So here we have it, the epoch of Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor. The final tie up of this very contained season. After thirteen episodes, after a year of production titbits, after nine long years of wait, after sixteen years since the last full series...

Was it all worth it?

Damn right it was.

Russell T Davies once again proves his mastership of both story and series. His role as lord overseer and as lowly storyteller has to be commended. Not only does he create the most fantastic episode, but also a fantastic end to the series.

Through "Parting Of The Ways", the tale of the Ninth Doctor all falls into place. The journey of all the main characters has a final and fitting resolution, regardless of how they return later this year. The background season arc, the Time War, is neatly finalised without cutting into the character plots or the impact of this stories main villain: The Daleks.

With all these elements considered; the Time War, character resolutions, Daleks and a certain regeneration sequence, it's amazing how evenly paced this episode seems. It never stutters or staggers, but moves in one fluid motion from start to end.

Most importantly, it embodies all the elements pertinent to Doctor Who. Through Rose we see the importance of the individual, that through the Doctor, we learn to become better and more determined people; to care when no one else will. Through Jack we see a mercenary has learned to be a true hero. Then we have the Daleks, doing what all Daleks should do: kill mercilessly. The dark nature of the show is never more prominent than here with Daleks killing established minor characters left right and centre.

On top of these more traditional elements of Who ethos, we see the show moving forward. The repercussions of the Doctors actions still taking centre stage, his stronger relationship with his companions, the evolution of the Daleks into something even more frightening all just adds to the experience. This isn't a show that's just trying to capture its roots; it's taking them and planting them in a new field of ideas and concepts.

However, the writing is the episodes highlight. From the grand plan down to the small scenes, we have some wonderful misdirection on the small scale in one scene with a Dalek door cutter breaking into one human compartment on the space station, only to see the actual kill come from outside the station itself. The writer draws the audience attention to one outcome while introducing another variable to alter it. The old red herring device at it's best.

On a larger scale we see the final revelation on "Bad Wolf" being not the Master, or Davros, or even the Doctor himself. “Bad Wolf” is simply two words created to utterly mislead the audience. Again, a great piece of writing that makes sense within the story and doesn’t leave the audience feeling dissatisfied. Indeed the issue of "Bad Wolf" is tied up perfectly.

On the production side, we have a great visual experience. Not always perfect, the Dalek mother ship design was impressive, but the CG to actor overlay wasn't always consistent. Nevertheless, the Emperor Dalek was a firm piece of design and the visuals never betrayed the requirements of the story.

The music was well utilized with many elements echoing sounds from earlier this season and several reoccurring motifs evolving into new melodies. The music for the shows final scenes was truly moving.

Which brings us to the final scenes. It's nice to see that Davies manages to make the Doctor and Rose's most kiss intimate but not overtly romantic. Whether you feel there was a sexual chemistry or a deeper bond, this final kiss is a gentle and non-specific answer. It also gives some sort of conclusion to the "will they, won't they" angle. I am certain that the relationship with Rose and the Doctor next season will differ. I think it's vital to do so, not just to keep diversity in the character mix, but to give the Ninth Doctor's relationship with Rose a more special element. I get the feeling this is Davies intent and as such the kiss is as much a final goodbye as a plot resolution.

As for the regeneration scene, I wasn't expecting regeneration, so this came as a surprise. On a repeat viewing, this is even more moving. Again, we see the idea of the finite persona being played out here; that every Doctor "dies" at the end of his tenure. This makes the death even more moving, particularly as the Doctor tries to put on a brave face. This is Eccleston and Davies at their best as both move to culminate all those elements of Eccleston's Doctor in one final scene. We see the forced humour, the admiration for his companion and that deeper hurt which he has constantly tried to bury. He comes across with that mix of excitement and fear that I think will trademark Eccleston's era.

