Is This The Best Doctor Who Finale Ever?

Series 1 of Doctor Who's 2005 revival was a runaway success, but was the two-part finale 'Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways' able to stick the landing and end the series strong?

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[HarboWholmes]

haha Discord go brr:

Also please help breathe life into the subreddit

[MissTelevision]

I like regeneration stories that aren't "regeneration episodes", where the episode is all about the regeneration, but the regeneration coming out as a consequence in the story.

[itsallrigged]

"I'M GONNA WIPE EVERY LAST STINKING DALEK OUT OF THE SKY!"

That whole speech man, I'd kill to go the parallel universe where Eccletone got another season or two, this ending is legendary status, real credit to Murray Gold as well, the music in this is intense

[seanalbro]

I love that Jackie Tyler saves the day. Initially, she's arguing against Rose going back, but she helps her open the TARDIS anyway. What's amazing about this is that, in this particular season, every character saves the day at least once. The Doctor, Rose, and Jack obviously save the day, bit Mickey and Jackie saving the day is unexpected because they're seen, at this point anyway, as just supporting characters, but Mickey saves the day against the Slythin, and Jackie saves the day in this episode. Every character is the hero at least once

[Jedi_Spartan]

Weird how Eccleston is the only time a real regeneration in New Who makes it look like he's actually dying.

[nightowl]

The Parting of the Ways has the most *perfect* escalation of intensity I've ever seen.

First a side character dies (Lynda), then a reoccurring character (Jack), and then finally the Doctor himself. There's a motif of 'The Chain Reaction' throughout the story - one event leading to another, not unlike Rose and Bad Wolf.

My favourite Gold theme "I'm Coming to Get You" is repeated throughout the episode, but fades away just before the crescendo, but then (the shot following the chain from the yellow truck to the blue box), the Heart of the TARDIS opens and the music explodes! All aspects of production lend themselves to this escalation of events. It's sublime.

[iusedtowrite]

Even though i love this finale, I still wish he had another series. He had so much potential. And as much as I love Tennant, Eccleston had this edge. He was perfect for darker, morally gray stuff. We could've had some interesting experimental stuff with him.

[Anonymous-bubk]

Eccleston is the only Doctor with a real Time Lord regeneration. No teary eyes, no long winded speeches, no dragging it out across the whole finale/special. Just 'thank you for everything'. BANG! New Doctor.

[jmeMK]

"People staying indoors because the air is too polluted to breathe. It's such a dystopian concept"
Welp. 2020 says hi

[joshuagodfrey]

Remember it’s Lynda with a Y not Linda with a I.

[BlueEyesWhiteGuy]

The best thing about Nu-Who was the set up of arcs in seasons, Season one had Bad Wolf with call backs to Slithein, The Rift and Satellite Five.

Later on we would get Harold Saxon and The Master, Return of Rose, The Doctor Donna, The Pandorica, The Silence, and so on...until we get to Jodie Whitaker doctor who’s seasons that have no set up, no arc to build upto. So sad

[RPGmodsFan]

Yes, this is the best season series finale. I was shocked and sad to see Christopher Eccleston go. He was my first Doctor. He and Matt Smith are my favorite Doctors, mainly because I can relate to them the most (in terms of physicality and personality).

[CharlieInDaUK]

I think one scene which you didn't mention and should have is the scene between Rose and Jackie talking in the TARDIS about how she held Pete's hand when he dies. It's such a key moment for Jackie in realising how powerful and magical he is, before she decides to help and find the pick up truck. So many episodes in Series 1 genuinely count towards the story of the finale compared to other series (and not just in the recurring words 'Bad Wolf' 'Torchwood', 'Vote Saxon' or any other loose connection) but in the plot points.

[jonathanskinner]

I think it's just so tight compared to most of the finales. After this they either found themselves being overly complex (moffat finales), falling under its own weight (series 4) or just not being tidy enough. After the mystery in the episode is revealed about the station it becomes somewhat simple. Daleks are coming to kill everyone, we need to stop them. It has real emotional stakes and some genuinely sad moments. And it has what most finales and episodes in general lack in DW ; consequences. It also helps that the Dalek emperor is greatly designed, voiced and his fanatic followers are terrifying. The daleks have not since topped this. I would not mind if they had remastered the effects in the steel good re-release as it would of been nice and some point of view destruction shots of the Daleks destroying earth would have really added to it. Anywho 9-10/10

[intergalactic]

One slightly sad thing is that some of the tension is spoiled slightly by the fact that the next time trailer after Boom Town shows the Daleks, which undermines the twist somewhat. Also it was widely known that Eccleston was leaving after this series and that Billie Piper was staying (although there was speculation he would leave on the Christmas episode, not this one) which undermines Rose's death somewhat. But I can’t blame the writers for that, they are still excellent episodes.

[libby_b]

Please continue with weekly reviews for series 2, they’re great

[sarahsong]

I was sad to see Eccleston go. He was the one that made me love Doctor Who. He will always be my favorite doctor.

[jnwmtbv]

I actually really want an alternate version where Lynda lives. She has such a nice personality and can be fleshed out so much.

[CineScarborough]

I love the absurdity of the Doctor on Big Brother in this story. It’s the absolute last thing you would expect.

[nightowl]

13:58 Classic Russell. *"The Sphere is not our's."*