Being a proverbial hater of surprises, I'd read all the spoilers I could regarding this episode. Which is pretty gosh-darned easy when you're a Canadian since we get the stories transmitted to us two weeks after their shown in England. I'd even read the reviews on this page to get some answers I was looking for and was actually disappointed to see how some fans of the series are, once again, being pointless "nigglers" who seem impossible to satisfy. With the diverse reactions I was reading, I once more felt like I did back in the eighties when I was subscribed to three or four fanzines. It seemed to be impossible to get a clear idea on the effectiveness of these stories since there were just such radically different opinions being expressed about them. I knew that, once again, it was all going to boil down to me watching the story and just judging for myself. And, if anything, forgetting the opionions I'd read already on these stories was the smartest thing I could do. Lots of points being made about them were extremely uneducated, at best, anyway!

So, I turned on my T.V. Tuesday night (again, things are a bit different over here in Canada - "Who night" is Tuesday for us) and powered up the VCR so I could add to my old VHS collection and waited for 8PM to roll around. I knew, already, what was going to happen in most of this episode. Which I realised might hamper my enjoyment of it (especially the "where did you get that gun?" joke with Captain Jack). But I accepted that as a consequence for my inability to resist internet spoilers!

Was I, even with all the surprises spoilt, still happy with what I saw?

Very much so.

I'm not so big of a "Russell T. Davies basher" as some of you folks are (funny how he's already being referred to as "RTD" just like poor old "JNT" of the old days). I thought "Rose" was the best way to start the series - "End of the World" was decent - the whole business with the Slitheen was his weakest offering but it was still some good storytelling overall and "The Long Game" ranks up there for me as being as excellent as the offerings the guest-authors have given us. But "The Parting of Ways", in my opinion, beats anything we've seen this season in terms of storyline and style. It's Doctor Who at its best. Not just because we've got classic villains in the mix but you've got a neat "T.V. gone bad" concept going on and an overall plot moving at breakneck speed too - something other two-parters of this season haven't managed so well.

Right from the start, as we get the dizzying rotating overhead shot of the Doctor stuck in the tiny closet, we can see this plot is barely going to slow down to let us catch our breath. Each member of the crew is thrown into peril and forced to deal with it in their own way. And, as some of them succeed at extracting themselves, we get embroiled in yet deeper plots. More problems on Sattelite Five and the deeper issue of "Bad Wolf" being brought to the forefront but still not quite revealed. I'm actually impressed with how the titles of some of Russell's stories don't quite make sense til later in the season - we see now, just how "long of a game" the problems of Sattelite Five really are. I was even a bit reminded of the old "Invasion of Time" story. How we get a bigger nastier alien race using a lesser villain to set things up for them until they can truly move in and "make the kill" they want to make. Great plot-building on "RTD"'s part and I don't think anyone with an inkling of appreciation of good writing can deny that. His ability to give us a "semi-umbrella-themed" season is masterful. I do hope he doesn't always handle his seasons this way. I would like Who stories to be a bit more independent of each other in later seasons. But this was a good move in the first season.

Now, to me, the final 10 to 15 minutes of this story is some of the strongest "Who" I've seen in the history of the series (a term that is probably getting overused already, I'm sure) but before I extoll on that, there are a few more elements I want to discuss. The rescue of Rose (or rather, the failed rescue of Rose) was extremely well-achieved - even though I knew already that she wasn't dead. The whole sequence gave us a bit of that "old series" feel where the Doctor always had to get the poor female companion out of danger cause she couldn't do it herself. But this time, we don't get the annoying "Doctor, help me!" screams. Rose is doing her best to get out of this problem on her own - and she almost manages it. She just doesn't have the technical advantages the Doctor or Jack have with sonic screwdrivers or guns-up-the-butt so she has to try to beat the game at its own rules. Which is, sadly, an impossibility. And, again, even though I know she's fine - I loved what they did with the Doctor staring at her pile of ashes. The whole operatic choir and background noise drowning out was very moody and effective.

