TV Review: Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 9 "The Empty Child" [Emz]

So this is the 1st half of the second of the two-part episodes (there are three two-part episodes in this series)

This episode and the next one... When I first watched them... boy did they creep me out, I don't think I slept well that night. They are still not my favourite episodes and if I keep watching them too much they would still give me the creeps. But  anyway on with the review.

There are a couple of guest stars to mention in this episode: John Barrowman - this was the first episode of Doctor Who he appeared in. Florence Hoath (Fairytale: A True Story), Cheryl Fergison (Eastenders) and Richard Wilson (One Foot In The Grave).

This Episode aired originally on the 21st May 2015 on BBC One.

Here is the Synopsis:

Chasing a metallic object through the Time Vortex, the Ninth Doctor and his companion, Rose Tyler, arrive in London during the Blitz. While Rose meets "Captain Jack Harkness", the dashing Time Agent responsible for bringing the object, the Doctor finds a group of homeless children terrorised by Jamie, an "empty" child wearing a gas mask.

Review:

What an episode this was. I was always used to the weird and the downright bonkers but this episode creeped me out.

So We learn that most of the universe use Code Mauve for Emergencies. The Doctor and Rose follow a Cylinder heading for the centre of London.

They materialise in London 1941, right in the middle of The Blitz. The doctor goes to find out where they are and what year they are in. In the meantime Rose follows a Boy who she thinks is lost. She ends up floating in the air attached to a Barrage balloon and is saved by Captain Jack Harkness.

The Doctor in the mean time is searching for Rose and heads back to the TARDIS and the outside phone rings despite someone telling him not to answer it he does so anyway. This is where the main part of the story begins, He hears are you my mummy? down the telephone. 

So we have a child with a Gas Mask on his face and he constantly chants are you my mummy? The Doctors been warned not to touch the boy else he will turn into a Gas Mask Zombie also.

The doctor finds hospital ward full of people in seemingly Catatonic states with Gas Masks on their faces. There is one doctor looking after them (Richard Wilson) before he too turns into one of them.

To finish off the episode, Rose and Jack catch up with The Doctor (Who Jack thinks is called Doctor Spock) and he thinks he can buy the TARDIS from him as he is a Conman. They are then trapped as the Gas Mask people wake up and corner them chanting are you my mummy?

This episode was extremely creepy and it was emphasised by the location of London in the middle of the Blitz and its at night with bombs dropping and light flashing.

I will review the Second half "The Doctor Dances" next time.

Till then

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who: Series 1 Episode 6 "Dalek" [Emz]

So we come to the point in the series where we meet an old foe, in very unusual circumstances.

This episode is set in Utah in 2012. 

Here is the synopsis:

The Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler arrive in 2012 to answer a distress signal and meet a collector of alien artefacts who has one living specimen. However, the Doctor is horrified to find out that the creature is a member of a race he thought was destroyed: a Dalek.

Review: 

I liked this episode as we saw the raw emotion that the Doctor has been trying to hide, when he comes face to face with a Dalek for the first time since the Time War.

The Dalek is being held a underground Museum full of parts of Aliens and alien technology. It is owned by a man called Henry Van Statten.

Of course nothing is ever simple and due to the compassion that Rise shows the Dalek and touches it, he grows in strength and chases them through the museum it is being held in.

In this time Van Statten realises that the Doctor is an Alien and tortures him, until the Dalek is on the escape and then lets him go free to help stop the Dalek.

The ending was very emotional in a way as the Dalek realised it was turning partially human as Rose had touched it. and ordered Rose to tell him to sacrifice himself.

Of course, Rose meets Adam along the way and he decides to travel with The Doctor and Rose at the end of the episode.

I really liked this episode. I remember being on the edge of my seat the first time I watched it.

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 5 "World War Three" [Emz]

Here is part 2! This is episode 5 "World War Three."

So yeah World War Three, fighting of Aliens trying to destroy the Earth.

this episode originally aired on BBC One on 23rd April 2005.

Here is the premise:

The world edges toward mankind's first interplanetary war, as the Doctor and Rose try to escape from Downing Street.

Review: 

I enjoyed both parts if this 2 part episode, obviously the Doctor survives the electrocution else it would be a short series, now along with Harriet Jones' help they have to work out how to stop these Aliens and work out what they are after on earth. 

I laughed alot at the dialogue between the characters and they way they include the press to show who each MP etc. (members of the Slitheen family) that show up at Downing Street and randomness of some of them.

The ending is brilliant, first with the way Mickey and Jackie destroy one of the Slitheen family and then with Mickey's help the way they get rid of the rest of the family.

