1. The Perfect Starting Point
Rose, or to a degree The Eleventh Hour (episode 1 of Steven Moffat's partial reboot) are commonly regarded as the perfect jumping on points for someone wishing to get into Doctor Who. After all, they are the first episodes, so it makes sense, doesn't it? But Doctor Who has never really been that concerned with linear time, and there's nothing in Blink that really pertains to any ongoing arc or elements that viewers have to be up to date with in order to enjoy. For this reason, coupled with its immeasurable quality, I've always held that Blink is the perfect place for new fans to start with Doctor Who, just as An Unearthly Child is for those ready to look beyond Eccleston, Tennant and Smith and take on the wobbly, cheap-looking (but just as enjoyable and inspiring) Classic Series. All the important elements; the Doctor, the TARDIS, the monsters, time travel; are introduced as though for the first time and, like its 1963 equivalent, the story is set in the present day, from the viewpoint of two extremely relatable characters getting to learn all of this for the first time, just as the new viewer will be. Blink is the closest New Who has come to recapturing the eerie, otherworldly wonder of An Unearthly Child. So next time you sit down to watch either of these incredible episodes, keep in mind how Steven Moffat - who has been on record as saying how highly he regards William Hartnell's debut - must have had An Unearthly Child firmly in mind when working on his award-winning 2007 masterpiece. Blink captures the spirit, the wonder and the limitless possibility of Doctor Who with just a brisk runtime, some sparkling dialogue and a couple of dimly lit sets to play with. And isn't that exactly what the first ever episode should also do?