I remember sitting down in my bedroom at home eager in anticipation to watch this episode. I know it was 2005 so I would've been in my final year at university. Pretty sure it aired around Easter time (will have to look up) although I was home from uni and for some reason I have the impression it was warm outside. Maybe it was screened during the summer (again I'll check the details in a mo) or maybe I'm just remembering it through rose tinted glasses? Rose tinted would be a good description of this episode (as well as being a bad pun!) as on re-watching I found it to be a bit silly and kinda crap in parts - maybe I've grown accustomed to Moffat's output. At the time I remember loving it and being hooked for the rest of the series.
I remember watching the Paul McGann TV movie in 1996 as well the cliffhanger in "Remembrance of the Daleks" (I always argued as a kid that I'd seen a Dalek fly and no-one believed me!) on an old 14" black and white tele with my Grandad in the late 80s so the return of Doctor Who was always going to get me excited.
On re-watching "Rose" it isn't too bad I suppose (I know there are worse episodes, particularly in that 1st series as well as later series) and it does serve as a good introduction to the Doctor. Russell T Davies being such a wonderful TV writer manages to effortless introduce who the Doctor is via Clive the conspiracy nut, lines like "Run!", trying to negotiate with the Nestine Consciousness (and of course messing it up!) and finally explaining that he travels in a big blue box that's bigger on the inside. In this big blue box he has the ability to travel anywhere and most importantly any place in time (certainly persuades Rose anyway). Having recently lost her job due to the shop she worked in exploding Rose has no ties to hold her back (at least her boyfriend Mickey doesn't seem to be a big enough attraction as the second The Doctor mentions he can travel in time she's off like a shot (saying that, that might have a lot to do with the action of "Father's Day").
Other than being a nice introduction to the main characters I like how "Rose" introduces the threat of mannequins coming to life. Of course classic Doctor Who viewers will recognise these villains as Autons. I have to admit it was all new to me. This however is just one of many examples of subtle little nod backs to the classic series. After all the new series was being written by fans of the classic series.
I also liked how The Doctor was Northern (Mancunian in fact, well Salfordian if you want to be pedantic) and there's a nice little exchange between him and Rose where he states matter of facts, all planets have a North.
What I wasn't too keen on in this episode was the cartoon element of it. Mickey getting his hands stuck to a wheelie bin which eventually swallowed him up then burped! Less cheesey was Rose going on about how she's an uneducated chav who was only ever good at gymnastics before swinging on a metal chain to save The Doctor (and inadvertedly saving the day by knocking the anti-plastic solution into the Nestine Consciousness.
As far as a first episode of a new series goes it was enjoyable. There was room for improvement but it set out its stall and definitely warranted further viewing (I should think so seeing as we're now on series 7!).
More to come. :)
