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doctorbrick
Apr 33 min read

Doctor Who Series 1, Episodes 4 & 5 Review: Aliens of London & World War Three

Updated: Sep 28

What did you think of these episodes?

  • Sonic!

  • Good!

  • Bumpy-wumpy!

  • Exterminate!


The first two parter of the revival. When I watched this one first time round I wasn't that fussed by it, but I have decided it is a grower.


Christopher Eccleston is a mighty fine Doctor, and he is great in these two episodes, fantastic actually. Unfortunately for me, I got a few glimpses into Rose starting to be a trifle annoying, there were a lot of times she really grated on me after this, not down to Billie I might add, just the way she was written I guess, suddenly she was all cocky!! She treated Mickey like a piece of shit as well. This didn't fully come into play until the second series, but I will cross that bridge when I come to it.


Anyway, if you ignore the farting and booty shaking these are two pretty solid episodes. As I have mentioned previously I don't take much notice of politics in Doctor Who, I just want a good story, however it is hard not to notice what this one is all about. Tony Blair, Weapons of Mass Destruction, fuck, that seems a lifetime ago!!! In context, we are on our seventh Prime Minister since this aired!!


I did think this was very cleverly written though, how the Slitheen use the fear of the peoples of the World to get access to weapons they really have no right in having.


"Nine hundred years of time and space, and I've never been slapped by someone's mother."


I enjoyed the beginning a lot, how the Doctor cocks things up, Rose being gone for a year, and how he smiles as he reveals his mistake to Jackie. I bloody love Ecclestone, I really do, oh it would of been lovely to see more of him.


Mickey is still being treated as a dick at the start of this, I never know why he stuck around for Rose really, however, he gets to help save the day by the end of the episode. Did anyone find it odd how easy he found it to fire the missile though? Was almost like he had done it before.


The Slitheen were alright monsters, but they looked pretty cumbersome, except the CGI shots when they suddenly turned into Usain Bolt!!


“This is my life, Jackie. It’s not fun, it’s not smart, it’s just standing up and making a decision because nobody else will.”


I realise I am waffling here and jumping all over the place, so in summary, very strong start to the episode, Rose being a bit of a cock, Slitheen are alright monsters with an interesting plan, Mickey being treated like dirt.



I think I have been fairly safe with my reviews so far (apart from my annoying Rose thoughts), however I am going to rock the boat a little here - I am not a fan of Harriet Jones. There, I've said it!! Not for me I'm afraid. I wouldn't be voting for her, even if it did bring a golden age (was this actually the case in the end? She got disposed off pretty quick by my reckoning, although no more than what we are used to these days I guess).


After all of this, the Doctor, a missile and Mickey save the day. Go Mickey!!


Then we get some great moments between the Doctor and Jackie, and this is what I have loved about the show since it was revived. It grounds things. Now I know this is a show that involves a time travelling alien with a blue box bigger on the inside, but I do like the show when it is kind of based in reality. When the humans react how I think I would react. This has led me to not like characters as much as I maybe was meant to as they breeze in sometimes as if they have saved worlds and civilisations all their lives.


The end of the episode was a favourite of mine, the shot of Jackie counting down 10 seconds and Mickey sitting on the bin waiting for Rose to come back were actually kind of moving. Bravo!!


RATING: Good!

BEST LINE: "My mother’s cooking." "Good. Put her on a slow heat and let her simmer."






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