Which leaves me to the final main character yet unmentioned: Captain Jack. I strongly urge them to bring him back as his role in this story and his dynamic as part of the team has been a late highlight of this season. So much so, it makes rewatching the earlier episodes feel like they are missing something. I never thought he would work as well as he has and that's another testament to writing and actor. I think they need that third TARDIS crewman in Doctor Who - providing he or she offers something different to the other two. Jack does so in abundance and I think there will be a call for Jack's return, he truly is the surprise of this season and his last minute revival was a very wise move.

And with high hopes of Jack's full time return, a confirmed two further seasons and a brand new Doctor, this episode leaves Doctor Who's brief hiatus in good standing. David Tennant's brief cameo was a welcome one that really filled me with hope. He so far seems perfect. His manner, looks and body language utterly different to Eccleston, He really has that Baker twinkle in his eye too!

Parting Of The Ways is a perfect gel of solid writing, strong production and a cast who feel confident and proud of their work. With Tennant showing so much potential in a meagre thirty seconds, I am confident he will bring in a new era of Doctor Who without diminishing what I'm sure will be seen as one of the Doctor's most consistent seasons.

I've been sitting in front of my computer for 15 minutes trying to figure out what to write for this episode. To be honest I was actually very disappointed in it, RTD continues his trend of poor writing.

Coming off Bad Wolf I kind of thought that there this episode might actually be really good, and a great send off for the 9th Doctor. But I was really disappointed. Bringing back the Daleks was a great idea but I don't think they were used very well. I mean why is it that the Daleks have to get within 1 metre in front of someone before they shoot them? When they went down to the floor where all the human survivors where the could've and should've started firing staright away, but instead they came within a metre and when the firing started the scene changed.

Oh yes, and we finally find out who the Bad Wolf is, yeah it's Rose, and I gotta see that the whole Bad Wolf idea was actually quite pathetic. I liked the idea that some people thought that Bad Wolf was something to do with the Doctor's life being manipulated by someone, and instead we find out that Rose left herself clues around the galaxy to make sure that she was there to save the Doctor or something. Sorry to say it, but what a load of crap! The regeneration scene was also quite pathetic. Not only did the Doctor regenerate instantly which has never happened, usually he is dead for atleast 10-15 seconds (except the 96 movie) before he regenerates, and I think that would've worked better. It would've been better if the Doctor died, and Rose was crying over him without the knowledge that he was going to regenerate, the all of a sudden David Tennant appears. He should've never explained regeneration to Rose at all, I think it ruined it completely. Also this would be probably the first regeneration where the Doctor just walks around afterwards as if nothing happened, not even the originals where like that! Who could forget Patrick Troughton being little light headed, Jon Pertwee being completely out of it, Tom Baker being completely nuts, Peter Davidson being weak and drained, Colin Baker being violent, emotional, suicidal, Sylvester McCoy being forgetful, and Paul McGann being very forgetful. These are the sorts of things that should be done. However I do admit that we haven't seen enough of the new Doctor, so I could be wrong about this.

Now the Daleks enter Earth's atmosphere and start bombing the hell out of it, I mean we see continents being completely mangled on a screen, but we don't actually get to see anything!!! This was so disappointing, I would've loved to have seen the surface of Earth being destroyed by the Dalek ships.

Oh, now I forgot to mention the Daleks, how the were magically brought back to life from the human dead. That was ok, I didn't mind that, as it kind of relates to Davros' experiments from Revelation of the Daleks, however I thought we should've seen Davros rather than the Emperor Dalek. Also how did the Dalek's manage to get those ships? They practically had nothing and all of a sudden they have these ships which look brand new. Realistically they should've had ships which were put together out of anything they could find, but instead they have brand new ships straight out from the factory, which doesn't make sense at all.

Ok now Rose absorbs the time vortex or something which I didn't quite understand because it sounded very made up, and using that power she restored everything and destroyed the Daleks. I wasn't impressed with this ending at all, thought it was just to simple and supernatural. And I wasn't happy with the Doctor kissing Rose, RTD says that he sucked out the lifeforce that was in her, but it didn't look like sucking to me, could swear that I was a tongue slip in. And bringing everyone back to life was to much of a happy ending, everyone should've just stayed dead, ESPECIALLY CAPTAIN JACK! Speaking of which I'm starting to think Jack is a homosexual (not that there is anything wrong with that) after he kissed the Doctor on the lips, and all that stuff in the Tardis about him taking to Doctor out and that, just ruins the story completely.