The other really good point of this story is Captain Jack. I've completely fallen in love with the character now (even though I'm straight!) and, as I think I mentionned in another of my long-winded reviews, he can almost merit his own spin-off series. He's both played and written with just the right amount of style. And his ability to remain pretty well "non-plussed" about anything is great fun. As is his flirting! One almost wonders if they'll ever truly bother to explore the memory loss issue. They don't really need to if they don't want to. He's doing just fine as a valid member of the TARDIS crew that is just getting on with the adventure rather than dwelling on past pains. Like the whole "Nyssa never bothering to get revenge on the Master" bit that was done in the old series.

And then, finally, we reach the climax of the story. The Doctor finding out who is truly at the end of "The Long Game". Unless you closed your eyes and plugged your ears at the "next week" sequence during the ending credits of "Boom Town", you know already who it is. Just as you knew the Doctor was going to walk in and see a Dalek in the containment tank during "Dalek". But the anticipation of the revelation is still something to be savoured. And the "teaser" moments were classic. Rose slightly emulating Barbara in the "Dead Planet" as the eyestalk follows her after she regains consciounsess - the Controller laughing as she gets killed. It all just looked so great. And set up the moment we're all really waiting for: how's the Doctor going to handle things when he finds out it's the Daleks?

And how he handles it is one of the few surprises I hadn't read about yet. Which made the moment all the more poignant. First, the whole look on the Doctor's face as the communication channel is opened is yet another testament to Eccleston's performance. This is the Doctor really getting ready for a good scrap. He's facing another Dalek army and he knows he's gotta look mean!

But then, when he says "No" to the Dalek ultimatum - you almost think that obcession that was taking him over in "Dalek" is at work again. That, in order to defeat the menace, he's willing to throw aside his care for Rose. But when he twists it all around with the rest of his speech, it brought out in me all those "shivers" I'd got when I watched the old series as a boy. The Doctor telling off the bad guys were always my favourite moments in the show. And this is one of the best tell-offs the series has done since a similiar sequence in "Remembrance of the Daleks" where Doctor #7 took down Davros over a communication channel. It's bravado at its best, really. The Doctor has nothing in his favour to defeat the greatest evil race in the universe. And still, he's not scared. He's going to do it and he's not even worried about dieing in the effort. He knows he can beat the Daleks. He's done it before. And the fact that the Daleks actually brush Rose aside to accelerate their stratagem shows that they know he means business. That when the Doctor says he's going to win - he's to be taken seriously. Regardless of the circumstances.

I loved the feel of that moment. There's a big nasty fight just around the corner and the Doctor's not afraid of it. Fantastic stuff that's exhilarating to watch even if you're not that teenaged boy anymore!

As I write this, it's still one more day before I get to watch "Parting of Ways". Again, I've read all the spoilers and know how it will resolve. But again, this matters little. I have still spent most of my week dieing to see this final episode of the season. And that is because the penultimate episode was so well-achieved that I can't wait for the "bang" this story will finish off with.

Yes, there are a few flaws to "Bad Wolf" (ie: the "Bad Wolf" flashback sequence bordered on American T.V. cheesiness) but they pale so much in comparison to the strengths of this episode that I can almost ignore them entirely. With stories like these, I feel the wait for a new series was more than worth it. This is what season finales are supposed to be all about....

WHAT AN EPISODE! I wasnВ’t surprised as PREVIOUSLY flashed across the screen as highlights from В“The Long GameВ” В– the episode IВ’ve enjoyed the least В– played. From various sources IВ’d heard this episode would be set in the year 200,000 so it was just a matter of 200,000 + 200,000 = В“Long GameВ” sequel. However, although I didnВ’t care much for В“The Long GameВ” it did raise some unanswered questions about the human race being held back, questions that needed to be answered.

