Rate "Rose"

[Slagathor]

I thought a more statistical assessment should be made. ;D

So rate this episode and the ones to follow.

[The Doc]

Oh, you messed up my rating system! I always rate from 1-10 (I suppose maybe 0-10; but, I have never given anything a 0 before). And, I also go a bit more and do half a rating too. So, let's see. On my scale, I gave Rose an 8.5. Let's see, I need to convert to a 1-7 scale. 8.5 * 7 / 10 is what? Let's see.. carry the 3... I said carry the 3!... 5.95. Do you have a 5.95 on your scale? Ummm... no... ummm... ok, I give it a 6.

[The Doc]

Let me tell you my reasoning behind my '6' (or 8.5 on my scale) rating, which is probably higher than most fans.

First off, let me get the bad points to "Rose" out of the way. Yes, it is weak on plot. The Nestene Consciousness and the Autons get very little storyline. We aren't shown who or what is putting guns into these Auton bodies. New viewers are left to wonder if the thought control from the Consciousness is somehow magically placing weapons inside the shop dummies. We don't get the backstory like we did with "Spearhead from Space". The reasoning for the Consciousness coming to Earth is barely explained in some vague reference to a war (watch the rest of the series and you get a better explanation about the war itself). The Anti-Plastic is also a bit of a cop out. Where and when did the Doctor get it? What is it made of? How was it made? How does it work? Who made it? Was there a struggle in getting it? Was there some loss the Doctor had to give up in order to get it? All questions that are swept under the rug in the script. And all of these negatives contribute to a plot that is almost too swift and could have been better served with a two part story where some of these questions could be more fleshed out. Auton Mickey wasn't all that great either.

Alright, I should be really down on this story, right? Wrong. Actually I am not...

Being the first episode of the new series, we have never seen the main opening titles before. And, we are given them right from the get-go. Oh my word! The titles! The theme is great! The effects are wonderful with the TARDIS bobbing around in the fast space/time vortex. What a way to start the show! WOW, DOCTOR WHO IS BACK! IT'S REALLY BACK!

Then we get the lovely shot from above the Earth with the moon in the background and zooming down into London. What a lovely effect.

Many people criticize the incidental music in this story. I disagree. I was a little put off by the music at the very start as Rose gets out of bed in the first scene. But, it gets much better almost immediately. It is fast paced, just like the episode, so it fits. It only adds to the excitement as my mind is blown away thinking the show is really back. The music playing as we see Rose going about her normal life fits the scene perfectly. It's fast paced along with the vehicles buzzing down the streets. Later, the scene as the Doctor is leaving Rose's flat and Rose chases after him only adds to the fun feeling of the scene. The scene about 2/3 of the way through the episode after Rose points out the London Wheel as the Nestene's antenna is my favourite scene from the episode as they run down the bridge with the buses going by behind them, reaching out for each other's hands. The music in that scene just adds so much to that scene. It is absolutely beautiful! I really like the music in this episode.

Beyond effects and music, this story is mainly about introducing characters and relationships. And it does that extremely well. Rose's routine life is shown very quickly but very well with short little scenes showing important points in each of her days. The Doctor's introduction is terrific too. The "Run" line hackens back to Troughton. And, The Doctor's quirky nature is shown right away as he walks briskly leading Rose away from the Autons and explaining about Living Plastic Creatures. Then telling her to leave but then quickly showing up again to introduce himself and her to him was brilliant. "Run fer yer life!" Another great early line.

The scene in Rose's flat is hilarious. Jackie's eyes light right up when she sees the Doctor. And then she is upset when he tells her "No" when she openly flirts with him. Again, the Doctor's quirky persona shows through as he looks around at the tabloid, the novel, and himself in the mirror. Trying out the card tricks and finding out he can't do them is a fun gag too. The arm attack has a morbid sense of fun to it. Then Rose hits the Doctor with it after he deactivates the arm. Funny stuff. The chase out of the flat is fun to listen to as the Doctor and Rose squabble a bit about shop dummies taking over the world.

Then we get that speech. We get that wonderful, very Who'ish speech about the Earth spinning. Absolutely brilliant stuff. I almost cried. WOW! The show IS back!

Then the show builds on the mystery of the Doctor a bit with Clive's photos and stories. We get told that he always has death around him. Isn't that a great draw for new fans? For previous fans, we already know this. But, it is nice to be reminded.

The introduction of the TARDIS is wonderful. Roses rushes in trying to escape Auton Mickey. She can't believe her eyes that it is bigger inside than out. She rushes back out despite the danger outside. She moves all the way around the TARDIS. She finds it to be indeed the size she thought it was. And with the threat of Auton Mickey finally catching her and killing her, she rushes back inside to find indeed it is still bigger inside! Wonderful stuff! Absolutely brilliant. Of course, new fans have their suspicions confirmed that the Doctor is an alien by his own admission.

Again, I absolutely love the scene where the Doctor and Rose are crossing the bridge to get to the wheel. The humour used to get the Doctor to realize that he is blind to exactly what he is looking for (the wheel being a huge round object that could be used as an antenna), was very funny. The bridge crossing is so good with the music, the buses, the hand holding. You just knew at that point, Rose and the Doctor should be traveling together. WOW!

And the best plot point is toward the end with the shop dummies attacking. This always got to me in the Pertwee Auton stories. It is even better and scarier here. The Autons seem so real. There are so many of them. They are actually seen breaking the glass. It is just so creepy and realistic. And you can see them shooting their weapons and people dying. Just imagine watching shop dummies coming alive as you walk by a display. WHEW! Scary stuff. The music here is very haunting and epic as it conveys a very end of civilization feel from invading monsters.

Overall, this story is a 6 (or 8.5) because it does well what it sets out to do. This is a character driven story. This is not an action driven story (although the story does move very quickly). The humour is terrific. The characters are very well introduced. The Auton attack is just so creepy and scary. The music and effects are wonderful. OK, the plot is thin. But, the plot really isn't the point here. And best of all, DOCTOR WHO IS BACK! FANTASTIC!

[John Darnacan]

I never really minded the 'anti-plastic'. I just assumed it was something he whipped up, based on past experience. Clearly we are catching the adventure at some point after the beginning. For instance, we don't see when the Doctor first becomes aware of the Autons. But I don't mind that.

The guns in the shop dummies were unnecessary. Clearly, they were menacing enough without them. I generally find this story superior to Spearhead from Space.

[Cornelia_Africana]

I thought this story was a below average story when I first saw it, and I still think that now, although some of the aspects that I wasn't happy with when it was first shown, were later cleared up. The story wasn't up to much, and the characters appeared very much to be cardboard cut out stereotypes (though in the case of Rose and Mickey this was later improved upon.) It was what I feared - lots of flashy special effects and action, and little plot. So I still find this to be below par.

[Meddling Monkey]

I think you can't judge a series on its first episode. Tom Baker's "Robot" was awful, but the rest of his tenure turned out much better.