There was only one shot that I liked in this episode and that was when the Dalek's appeared from outside the observation window, you couldn't hear them but you saw their lights flash as the said 'exterminate' and then shattered the glass, thought that was really great. As was the shot when the Dalek's leave their ships and board the station.

In conclusion, RTD should be banned from writing Doctor Who episodes for good. I am very disappointed in the finale for the series, it was just very badly written and seem to mainly concentrate on the development on Rose's and the Doctor's relationship rather than that and the story. Another thing is the addition of the Dalek's force field, which has now practically made them indestructible, thought they would've been better without. And considering the Dalek's are trying to invade Earth you don't seem much of it, you would think that they would bomb the hell out of Earth rather the focus on trying to take over space station. Overall would give it a 3/10.

Daleks, people killed, Doctor Who's first gay kiss, more Daleks millions of them all waiting to pounce on earth which has gone Reality TV crazy this episode had it all! 'Parting of the ways' is an enjoyable enough episode which see's the final departure of Christopher Eccleston and the apperance of David Tennant to play the new Doctor.

In this armageddon or final showdown between the Doctor and his mortal enemy the Daleks we see the Doctor, Rose and the annoying Captain Jack band together on a satellite televison space station to try to stop the Daleks from invading earth. Well worth watching if only to see Captain Jack 'Exterminated!' by one of the Daleks.

Rose manages to save the day by returning back to the Doctor now surrounded by Daleks after being packed off back to her own time in the Tardis by the Doctor who realises his only chance of destroying the Darlek fleet is to take the human race and himself with them after releasing a deadly delta wave from the station. Rose suddenly realises that she can help the Doctor if she can return to him in the Tardis.

But how does she get it to work? In steps gullable Mickey and Rose's mum with a breakdown truck a length of steel chain to rip one of the panels away from the control part of the Tardis so that Rose can communicate with the Tardis through thought. After doing this she returns to the Doctor to turn the invading Darek fleet to dust after looking into the Time Vortex, but this power is to strong for her and the Doctor must give his own life to save hers and by kissing her transfers this power to himself which he then sends back into the Tardis.

Frankly I was dissappointed in the regeneration scenes special effects at the end although I have to say writer Russell T Davis did manage to pull off that sense of loss feeling that you get after growing to like an actor playing the Doctor and feeling comfortable with his little quirks and actions.

Suprisingly I found myself strangly moved at the end of Parting of the ways as I was as a child back in 1981 at the end of Logopolis when Tom Baker regenerated into Peter Davidson with the aid of The Watcher as though an era had come to end, albiet a brief one in Christopher Ecclestons case. Maybe this in a way teaches children about death that there is a finality to everything?

Visually this has to be one of the most dissappointing regeneration scenes to date with Christopher Eccleston telling Rose what's going to happen then throwing his head back and an orange glow appearing around him, all we get to see is the Doctors hair grow longer and hey presto we have David Tennant who utters the words 'Hello, Now where was I yes Barcelona.....' continuing his conversation with Rose where Christopher left off. A shame really after all the amazing special effects Russells team have pulled off over this series probably the most eagerly awaited one left me thinking of the poor regeneration scene Sylvester McCoy had to endure when he first became the Doctor after Colin Baker.

Goofs I believe somewhere that the Tardis could only be operated by the Doctor this was if memory serves correct explained in an episode when the Doctor faced the Master. The reason the Timelords did this was to stop the technology falling into the wrong hands.

The hilarious scene where Mickey and Rose try to hotwire the Tardis with the aid of a Mini Cooper (Whathappened to his yellow Volkswaggen Beetle seen in the first episode The Autons?) in the middle of a built up estate then enters Roses Mum with a breakdown truck, Neighbourhood Watch anyone?