So the Doctor awakes in the “Big Brother” house, authentic in every way right down to the theme tune. His housemates looked just like the type of wannabe-famous nobodies today’s version of the show dredges up. It really was exceptionally well done. As the Doctor slumps himself down in the Diary Room, Davina McCall’s voice says “…you are live on channel 4400. Please do not swear…” the Doctor just says “…you have got to be kidding!” and I think he spoke for the entire audience. Doctor Who in Big Brother? That would never work! Well it did, and here’s how.

As the DoctorВ’s memories gradually return, we are introduced to Lynda (with a В‘yВ’) who if we didnВ’t know better weВ’d say the Doctor was developing a romantic В‘thingВ’ for. He even called her В“sweet,В” though that was likely just to cheer her up. I found it a clever plot device introducing her character, setting her up as a potential companion, especially considering what happens later in the episode. It certainly keeps us guessing. As the Doctor remembers being В“beamedВ” out of the TARDIS, I like his reference that they had just escaped from Kyoto, Japan. ItВ’s good to know that the TARDIS crew have had adventures other than those we see on TV, at least from a continuity point of view. With only thirteen Eccleston episodes, over time, as with the 8th Doctor, his story needs to be continued in novels and maybe even audio dramas one day. After В“The Parting of the WaysВ” I for one will be delving into the new BBC novels for my weekly Who-fix! EcclestonВ’s performance in this episode is right up there with В“DalekВ” in my opinion. The intensity he brings to the point is amazing as he realises itВ’s not just В‘a gameВ’; the look in his eyes as he speaks to the camera; В“IВ’m getting out. IВ’m gonna find my friends. Then IВ’m gonna find YOU.В”

After the credits Rose wakes up in “The Weakest Link.” She encounters Roderick, who for a while I thought might be an ally to her. He explained about how people are brought from the Earth via Transmat and forced to play in these game shows. Like the Doctor in the Big Brother house, the music, the presenter, the set, the lighting; everything was perfect. If the production team where going to do this, they had to get it right. After her initial disorientation arriving, Rose has a great time laughing away to herself, totally unaware of the danger that she is in. The Annedroid is brilliantly realised, complete with Anne Robinson’s voice (and manner!). The Annedroid grilling Rose is a wonderful scene – “…so you’re unemployed but you can still afford peroxide?” Fantastic! Fitch’s apparent death scene when she is voted off is made all the more grizzly by Rose’s apathy. “That’s the game,” Rose says as Fitch is panicking.

Her apparent death at the hands of the Annedroid is quite disturbing В– itВ’s just В“You are the Weakest Link. Goodbye,В” then disintegration! As the smoke clears we just hear В“Adverts. Back in three minutes,В” which made it very eerie indeed. This kind of horror is just business as usual for the people of the year 200,100. In another clever plot device, the contestant Rob tries to do a runner only to be disintegrated by the Annedroid, thwarting RoseВ’s ideas of escape, leaving her stuck in the game, playing for her life!

In a somewhat cheaper and less elaborate setting, Captain Jack wakes up in В“What Not To Wear.В” We are treated to a horribly gratuitous В“defabricationВ” which leaves him standing naked, but somehow it still works as it doesnВ’t phase Jack one bit. In fact, heВ’s loving it. В“YouВ’re viewing figures just went up!В” He even has a cheeky grope of Zu-ZanaВ’s breasts! For me, though, the scariest part of the episode was when a naked Jack was faced with the marauding Trine-e and Zu-Zana droids. В“Face offВ…. I think heВ’d look good with a dogВ’s headВ… or no head at all! That would be outrageous! How about putting his legs in the middle of his chest?В” That really is chilling stuff, far scarier than even the Annedroid. JackВ’s solution, though, was as comical as the droids were scary, as he pulled a В‘compact laser deluxeВ’ from out of his ass and blew them to pieces. It made me laugh watching В“ConfidentialВ” to learn that the BBC made the producers removed the scenes of his naked bottom!

