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Rose Format Reviewed: TV/DVD Review Well, the long overdue and hotly anticipated return of Doctor Who materialises with usually gritty actor Christopher Eccleston playing the lead. This series sees a return to the previously unsuccessful 45 minute episode format, but with only three multi episode stories, all being two episodes in total. The rest are made up of stand alone 45 minute adventures. Press coverage was such that there was a real danger that the series could become over-hyped, with the tabloids especially running stories on whatever rumour they managed to pick up on. Anyway, to the story. With no regeneration shown from Paul McGann to Christopher Eccleston, someone who has watched the original series is left wondering how long the Doctor has been in his current body. This is further confused as he appears to be looking into a mirror for the first time in the Tylers flat, but when Rose meets Clive he shows her pictures of Eccleston on previous misadventures, that considering Rose accompanied him through to his regeneration into David Tennant would probably have included Rose in them. Clive would most likely have at least dug out references to a travelling companion to the Doctor in his researches. This doesn't really detract from the story however, and serves mainly as a discussion point for like-minded folk on internet forums. In terms of the cast, I like Eccleston and what he brings to the role. Mickey is a solid performer, but I think he is really just playing himself in the characters situation. The one I don't like is Jackie. I just don't think Camille Coduri is a very good actress, and therefore detracts from the performances of the rest of the cast. I think she would be better off plying her trade in a soap opera like Eastenders. This is a shame really, but not the be all and end all for the series. For me, Eccleston is trying too hard in this episode to overcome certain stereotypes that he has been labelled with in the past. The inane grinning, whilst reminiscent of Sir Tom of Baker, doesn't necessarily fit with the situation they are in. A positive move though is the fact that he plays the character in his native northern accent. Why should the character always generally speak in an middle-class, middle England accent. If every cell in his body changes, that therefore includes the voice box and naturally accent should change with each regeneration. Apart from this, the story largely establishes what is to come, pays some homage to the existing series and explains some of the back story to new viewers. As far as these elements go, the story is successful. In terms of what has come before and what was to come afterward, the story as a Doctor Who tale was rather light on content and seemed to be over before it really began. Having said that, in 45 minutes you havn't the time to really tell a story from start to finish while fully establishing the series to new and existing viewers alike, therefore I judge the story Rose to be not a lot more than establishing the new era of Doctor Who, which it successfully does. Overall then I think this story achieves what is necessary, and was really about ticking boxes as a prelude to what is to come in the (hopefully) many long years of further Doctor Who. Rating:  |