Steven Moffat wasn't a writer I associated with Doctor Who. I enjoyed Coupling, but I couldn't quite grasp how writing a sit-com about the lives and loves of four friends qualified you to write an episode of Doctor Who. That said, Russel Davies' previous writing credits don't exactly scream "TIMELORD!" Despite my concerns, Moffat's two parter from last season (The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances) are possibly my favourite episodes from Ecclestone's stay in the Tardis. They're unsettling and edgy, even for an adult audience, and the performances and effects are superb across the board.
The Girl in the Fireplace, Moffat's only episode this season, is every bit as good as his last two episodes but in a totally different way. The whole episode is one lovely juxtaposition of science fiction and period drama; taking place in both eighteenth century France and several thousand years in the future. The concept is one which is so genuinely baffling that it shouldn't work. The two time periods are so diametrically opposed that any attempt at blending them should result in an unwatchable episode. And yet this is such a compelling hour of television.
The responsibility for the success of TGITF lies with three people. The first is Moffat; without his script, concept, and skill as a writer this episode would be a confusing, laughable mess. David Tennant and Sophia Myles complete the trio. Myles is delightful as Madame Du Pompadour, conveying every emotion with enthralling conviction. The chemistry between Myles and Tennant is electric, although this should come as no surprise – back in the real world, the two are apparently engaged. Speaking of Tennant: He has arrived! Finally I am totally convinced by his portrayal of The Doctor. I have no complaints with this episode at all; he owns the role here and I can only hope that he's equally superb in future episodes.
Mickey and Rose don't get a great deal to do here, but as a result this is the first episode where I don't really mind Mickey. Their fire-extinguisher/rifles appear to be silver painted rolls of cardboard, and surely qualify as some of the worst props yet seen in new Who?
The villains of the piece are a strange mix of good and bad. 
Beyond the first appearance, they aren't the scariest of Who creatures, although I suspect anyone with a fear of clowns will be terrified. They are well conceived though, and when their mask is removed, the work of the design team is a wonder to behold. Where can I get one of those mechanical heads?
None of the above matters though, really. This episode is purely about Tennant and Myles; The Doctor and the woman who, for the briefest of moments, he is in love with. I can forgive the episode its somewhat indulgent use of The Doctor's new-found Vulcan mind-meld technique (a trick which I don't think we've seen before) as it is so well executed. It even has a fantastic punchline, which is timed to perfection and allowed to simply float past the viewer without the heavy-handed "look how clever we are" finger waving that would usually accompany an ending like this.
This is my favourite episode of the season so far, and possibly my favourite episode of the last two seasons. Next week: Cybermen!
I agree totally agree about Tennant, he is quite superb in this episode. It’s as if his meeting last week with Elisabeth Sladen’s Sarah Jane made him realise ‘I am the Doctor!’ and he now feels the freedom to make the role his own.
Much as I enjoyed Eccleston I can’t imagine him pulling off an episode like this, there’s too much subtlety involved and that’s one thing his Doctor lacked. The Vulcan mind meld is not something I’ve seen The Doctor do before either but a small negative point in an otherwise exceptional episode. And the punchline was indeed perfect.
I don’t think I’ve looked forward to Saturdays so much since….well since Tom Baker was The Doctor! Can’t wait for next week and the Cybermen!
Dan, check out the version of the editor you are using, it’s doing the samre thing mine did for a while, not writing the correct http information for the images (have a look at the feed direct)
Oh can’t wait for the return of the CyberMen either! Bring it on!
i wonder what the doctor would be felling like when madam de pompedor died? althogh i’d rather get into the fueter than the past!!!
I think this was the best doctor who 2006 episoed that dose not have a 2 week folower , the best ones have a folower exseped from this one!^_^I love the 1700’s so much and the best ever tv hit program clashed with it!Doctor Who with the girl in the fire place has made me like Madame de Pompadour evan more!^_^
Well done Steven Moffat ! My last fav with the Ecclestone years was got to be “The Empty Child” and “The Doctor dances” and gess what!It’s Steven Moffat!The same man that wirghts my fav episoeds!
I have said it be fore and I’am ganna say it agian … Well done Steven Moffat !Keep it up!and good luck in the the rest of the other fab Doctor Who episoeds you will make and I bet I’ll love them!
I thought this episode was probably the best this year! Sophia Myles was the best, (and most stunning), character in the episode, and I hope you issue more pictures of her from the episode.
Keep up the good work doctor!
Having grown up as an American Whovian, two to three years behind the BBC broadcasts, Dr. Who was a show that touched me in differnt ways. Still to this day, Dr. Who (especially Tom Baker and Peter Davidson) represents some of the greatest TV programming ever. When I heard that Dr. Who has been released, and was being broadcat on the SciFi channel here in the states, I was excited and scared. Dr. Who is Back! But will it just be a poor shadow of itself?
TGITFP was my first episode of the new Doctor Who (which I just watched tonight), and I must say, that it is perfect. It has everything that a Dr. Who episode should. And this new Doctor…I could not be more pleased…
Now I only have to catch up with everything that has happened from the Trial of the Timelords to TGITFP…
i think doctor who is great. i am only 8 years old and find doctor who funny and the best program ever. Me and my friend amie have gone crazy on doctor who. We even wrote a play and acted it out in class. we like david tennant and christifor ecclestone best. and billie piper makes a good Rose.All i want for christmas is Doctor who stuff! and so does my friend.
from sarah bates.
mmmm, the docter is so yummy:)
i used to love doctor who! and i still do! i think christopher ecelstone was great! and i am going to watch it on christmas! i will let you into a secret, i love David Tennant! and my mom loves christopher eclestone.I thought Dr.who was scary when the clockwork droid captures Rose &
Mickey. i cringed when the Dr,kissed Madame de pompoudour.
Bye Bye! from chantele
david tennant is the best. girl in the fireplace is the best. i know alot about him. like he is 36 he is 6′1 and his faviorite band is the proclamers so beat that dt fans.
We love Dr.Who and we can not wait until it returns @ Christmas 2008!!!!!