Doctor Who (2005)

Father's Day

Season 1, Episode 8, Aired 5/14/05

Episode Summary

Location: London, Earth''Date: 7 November, 1987''Enemy: The Reapers
Rose requests a trip back to the day her father, Pete Tyler, died. Reluctantly, the Doctor agrees, but he realises he has made a mistake, when Rose saves Pete from being run over by a car. This has now changed the timeline, and Reapers are transposing themselves all over the Universe. However, this time, the Doctor doesn't have a planmoreless

9.0

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Cast & Crew

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Billie Piper

Rose Tyler
Christopher Eccleston

The Ninth Doctor
Camille Coduri

Jackie Tyler

Fan Episode Reviews (20)

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Rose wishes to be there for her father as he dies, but saves his life, releasing the Reapers from the Time Vortex. With the Doctor soon devoured by one, will Rose give up her lviing father to undo the paradox she created?moreless

4.5

"Poor"

By 10thdoctorfan, Sep 13, 2011 Report Abuse

This episode seems to be the only episode that shows the weakness of Rose's character. She saves her father from being hit by a car with a second pair of her and the Doctor around, weakening time and space enough for the Vortex Reapers to emerge and devour the whole world. Due to the stupidity of Pete trying to prove that Rose is the same as the infant Rose, the two touch, strengthening the paradox and allowing a Reaper to kill the Doctor and leave only the option of pete giving his life to save the world, but not until he shows Rose that he trully was a good father despite his shortcomings.moreless

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Not a big fan of the time paradox, but this episode is all about heart.

9.0

"Superb"

By Lord_Fly, Oct 13, 2010 Report Abuse

This is a really good episode where the enemy is not as much out there as it is within ourselves. I'm not a fan of the time paradox, and whether crossing one's own time-line is possible or not, but they did a good job of not making this the heart of the episode.

It is a little disappointing that this episode came so soon after Rose witnesses a stupid choice by others [namely Adam's selfishness from last episode]. Did she not learn anything about trying to make changes. It was good that they made it more spur the moment a gut reaction. There is a lot of emotion throughout, with the Doctor giving some tough love, but Shaun Dingwall who plays Rose's father does a nice job of showing a roller-coaster of feelings. This all adds up to a sad ending were you do feel Rose's pain.moreless

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1 0
Brand new Doc doesn't seem to be able to get away from Earth...

7.0

"Good"

By squishyhippo, Jul 03, 2010 Report Abuse

I have enjoyed all of the episodes of the new season. I liked this one because it dealt with the choices and responsibilities we face every day, and how living in the world of "what if" is unhealthy and destructive.
I'm looking forward to all of the new episodes of season 2.

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Great, fantastic, tissue needed

9.3

"Superb"

By berryman1981, Jul 03, 2010 Report Abuse

This episode was always destined to be the most emotional of the new series, and after the more traditional 'Who' of The Long Game, it was to be a very different type of story. Rose never knew her father, Peter. He died when she was a baby. Brought up by her mother, she only knew her father from what she had been told. As far as she knew, Peter was a businessman, a loving husband, and a doting father. He died alone - the victim of a hit and run.

This background information has been lurking behind the scenes since the first episode, and was re-told - perhaps with more detail - skillfully by Rose, and in flashback by Jackie to her young daughter. Explaining to the Doctor why she's been thinking so much of her father quickly, and easily, explains to the viewer. Rose merely wanted to see her father when he was alive, to know what he was like, and - more importantly - she didn't want him to die alone. But, as the Doctor says, be careful what you wish for.

On seeing her father, and witnessing his death, Rose is incapable of action. She asks the Doctor for a second try. At this point the story could so easily have become Groundhog Day, but fortunately Phil Cornell must have been aware of this and stipulated that they could only be there twice. On this second attempt to be with her father at his death, Rose realises that she can't face losing him again, and acting purely from grief she rushes out to save his life. Who amongst us can say, hand on heart, that we wouldn't do the same? The catastrophic results which ensue from this single act lead to the end of the world, and inevitably Peter realises that he is the only person who can save the world - the only person who can make things right. Along the way we witness tempers, and tantrums, from Peter, Jackie, Rose and the Doctor, and Rose discovers the truth about her parent's relationship. Disappointed, and disillusioned, she watches them bicker. Rose is overflowing with remorse that her selfish actions have led to such a catastrophic turn of events, and again she has to face the death of her father. But this time she has a chance to say goodbye, as does Jackie, and Peter chooses to die - rather than being a victim, he becomes a hero, someone Rose can be truly proud of. Peter recognises that the Doctor knew the truth, that he knew that Peter had to die - but was trying to find a better solution. In the end, Peter doesn't die alone. Rose is with him, and she comforts him in his final moments. She attains closure, and, in two short scenes, we see the truth of the strong bond she has with the Doctor - his actions and her father's mirrored when comforting her.

This episode was wonderfully written, fully exploring the 'what if?' scenario, which we all face when dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. Can anyone truly say that this element of time-travel has been so well explored since H G Wells? Once again, we see a more human side to Eccleston's Doctor, and Chris was - as ever - superb. The Doctor's anger at Rose's stupidity - from the simmering silence to "I picked another stupid ape" - and his attempt to protect her, and her family, and his self-sacrifice, were portrayed in a wonderfully understated way. All of these emotions truly convey how much the Doctor cares about the human race, perhaps the most moving speech was when the Doctor was talking to the couple who were about to get married, ending with "I never had a life like that" shows us just how much the Doctor lost in his years of exile.

