Series 1 (Season 27), Episode 3: The Unquiet Dead

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Mark Gatiss debuts his writing skills in Doctor Who in this episode. It also marks the first new series episode not to be penned by Russell T Davies. Recurring character Charles Dickens shows up for the first time in this episode and the actor soon to play Gwen in Torchwood (Eve Myles) makes her Doctor Who debut. This is the first time that a new series episode is set at Christmas which has traditionally been followed ever since by the Christmas specials.

Synopsis: A corpse, in the care of a small undertakers shop, rises from it's coffin before it's burial and terrified a packed theatre showing a reading from Charles Dickens by the author. However the people of Cardiff in 1869 aren't used to dead people visiting famous author's performances and the theatre becomes panic ridden! This is when the Doctor and Rose show up. It soon becomes clear that these ghosts are materialising using available gas and the spirits which to get through the rift to save their souls. Luckily, servant girl Gwyneth is here to help!

Featuring: The Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and Rose (Billie Piper)

Enemies: The Gelth (the spirits)

Afterthought: I really like the Gelth. In my mind they definitely deserve a return to Doctor Who. This episode starts very much like a classic episode during the Victorian Cardiff scenes but I love how there is a chance for Rose to come to terms with time travel for the first time. It also reveals that this is Rose's first trip to the past so spin-off writers won't be able to take her back 'for the first time' again!

Verdict:
Story: 3/5, The beginning isn't 21st century Doctor Who enough for me, even though it is set in 1869 :) .
Effects: 4.5/5, I really do like the Gelth... until they start flying around the morgue.
Humor: 1/5, Hardly any and the Doctor's jumper does not make a funny gag.
Mark Campbell: 5/5, Wow, we are being controversial!
TOTAL SCORE: 13.5/20

Elsewhere:
Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unquiet_Dead
Official Site - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074dng
I suppose this episode was just a way of proving that everything, including Doctor Who, can rise from the dead. Next Time: Aliens of London & World War Three

The Gelth have taken Gwyneth!