The episode that rekindled the love of the Doctor that hadn't ever really gone away so much as being forced away into a dark corner by the loss of the show. Rose's huge audience response was testament to the enduring allure of the character and the universe of the show, and the fact that it remains the highest initially viewed episode that wasn't a special is a remarkable achievement. Whether it was a mistake or not to miss out the regeneration (which would have been solid gold fan service) remains a point for debate, but there's no doubting the immediate impact that Christopher Eccleston had as the Doctor, even despite accusations that he wasn't suited to the genre.
