172. (2.1) New Earth

New Earth! New Doctor! Same old Rose! For the 10th Doctor's first run, he is confronted by old enemy  (last season at least) Lady Cassandra. The story is a very cute buddy movie with the new Doctor and ole Rose bonding anew with kisses abound. We also see the Face of Boe, from the End of the World, with a cryptic message for the Doctor.

I actually think this is one of the weaker stories of the season but it's good to give the 10th Doctor some familiar people to play with and somewhat familiar territory. The poignant ending of Lady Cassandra packs some RTD emotion that will drench the rest of Tennant's tenure. And we're off to the races!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Earth

171. (2.X) The Christmas Invasion

Barcelona!

After a fantastic first season back on television with Christopher Eccleston driving the show to new heights of success, the Doctor regenerates into his 10 persona in the guise of David Tennant. And starting a new tradition, we're introduced to this new Doctor in the first Christmas special. Of course the Doctor is in a coma for the first half of the episode! But by the time he wakes up, we're more than ready for him to take the reigns and drive this ship. Tennant grabs the roles with both hands and doesn't let go. In classic Doctor fashion, he defeats an alien invasion in his pajamas, deposes the English government, and finds a new outfit for Christmas dinner. 

But for the first half hour, Rose carries the show exploring the effect of the Doctor's regeneration on his companion and their family. The new family of Rose, Jackie and Mickey provide a safe haven for our recovering Doctor and elevates her relationship with him. Knowing how the 10th Doctor ends, it is very sweet to see the Doctor and Rose's relationship reborn here. This story is filled with so much promise and a great beginning to one of the best Doctor's ever!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Christmas_Invasion

170B. (1.13) The Parting of the Ways

The end has been prepared for...

After a fantastic season that kicked opened the door to bring Doctor Who back, we come to the end and we say good bye to the 9th Doctor. He's battled the Nestenes and Autons, Lady Cassandra, gas mask zombies, Slitheen, Reapers, and Editors. But it all comes down to this- the Doctor vs the Daleks. And not just one Dalek, it's an army of Daleks! 

To save Rose, the Doctor sends her home in one of the most heart wrenching scene ever (or at least until this moment). Rose cleverly retrurns with the power of the vortex in her to save the day. But to save Rose, the Doctor absorbs the vortex at the cost of his own life. 

For the first regeneration in almost 20 years, the Doctor literally explodes with energy as we see his last  moments before turning into David Tennant. But before the end, we realized how much we loved the 9th Doctor and just how fantastic he was. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Parting_of_the_Ways

170A. (1.12) Bad Wolf

Who's afraid of the big Bad Wolf?

The penultimate chatper of season 1 brings together all the references to Bad Wolf they've been dolling out. We return to the space station from the Long Game to see everything has gone wrong. The Doctor, Rose and Jack are transported into killer game shows, gving us a glimpse of Jack's butt. It appears Rose dies, the Doctor gets pissed off, and we find out that the Daleks are behind this whole sceme. The episode ends on a cliff hanger with Rose held prisoner and the Doctor vows to come get her. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Wolf

169. (1.11) Boom Town

Hail Hail the Gang's All Here!

This was supposed to be an odd ball episode. A filler between the last two part story and the season ending two parter. But the seeds sown in this episode resonate for years to come. Captain Jack on the Rift in Cardiff. More to come in Torchwood.

Mickey guest stars in this story and essentially owns the episode. The emotional played out between him and Rose is heart wrenching. His character development through this first season is tremendous. 

The other highlight is the rapport between the Doctor and Margaret Slitheen. The dinner scene in the restaurant is classic and so well staged. Annette Badland is a wonderful villainess and a welcomed return to the series. 

While this quartet only had one outing, it would have been wonderful to see a few episodes of them traveling around in the TARDIS together.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boom_Town_(Doctor_Who)

168B. (1.10) The Doctor Dances

Go to your room!

The Doctor escapes the cliffhanger by telling the Empty Child to go to his room. Brilliant! The Doctor figures out Jack's scheme, finds the alien technology and repairs, we find out who is the Empty Child's mummy is, and for once in Doctor Who history, nobody dies and everyone lives. I truly adore this story for that reason alone. The joy and happiness on the Doctor's face when he figures out how to make everyone live. It's a beautiful moment. And Jack also gets his moment to save the day and noblely sacrifice himself. But thanks to the TARDIS, the Doctor saves Jack in the nick of time. Welcome aboard Captain Jack!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doctor_Dances

168A. (1.9) The Empty Child

Captain Jack- crazy! sexy! cool!

Steven Moffat joins the fray with his first story for the new series and it's a two parter! And he introduces the amazing John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, the best new character since Rose. 1941 World War II, London during the blitz, creepy people in gas masks, and a child that only says "Are you my mummy?". This is a brilliant episode that sets up the second part brilliantly and a classic cliffhanger. The Doctor, Rose and Jack are cornered in a room with a bunch of gas mask zombies coming at them....

TO BE CONTINUED!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empty_Child