As Crosbie is evicted from the Big Brother house, like Rose’s attitude towards Fitch being voted off, the Doctor is nonchalant. His speech about getting out and making a fortune was hilarious and very true, the bit about “make a fitness video and she’ll be laughing” was particularly funny. Suddenly, though, the Doctor sits bolt upright and he’s paying attention as he sees Crosbie disintegrated before his eyes. Lynda’s “…she’s been evicted… from life” line encapsulates the horror wonderfully. The Doctor cleverly reasoned that whoever brought him into the house would have killed him already if they wanted him dead, so he damages the cameras with his sonic screwdriver in order to get evicted.

Then we come to it. В“Bad Wolf.В” From itВ’s very title we expected something more from this episode, something extra on top of all the action, drama and laughs that weВ’ve become accustomed to. The Broff character (the Gamestation employee) was a very good way of building up the intrigue as he himself was an employee of Gamestation, and even he saw that something was going on. His character talks of В“storiesВ” and В“rumours that go back decades.В” More importantly, he speaks about something being hidden underneath the GamestationВ’s programme transmissions. By the time we meet the visually impressive controller, we have far more questions than answers.

Yes, В‘Bad WolfВ’ is the name of the corporation running Gamestation, as we find out from Roderick. The other shoe drops and Rose finally puts it all together. For the benefit of the casual viewer, who bar the explicit reference in В“Boom TownВ” probably never noticed any of the В‘Bad WolfВ’ references, we are treated to RoseВ’s memories of most of the times she encountered those two words while travelling with the Doctor (though how she remembered Van StattenВ’s helicopter saying В“Bad Wolf One descendingВ” when she wasnВ’t there is puzzling. I knowВ… IВ’m pedantic!) Rose realises that she has been brought onto Gamestation for a reason, though her time is running out as she goes one on one with Roderick in the final round of В“The Weakest Link!В”

The Doctor is at his best as he is evicted from the house, and as of course he isnВ’t В‘disintegratedВ’ he breaks out with ease, taking his flirtatious new young lady friend with him. I noted that he promised he would get her out alive. I donВ’t know why, and I hope it isnВ’t so because I quite like Lynda, but I have this horrible feeling she is going to die in В“The Parting of the Ways.В” Some of her banter with the Doctor is some of the best weВ’ve seen in the seriesВ… В“I moisturiseВ…В”, В“Bear with me,В” et al. and I loved the line about the Doctor not paying for his TV Licence. В“You can get executed for that!В” a shocked Lynda informs him. The penalties havenВ’t got that much worse then 198,000 years on! В“Let В‘em try!В” the Doctor boasts, inviting LyndaВ’s В“Who are you then Doctor?В” line of questioning, leading to the inevitable В“I could come with youВ… I wouldnВ’t get in the wayВ…В” and the DoctorВ’s В“I wouldnВ’t mind if you did.В” For a casual viewer, bombarded with press headlines about Billie Piper allegedly quitting the show, this looks just like the introduction of a new female companion, perhaps even love interest for our favourite Timelord.

Finally realising that he is on Satellite 5, the Doctor boasts about defeating the Jagrafess 100 years earlier; В“Nothing serious. Easy,В” he claims. As Lynda looks out at the Earth for the first time (third time for us in the same setВ… ) Eccleston gives one of his customary 9th Doctor speeches; В“The Human Race. Brainless SheepВ…В” until he realises his big mistake. Yes, he saved Earth from the Jagrafess. He В“put things rightВ…В” and then he left, and thinking back it was one of the hastiest departures at the end of an episode this series. After he left, Lynda tells us of the 100 years of hell that ensued after all the news channels shut down. The governments and the economy froze, and there was nothing left. Everything was set for В‘Bad WolfВ’ to move in with itВ’s distinctive brand of snuff TV. В“I made this worldВ…В” says a sombre Doctor. When the Doctor and Lynda find Jack, Jack of course flirts with Lynda, to the DoctorВ’s obvious jealously. The Doctor, having seen the В“Bad WolfВ” corporationВ’s logo and realised that someone has manipulated his В“entire (9th?) lifeВ” is angry at everything, tipping over computers and shouting about stupid systems. Although we know that В‘Bad WolfВ’ is the Corporation running the Gamestation, IВ’m sure there is more to it. The clues, for one, are yet to be explainedВ…

