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.

essence of family and love which is what Christmas is all about. The whole conflict arises when the Doctor just wants to give those kids a little present. Something to make them feel happy before they get told some really bad news. And in the end, everything is good because it's Christmas and miracles can happen.
that it took one special woman and the word "Pond" to bring him out of hiding was wonderful. It really showed that the Doctor needed that slight push to help him get up and start saving the world again. And I'm happy that it was Clara. The return of the Paternoster Gang was also fantastic and I'll forgive Moffat for turning one of the Doctor's foes into comic relief because I really do like Strax.

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. Stolen Earth/Journey's End by Russell T Davies
This gets a place on my list for the soul reason that it was able to bring back ever companion introduced in New Who. We got to catch a glimpse of Captain Jack and his Torchwood team, Sarah-Jane's life without the Doctor again, Martha Jones still doing good and Rose finding a way back to him. Everything about this episode was one big nostalgia trip from the Doctor seeing Rose again to the Daleks returning with Davros. The only let to this was how the solution was resolved namely by Donna pushing a few buttons and the Dalek's just losing control of themselves. And I think that's where RTD loses a point a bit because his resolutions to problems are either really unbelievable or just not canon. Which is a shame because he is such a great writer and you can see that in the really heartfelt scenes and you can see it in the characters, but he has a terrible knack for going big and not being able to pull it off to the end.
Highlight(s) of the episodes: The TARDIS finally being flown by the right amount of people and Rose finally getting a Doctor that she can grow old with.

4. The Doctor's Daughter by Stephen Greenhorn
This episode brought up a subject that the Doctor has been hiding and that's that he was a father. The introduction of Jenny a generated anomaly from the Doctor's stem cells. Throughout the episode he denies the fact that she is his daughter and calls her an "echo" of Timelord. But
deep down he knows that she is true. The end is heartbreaking and completely terrifying when the Doctor holds a gun to general Cobb's head. It shows you just how much he eventually accepted her into his heart and what he would do for her because she is his child. The storyline of the humans and the Hath also parallel with the Doctor and Jenny's as it is also about acceptance and realising that what is true is right in front of you. The Doctor had to accept that Jenny was his daughter and the humans and Haths had to accept that they will have to live together in harmony.
Highlight(s) of the episode: The Doctor's "I never would speech" and the Source bringing Jenny back to life allowing for future stories.
And on a completely related side note, David ended up marrying the woman who played Jenny, Georgia Moffet, who is the daughter of Peter Davison who played the Fifth Doctor. David also starred alongside Peter Davison when they did the Children in Need special for Doctor Who. But you probably knew that already.

3. Planet of the Ood by Keith Temple
What I loved most about this episode is that is shows just how much people don't see and can't understand. We are a likely to become a race that either retaliate against a species or take them as slaves, not realising that they were happy doing other stuff before. This episode was deeply moving and brought up the topic of the treatment of workers. The Ood were used as servants, reprogrammed to talk the way their "owner" wanted them to, but they were still able to communicate with the hive mind. The songs that they sing as communication were just magically beautiful and I also have to give props to Murray Gold for that.
Highlight(s) of the episode: The bit right at the end where they manage to break the circle and the Ood song can be heard by everyone.

2. Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead by Steven Moffat
Oh, River Song, who knew that name would be so important down the line. This was a true Moffat classic and what would pave the way for more
Moffat madness. The idea of having the Doctor meet a future companion on the day she dies is only something that an evil genius could conjure up. Even though we only see River for two episodes and our initial thoughts on her were "Why the hell is she calling him sweetie?" By the time she sacrifices herself and the Doctor saves her, we're (or at least I was) crying. It was utterly beautiful to see the Doctor actually doing something to save someone even when he thought that all hope was lost. And, of course, it would be a Moffat episode without the scary bits and that was greatly provided by the Vashta Nerada. The clever concept of people being "saved" into the computer's hard drive was also a wonderful plot twist. All in all, it was a Moffatsode. It was fulled with horror, heartbreak and intrigue. It's no wonder he was chosen to be the lead show runner after Russell left.
Highlight(s) of the episodes: The Library. Being a bookworm myself I could imagine getting lost on that planet dedicated to books. It would have loved to go there before the Vashta Nerada starting attacking.

