"GO. TO. YOUR. ROOM!" The Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) cries out, in the cunning and unpredictable method of saving the skins of himself, his companion and a newly discovered ally - alongside a friend who's under a similar situation elsewhere - at the very start of this second instalment to the Steven Moffat two parter. After setting up the events rather well in The Empty Child, The Doctor Dances has a hard act to follow as it figures out how to finish the story elegantly. Going by its usually high rankings in fan lists of the best episodes, it's quite easy to expect that it does it in style; and those fans aren't wrong.
After escaping last week's cliffhanger by the skin of their teeth, The Doctor Rose (Billie Piper) and Captain Jack (John Barrowman) continue to explore the hospital where the Child resided in following an experience with what most assumed was an unexploded bomb. Following another incursion from the Child and his possessed army, the trio decide to examine the crash site to see if they can fix the issue there, whilst Rose continues to humanise the Doctor and break the gates to his more mysterious side by constantly asking to dance with her (like she had done with Jack in the prior episode). Meanwhile, Nancy (Florence Hoath) avoids a close shave with the police, before finally coming to terms to what's happened to her 'brother' Jamie...
For this episode, like many others before it, the characters take more of a step forward against the plot and menace itself - however, this time it's a step forward that doesn't diminish the other aspects with it. As the title of the episode suggests, the little nuggets of character delving that Rose is keen on discovering are a key component of the episode - however in more of the sense that it warrants further growth and trust between the two rather than how the episode eventually turns out when facing the Empty Child and company. These moments can often stand out, but not so much in the sense that they feel out of place but more that they add different layers to what could otherwise be a straightforward story. Usually this would bring a story down, but here it somehow fits. Its balance with the heavy-hitting drama at hand makes it all the more enjoyable. It's helpful that said drama fails to falter as it transitions into its second episode, as it continues to pick up the pace with the introduction of more and more infected patients and newer ways to become affected by them in continuously creepy fashion.
With the following on from the previous episode, performances are as good as they were previously, with Eccleston and Piper still having strong chemistry and Barrowman making a strong first impression as the newest member of the TARDIS team. Hoath does well with her role, which sadly doesn't hold up as well when considering the mystery side of her character, and the brief reprisal of Richard Wilson lends itself to arguably the funniest moment all season ("My leg's grown back!"). With the lack of new additions, save for the extended roles for the likes of the Lloyd family and Jack's friend Algy and one soldier at the crash site, the episodes fails to lend itself to any further compliments in that field - nothing negative, just harder to write about.
The Doctor Dances is a suitable way to finish this beloved story, from its unexpected opening to the infamous "Everybody lives" outcry (which has since been overdone to the point that those who do die come back anyway. Hmmm...) and the sweet finale within the TARDIS itself. The episode may be a little less coherent with its emotional backdrop taking a step forward, but doesn't fail to surpass its opening instalment. 9/10.
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