The Empty Child (2709/109) [Archive]

GateWorld

January 23rd, 2006, 11:20 PM

<DIV ALIGN=CENTER><TABLE WIDTH=450 BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=7><TR><TD STYLE="border:0;"><DIV ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2 COLOR="#000000"><A HREF="http://www.scifistream.com/doctor-who/s1/"><IMG SRC="http://www.scifistream.com/wp-content/uploads/109.jpg" WIDTH=160 HEIGHT=120 ALIGN=RIGHT HSPACE=10 VSPACE=2 BORDER=0 STYLE="border:1px solid #000;" ALT="Visit the Episode Guide"></A><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#888888">DOCTOR WHO SERIES 27</FONT>
<FONT SIZE=4><A HREF="http://www.scifistream.com/doctor-who/s1/" STYLE="text-decoration: none">THE EMPTY CHILD</A></FONT>
<FONT SIZE=1>EPISODE NUMBER - 2709</FONT>
<IMG SRC="/images/clear.gif" WIDTH=1 HEIGHT=10 ALT="">
The Doctor and Rose follow another time ship to Earth, where they find themselves in London in the middle of a German air raid. While Rose gets to know a handsome fellow time traveller, the Doctor encounters a ghostly lost child.

<FONT SIZE=1><B><A HREF="http://www.scifistream.com/doctor-who/s1/">VISIT THE EPISODE GUIDE >></A></B></FONT></FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>

IMForeman

January 26th, 2006, 05:45 PM

"Are you my Mummy?" will always be a dark phrase for me now. What an amazing episode! Creepy, and facinating. A fantastic intro to Captain Jack, and an intruiging mystery unfolding. This episode takes the classic "Companion gets separated from the Doctor" formula and turns it on it's head for a new era. One of the best Doctor Who stories EVER.

9/10

Reefgirl

January 27th, 2006, 12:59 AM

I agree this one and the Doctor Dances are my favourites

Metarock Sam

January 27th, 2006, 07:18 AM

All I can say is 10/10 see my post in the Doctor Dances for more about this brilliant two parter.

Madeleine

February 1st, 2006, 07:54 PM

My eldest woke three nights ago at 2am, and called 'Mummy!' in EXACTLY the same voice that the boy used. It freaked me out so much I thought my heartbeat would wake the next door neighbours :eek:

Nuallain

February 14th, 2006, 04:29 AM

This one also led to a new craze at Halloween later that year:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2005/11/02/26485.shtml

Armies of Empty Children stalking the streets... *shudder*

Metarock Sam

February 16th, 2006, 12:32 AM

This one also led to a new craze at Halloween later that year:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2005/11/02/26485.shtml

Armies of Empty Children stalking the streets... *shudder*
Wow theres even a Pumpkin version of Sutekh the Destroyer. Fantastic !!

The Signal

May 1st, 2006, 01:56 AM

This episode was chilling, well written and well acted. I honestly couldnt think of a way to improve it. The child was possibly the best villain of the season, and Jack was brilliant in it. Billie acting at her best as was Chris. Sum it up in one word? FANTASTIC *cheesy grin*

Favourite Quote: Just has to be "Eh... might seem like a stupid question, but has anything fallen from the sky recently?" :D

10/10

American viewers, y'all in for a treat on Friday :D

creed462

May 5th, 2006, 06:21 PM

It was good, would have been great to have seen it W/o comercials... They seemed to inturupt the flow, but it was good, I can't wait to see THe Doctor Dances

ShadowMaat

May 5th, 2006, 06:39 PM

This two-parter is one of my favorites and not just because of the hotness that is Captain Jack. :D

Chilling, creepy, great mystery, humor, romance... *sigh*

School Reunion's a favorite for the characters, but this one's good for the plot, IMO. And the characters. Especially Jack. ;)

Now, if Shep could only channel Captain Jack, he might be a lot more interesting.

Or I could gripe about him trying to be Captain Jack. LOL! :P

northstar_08030

May 5th, 2006, 07:30 PM

I did kind of like the whole atmorespheic setting of the episode, it reminded me of an X-Files episode. The kid's crying of "Mummy" is a little uneasy.

A little note: Is SF trying to kill the series? I mean this is second time that SF hasn't aired previews when in fact there is a new episode next week.

ShadowMaat

May 5th, 2006, 07:48 PM

Yeah, "Mummy" is a creepy word, now. ;) And gasmasks... yeek. :S

Easter Lily

May 5th, 2006, 07:55 PM

This is such a good episode... you wouldn't believe, but I was quite scared by this kid... I'm surprised I'm not more scared when sprog yells out "Mummy".
Our gas-mask child scares me more than the Daleks, Cybermen, and other monsters combined. I laugh at the Daleks but that kid makes me want to run behind the couch and hide.