1. Midnight by Russell T Davies
Big applause for Russell T Davies who managed to make the scariest episode of Doctor Who without ever showing the monster. Although, one could argue that we did see quite a few monsters in the episode itself. The thing I loved most about this episode was that it was real. These are the things people would do and say if they were pushed to the levels these people were pushed. But it really did shown how much the human race would do to survive. This is, after all, a race that goes to war with themselves. This episode was so thought-provoking and made me question what I would do in a situation like this. Just don't make the mistake of watching it at midnight because you think it would be fun like I did the first time I watched it.
Highlight(s) of the episode: The entire episode. That's it the entire episode was a highlight for me.

Episodes of note: Partners in Crime, the Unicorn and the Wasp and Turn Left
Partners in Crime was a great way to bring back Donna, it was full of good humour and really showed the progression of Donna after her chance encounter with the Doctor.
The Unicorn and the Wasp just missed list because of the odd resolution to it all. I've added it here because I always love a great detective story and the Doctor and Donna meeting Agatha Christie is why this episode is worth watching.
Turn Left deserves a mention because it shows just how much the world actually relies on the Doctor and how much Donna needed him and vice versa.

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. Utopia/Sound of Drums/Last of the Timelords by Russelll T Davies
I remember when I first watched these episodes, I was new to Doctor Who, I hadn't watched the series one and two and I was completely confused when that strange man with the trenchcoat decided to cling on to the TARDIS for dear life. It didn't take me long to warm up to him, though and I'm told that most people felt that way when they first saw Captain Jack Harkness. He has a wonderful charisma about him that allows you to trust him and want to like him. Seeing him return was just amazing. But Captain Jack wasn't the only character to return to the series, the Master also made his comeback in this non-stop three partner. First played by the wonderful Derek Jacobi, then by John Simm when he regenerated, this Master was crazy beyond belief. This episode also highlighted what a magnificent person Martha Jones is as it showed her determination, strength and intelligence. The ending may have been rushed, but the journey to it was fantastic.
Highlight(s) of the episodes: Martha Jones walking the Earth to spread the story of the Doctor and the return of both Captain Jack and the Master.

4. Gridlock by Russell T Davies
This episode set in stone the fact that the Doctor was still hung up on losing Rose. He brings Martha to New New York which, as you already know, is the place where Rose and Ten had their first adventure. It opened

Martha's eyes and made her realise that she had to stop making the Doctor see her as Roses "replacement" and make him see her as Martha Jones. It was also the return of the Face of Boe who revealed something to the Doctor before he died, just as they had said in New Earth. The episode was entertaining and showed how the need for something new isn't always a good thing. I loved the fact that emotions were sold on the streets as if they were drugs and it really highlights the fact that people do take emotions and feelings for granted, trying to control them rather than allowing them to just happen naturally. The only disappointment was the Macra, which I believe are actually from Classic Who. I think that more could have been done with them.
Highlight(s) of the episode: The end when Martha asks the Doctor to tell her about Gallifrey and his face just sort of lights up with the thought of his home. Also, when the Face of Boe sacrificed himself to save all those people trapped in highway.

3. The Shakespeare Code by Gareth Roberts
On Martha's first adventure through time and space, the Doctor decides to take her to see a Shakespearean play in its original format and maybe even meet the genius himself. And, in true Doctor Who fashion, they meet a few witches along the way, or aliens rather. The whole theme of words and patterns within the story line was brilliant and played well with regards to it being a Shakespeare themed episode. It allowed for comic relief as well as the growing trust that the Doctor and Martha have for each other.
Hightlight(s) of the episode: The constant references to Harry Potter and JK Rowling and the nods towards some famous Shakespearean lines.

2. Human Nature/ The Family of Blood by Paul Cornell
These two episodes were two of the most cleverly planned out episodes in
New Who history. The ability for Timelords to change to a human was something that provided the Doctor with so,ething that he never had before: the chance to live the life he never had before. The whole John Smith/Joan Redfern storyline was truly heartwarming and gave us a glimpse of how the Doctor's life could have been if he decided to stay in 1913 with her. It was also a chance for Martha to showcase her talents and prove to the Doctor that she wasn't the rebound and she won't settle for being "the other woman". She was strong, brave and quick to realise what was happening, eventually being the one to convince John Smith to change back into the Doctor.
Highlight(s) of the episodes: Honestly, it's hard to think of one thing that stood out for me. The overall acting in this two-parter was amazing and a special mention has to go out to the supporting cast of Harry Lloyd, Jessica Hayne and Thomas Sangster as Jeremy Baines, Nurse Joan Redfern and Timothy Latimer respectively.