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....

It has taken me some time to review this final episode of the first series (or is that season?). This could be due to sudden depression setting in that thatВ’s no Dr Who until (Christmas excluded) March next year. I prefer to think though that the main reason for not reviewing earlier is that I had a lot of inner turmoil just deciding how to observe it. Should it be a single episode in its own right, part of a two-part story with В“Bad WolfВ” or as a season finale? I have had to watch it a number of times before I could be objective.

As I mentioned in my review of В“Bad WolfВ” I still look at these two episodes as separate entities. Although there were references to the Daleks involvement early in that episode it was still only the big reveal of the last ten minutes that set up the final part. There are elements that moved over to the final instalment like the Ann-Droid, Satellite 5 and a number of characters but it still remained in my mind a separate entity. However, these two stories are better linked than the previously mentioned В“Frontier in Space/Planet of the DaleksВ”.

The pre-episode countdown was brilliant, as has been the whole advertising campaign (including the countdown to the Christmas Invasion) and IВ’m going to make a final nod to the terrific theme music (has anyone complained about it ? В– I havenВ’t heard). Will someone please get this released. I canВ’t even get a downloaded version off the web.

After watching the episode many times and finally being attentive. (The first time I saw it was late in the morning coming back from Brighton В– to see the exhibition [as it turned out I just missed the new Emperor Dalek exhibit being opened] В– and other things.) I sat down last week and watched it properly in the day, wide awake, comfortable in a chair and sober. It just blew me away

The special effects were incredible. The reveal of the Emperor Dalek, although expected was impressive if a little inanimate (Did В“hisВ” Dalek minions around him move at all?) I was hoping for a bit more movement but then the previous emperors did no more than move an eye stalk or move on then offstage. The spacecraft although reminiscent of Mars attacks were menacing as was the deployment of the Dalek fleet.

All the set-pieces aboard Satellite 5 were well directed by Joe Ahearne and performed by all cast members with many deaths being meaningful. I might have to contradict myself now and say this is mainly due to all the characters being so well set up in the previous episode. It goes a long way to show RTDВ’s talent that he has still mixed fear, menace, humour, compassion and loss all in a 45 minute episode. I felt the story lost its way a bit when it returned Rose to Earth and I was eager to get back to the Invasion by the Daleks. RoseВ’s plight however was quite moving.

John Barrowman, in the nick of time, justifies his place in the series becoming the soldier that RTD envisioned. ItВ’s a shame again that as with the DoctorВ’s fate and that of RoseВ’s, his death is spoilt by the knowledge that he is likely to be back next season. However his В“deathВ” was shocking and again, as with Rose I didnВ’t work out the В“get-outВ” clause. His acting has been excellent throughout his tenure but his character seemed wanting during В“Boom TownВ” and В“Bad WolfВ”. IВ’m still not convinced that there should be so many sexual orientation references even if he IS hot property. He does however get a last minute reprieve.

The additional cast all performed well but I feel MickeyВ’s character seems to be going in circles. Rose puts him down in nearly every episode but he comes back in good spirits for the next.

Billie Piper was outstanding. Even if I found the whole В“Heart of the TARDISВ” plot development a little hard to swallow, her ability to rise above the techno babble shows how important it is that she survives the transition of Doctors. It has been said before but this series has been as much about RoseВ’s journey as the discovery of who the Doctor is (for new viewers).

Everything seems to have been said about Christopher Eccleston already. IВ’m not sure I can add to it. His interactions with Billie Piper when he left her in the TARDIS and also at the end were quite moving. His final speech was perfectly suited and quite apt to his overall performance.

As a mark of respect to the Ninth Doctor I will leave thoughts of his successor until next season. Time will tell if Eccleston becomes someoneВ’s favourite Doctor. I thought, the occasional gurning aside, he has portrayed every emotion going. He was, as is the whole series FanВ…В…. Oh everyone uses that word now. How about В“Wicked!!!!!В”?