В“The Weakest LinkВ” final is an unbelievably tense affair as we know from the off Rose knows nothing of relevance in the year 200,000 other than 1 or 2 lucky guesses and itВ’s just a matter of time before she is disintegrated. But the Doctor always saves the day, and we have the Doctor, Jack and Lynda rushing up to В“The Weakest LinkВ” stage В– the Doctor staring intently at the numbers of the floors the lift passes. Inevitably Rose loses the game, and although Jack, the Doctor and Lynda burst in seemingly in the nick of time, this time they are too late. The Annedroid apparently kills Rose; the Doctor and his two surviving friends arrested by Gamestation security В– an absolute masterstroke by Russell T. Davies. On the one hand, we have newspaper rumours about Billie Piper leaving the show, and on the other we have a potential new companion appearing in the form of Lynda, and RoseВ’s apparent death. I almost believed she was gone myself for a moment! Moreover, we get to explore the effectВ’s RoseВ’s demise would have on the Doctor without actually having her killed. The moment when he was arrested said it all В– EcclestonВ’s eyes. The Doctor just wasnВ’t there. He had totally lost the plot. In his interrogation there were no jokes, no witty responses, no talking at all. His mug shots carried the same blank expression В– the engine appeared to be running, but with no one at the wheel.

After being sentenced to the Lunar Penal Colony (a nice in-joke as the Doctor was sent there in “Frontier in Space,” a story which unravelled clues about a Dalek army the Doctor would go after in the next story, “Planet of the Daleks”) Jack and the Doctor have a brilliant moment where they just say “Let’s do it.” The Doctor is so angry, so distraught and grief-stricken he even violently rams the guard into the wall. Pertwee’s Venusian Karate aside, the Doctor has never, ever been a violent man. To see him like this, totally gone over the edge was both painful and a wonder to watch, especially bearing in mind Eccleston’s mercurial performance. Armed to the teeth, the trio head for Floor 500, just in time for the ‘solar flares’ we’ve heard the Controller panicking about throughout the episode. For a moment, huge alien weapon in hand, the Doctor looks at the Controller in the same way he looked at the Dalek in “Dalek.” Finally, his true self triumphs as he amusingly throws his gun to Broff, then begins to question him! Broff’s face is a classic as he looks at the Doctor, bemused. “…But I have your gun???”

Broff soon reveals his В‘logВ’ of suspicious going on to the Doctor and Jack. Jack finds the TARDIS, which works out that Rose isnВ’t in fact dead, sheВ’s just been transmattedВ… somewhere. At this point the Doctor appears to be infused with life and optimismВ… he gets his В‘mojoВ’ back!

As the solar flares knock out the transmissions, we hear the voice of the true Controller. Her cryptic message, all the more creepy as itВ’s coming from her pasty white eerie face, tells us about her masters В“hidden in the dark spaceВ… watchingВ… shaping the Earth for so so many yearsВ….В” who В“fear the Doctor.В” Even if the surprise had not been totally spoiled by last weekВ’s trailer, who else could it be?

Rose wakes up on board a stunningly designed Dalek saucer. Not only was the interior beautifully created, it had that wonderful retro / organic / Flash Gordon look that has worked so well in the series. The director teases us with a view through the DalekВ’s eyepiece as it stalks Rose, then as the Controller is transmatted onto the Dalek ship for her disobedience and subsequently exterminated, we are teased that little bit more as we see the slightly blurred reflections of several Daleks on the saucerВ’s interior wall. The ControllerВ’s dying cry В“I have brought your destructionВ…В” served as a wonderful lead into the cliff-hanger.