1. Blink by Steven Moffat
I think everyone can agree with me that this episode was by far the best episode of the series. This Doctor-lite episode was so enthralling and mind boggingly scary that we didn't mind that the Doctor wasn't it for more than about ten minutes. The episode is written from the perspective of a person whose life is affected by the Doctor, but doesn't end up travelling with. It shows how the Doctor leaves his mark everywhere he goes, influencing people that he's only met once before. And, like every Moffat story, it's all "wibbly-wobbly" seeing as Sally gets a message from 1969 from a Doctor that she only meets a year into the future. Then there are the Weeping Angels, the seemingly harmless, yet completely terrifying race of aliens that can only move when someone isn't looking at them. I have no idea where Moffat cooked up that, but it worked extremely well for the episode. Overall, the story wasn't rushed, it had the right amount of suspense and Carey Mulligan as Sally Sparrow really was the cherry on top.
Highlight(s) of the episode: The dialogue between the Doctor and Sally Sparrow and his infamous "Don't blink" speech.

Episode(s) of note: Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks
These episodes get a special mention not for the Daleks, but for the setting of New York during the Great Depression. So many movies and TV shows focus on New York during the Jazz Age, choosing to show the glitz and carelessness while forgetting to show the aftermath of it all. I think that this episode really opened people's eyes up to the fact that New York wasn't always the greatest city and the don't-care-a-damn nature of the people really did have hug consequences.

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.

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. Bad Wolf/ The Parting of the Ways by Russell T Davies
 Gatiss took Dickens' classic tale of Christmas and expertly twisted it to give it more Doctor Who feel.

My mouth has gone as dry as sawdust. I desperately find Cinna in the crowd and lock eyes with him. I imagine the words coming from my lips.
                                     The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Words. The pure essence of life. How else do we understand each other? Stories. Fuel to an ever growing fire, your growing knowledge. Books. Words and stories strung together to create something beautiful for the enjoyment of the masses. Without words, stories or books, life would be as bland as a slice of dry toast.

Aunt Em had just come out of the house to water the cabbages when she looked up and saw Dorothy running toward her.
“My darling child!” she cried, folding the little girl in her arms and covering her face with kisses. “Where in the world did you come from?”
“From the land of Oz,” said Dorothy gravely. “And here is Toto, too. And, oh, Aunt Em! I’m so glad to be home again!” 
                                          The Wizard of Oz, L Frank Baum

Most of you sitting in this room have grown up with stories. We’ve journeyed with Dorothy to the Land of Oz, helped Little Red Riding Hood save her grandma and even watched a caterpillar turn into butterfly. Books and stories have provided us with a means of escape since the dawn of time. One of the things children look forward to is story time. Stories are as much a part of our lives as eating or sleeping whether it’s the ones we make up or the ones we are told by other people. Our brains yearn for more tales because it expands our knowledge. We are curious creatures with inquiring minds that need words and new ideas to keep ourselves from becoming lazy. Stories, either from a novel, read from a script or put into a song breathes life into our imaginations.

Even though we forget it sometimes, books are written by people. Which means that they relate to our lives. People can always relate to a book even if it is filled with fantastical creatures. Harry Potter is a book about a boy who finds out that he is a wizard, but the reason it has done so well is because people can relate to some situations in the books. The series deals with friendship, loyalty, love and standing up for what is right. We all have our own Lord Voldemorts, be it a person, object or situation; our adversities are real just like Harry’s were to him. I’m sure every one of you reading this post has read a book that you relate to so much that you become attached to the characters and if you haven’t then keep reading.

Writing’s inside your head! It’s thinking! It’s a constant storm of pictures and voices and sometimes, if you’re, very, very, lucky, insight.
                                         A Writer's Tale, Russell T Davies

Writing is a personal thing. It involves every fibre of your being. It’s more than a basic storyline and regurgitating the Oxford English Dictionary. It’s about a passion, a love, a knowing that this is the only thing you want to do. It’s about understanding words and knowing the impact it has on people. Writing’s about having a million ideas swarming in your head and having the ability to string it into a coherent thought. Just like a painter uses paint to express themselves, a writer uses words. It’s a yearning to communicate and a need to be understood. Writers pour their hearts out onto the page, firstly for themselves and secondly for their audience. A good writer writes because they want to a great writer writes because they need to.

All endings are also beginnings. We just don’t know it at the time.
                     The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom

A good book always had a memorable ending. When you finish a well written novel you should be happy, content and a tad bit disappointed because it’s over. Figuring out how to end something is hard, which probably why I’m still writing this piece. You have to figure out the perfect way to leave you characters that make you as well as your audience happy. So, before I start to bore you with my endless drivel. I leave you with one last thought: We’re all just stories in the end, just make this a good one.