Doctor Who: Every Russell T Davies Episode Ranked From Worst To Best

Out of all of RTD’s Doctor Who scripts, the one that had the most riding on it was Rose.

And it’s not without its faults (we’re looking at you burping bin and Auton Mickey).

But it gets all the big stuff right. Rose’s “bigger on the inside moment”. Her first trip in the TARDIS. Her thrill at being invited aboard at the end.

Fundamentally, RTD understood that the best way to introduce us to the Doctor was through the eyes of the companion. He drops in and out of Rose’s life rather than the other way round.

Using a timeless old school monster (without drawing attention to the fact that they’re an old school monster) was also a really canny choice.

Rose walked so every other NuWho opener could run. If Doctor Who’s next era begins with a story half as good as this, we’ll be in safe hands.