Whilst Jack turns his attentions to flirting with Broff, the Doctor speaks of the В‘Long GameВ’ the Daleks have played in controlling the human race. At the time of episode 7, I thought the title В“The Long GameВ” was a total misnomer В– it seemed to bear no relation to the episode at all. Even now, having seen В“Bad Wolf,В” I think В“The Long GameВ” would be a far better title for this episode, especially as it contains not only the three game shows, but the explanation of what this В‘Long GameВ’ actually is! Moreover, despite itВ’s title, В“Bad WolfВ” does not explain who or what is responsible for these references painted all over the universe, so calling this episode В“Bad WolfВ” is nearly as silly as calling В“The Long GameВ” В“The Long Game.В” Not that it really matters or ought. What does matter is that the Daleks have been using the transmissions from Gamestation to hide 200 Dalek ships В– nearly half a million Daleks! The reveal of the saucers is nothing short of epic; the music, the saucers themselves, the camera movementВ… absolutely stunning. WeВ’ve never seen a Dalek army like this, and from the teasers and trailers for В“The Parting of the WaysВ…В” well. ItВ’s going to be immense! WeВ’ve seen the odd Dalek saucer here, a Dalek army in deep-freeze there, but never, ever half a million Daleks floating through space, ready for full-scale war!

Finally the Dalek menace is revealed to the audience. В“WE ARE DETECTED!В” In typical cheesy sci-fi serial style, the Daleks reveal their entire plan to the Doctor, then ask him not to intervene, using the age-old hostage bluff. What does the Doctor say? В“No.В”

I was as confused as the Daleks were! В“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS NEGATIVE?В” And then we got itВ… if ever a speech has encapsulated who the Doctor is, or what the show is about, then this it. Say what you like about Russell T. Davies, the man is a genius and his work on this show has been nothing short of phenomenal. This speech must have flowed from his pen sat in his Cardiff flat, a huge 9th Doctor like grin on his faceВ…

В“IВ’m gonna save Rose Tyler from the middle of the Dalek fleet, and then IВ’m gonna save the Earth, and then, just to finish off, IВ’m gonna wipe every stinking Dalek out of the sky!В”

В“BUT YOU HAVE NO WEAPONS! NO DEFENCES! NO PLANВ”

В“And doesnВ’t that scare the hell out of you!!!!В”

Russell T. Davies must have written that then leaned back on his chair with a huge grin on his face. Then he must have thought, В“how in the blue hell is he gonna do all that????В” and I cannot wait to see how!!!

The beginning of this episode started well. It left questions. Who had put them there? Why? How do they get out of it? As for the answering of questions (given that it's a two parter and so far unanswered questions are accounted for) I was quite impressed that there were no plot holes the size of Ben Nevis present.

It did seem at first, that Cap'n Jack's Trinny and Susannah bit was just a time/space filler (and also to give him something to do) but then again, the first half of the episode was run on a bit of a comedic ground. But, in true Whovian style, the tragedy came plummeting to Earth like an asteroid.

*slight spoiler for those who've not seen the episode*

When we all thought Rose had died, my reaction was the same as the Doctors. Silence. Shock. Horror. Disbelief. And utter joy when we found out that she was alive.

But trust the writers to throw us yet again by showing all those Daleks. My heart was going a mile a minute and it's pretty needless to say I cannot wait until the next episode.

I just hope 'Jayne with a Y' doesn't become the Doctor's new companion! She's insufferable! (could be a love interest for the Ninth Doc whilst he lasts though!)

Wow. An alround sinister 12th Episode., turning the doctor lose in TV reality show hell where first prize is your life and losers leave this life with nothing coutesy of a disintegration ray. Cult TV within cult TV complete with the correct theme music and accurate voices allows you to connect with the episode as it borrows themes from the running man then drops a reference to a future president Schwartzenegger, whether this was intentional I can’t say.

The Doctor, not a man to be abducted against his will knows somethings up and sets about attempting to save his companions whilst attempting to identify his true as yet unseen foe. Acting is fantastic, Captain Jack stands out most notably for producing a weapon from the most unlikley of positions after some truely narscistic dialogue with two robots that seem intent removing his legs and sitching them to his chest.

Things fall into place, the episode plays out a gripping pace leaving you eager to receive next weeks installment of the series, answering some questions but wetting your appetite with more enticing brain teasers.

