Doctor Who (2005): Rose

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Location: London, England
Date: 4th/5th/6th March 2005
Enemy: Nestene Consciousness, The Autons
Rose Tyler, a shop girl from London, stumbles across a mysterious individual called The Doctor. She tries to help as he seeks out the Nestene Consciousness, an alien who is controlling living plastic in an attempt to take over the world.
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Writers:: Russell T. Davies

Director:: Keith Boak

Stars:: Christopher Eccleston (The Ninth Doctor); Billie Piper (Rose Tyler)

Recurring Role:: Paul Kasey (Auton); Alan Ruscoe (Auton); Nicholas Briggs (Nestene Voice); Noel Clarke (Mickey Smith); Camille Coduri (Jackie Tyler)

Guest Star:: Sarah K Chrispin (Auton); Helen Otway (Auton); Elizabeth Fost (Auton); David Sant (Auton); Mark Benton (Clive Finch); Elli Garnett (Caroline Finch); Adam McCoy (Clive's Son)

When the Doctor speaks to the Nestene Consciousness, he mentions the Shadow Proclamation, which is then mentioned often throughout series one to four, and which the Doctor and Donna visit in The Stolen Earth. edit »
The Time War gets its first mention in this episode, albeit a little cryptically, when the Doctor explains to Rose the Nestene's food stock was destroyed in a war. We are also told later on that the Doctor himself fought in the war. edit »
The first appearance of the Doctor shows him grabbing Rose's hand. The old Doctor Who final producer, John Nathan Turner, didn't like the Doctor and his companions to touch as he thought there should be no implied sexual relationship between the two. edit »
Rose is shown to work at a department store called Henrik's, according to both a banner over the entrance and signage inside the store. However, when we see BBC News coverage, the store is identified onscreen as Henrick's. edit »
This story is remarkably like Spearhead from Space as they both open a series with a new doctor, both have the autons as the villain, and the Doctor gets a new companion in the form of Liz Shaw or Rose Tyler. edit »

Mark Benton previously appeared as Ellis in the Big Finish Production Invaders from Mars, starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor. He also has a prominent role in Russell T. Davies' apocalyptic drama The Second Coming which starred Christopher Eccleston as the Son of God. edit »
This is the first return of Doctor Who since the 1996 movie. edit »
The final viewing figure for the BBC One airing of this episode was 10.81 million. This was the highest viewing figure for Doctor Who (2005) up until the Children In Need short, Time Crash, and then the following Christmas special, Voyage of the Damned, which both aired in 2007. edit »
Henrik's department store, where Rose works, is actually Howells Department Store, on St Mary's Street in Cardiff.

The same location is used during the Christmas shopping scenes of The Christmas Invasion. edit »
Tizano's Pizza restaurant where Auton Mickey runs amok, is actually the La Fosse Restaurant in Cardiff. edit »

The Doctor: What you doing here?
Rose: I live here.
The Doctor: Well what you do that for?
Rose: 'Cause I do! edit »
The Doctor: Can we keep the domestics outside? Thank you! edit »
The Doctor: How can you hide something that big in a city this small?
Rose: Hold on. Hide what?
The Doctor: The transmitter. The Consciousness is controlling every single piece of plastic, so it needs a transmitter to boost the signal.
Rose: What's it look like?
The Doctor: Like a transmitter. Round and massive! Somewhere slap bang in the middle of London. A huge, metal, circular structure. Like a dish, a like a wheel, round, radial, close to where we're standing. It must be completely invisible! (Rose looks at the London Eye behind The Doctor) What? (she nods at it, The Doctor turns around) What? (Rose nods at it again) What? What is it? (he looks again) Oh! Fantastic! edit »
Rose: So what you're saying is, the entire world revolves around you?
The Doctor: Sort of, yeah.
Rose: You're full of it!
The Doctor: Sort of, yeah. edit »
The Doctor: (offering Rose to travel with him in the TARDIS) You could stay here, fill your life with work and food and sleep or you could go� anywhere.
Rose: Is it always this dangerous?
The Doctor: Yep. edit »

The Doctor:(Riffling through a pack of cards) Luck be a Lady

This is the title of a song from the 1950 Broadway musical Guys and Dolls about illegal gambling, which later was adapted into film starring Frank Sinatra & Marlon Brando. edit »
The Doctor: Well what else is there? I mean you lot, all you do is eat chips, go to bed and watch telly. While all the time underneath you there's a war going on.

This is the first of many references to chips throughout the series. They are frequently used as a metaphor for the tedium and humdrum of human life, chips being the food of solace for the downtrodden masses. They even get mentioned again later in this episode when Rose is talking to Nestene Mickey about a job as a dinner lady dishing out chips, which is again looked upon as a boring career choice. edit »
Clive's Wife: She, she's read a website about The Doctor. She's a she?

This alludes to the fact that traditionally Doctor Who is followed by a mainly male audience. Something that producer Russell T Davies has stated he wants to change. edit »
The Doctor: That'll never work. He's gay and she's an alien.

The Doctor is flipping through pop-culture / celeb mag 'Heat' (Front Cover: 'Stars Without Make Up'). edit »
The Doctor: (flip through book) Sad Ending.