It was a brilliant episode.

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 4 "Aliens Of London" [Emz]

So here we go first episode back in the present after the first episode 'Rose.'

This episode is called Aliens Of London. I mean just because they are back in the present day and on earth doesn't mean that there won't be aliens!

This episode first aired on BBC One on the 16th April 2005.

Here is the premise:

The Doctor takes Rose home, but the world goes on alert when an alien spacecraft crashes in the Thames.

Review:

This episode was a second glimpse of The Doctor Getting time wrong.. except this time he got it majorly wrong. He was a whole year late bringing Rose home. He got slapped for that by Rose's mum which was quite funny. 

It was interesting to see an Alien crash landing in the Thames and it turning out to be a cover up for the real aliens already being on earth. This is where we meet Toshiko Sato for the first time, she will later be part of the cast of Torchwood.

We also first meet Harriet Jones (MP for Flydale North) she will appear again in episode 5, the Christmas Special and Series 4.

The funniest part of this episode is the farting aliens, we find out in episode 5 what it's all about. Of course with this being a 2-part story it ends on a cliffhanger wit the Aliens revealing themselves in Downing Street calling themselves the Slitheen and all the guests including the Doctor getting electrocuted.

The next Doctor Who episode Ii will review is World War Three.

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 3 "The Unquiet Dead"

So this is the third episode of Christopher Eccleston's only series as the Doctor. The episode aired on 9th April 2005. It was written by Mark Gatiss.

Here is the plot:

The Doctor takes Rose back through time to 1869. In Victorian Cardiff the dead are walking and creatures made of gas are on the loose.

Review:

This was an interesting episode. It's also quite funny as it reminds me of a quote from series 4, but that something for another day.

So in this episode we have 'The Gelth' a ghost like being, that seems to want help going back to it's homeworld. Of course there is always a catch. 

It must have been a weird one to film... a parent dead bodies suddenly up and walking. We also first meet Eve Myles as Gwenyth (she later goes on to play Gwen in Torchwood) 

It was also great as we meet famous faces in the past. In this case we meet Charles Dickens, who ends up helping out in this episode.

I really liked this episode.. with it being set in the past , plus we witness firsthand for the first time this series, the Doctor landing the TARDIS in the wrong place and wrong time. instead of Naples 1860 it's Cardiff 1869. 

So next up for me to review is the 2-part story (episodes 4 & 5) Aliens of London/ World War 3.

Till then

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 2 "The End Of The World" [Emz]

Here we go again. Episode 2 The End Of The World. The Episode was originally released  on 2nd April 2005.

I can't help myself when it comes to Doctor Who.

Here is the Plot for Episode 2:

The Doctor takes Rose on her first voyage through time, to the year five billion.

Review:

So this was Rose's first voyage in the TARDIS. I liked the way The Doctor gave Rose the chance to pick where to go and each time he tried to sound impressive she just laughed at him.

So the year five billion, witnessing the end of the Earth on Platform One. This is where we first meet the Face of Boe and Cassandra - the last human or as Rose likes to call her a Bitchy Trampoline. It was great that they put the emotion of Rose in there looking down of the earth knowing that even though no one was living there any more, that's where she came from and she thought about all the people who had lived there. Of course this is where the phrase "Jiggery Pokery" came about in Doctor Who and the first use of reversing Teleportation (we see this again in "Boom Town.")

The way the audience is led to believe for a split second that we have found the culprit behind the sabotage until we are informed that they were planted by the real culprit. I felt like I was wattching a Alien crime drama, which is quite cool.

I never get tired of watching Doctor Who.

I will review episode 3 soon.

Till next time 

Emz x

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TV Review: Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 1 "Rose" [Emz]

Being a big Doctor Who fan i'm surprised it's taken me this long to review anything Doctor who related.

This is the episode that started it all for me, prior to this I was either too young (1998 movie) or wasn't born (classic series.)

The episode first premiered on BBC One on the 26th March 2005.

Here is the Premise to the episode: 

When Rose Tyler meets a mysterious stranger called the Doctor, her life will never be the same again. Soon she realises that the whole of planet Earth is in danger.

Review:

As I stated above this is the episode that got me hooked on Doctor Who. I was 14 years old when it was first released... 

The way we meet Rose before the Doctor feels like we are seeing things from her point of view, also as a new viewer you are going through the motions with her, like who is this man and what is he doing.

The whole living plastic/ nestine consciousness thing was quite cool. Special effects were still developing in 2004/ 2005 but it was still effective. 

Anyway thats all for now.

Till next time

Emz x

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