Will the doctor survive? Who is the mysterious voice, the Master, Davros and as yet unknown thrid party affiliated with the Daleks. Why did he/she save them, whats their agenda?

Oh....my....god. How amazing was this episode. As a fan of Big brother I got quite a tingle hearing Davina Mccall say "Can the Doctor please come to the diary room". Then hearing her say "You are live on channel 4400, please do not swear".

The episode started off light heartedly with the Big Brother theme tune playing over the scene, then as the show went on we met the amazing Anne Droid and also Trinny and Sussanah's droids. The first half was really funny with all the game show jokes and it was a great feel to the episode. Russel T Davies had brought the futuristic reality shows to life in such a perfect way. So so good. I loved how the makers managed to get the real Anne Robinson, Davina Mccall and trinny and Sussanah. All praise to them for willing to do it and all praise to channel 4 for giving them permission.

While a couple of the housemates couldn't act, I did like the girl who went with the Doctor and was praying she's survive. Might even make a good companion one day. It was quite a scary thought to think of these people being picked at random and then being disintegrated. Quite scary.

But just when you thought the episode was going to be all about this, then all the Bad Wolf references made complete sence. Loved the flashback method of linking all the stories.

Seeing the Doctor realise that it was him who had caused all this, albeit manipulated into it, was truly great. The Doctor, as bron Slitheen said last week, moves on and very rarely see's the consequences of his actions.

I loved all the Bad Wolf references and the scene where jack had his clothes removed brought a smile to my face.

But then when Rose was shot down and thought dead my heart sank. For a brief second I really did think that was it for her. I thought maybe all the season 2 rumours were just that, a way of making this such a shock. By decieving us in the way the tv series 24 does with it's rumour mill.

The reactions from the Doctor and Jack were spot on and I genuinly felt for them both, and Rose too. This story emphasised how well the Doctor and Rose work and how jack was a great addition.

But just when you thought the episode couldn't get any better they revealed there trump card.....The DALEKS. oh...my...god they looked amazing. The way they menaced Rose and there space fleet looked excellent. Loved the reaction of the Doctor realising they had survived the Time War. And I was cheering the Doctor when he made that speech "first i'm going to rescue Rose, then save the human race and then wipe out every last Dalek...Rose I am coming to get you". I just couldn't stop cheering. Then the site of millions of Daleks, on platforms, flying. The best cliffhanger ever and the preview looked fantastic. Can't wait for next week .

Just simply fantastic. This will hopefully silence a lot of the Russel T Davies critics. He make a blinder. 11/10

It always seems to be the way - if the Slitheen turn up, the series really makes up for it in the next story.

"Bad Wolf" was fantastic - finally giving some answers to all those hints in previous episodes. Some nice continuity to THE LONG GAME, and some fantastic satire on Reality TV and gameshows in general. C'mon, admit it - wouldn't Big Brother really benefit from disintegration of evictees?

Of course, some of the tension this episode could've contained has been a little dampened because we know from media coverage that the Doctor regenerates after events in this two-parter, and because the revelation of the dalek fleet was shown in last week's teaser, but even so, the SCALE of that fleet is what fans of the pepperpots have been waiting to see since, ooh, about 1964.

The CGI effects really helped give this episode a sense of scale, and of course, the intimation that the Doctor screwed things up royally really brings us back to that most charming aspect of the Time Lord - he's a flawed hero.

There's the constant teetering on the brink of crossing that sacred Who line, breaking the rule of "the Doctor is never cruel, cowardly or violent", but it brings a human dimension to the character when we see just how much the Daleks push his buttons.

The Controller of the station is a marvellous evolution of the child/battle-computer seen in REMEMBRANCE, and shows just how well this new series links back to the past without alienating the audience. Another example is the telltale heartbeat throb of the Dalek ship.

All-in-all, BAD WOLF is a marvellous opening for a truly epic season finale - lets hope that PARTING OF THE WAYS takes us into the 10th Doctor with a bang, not a whimper.