Deputy-Assistant-Second-Prime

May 5th, 2006, 08:29 PM

A little note: Is SF trying to kill the series? I mean this is second time that SF hasn't aired previews when in fact there is a new episode next week.Perhaps because it was a two-parter which ended with an apparent "no escape" situation, they didn't want to show anything.

SGLAB

May 5th, 2006, 08:30 PM

Wow, I don't remember the last time I watched something so creepy. Those gas masks have always creeped me out. And that kid saying mom umm sorry Mummy. Good ep.

northstar_08030

May 5th, 2006, 08:42 PM

Perhaps because it was a two-parter which ended with an apparent "no escape" situation, they didn't want to show anything.

I don't think so, because in the first two part episode Aliens of London/World War III, they aired the World War III preview.

Mattathias2.0

May 7th, 2006, 01:07 PM

This two-parter is one of my favorites and not just because of the hotness that is Captain Jack. :D

Hehe... agreed! Jack is delicious!

Mattathias

northstar_08030

May 7th, 2006, 06:25 PM

Hehe... agreed! Jack is delicious!

Mattathias

I tend not to agree with that, I mean with all of the hype surrouding this charactar I thought that he was a little bit of a let down.

Willow'sCat

May 7th, 2006, 07:25 PM

I tend not to agree with that, I mean with all of the hype surrouding this charactar I thought that he was a little bit of a let down.Just wait, he is so much hotter..um better :D in The Doctor Dances. Anyway these things are all in the eye of the beholder what works for some... eh, I really loved his inclusion in the series in fact he made the series work for me, the dynamics with him, Rose and The Doctor was reason enough for me to watch. ;)

The Signal

May 8th, 2006, 06:33 AM

FoolishPleasure

May 8th, 2006, 06:38 AM

I loved this episode and can't wait for Friday!! My hubby even left his computer chat to watch when he heard the creepy, "Mummy" talk. :)

Not knowing any spoilers or anything upcoming, does Jack become a "reg" after this?

The Signal

May 8th, 2006, 07:05 AM

kinda, he's in the next 3 eps of the season, and that leads to the finale, when we see what kind of a man he really is. After that, he's gone, but he has his own spin off (Torchwood) and he is supposedly in Season 3/29 of Doctor Who (he has said it himself, though it seems like he will be very busy)

Deputy-Assistant-Second-Prime

May 8th, 2006, 08:15 AM

Agreed, except for the hotness thing :D He is the kind of character that can appeal to a lot fo people, but there is the small audience who will not like him because he is a little too out there, not following basic rules (ie. he has no specified sexuality) I was surprised when in The Doctor Dances, you think he is about to die, and i really didnt want him to AT ALL, and usually I just shrug off the deaths of minor characters (Gwen in episode 3 for instance) He is bisexual, isn't he? That's specific, isn't it?

If a fan is fine with the Doctor being asexual, then a bisexual shouldn't be much of an issue in that regard.

It's an interesting dynamic between the three characters as evidenced in the following episodes.

The Signal

May 8th, 2006, 10:03 AM

He is bisexual, isn't he? That's specific, isn't it?
Well yes, but the term "bisexual" seems more constricting (or to me anyway) than the Doctor's description of his time not being bogged down by sexuality at all, and I have a funny feeling species wouldnt be a massive problem for it *preps Dalek/Captain Jack ship thread*

Deputy-Assistant-Second-Prime

May 8th, 2006, 11:01 AM

Well yes, but the term "bisexual" seems more constricting (or to me anyway) than the Doctor's description of his time not being bogged down by sexuality at all, and I have a funny feeling species wouldnt be a massive problem for it *preps Dalek/Captain Jack ship thread*Yes, but that's nothing that hasn't already been dealt with repeatedly by shows like Star Trek, so I don't see the big deal.

DragonGate

May 8th, 2006, 12:20 PM

Creepy as heck, for sure. Rose giving the Doctor's name as "Mr. Spock" was funny. When Captain Jack mentioned scanning for alien tech, I wondered if the TARDIS would be particularly attention-getting.

The sequence with the Albion Hospital doctor growing the mask, shivery weird. Just a creepy episode and I really want next Friday to get here already.

