RTD Retrospective #8: Mid-Season Two-Parter

[Stevil2001]

Results from last round: Favorite middle episode?

43%: The Unicorn and the Wasp
30%: 42
19%: The Long Game
8%: The Idiot's Lantern

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The later two-parters are always bigger and weirder. And 50% of the time, Moffater. But which one's the best?

 

[Sci]

Without any doubt, this one goes to "Human Nature"/"The Family of Blood." My personal favorite episode of Doctor Who is "The Girl in the Fireplace" because I'm a cheap sap, but looked at objectively, "Human Nature"/"The Family of Blood" is easily the best two episodes of the revived Doctor Who ever produced. They kick the ass of every other great episode -- event the much-vaunted "Blink," which, when you get down to it, is a rather soulless work that has no particular meaning to it beyond an intellectual puzzle and some (admittedly genuinely) scary scenes.

The acting, the set design, the writing, the thematic content, the music... Everything in "Human Nature"/"The Family of Blood" is just perfect.

 

[Joy]

Even though "The Impossible Planet"/"The Satan Pit" was my introduction to the awesomeness that is Doctor Who, I am definitely voting for "Human Nature"/"Family of Blood". nuWho just does *not* get any better than that.

 

[Timby]

Holy God, this is an impossible vote. The "Library" two-parter is probably the weakest of all of these, but it's still an incredible story. "The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit" would probably be my favorite story in all of the revival, but it's tarnished by the Rose / Doctor high school romance bullshit, which is absolutely terrible.

Conversely, though, "Human Nature / The Family of Blood," is tarnished by one of the worst cases of Martha being a one-note companion whose only notable characteristic is pining for the Doctor like a lost puppy. Outside of that, though, it's stellar (especially since Tennant is given something to do that isn't gurning and mugging around like a fucking retard for the length of the episode).

So, I have to give the nod to "The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances," which has a brilliant script by Moffat, Eccleston's pitch-perfect Doctor and the introduction of Captain Jack. Everything came together in that story.

 

[Sci]

Holy God, this is an impossible vote. The "Library" two-parter is probably the weakest of all of these, but it's still an incredible story. "The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit" would probably be my favorite story in all of the revival, but it's tarnished by the bullshit Rose / Doctor high school romance bullshit, which is absolutely terrible.

Conversely, though, "Human Nature / The Family of Blood," is tarnished by one of the worst cases of Martha being a one-note companion whose only notable characteristic is pining for the Doctor like a lost puppy. Outside of that, though, it's stellar (especially since Tennant is given something to do that isn't gurning and mugging around like a fucking retard for the length of the episode).

So, I have to give the nod to "The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances," which has a brilliant script by Moffat, Eccleston's pitch-perfect Doctor and the introduction of Captain Jack. Everything came together in that story.

I'm curious -- why does "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" not get criticized for its Doctor/Rose shipping (e.g., the entire conversation about whether or not the Doctor "dances") but "The Impossible Planet"/"The Satan Pit" does?

Personally, I think Martha is very brave in "Human Nature"/"The Family of Blood." She basically keeps the whole mission from falling apart until the Doctor comes back to himself.

 

[Timby]

I'm curious -- why does "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" not get criticized for its Doctor/Rose shipping (e.g., the entire conversation about whether or not the Doctor "dances") but "The Impossible Planet"/"The Satan Pit" does?

In one of those stories, the entire subject is handled with subtlety, humor and a clever wit.

In the other story, the subject is handled about as deftly as a high school freshman fumbling to remove his homecoming date's bra in the backseat of a Chevy Cavalier.

 

[Sci]

I'm curious -- why does "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" not get criticized for its Doctor/Rose shipping (e.g., the entire conversation about whether or not the Doctor "dances") but "The Impossible Planet"/"The Satan Pit" does?

In one of those stories, the entire subject is handled with subtlety, humor and a clever wit.

In the other story, the subject is handled about as deftly as a high school freshman fumbling to remove his homecoming date's bra in the backseat of a Chevy Cavalier.

In "The Impossible Planet"/"The Satan Pit," I recall one conversation about Rose and the Doctor settling down, a goodbye hug, the Doctor's "I believe in Rose... Tell her - Never mind" bit, and the reunion hug.

My biggest problem with that, actually, was that I just didn't buy the idea that, upon their reuniting in the TARDIS, Rose wouldn't have tried to kiss him and insist on a Relationship Upgrade after almost losing the Doctor. But that's just this little ol' Rose/Doctor shipper talkin'.

 

[tomalak301]

The Empty Child/Doctor Dances

Outstanding episodes, and really told me Doctor Who was going to be a new favorite. Besides, no one can confuse the cuteness of "Are you my mommy" and the positive joy of the ending.

 

[Jax]

I simply cannot vote because I can't choose, these episodes are part of the upmost peak of Doctor Who since its return in 2005. They are all simply wonderful stories

 

[captcalhoun]

TEC/TDD

 

[Bones2]

This is too hard. These are actually all quite good. In fact, this could just as well be a "what's your favourite episode?" poll.

And hang on, look who didn't write any of them...

 

[Count Zero]

For me, it's "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances", no contest. In spite of the overly patriotic tones and the slightly revisionist speech of the Doctor about WWII which kind of bugs me. The other stories are all great, too, but this one just impressed me most. Mainly because it's scary as hell without having any monsters.

 

[Worf2DS9]

For me, this is a toss-up between "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" and "Human Nature"/"Family of Blood". And since it's far too difficult to make a choice, I will just have to watch each of these two-parters tonight and then make my vote.

 

[Lonemagpie]

They're all great, but...

Are you my Mummy?

 

[Sci]

This is too hard. These are actually all quite good. In fact, this could just as well be a "what's your favourite episode?" poll.

And hang on, look who didn't write any of them...

Actually, RTD did a major but uncredited contribution to "Human Nature"/"The Family of Blood," according to both Cornell and RTD.

 

[Geckothan]

I love all of these (with the exception of The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit, which I still like a little), but I've seen The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances so many times to the point that I've got every line memorised and it still never gets old so it has the edge over the others for me.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Damn, this is a very hard decision. I love all four of these stories (and I probably rate "The Impossible Planet/"The Satan Pit" higher than most). All of them have the strengths and weaknesses, but in the end, I think I have to go with "Human Nature"/"The Family of Blood." Amusing considering I was very hesitant at the idea of The Doctor changing himself into a human when I first heard about the story.

 

[Winterwind]

"The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" wins, but only barely, over "Human Nature/The Family of Blood".

What tipped my vote was, and this is just me, the Mr. Spock joke and Glen Miller's "Moonlight Serenade".

 

[Worf2DS9]

"The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" wins, but only barely, over "Human Nature/The Family of Blood".

Yeah, after watching them both tonight I went with the Series 1 duo as well. It had a lot of great stuff going for it:

- wonderful period piece capturing that timeframe
- spooky score
- introduction of Captain Jack and the mention of his two years of stolen memories
- really good performance by Florence Hoath as Nancy
- the Doctor's cool binoculars (whatever happened to those?)
- some great interplay between the Doctor, Rose & Jack
- excellent showcase for Eccleston's Doctor

What tipped my vote was, and this is just me, the Mr. Spock joke...

"Don't you ever get tired of 'Doctor'? Doctor who?"

And I liked this one too:

"I saw your time travel vehicle -- love the retro look, by the way; nice panels."

Great episode all 'round.

 

[selina]

This is a tough vote, because I really loved every episode of the ones listed above. In the end I went with "Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead", because I was most scared here. But that is just my own personal opinion. These episodes were all great.