This was the readjustment year. I never adjusted. While there are moments that I truly enjoyed, I was never able to fully lose my disappointment with the new Doctor. It was during this time that I relied heavily on my friends from the fandom to keep me going. Di and Ana’s vids made the year more enjoyable than I would have thought possible, and I’m glad they were there to keep me interested.

1. The entire exchange between Cybermen and Daleks is absolute brilliance, but this response in “Doomsday” is possibly the best of the entire show:

After deciding to not ally and to become enemies:
Cyberman (threateningly): We are five million Cybermen. How many are you?
Dalek: Foooo-ooour.

You really had to be there. I still *sporfle* at the memory.

2. In the same episode, the music at the end of the episode was the best yet. I actually hurt for The Doctor and Rose, and cared little for either of them prior to the events of “Doomsday”.

3. Throughout the series, we got to see Mickey grow tremendously as a character, and he became one of my favorites. In choosing to stay with his Gran, he showed that his priorities were in order, and in choosing to fight the Cybermen, he proved his bravery. Good job, Mickey!

4. The decadence of “The Girl in the Fireplace” is matched only by the creepiness of the courtier/clown villains in the same episode. Madame De Pompadour was gorgeous.

5. Though Sarah Jane returned for “School Reunion” and Anthony Head guested as well, the episode stopped just short of greatness. Overall, though, for Series 2, it was very enjoyable.

Allow me to preface this with the fact that I love Nine. Christopher Eccleston is my favorite Doctor of all time. He just edges Jon Pertwee (the Third Doctor), but he manages it. I could fill a list with things I love about this incarnation of The Doctor, just based on what he brought to the role such as his leather coat or his bowleggedness, but I’ve tried to keep it Series based.

1. In episode 2, The Doctor needs to pass through the blades of the giant fan blocking the controls in order to restore the shield to the station where the crowd is watching “The End of the World”. Jabe, descendant of Trees, tells him, “Stop wasting time, *pause* Timelord,” and we hear the spiritualistic Doctor theme as he controls time and makes it through, thus saving most of the people on the station, though sadly, not Jabe.

2. In episode 2 (again), Rose expresses her surprise at the appearance of the manager of the station: “He’s blue.” Her earnestness and openness to having met a blue person was refreshing. A bonus here: The Doctor momentarily geeks out and dances to “Tainted Love”.

3. In episode 3, The Doctor advises Rose to dress appropriately for the Dickensonian times, and when she does, he notices, and I mean, really notices. Oh, and it’s Christmas; always a plus.

4. Episode 6 we see The Doctor’s pain, fury, loss, guilt, loneliness, and power in “Dalek”. Without Nine’s intensity, the Daleks could have been seen as silly robotic vacuum cleaners that pose no real threat. Nine’s seriousness lent itself nicely to the story and provided levity to the appearance of his old enemy.

5. The most bittersweet episode of the entire show: “The Parting of the Ways”. The Doctor kisses Rose. Sure, it was to transfer the essence of the TARDIS from her to him, but it was a kiss, and it was right. Unfortunately, it led to The Doctor’s regeneration (something I still haven’t come to terms with), but all-in-all, it was just right.

It doesn’t get much better than spending the day watching Nine; it just doesn’t. I’d forgotten how much I liked Rose in Series 1 and it was heartwarming remembering all the good times she and Nine had. I tried to watch “The Christmas Invasion” right after my mini-marathon, but I can’t watch a Ten ep from Series 2 just yet. LOVE 3.1, 3.2, and most of Series 4, but I just can’t do Series 2. I dunno.

Thanks, Ben, for putting the Eccleston bug in my heart ear.