Father's Day

Fathers Day is arguably one of the best of series 1 and one of the most adult of the entire show.

When I say ‘adult’ thats a silly word, as its not ‘adult’ to loose your father or wish him to return, I suppose all I mean is there are no bug-eyed monsters – well there are, but there not the main goings on.

Although I don’t particularly agree with the ideas of Paradox’s in anyway and to be honest the show has pretty much kept away from the idea Paul Cornell creates here, when dealing with time plots (Steven Moffat I am looking right at you). But then again I have a strict rule when watching who:

‘If it works and makes sense within the individual story then its fine.’

So it makes no real difference either way – its one reason Chimes of midnight (Audio) love it so much, we know the end makes no sense whatsoever (it really doesn’t – time for Edith hasn’t changed in anyway frankly), but within the story it kind of does – and its a great story too.

We may be badly conceived and not make sense, but were bloody good plot devices.

The same is true here. The story of Rose wanting to save her Dad again and then against all rational logic goes and saves his life – much to the fury of The Doctor. The creatures that arrive have come to sterilise the universe of all live because of this action has damaged time – this doesn’t really make much sense as time would have had to create them, to be honest they should have just be time creatures who live in the vortex and came through a weak spot to feast, but never mind how that’s a really good idea – this is what’s happening in this episode and to enjoy it has to be accepted and to be honest it does make sense within what were told in the episode.

So the giant bird monster thingys (which are really rather impressive to be honest, as are their scenes attacking the church – which look great and very realistic) are eating people and The Doctor is annoyed at Rose. As is a Who tradition, the duo get split up. The Doctor goes off in a huff ready to leave Rose trapped with her Father in the past. This is actually a bit of a plot hole, I get The Doctor is annoyed but you’d think with his knowledge of time he’d be dragging Rose kicking and screaming into the TARDIS and away before they damage time even more. But again never mind, thats not what this episode is about.

The Doctor finds the TARDIS is just a blue box- its contents empty – and Rose goes to a wedding where she bumps into a rather nasty Jacki. Although to be fair to ‘Jack’s’ its her husband’s fault she is so edgy. I like this idea, it breaks the fairy tale and points out that we all create an image of people in our head as being perfect – this is what Jacki teaches Rose, and its learning here that she is completely wrong that leads straight to the events in the finale. Unfortunately we never really see this characterisation coming into focus, instead Davies takes to using plots and random name drops in the next few series to create his stories. Its only with The Doctor in the specials we see this again, and to be honest I’d have liked a bit more in series 2-4.

I'm a man trapped in a box!

Some of the characterisation of Rose here isn’t very likable though. Her treatment of The Doctor is like a spoilt child – who just expects him to return. Where as so far in the series she has been almost a helping hand for The Doctor’s sadness, here she abuses it and just expects that because of it he can’t reject her. The worst moment in this is her smile as he comes running too her.

For me it makes no sense, I get in the first argument she was angry but here she is just a bit manipulative and almost enjoys her ‘imagined’ power over him. This is never done before or alluded to before this episode and never comes up again. In fact the roles reverse with Rose needing him and being rejected by him. I think this was maybe an attempt to make the relationship mature and troubled, but instead rather than making it seem they need each other – it came across as rather nasty of Rose. Especially since its alluded to Rose planning her actions here (which while I don’t believe should have been enough for the characterisation here), so overall she just seems very controlling, manipulative and childish.

Maybe I’m wrong and she is supposed to appear ‘too pleased for her own good’ over saving her Father, and it’s not until later she realises the consequences of her actions.

So with giant monsters attacking The Doctor, Rose and the gang run inside the church.

Theres not much to say here – the church stuff could do with a bit more danger, but then again thats not the point. The conversations here are too fast and too emotional to re-write, go watch it ‘cause its brilliant.

The most wonderful thing about it? Pete working things out, bit by bit. This is extremely well scripted, as without in obvious remarks or ‘Eureka!’ moments, the script makes complete sense with Pete working things out. It takes a very experienced and confident script writer to do this, so great work to Paul and Ruski on this episode (Yeah I’m gonna start calling him Ruski – what’d’ya think?).

Okay so the conclusion was easy to guess at this point.
But who cares, its still awesome.

This of course brings us onto the Rose-Jacki-Pete storyline perfectly, mainly because it’s not even a link and was in fact what I was just talking about. So Jacki is rightfully defence – well a little bit attacking but then Rose has walked into her territory to be fair. Pete is confused but also very emotional when he works out who Rose is – its a lovely little moment (I say little, its actually the most important moment of series 1 and 2, but you know what I mean), and really pushes out that Pete just isn’t the guy Jacki described to Rose. He is a man, not a saviour, not some kind of clichéd father figure ‘rock’ – Just Pete.

I love the moment where The Doctor realises the TARDIS key is burning, and that he can in fact save the day, and fix what was meant to be fixed.

Jumping away from that for a moment, I adore the idea that while angry The Doctor can’t let Pete fulfil his destiny and die. It could save the world and he wouldn’t dare tell him. I love that, it’s very well...Doctorly (Ugh I feel dirty just using that word).

Back to the TARDIS returning – I also am aware I haven’t even talked about the telephones, music or anything, if you really want to know I think its really cool, even if they did balls up the quote in the telephone – so the TARDIS is returning but stupidly Rose holds Rose. Well Jacki throws her at her and this causes a massive paradox (I don’t believe in paradoxes but I accept it as I said) and the reaper like creatures get in and swallow The Doctor.

I find the next bit really contrived and to be honest either bad directing or bad scripting, I can’t be sure. So the thing swallows The Doctor then pointlessly flies backwards and knocks the TARDIS key out. Doesn’t really work for me but I suppose it makes sense.

So the ‘Oh my god The Doctor is dead!’, is it ever really explained if he remembers the events of this episode? Since time changes? Can’t mind right now.

So the clever Pete Tyler works out what has been kept from him. His death by car accident will save the world from destruction. Suddenly Pete is the fairy tale father Rose was told as a child – Pete may just be a man, but overall he is a fantastic Father and like most Fathers is willing to die for his family, especially his daughter.

Rose holds his hand and he passes, everything has gone back. The Doctor takes her away.

None of the end bit made sense of course as there is a giant paradox created when they try to change the story young Rose is told – but hey, we’ll ignore that. As I said ‘Chimes of Midnight’.

This is a lovely episode, which I would argue is quite flawed plot-wise, but its importance and strong characterisation will act as a driving force for much of the series, at least till Rose leaves.

So a 9/10 from me – great episode.