Some time ago I decided to begin watching the Doctor Who series from beginning to end. Being a series with 40 years worth of episodes, I knew this was a daunting undertaking, but I didn't quite know just how difficult it was going to be until I started trying to gather the episodes. Although this is THE perennial British sci fi show, many of its early episodes have been lost to frugal videotape archivists at the BBC. I had to necessarily alter my plans, and decided instead to dedicate myself to a three serial/episode minimum sampling of each of the Doctors (for those who don't know, Doctor Who or The Doctor, a time and space traveling Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, 'regenerates' whenever he sustains critical amounts of physical damage - an ingenious way for the writers to explain away the inevitable re-casting of the main character). So far I've blogged about the First, Second and Third Doctors. Having left off where I did I know I should be blogging about fan favorite Tom Baker, but I had some trouble getting a hold of his final appearance, so I wanted to hold off on my commentary until I'd had a chance to view it.

In the meantime, I skipped ahead like a faulty TARDIS and gave the newest incarnation of the show a try, beginning with the Ninth Doctor, Christopher 'Destro' Eccleston.

For anyone that hasn't had a chance to see it yet, this is a great point for the uninitiated viewer to jump in. A past knowledge of the Doctor's adventures isn't really required to appreciate the quirky new version, although it does definitely enhance the experience, especially when old enemies and characters from the original run begin popping up. I would say as only a marginally initiated Doctor Who fan that the new show definitely lives up to its long past. My wife, who previously rolled her eyes whenever she heard the familiar music, now gladly settles down at my side to take in the latest episodes.

The new show is much more episodic in nature, with stories wrapping up in one to three episodes instead of the long running six episode serials of the earlier days, so reviewing the Ninth Doctor's run is necessarily a different kind of task. I loved the first season/series (actually something like the twenty fifth season if you count the old series), so it's not easy to pick three episodes, but I'll comment on the first and last appearances of Eccleston as well as my favorite episode inbetween. It also necessitates some spoiler warnings, which I'll put in caps where I can, as the episodes although for the most part standalone, do maintain an overall continuity that is much more satisfying when you don't open the presents early.

In 'Rose,' the first episode, we are re-introduced to the Doctor in his modern incarnation, and meet a new companion, Rose Tyler. Eccleston's Doctor is engaging and likable, still quirky, but with an energy some of the dowdy, eccentric previous actors didn't have. He's a little less refined, steps on toes, has a real working class sort of vibe. After rescuing the titular Rose from some animated store mannequins, he invites her into the TARDIS. You can see a delight in Eccleston's Doctor whenever Rose reacts to some amazing new site or development. Rose is a little young, and no Sarah Jane, but not really a whiner either. She's in wonder a lot, and you get the sense that the Doctor feeds off that wonder. They have a good chemistry, and it develops into something perhaps a little more than what we've yet seen in the Doctor's relationships with humans.

Now for that middle episode, it's a real toss up for me between the two part Empty Child and The Doctor Dances, which is extremely creepy and cool with a satisfying resolution (and also introduces the dashing, bisexual swashbuckler and inter-dimensional rogue Jack Harkness), or Dalek. I'm going with Dalek because it re-introduces the Doctor's old foes and gives some interesting insights into his recent history (SPOILERS BEGIN). The Doctor and Rose follow trace alien tech emanations to an underground complex in America where a rich tycoon has spent his millions locating and sequestering alien artifacts. His pride and joy turns out to be a live Dalek, whom the Doctor, in a rage, nearly kills on sight. The Dalek is badly damaged, and the rich man's staff has been systematically torturing it trying to get it to reveal its secrets, not even realizing it's a living being. Rose feels sorry for it, lays a gentle hand on its chassis - and promptly has the skin of her palm burned off. The Dalek assimilates her DNA and regenerates, repairing itself to full fighting capacity. It promptly goes on a rampage, melting bullets in mid air and cutting a swathe through the entire complex. The first half of this episode is absolutely stellar, and we learn that the Time Lords and The Daleks have recently fought an all out battle which resulted in the total extermination of both species (accept for this Dalek and The Doctor). But, in using Rose's human DNA to regenerate, the Dalek has also absorbed some of Rose's humanity, and finding itself compassionate and therefore less than perfect, destroys itself. It's a great episode, marred only by a slightly sappy ending ('I know now why you cry' well, not quite THAT sappy, but close.)

The ninth Doctor's final appearance is in the end of the two part finale. It's a long story, but it turns out The Dalek Emperor has managed to survive the Time War, though he has been hurled damaged into the far future. He takes shelter near earth and, taking the dregs of human society, converts them into mutant Daleks over a period of centuries - Daleks who worship the Emperor as their god. Not 'true' Daleks the Doctor points out, as they are mutant human stock, but Daleks for all intents and purposes. The Daleks attack, intent on incinerating the earth and the last of the Time Lords (who has become something of a legendary nightmare to the Dalek race). The Doctor plans to detonate a kind of psychic bomb, although it will also destroy all life on earth along with the Daleks. He sends Rose in the TARDIS back into her own past to save her life, but she breaks in and returns with the help of her whiny Earth boyfriend Mickey and her mother. Rose cracks open the heart of the TARDIS and becomes infused with the ultimate power of Time. She destroys all the Daleks piece by piece, resurrects Jack Harkness (who was fried by Dalek warriors), and saves the Doctor. As her godlike new powers threaten to drive her insane and consume her, the Doctor seizes her and absorbs her power into himself, effectively releasing her. Unfortunately, this act destroys the Doctor's own body, and with a smile and a wink ('You were great. I was great.') he collapses and regnerates before Rose's eyes into David Tenant, the 10th Doctor, whom we'll learn about next blog.

All in all, Eccleston has an entertaining run, deftly juggling the series' inherent camp and sobering gravitas with equal, and energetic aplomb. He single handedly made my wife a Doctor Who fan, after all (well, Jack Harkness helped a little). By the end of it, my wife and I were dubious of the newcomer Tenant. Wasn't he the guy with the long tongue in Harry Potter? Boy, were we wrong! But that's jumping the gun...

Again, I can't recommend season one enough. And the series only gets better at this point. Fans new and old will find themselves equally entertained, I believe.