Doctor Who Club of Australia

[Greg]

Every month we are aiming create a new Poll and publish the results in our club newsletter Data Extract.

We also encourage you to make comment. A selection of the best comments will also be published in Data Extract with the most insightful published comment being eligible to win a prize. (To win a prize you must be a member of the DWCA).

Try to keep your comments concise and spoiler free as possible. (Up to five lines is ideal for editing respoinses for the magazine.)

POLL OF THE MONTH: JULY

Which as been your favourite opening episode in the new series of Dr Who and why?

Decisions about the potentially prize-winning entry will be made based on posts included in this thread to 31 July 2007.

Please note: The Christmas Invasion and The Runaway Bride were made as Christmas specials, and aren't included in this poll despite the ABC showing them immediately before the opening episodes in the new series.

[Tegan]

Smith and Jones easily.

Rose had the problem of needing too much exposition, particularly for the viewers who had no previous Doctor Who viewing. The basic threat story was also a bit incidental. "Hi I'm Rose, Hello I'm The Doctor, while we're chatting lets save the world."

New Earth was really just a setup for future episodes, and not knowing what was coming (obviously) made it look like a filler piece. The resolution to the disease story was just too forced. That and The Doctor, when he was drenched looked like Norman Wisdom.

Smith & Jones introduced Martha quickly, got her family out of the way in short shrift, then got on to an adventure which they spent some time on. And I liked the fact that the Judoon turned out to be basically not the evil monsters you expected them to be.

[ADAMK]

While I agree Smith & Jones was a great episode I have picked Rose because, unlike say the TV movie, it pulled off the remarkable feat of making Doctor Who a raging mainstream success after an absence of many years!

[montypython]

I thought Rose did a great job introducing the characters. It had a good pace, it was very mysterious, and it had me longing for more, so it gets my vote. Smith & Jones was too fast-paced for me, and I thought it had too much technobabble. New Earth really didn't have a strong plot.

[Ickabod]

My 7 year old who was 5 atm loved Rose......espically Mickey....when he got eaten by an ottobin.....and she misses Rose and her next fave is Dalek....as she liked the "baby" inside it....so now she thinks all Daleks are girls

[SharazJek]

Definately 'Rose'. It was a brilliant piece of writing in that it re-introduced the nerdy and often derided character of Doctor Who to the general public and instantly returned it to the status of national icon, the status it so rightly deserves.

It gave something to the classic series fans (Autons), something to the dads and to young girls looking for a adventure in an otherwise mundane life (Billie), a hero everyone could relate to, look up to, fall in love with, but was still mysterious and alien (Eccleston), and it was daring enough to be so different to the original series, while at the same time double-daring to be the same as it always was.

After all the flack RTD seems to get (even from me at times) about his writing, I keep thinking about how downright clever 'Rose' was, on so many different levels. RTD is a genius. A genius with an agenda, but a genius notheless.

[Ickabod]

^I agree....my Otto bin will never be the same

[charlie]

Well the only one of these eps that Ive seen more than once is New Earth and that didn't make sens and was lrgely unsatisfying. Smith and Jones seemed to be lacking in charm while Rose had lots of nostalgia and old enemy, a new spin on the show, my least favourite doctor and UNIT without the ever so annoying Torchwood. Go Rose

[Greg]

I'm going with Rose.

One of the most important episodes in the series history, in many respects the revival of the show was dependent upon this episode. It had to re-introduce the Doctor to a wide audience and a new incarnation to the waiting fans, establish the TARDIS for a new audience, put in place a change universe for fans, introduce a new companion intended to have equal footing with the Doctor, the recurring supporting cast (Mickey and Jackie), be nostalgic for returning watchers and fresh enough for the new.

In many respects, it was based on An Unearthly Child, introducing the human rgulars, a mystery for resolution, the Doctor and the TARDIS, and travels through time and space.

It was a near impossible task, and while many find flaws in it, it delivered the show to a new generation of viewers and safeguarded its future. If it had failed, it would quite probably been the show's death-knell. It wasn't - it unleashed a peal of victory that is still ringing.

[Fenric]

For me, it would have to be [i]Smith and Jones[/i].

[i]Rose[/i] was too much a setup for later on, meaning that the Auton plot was sidelined just a little too much.

[i]New Earth[/i] had nothing going for it, trying to be humourous and only occassionally passing the test.

[i]Smith and Jones[/i] is so much better - the plot is interesting, the character setup is quicker, etc.

[Theta Sigma]

Nothing wrong with Rose & Smith and Jones but I have decided to go with New Earth. New Earth was a very fun start to the 2006 season and the episode's ending was very poignant. A relaxing way to begin the season considering what is to come for the Doctor and Rose.

[Greg]

By the way, I've been asked to leave this poll running until 5 August.

Look for a new poll (or two) on Monday.

[uhumanite]

While Smith and Jones was by far my favourite opener I'm going with Rose.

Russel T Davies introduces us to not only a new companion(and for the first time their family) but also a new Doctor. It's pace and timing and the return of some old foes gives indication of what may be to come yest still without giving much away of the season's future. With slight references to the Time War- The Doctor is once more a figure shrouded in mystery who we once thought we knew. With Doctor Who's absence from television for so long it seems The Doctor has changed not only his face and clothes but has also gained an emotional mask to hide his pain.
This episode was also my introduction to the WHO universe and without it I'd never be the fan I am today.

[Greg]

[montypython]

[Ickabod]

[Greg]

This one's locked off now. Our panel of experts will consider who to award the 'view of the month' to and that'll be published in Data Extract as well as here.