How ‘Rose’ Regenerated Doctor Who

Two decades on, we revisit the episode that started the trip of a lifetime.

Twenty years ago, Doctor Who materialised back onto our televisions following a 16-year hiatus where it became a bad joke, berated for “wobbly sets” like Tom Baker’s TARDIS console. On March 26, 2005, the sci-fi series regenerated with Christopher Eccleston, renowned for playing murders and divine messengers, as the Time Lord’s ninth incarnation. Former UK pop sensation Billie Piper joined Eccleston as companion Rose Tyler, forming an unlikely TARDIS duo.

As the revival’s first episode, ‘Rose’ had the toughest task of all 883 Doctor Who stories: winning over a 21^st-century audience with a 1960s concept. Showrunner Russell T Davies revived the Doctor, but he could easily be exterminated.

Doctor Who is complicated, so Davies explored it through 19-year-old London shopworker Rose; it was a masterstroke. Shifting the focus to Rose restructured the format, making the Doctor and his companion equal. Meanwhile, killer shop window dummies and liquid-form aliens were accepted because the story unfolded in a relatable world.

It also brought back the mystery to the Doctor’s character. From the witty “Run for your life!” and the chatty council flat exchanges with Rose’s mum to delivering the emotionally intense turn-of-the-earth speech, it showed unpredictability. Additionally, Eccleston’s incarnation had a refreshing depth and compelling new story arc.

What’s more, newcomers grasped the basics of the show at a manageable speed. Davies established Doctor Who’s defining themes–the everyday world and monsters. Viewers then comprehended the TARDIS, which became its own character.

Six regenerations later, Doctor Who is woven into British culture. For many, David Tennant was their childhood; sink plungers mean “exterminate”, and statues Weeping Angels. It’s thanks to ‘Rose’ we’re on the same trip of a lifetime.