The Doctor flips through Alice Sebold's best-seller "Lovely Bones"(This is currently being made into a movie by Peter Jackson.). edit »

9.2
20
Finxy
member since: Aug 20, 2008
Rose
The Bottom Line: "A very special episode"
Pilot?... We don't need no... stinkin' pilot! ...Continue »
Rose was definitely not a pilot episode thankfully. The beeb didn't torture us with something as scary as a trial episode. The first things that made an impression on me were how good Billie was in the role of Rose and Murray Gold's wonderful soundtrack. Eccleston as the Doctor is a bit of a shock at first but after watching the episode again he really grew on me. Fantastic! With so much to introduce (The Doctor, Rose and co, Tardis etc) it's a wonder they had time to fit in an invasion plot at all. It was nice to see the 1970s enemies the Nestene Auton's making a return to the show, giving us nostalgia addicts a welcome hit. From the laugh out loud dust bin scene to the classic serial glass store front breaking homage I loved it all (well maybe not the London Eye gag). A special episode because it's back for keeps and it's not just a damn pilot.
08/22/08 06:53pm | report abuse
8.4
20
ben-the-hen
member since: Aug 11, 2008
Rose
The Bottom Line: "Pilot episode"
Great Start ...Continue »
Brilliant way to start the new series. It was informative, interesting and exciting. Some parts were a bit weak like some of the talking scenes but apart from that, it's a good way to start from scratch.

The special effects were brilliant at the time but 4 years on and they look disappointing. Unfortunetly the Autons didn't really become the centre of the story. It was mainly revolved around Rose and how she found her way into the TARDIS.

It promises big things for the rest of the series as we can expect what it could be like. It is fun to introduce the family and friends which we can come back to later.

Well done.
08/12/08 06:42am | report abuse
6.2
01
pipinowns
member since: Dec 28, 2007
Rose
The Bottom Line: "Silly"
Living Plastic is one of the more silly "Bad Guys" in Doctor Who. This episode had some funny moments but really didn't have enough info about The Doctor. Not a bad Pilot episode. But compared to other episodes in the series this one isn't special. ...Continue »
Humor: 8 - This Episode is pretty funny. The Doctor has so many good quotes from this episode. And Micky aswell has some interesting moments :). Rose on the other hand isn't funny whatsoever. And she obviously try's when she says "The Breast Implants". This quote made me frown down on Russel T Davies quite significantly. It just wasn't funny. +9 For The Doctor. +1 For Micky. -2 For Rose.

Drama: 3 - There are basically no "Dramatic" scene in this episode. The Doctor yelling "He couldn't save any of them" and him telling rose about who he was were the only parts I'd call dramatic. +3 for those. Not an episode for serious people. Intelligence: 3 No special references. Silly monsters. A couple of stupid lines. The Humor is intelligent and witty though. Which is a +7. Unfortunately all the dumb things give it a -4. Character Develpment: 7 - Rose and Jackie were developed quite well in this episode. Micky was half way developed. He had some very confusing moments (Especially near the beginning). The Doctor on the other hand was barely developed. Which was very disappointing. +2 for The Doctors development. +6 For Rose and Jackies. And -1 For Micky. Excitement: 5 - This episode fails to give the same exciting feeling as many Doctor Who episodes do. It didn't have me standing up and clapping or anything of the like. It had a few exciting moments. I'm giving it a +5 for all the running moments ect. Especially the beginning scene "Run For Your Life!" "Cool"ness: 3 - In Doctor Who episodes they can be alot funner if there is a "Cool" factor. This episode had some of that. But not alot. The Manikins weren't extremely cool. The sad part is besides The Tardis they were the coolest part of the episode. 3 points for the intro to the Tardis. 2 for the Living Plastic Manikins. and -2 for the uncool explosions and the uncool "Living Plastic Creature"

Creativity: +8 - The Doctor, The Tardis, The Manikins of The Price War, and The Great Humor. Very Creative Episodes. +8 for everything! Suspense: +7 - The Wondering of who the Doctor was gave a +3 to suspense. And the opening scene aswell deserves a +3. And a +1 to all the other moments that had hints of suspense. Final Grade: 6.2
07/04/08 07:50am | report abuse
9
20
_Kalex_
member since: Jun 23, 2008
Rose
The Bottom Line: "Informative"
Being a Canadian, I knew nothing about the phenomenon that is Doctor Who until a friend recommended it last year. I researched on wikipedia, and was apprehensive when I learned Christopher Eccleston left after one season, but decided to give it a try. ...Continue »
The first few minutes didn't really pull me in, as the character of Rose didn't grab my interest. I was confused and entertained when the dummies started walking towards her. Then, the Doctor grabbed her hand, and said just one word, "Run!". Something about his crazy grin and his matter-of-fact approach started to mesmerize me, and by the time he gave his brilliant speech about who he is, I was hooked. "I can feel it-the turn of the earth." The plastic Mickey was a bit weak, but the carnivorous garbage can was just weird enough to make me laugh. The special effects improved a lot by the second episode.

The beauty of the show is how accessible it is. It is so easy to put yourself in the companion's shoes, and imagine yourself saving the world. The show is a special blend of good acting, writing, and directing, with just enough insanity to keep things interesting. By the end of the episode, any viewer would be dying to see where the Doctor goes next.
06/27/08 07:31pm | report abuse
8.1
30
CaptainHarkness
member since: Jun 25, 2008
Rose
The Bottom Line: "Pilot episode"
A new adventure... ...Continue »
I've never seen any of the old series but this series is awesome and this episode is an example of why. I actually didn't see the old series because well I wasn't even born when the old show aired. But I will have to check out some of the old stories on DVD especially the Tom Baker ones. Rose is just an ordinary girl at an ordinary job...that is until she meets The Doctor. I liked how Rose swooped in and saved the day. What I liked best was The Doctor introducing himself to Rose, "Run for your life!" Great introduction for new viewers of the series.
06/26/08 08:32pm | report abuse