Camille Coduri, and Shaun Dingwall, were excellent as Rose's bickering parents, who recognised that they still loved each other intensely at the end of the episode, and who's courage and self-sacrifice poignantly saved the world. I felt their grief, and pain, and the mental anguish that Pete was going through was so well portrayed. But the praise really has to go to Billie Piper. This is certainly Rose's hardest adventure to date. She doesn't realise how hard this will be, and she faces her emotions head on. Two weeks ago Chris portrayed the Doctor in a highly emotional state, believing that he'd killed Rose. This week Billie portrayed Rose in a similarly emotional state, believing that she's killed the Doctor. On top of the grief, and remorse, which Rose was already dealing with, Billie made us feel that this really was the worst day of Rose's life. When Rose hugged her father, as he realised who she was, I felt her pain and grief - and this is all testament to Billie's superb acting. She has been a revelation in this series, and this episode has surpassed all others in terms of her acting - I'll never doubt her again.

At the end of this episode, I was left wondering what I would do if I had a TARDIS - how, or if, I would fight the temptation to do something similar and save my mum's life. And I know, deep down, that like Rose I'd meddle with history. In that situation who wouldn't? And I cried. I cried when I watched a second time, that's how strong the story is. That's how good the acting is. This is twice now that 'New Who' has made me cry. And this finally proves that great Sci-Fi can also be great Drama.moreless

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Beautifully acted and poignantly written. A keeper.

9.2

"Superb"

By mosmanite, Jul 03, 2010 Report Abuse

I personally loved this episode. It was unexpectedly moving, and provided a real insight to the world Rose grew up in, and to the life Jackie has been left to lead. It was filled with fantastic acting, reasonable effects, and provided a much needed back story. When Pete sacrificed himself, to live up to the ideal of a father he could never be, I must confess I reached for the Kleenex. We also witness the first tender moment between Rose and the Doctor, their first hug. Rose was able to be there for there for her father, to hold his hand whilst he died, a very poignant and beautiful moment. The flashback at the beginning and end sum up the story wonderfully. The Doctor is able to do amazing things, for everyone.

Favourite Quote: I've waited a long time to say this: Jackie Tyler, do as I say!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- When everybody runs in the church during the initial reaper attack, Jackie picks up Rose's baby carriage. However, it is obviously empty. Edit
- The Doctor is very careful to avoid Rose coming into contact with baby Rose. This isn't the first time the Doctor has been concerned about this - although it doesn't apply (it seems) to Time Lords. In Mawdryn Undead The Brigadier comes into contact with a past version of himself, causing a sort of "temporal short". Edit
- Baby Rose's eyes are blue, but older Rose's eyes are hazel. On the other hand, it's not unheard of for a baby's eyes to start blue and darken with age. Edit
Notes
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- Original International Air Dates: Turkey: October 18, 2009 on CNBC-e. Edit
- In the original script, when the Doctor opened up the TARDIS it was meant to fall apart instead of just appearing empty. This was changed due to cost reasons, but writer Paul Cornell stated on the commentary he thought the change was an improvement. Edit
- Originally writer Paul Cornell envisioned the Reapers as having the well-known hood & scythe appearance of the Grim Reaper. However, later drafts saw this change into something less humanoid. Special effects company The Mill made the Reapers' tails scythe-shaped in tribute to Cornell's original concept. The Hood and Scythe creatures later appeared in Torchwood episode, 'Exit Wounds'. Edit
Quotes
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- Stuart: Excuse me, Mister... The Doctor: Doctor. Stuart: You seem to know what's going on. The Doctor: I give that impression, yeah. Edit
- Rose: You can't tell her. Pete: Why? Rose: I mean, uh, I really don't want you to tell her. Pete: What, you don't want people to know? Rose: Where I come from, Jackie doesn't know how to work the time on the video recorder. Pete: I showed her that last week. Point taken. Edit
- new version of Pete's death Jackie: The driver was just a kid. He stopped. He waited for the police, it wasn't his fault. For some reason, Pete just ran out. People say there was this girl, and she sat with Pete while he was dying, and she held his hand, and then she was gone. I never found out who she was. Edit
Allusions
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- Suzie: There's no one from the Lamb and Flag... The Lamb and Flag was one of the regular settings in 'Bottom' a British sitcom of the early 1990s, and later a series of stage shows written by Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson. Edit
- Registrar: I, Peter Alan Tyler, take you, Jacqueline Andrea Suzette Prentice… Pete: I, Peter Alan Tyler, take you, Jacqueline… Suzanne… Suzette… Anita… Jackie: (to Registrar) Oh, just carry on. It was good enough for Lady Di. Jackie refers to the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles at St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29 1981 when she famously got his names mixed up when taking her vows. Edit
- Voice On Phone: Watson, come here, I need you. This is intended to be the first words ever spoken via telephone by inventor Alexander Graham Bell to his assistant Thomas A. Watson on March 10 1876. However, there is some debate as to the original wording of the message, whether Bell said he 'wanted' Watson or 'needed' him. Edit