Father’s Day
Paul Cornell’s Father’s Day wins a unique prize in our household. The first Doctor Who story that the whole family has liked. George liked it from the start as usual. I liked it, obviously, but this one really caught Emilia as well. As soon as the people started disappearing from the swings, she was really hooked. She thought it was really sad. She thought the little girls shoe in street was very sad. And the Doctor being eaten was extremely sad indeed. At the end, I turned to my wife to find her quietly crying. I had a lump in my throat.
For the last 5 minutes I had to field “Where is Doctor Who?” questions from two very worried children. George helpfully pointed out that the dragon things had eaten him, so that was understood. Less understood was the whole time travel business. Both Emilia and George didn’t understand how the little girl could be Rose and Bilie Piper could be Rose. The were even more confused by two Doctor’s and two Roses.
This is now George’s favourite episode beating Dalek into second place. Seem as this is the first episode that Emilia has properly enjoyed it is also her favourite.
This was another excellent episode from the New Series. One has to ignore the fact the the time travel paradox element to the story was a little confusing and not well defined. That was only there to set up the Rose and her Father storyline (and add some menace with the Reapers). It was true drama and excellent acting.
9 out of 10 (it would have got 10 if the time travel element had been right)