Bad Wolf

Just when we were starting to ask ourselves what purpose The Long Game served in the season's ongoing arc (since Russell T. Davies doesn't really do standalone stories), here comes the excellent Bad Wolf (the title refers to a cryptic expression heard throughout the first season), which puts the other episode in perspective while simultaneously setting up an undoubtedly spectacular finale.

Remember the Satellite Five bit in The Long Game? Well, turns out said concept has evolved to the point that in a distant future the only thing people do is either watch stupid programs on TV or - even worse - participate in them. This is something the Doctor gets to experience directly, as he ends up in the Big Brother house, while Rose becomes a contestant on The Weakest Link and Jack... well, he doesn't really complain. As the games get more and more dangerous (whoever loses is physically eliminated), the Doctor realizes something more complex is going on, and works hard to uncover a horrifying truth that could bring to the ultimate destruction of planet Earth.

Bad Wolf combines all the best elements of the series: ambition, fun, danger and a healthy dose of satire. Specifically, Davies' stabs at the British entertainment industry (Big Brother especially) are a delicious mix of mockery and irony, given that, on some level, he is also contributing to that same industry. The scenario also allows Eccleston, Piper and Barrowman to have fun with their respective characters (the Doctor's opening "You've got to be kidding!" is a hoot), before the writing suddenly shifts into darker mode with a brilliant cliffhanger, raising the stakes for the season's epilogue. Unmissable

The game show was an interesting take, I'm not personally invested but the episode isn't per say bad, as the cliffhanger is notoriously good, and the stories development and progression isn't bad either, it's nothing superb in My eyes and more aspects need improvements.

The game show stuff is fun, but it doesn't really invest me, apart from the one Rose is in, as that's genuinely a tension building and action packed roller coaster that doesn't let up on the scares and the drama building. Even Rose was scared witless. And that can scare the audience as we've grown to this character, so the weight feels stronger.

And Lynda and The Doctor are at it, the best performance from Eccleston as all his sides come out, scared, angriest, hapless and then happy and Hillarious all in this episode. He was great on screen and him and Lynda are great together.

And the ending showing the Dalek space pod was also an intense and thrilling moment that put the Doctor on the edge, and hooked the Audience in.

Firstly, my heart sank when I saw the recap of the Long Game, I thought please not a follow up to that, within 2-3 minutes I knew I was watching a classic. Bad Wolf is wonderfully imaginative, appealing on so many levels. I cannot find any faults with it, it's so quirky, slick and different from all that's gone before. It has a truly epic feel to it, ten years on and it's still arguably the best cliffhanger to feature in Nu Who, huge arguments for. It's insanely good.

The Doctor is in Big Brother, Rose is on the Weakest link and Captain Jack was being undressed by Trinny and Susannah, how random. What on Earth is going on at Satellite 5, and why do the games all have a very dark side? The Doctor's actions in the Long Game was the start of a hundred years of misery, Lynda makes the Doctor realise that was when it all went wrong. Rose is killed by the Anne-Droid, the daleks are unmasked, surprising as we were lead to believe they were gone.

The Conclusion to the siries storyline ends with a bang. It has good pacing and effects. And the story is big and bolder then ever before, the siries Finale perfectly encapsulates what a Finale should be, high stakes and a great Villain to play of. Admittedly as well, Bad Wolf is one of the best arcs in Doctor who. And for it's first season out of the 13 seasons, that's quite impressive. Lynda with a 'y' was very energetic and playful, she also had great chemistry with the Doctor. This episode can be claimed as Outdated for some fans, because of the game shows, and whilst I do agree slightly, I still think Bad Wolf is an excellent episode. I rate it quite highly. And the return of the Daleks is also top-notch entertainment. They have a real risk factor to them.

Bad Wolf, the 12th episode of the Doctor Who Revival's first season, is a brilliant episode of Television. The story is engaging, the performances great, and the script sharp. It doesn't hurt that it also features one of the mist iconic cliffhangers in Doctor Who history.

The episode opens with some light-hearted parodies of current TV Shows in 2005. Watching this in 2021, it's slightly dated, but there are enough Reality/Quiz/Fashion shows nowadays that it still works. Captain Jack trying on all the outfits was particularly hilarious, and the Weakest Link scene was actually chilling.

Christopher Eccleston is once again incredible as the Doctor, and definitely extremely underrated, and Billie Piper is good as well, although she gets less to do in this than in the finale. John Barrowman is brilliant as always, and Lyanda with a Y is a charming and likeable side-character, how would have been a great companion.

The episode also features a dark second half, with the frightening image of the 'Controller' sending chills down viewers spines, as well as the revelation of what the Earth has become. The second half also builds up to the cliffhanger expertly, and the speech at the end is amazing.

The Murray Gold score is also great, and the effects are great, looking still passable by today's standards. Russell T. Davies's writing is fast and fluid, even if it does take a while to get going. Overall, Bad Wolf is a great episode that is worth a watch/Rewatch - a great prelude to the finale...

Overall rating: 9.3/10 Best Momment: The last 5 minutes are incredible. Worst Momment: The Doctor's 'Big Brother House' Reality Show is a little dated.