as a young boy.

Further mention should go to Eve Myles as Gwyneth who put in a very strong performance as the telepathic maid. Her speech to Rose regarding the future as she could see it in Rose's mind literally had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. Great script and so very well delivered.

The relationship between the Doctor and Rose seems a little deeper than I would expect given their time together but the chemistry between then whether fighting or agreeing is riveting.

This episode seemed to manage more depth with the story line but I do miss the multiple episode format and I believe that the storyline depth suffers as a consequence. I can easily imagine that the reason behind the walking deep would have taken a full episode to emerge in the old days however lets be happy for what we have – great special effects, terrific acting and new Who episodes!

The effects were good and ranged from full flying ghosts to simple gas flares. The sonic screwdriver was seen again but only in passing. Personally I have no issue with that but now isn't the time to debate that! The Victorian era was nicely portrayed and the snow looked real! 

All in all a very good episode.

The mystery of Dr Who is back. This has got to be the best new who episode yet. This episode written by Mark was the one I was eagerly anticipating 18 months ago and what a great on screen script it is. 

A pre credit sequence to proud of, capture the viewer instantly with a terrifying death, and the rise of the old lady from the casket - que music brilliant! 

I just love Chris and Billie now – what chemistry they have, and so lovely that Rose's journey is continuing with all her first's simply lovely. What a lovely scene where Rose steps outside the tardis and puts her foot in the snow a touching moment that reminds the viewer how exciting this all is. 

The leading 5 actors in this episode are fantastic, Simon Callow is amazing as Charles Dickens in a performance that captures pure brilliance throughout a very quick paced story. 

Gwyneth was particularly well cast, and her scene with Rose and what she could see in her mind of London and the death of her father reminded me of the good old days of pure brilliant story telling. 

Mark has allowed each character to grow quickly and I found myself caring about Gwyneth's fate as much as Rose. How touching to see the Doctor kiss her before her self sacrifice. This Doctor is certainly not scared to show his emotion and this is what makes Chris so brilliant to watch. 

More on Chris... just how many variations of character can he get in one episode, every week I have laughed in and his gripping stage presence absorbs you totally. 

The gas ghosts are also sheer brilliance, turning again something every day into a monster and making it work. The fans of Ghostlight must all be saying YES! 

Overall the series is moving from strength to strength capturing emotion happiness and adventure all in 45 mins. My only criticism has to be that it's all over so quickly and I just want more. Oh well, another 6 days until the next episode... can't wait!

I'll be honest with you. I am yet to see a story from the new series which I've felt the same way as I did watching 'Robots of Death' or 'The Curse of Fenric'. I shouldn't say so as we're only three episodes in but that's how I feel. The new series is good, but there's something missing. Perhaps the fact that CE is leaving also leaves a bitter taste...

Although, now you mention it, this has been the best episode so far. A good plot, well acted and scary. Simon Callow was brilliant as Dickens and I enjoyed the character of the maid, Gwenyth. The scene between her and Rose was a joy to watch, and reminded me of the scene where Leela undresses in front of Vince in 'The Horror of Fang Rock'. Brilliant stuff. Although I did feel her vision of Rose's world could have been omitted at the script stage. 

The 19th century was well realised, especially the interior scenes and the special effects were what we have come to expect these days. The exteriors may have been quite cramped as one reviewer put it, but the story was well executed. 

I thought to myself during the episode - "What a cop-out! The aliens are nice!" but my spine tingled when there was a lovely twist to the contrary. I just would have liked the resolution to be strung out a bit more, given more time to breathe. 

Aside from those quibbles, it was good but I've seen better. But we are only three episodes in....