Finally I should conclude with a final running of my favourite episodes, which no doubt will change upon repeat viewing. Even the last listed are still a brilliant pieces of writing and television. They are : - Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways, The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances , Boom Town, The Unquiet Dead, FatherВ’s Day, Dalek, The Long Game, Rose, Aliens/WWIII and The End of........

I have followed some reviewers religiously throughout my time as a critic and just out of interest would appreciate any constructive feedback on my reviews (content or style). Please contact me via pwilc1967

So here it was. At Last. Episode 13.

Worth the wait?

You bet your last Gallifreyan Dollar is was!

A joy to watch, an episode with its pitfalls but with enough of everything else to mask them, unless you want to be picky.

What - you want me to be picky? OK.

The Bad Wolf - are we going to Faction Paradox territory or what? Probably the most blatant Temporal Paradox in the history of the show, Rose turns out to be the Bad Wolf, having sent the words back through history to act as a message to herself that she could get back to Satellite 5. The fact that she then couldn't get to the station until she figured it out, and thus send the words back to tell herself she could do it, was ignored. Okay, I could understand it, as I'm sure all Who fans could, but a number of people I know have come up to me and said 'what was all that about then?'. They didn't get it, and some weren't too sure once I'd explained it - and these are not stupid people! I've been left with the feeling that a lot of the new viewing public were confused about the ending.

Next - the TARDIS. I'm quite prepared to accept the 'it's alive' element of the TARDIS, that's nothing new. What I can have a problem with is this sudden ability to grant Godlike powers to Rose to bring about a conclusion. Could the TARDIS not thus have done that IN NEARLY EVERY STORY??????

Are we to assume that Jack is such a technical wiz that he was able to modify and reprogram the Anne Droid in mere minutes? Why would the droid shoot her own Masters? Why use a 'death ray' that we know was only a transporter? I suppose it would have sent the Daleks back to their ship and out of the way, but that hardly warrants the over-effusive yell of 'Yes!' from Jack!

It doesn't really sound as if I enjoyed it , does it? But I did, there were many great moments that cover up these slight cracks.

No one seems to have mentioned the funniest scene in the show - perhaps because it wasn't meant to be. Both my son and myself were in stiches as the flying Daleks floated up outside the window to the observation room where Lynda was and then the lights of the lead Dalek flashed in what was so obviously a cry of 'EX-TER-MIN-ATE!' that we couldn't hear. Of course, it went completely over the wife's head ' 'what's up with you two?' Never mind, dear!

The sheer number of Daleks was, as meant to be, mind-boggling. This is what we have wanted for years - to see the true Power of the Daleks (where have I heard that before?). I would like to know how many Daleks were real and how many were CGI. In the scene where the Doctor has just finshed the Delta Wave and is surrounded by the critters, how many were really there?

The use of the Emperor was a nice touch, and certainly better than Davros (unless it is him!). The new design was a joy to see, and the now almost obligatory floating Daleks on guard were a nice touch as well. I hope that this Emperor was NOT Davros, as I would like to see the old lunatic at some stage. Perhaps he is still somewhere in the universe, creating a new Dalek race and that is how they return once more........

Onto the regeneration, and what a beauty! A neat touch having the hair grow I thought. The use of the explanation to Rose was a brilliant idea, letting the new, younger audience aware of what was going to happen and why. It is perhaps all too easy for us to accept regeneration and not see it as the huge risk that it can be. I know of one young fan who has cried since the regen, saying 'I don't like his face' about Tennant. Let us hope that the new audience can accept a change of actor as readily as we all have.

However, even here I have a gripe! Did the Doctor not seem to, well, I suppose the word is.....well... after he regenerated? Are we to suppose he is now finally used to it and will no longer suffer the ill effects he traditionally has? Does the fact that the debut story is 60 minutes as opposed to the traditional 90 mean there is no room for all that sort of thing?

All in all, though, an enjoyable end to an enjoyable series. And although not always a Doctor that I liked, he was 'fantastic!'