Apollo's Rebellion

To add to the celebrations of the Fiftieth Anniversary year, I have decided to post my favourite stories from Doctor Who since its revival in 2005. Every Saturday I will post a list of my favourite stories from each series leading up to the week before the Fiftieth Anniversary. Feel free to also share your thoughts in the comments below.

5. New Earth by Russell T. Davies
A newly regenerated Doctor, New New York and the return of an old enemy this episode had everything you needed for a series opener. This episode marked the first time the Doctor and Rose stepped on a different planet together and how fitting was it that it was New Earth? This was reeling with good humour, cat people and the Doctor's compassion that we know and love.
Highlight(s) of the episode: Lady Cassandra possessing the bodies of both Rose and the Doctor and the Doctor swooping in last minute to save all those innoocent people.

4. School Reunion by Toby Whithouse
I think you can all guess why this has made my list. This episode had the return of two of Classic Who's most famous companions, Sarah-Jane Smith
and K-9. It also featured bat people and the contemporary setting of a London school which I bet went down well with most of Doctor Who's fanbase. The overall storyline was basic good guy beats bad guy, but the way in which it was written and executed was fantastic.
Hightlight(s) of the episode: The first time the Doctor sees Sarah-Jane again and he walks around the school with a big smile on his face and the first time Sarah-Jane sees the TARDIS and realises that the Doctor is there.

3. The Girl in the Fireplace by Steven Moffat
This episode ranks high up in my countdown for one reason only and that's concept. The entire premise of this episode was something that the new series has never shown before. The basic concept is that the Doctor, Mickey and Rose find themselves on an alien spaceship that has so called time windows into 18th century France. The question is, what does a spaceship need from 18th century France? That answer is only revealed right at the end with a little dramatic irony seeing as the audience knows, yet the Doctor doesn't. Only reason it didn't rank any higher in my opinion was the storyline of Madame de Pompadour. I found that the episode maybe made her too special like when she was able to see the Doctor's thoughts. I thought maybe it was because she was somehow connected to the Doctor or that it would play a bigger part in the episode, but it was just that she was Madame de Pompadour and she could control clockwork people and do things that others can't because she fancied the Doctor. Another thing that peeved me was when she was telling Rose that one accepts a world of demons for the sake on angel. Rose clearly already knows this seeing as she decided to stay with the Doctor after all those terrible things that happened to her and I honestly think Moffat added that in there to be poetic.
Highlights(s) of the episode: The Doctor inventing the banana daiquiri a few years too soon and the Doctor riding in through the mirror on a horse.

2. Army of Ghosts/Doomsday by Russell T. Davies
I think everyone can agree that this was one of the saddest storylines that Doctor Who has ever aired. I was on the verge of tears at ten o' clock at night. This episode was not only the return of the Daleks, but also the return of the Cyberman from Pete's parallel world. The showdown between the Daleks and Cybermen was also definitely one for the history books. Of course, this episode also brought about the inevitable end to Rose Tyler's own storyline and, although Rose may not be my favourite companion, a heartbreaking end for the Doctor. It's hard to see a companion leave, but it's even harder knowing that they may not return to the show in the future.
Highlight(s) of the episodes: Rose still getting a happy ending, although not the one she wanted. She still gets to see her mum and dad together and she gets to live a happy, stable life in Pete's world.

1. Tooth and Claw by Russell T. Davies
Werewolves, Queen Victoria and David using his native Scottish accent, this episode was definitely my favourite episode of series 2. This episode was the classic Doctor Who formula where the Doctor ends up taking his companion to the wrong time only to get caught up in the events around them. The episode provided Rose with a chance to show that she can get things done without the Doctor, choosing to take the lead when they're faced with the werewolf. The reason I like this episode so much is not so much the story line as the acting and character interactions that happen within it. This was a time when the Doctor and Rose were genuinely happy together and it showed on multiple occasions. This episode was fast-paced and thrilling while also retaining its humour.
Highlight(s) of the episode: Rose trying to get Queen Victoria to say "We are not amused" and the origins of Torchwood.