New Who Countdown: Number 4

"The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances"

Series: 1

Doctor: Christopher Eccleston

Companions: Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman)

Writer: Steven Moffat

Sadly, this is the only one of the ninth doctor stories to make my top ten. I do really adore Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor, however, the writing and production is just not on par with later Tennant and Smith episodes.  Steven Moffat's first episodes writing for the Doctor Who reboot has it all: a creepy horror undertone, a love triangle, a mystery, tenderness, and, as the Doctor proclaims at the end, "Everybody lives!"

Captain Jack Harkness makes his debut in this two parter as well.  Jack is a 51st Century man living in World War II London, and he rescues Rose Tyler from an air raid while the Doctor is off investigating bizarre phone calls and radio signals.

This two parter is wonderful.  We finally see the Doctor growing close to Rose and even getting a little jealous at the attention given to her by Captain Jack.  This is when the relationship and those pesky little flutters of love really start to blossom.  The episode title "The Empty Child" refers to the child that haunts London streets permanently wearing a gas mask and crying out for his "mummy".  And "The Doctor Dances" is not only a reference to Rose's persistent calls to the Doctor to dance, but also about the gleeful nature of the Doctor because everybody lives. 

I honestly don't really know what to write about the episode.  It's hard to put my finger on exactly why it is so good.  It could be the writing, it could be the comic relief from Captain Jack, it may be the excellent guest stars (Florence Hoath as Nancy and Richard Wilson as Dr Constantine), or possibly the horror of this unnamed child.

Favorite quote from the story is, "It's mauve and dangerous."