Top Five Stories: The Ninth Doctor

Since Nine was my first Doctor, I started the series on a major high note.  Even when the stories themselves were rocky (lookin’ at you, Slitheen two-parter!) Nine and Rose were utterly magnificent – I bawled when he regenerated.  Nine was only with us for a short time, but it’s still difficult to winnow his tenure down to a top five.  Here’s what I came up with.

“Dalek” (Series 1, Episode 6)

 

When I first saw this episode, I was a novice to Time Lords, Daleks, the works.  But you know what?  Didn’t matter.  I absolutely bought into the Doctor’s anguish over the events of the Time War, and seeing that even a single Dalek had made it out alive ravaged him.  In other news, the “lone monster terrorizes a secure base” trope is used excellently here, and my introduction to Daleks made me completely understand why small British children are so afraid of them.

“Father’s Day” (Series 1, Episode 8)

 

Rose’s request to go back in time and see her dead father doesn’t go as planned when she prevents the hit-and-run that killed him in the first place.  Though she gets time she never had with her dad, changing the past has serious consequences, and Rose realizes the responsibility that time travel demands.  The ending wrecks me every time.  Plus, young Jackie!  Couldn’t you just die?

 

“The Empty Child” / “The Doctor Demands” (Series 1, Episodes 9-10)

 

“Are you my mummy?”  So much to love in this two-parter.  A genuinely horrific monster in the gasmask zombies, great London Blitz backdrop, and terrific supporting characters in Nancy and the one and only Captain Jack Harkness.  Another great ending – this one gets to me in a good way.  “Just this once…”

 

“The Unquiet Dead” (Series 1, Episode 3)

 

New Who’s first celebrity episode features the Doctor and Rose fighting ghost-like creatures with Charles Dickens.  How could you not love that?  Dickens and the accompanying Dickens-related talk (the Doctor is such a fanboy) are awesome, the Gelth are intriguing aliens, and the Doctor and Rose get into their first real argument, showing that, as close as they are, Rose isn’t a fawning devotee who simply falls in line and lets the Doctor make all the decisions.

 

“Bad Wolf” / “The Parting of the Ways” (Series 1, Episodes 12-13)

 

Yes, it started RTD’s penchant for bombastic finales with zillions of alien menaces and resolutions that are more than a little deus ex machina, but I don’t care.  The Doctor, Rose, and Jack make a stand at the Game Station, and it’s wonderful.  These three love each other so much, they’re so brave, and there’s nothing they won’t do for each other.  I love everything about the Bad Wolf, and the ending is one of the best in the entire show.  Really and truly – fantastic.