ShadowMaat

May 8th, 2006, 12:23 PM

I think "omnisexual" is the term that best applies. ;)

Deputy-Assistant-Second-Prime

May 8th, 2006, 12:49 PM

I think "omnisexual" is the term that best applies. ;)I like that. I'm not exactly sure I understand the difference, but it sounds less passive.

creed462

May 8th, 2006, 01:42 PM

IMForeman

May 8th, 2006, 03:30 PM

I like that. I'm not exactly sure I understand the difference, but it sounds less passive.

It means, as Steven Moffat once put it, "Captain Jack: Nice guy, but don't leave him alone with your sister, brother, dog or a shrub."

ShadowMaat

May 8th, 2006, 05:07 PM

I like that. I'm not exactly sure I understand the difference, but it sounds less passive.
Omni means "anything goes." Or possibly everything. Male, female, other, human, non, whatever; if it has sex, it's do-able, if you'll pardon the pun. :P

And of course, if it doesn't have sex, it can probably be taught a great new... recreational activity. :D

Deputy-Assistant-Second-Prime

May 8th, 2006, 05:19 PM

Omni means "anything goes." Or possibly everything. Male, female, other, human, non, whatever; if it has sex, it's do-able, if you'll pardon the pun. :P

And of course, if it doesn't have sex, it can probably be taught a great new... recreational activity. :DGotcha. Well, I'm glad he's there to cover all the bases.

It's a nice foil for the Doctor.

Flyboy

May 9th, 2006, 02:02 AM

Course there's always pansexual...

But I do prefer omni.

ShadowMaat

May 9th, 2006, 03:42 AM

Course there's always pansexual...

But I do prefer omni.
Yeah, 'cause sex with pans is just icky. :P

The "omni" gives it a nicer ring, IMO.

As for the ep... that little boything is creeeepy. If I had a sofa to hide behind while watching this ep, I'd probably be camped out there. ;)

The story itself has some of the goofiness inherent in a lot of Who (or as far as I can tell, anyway) but that doesn't make it any less creepy. And watching that gas mask pop out of the doctor's (lower case) mouth and his eyes expand into plastic (or whatever it was) ovals... *shivers* Great stuff.

The Signal

May 9th, 2006, 07:27 AM

I think "omnisexual" is the term that best applies. ;)
There we go, thats a more suited term :D

GhostPoet

May 9th, 2006, 10:52 AM

As long as I don't see two guys making out (gah!!) i'm fine with it. :P

Anyone know how well the ep did here in the states?

Flyboy

May 9th, 2006, 11:22 AM

What's wrong with two guys?

Not like anyone gets upset over a guy and a girl. Bisexuals and homosexuals are allowed as much fun as heterosexuals.

GhostPoet

May 9th, 2006, 11:24 AM

What's wrong with two guys?

Not like anyone gets upset over a guy and a girl. Bisexuals and homosexuals are allowed as much fun as heterosexuals.

Two guys, two girls. Doesn't matter. It still looks gross and unnatural for me. :) I'm more of a "how nature intended it" kind of guy.

Madeleine

May 9th, 2006, 11:42 AM

:: Makes mental note never to mention to GhostPoet what Mother Nature lets male giraffes and ducks get up to with other male giraffes or ducks ::

I don't especially like to see m/m snogs either, but then I'm no fonder of m/f snogging on TV either. *kissing* is fine though, however it's done :D

Spoiler for end of series 27 The noice chaste kisses the doctor gave rose and Jack - on the lips but no snogging - were rahter sweet, IMO.

Thermonuclearboy

May 9th, 2006, 12:00 PM

This will no doubt sound horribly mean, but I need to get it off my chest.

Rose just seems to only have enough wholesome prettiness to go around. It's like only one end of her can look good at a time. Episodes where her bottom looks amazing (like this one), her face does not look so much. Same was true of the Dalek episode. Nice butt, bad hair, British teeth...egads.

GhostPoet

May 9th, 2006, 12:19 PM

ShadowMaat

August 5th, 2006, 04:51 PM

Sharing a link to a pic (http://twirlynoodle.livejournal.com/136343.html) that made me grin. :D And ya know, I kinda did think of that book during the ep... ;)

IMForeman

August 27th, 2006, 09:42 AM

This episode is now "The Hugo Award Winning episode, The Empty Child." :D

The Empty Child & The Doctor Dances won the Hugo for best Short Form Dramatic presentation. In fact, Doctor Who also took spots 2 and 3 for Dalek and Father's Day respectively. This has them beating out Battlestar Galactica's The Pegasus.

Serenity won for Long Form.

Admiral Mappalazarou

October 26th, 2006, 04:05 AM

The beginning of the 2nd of three 2-parters in the series.

It was scary that just a simple phrase 'I want my mommy' sent my spine chilling.:) Great episode.

Macca

August 21st, 2007, 06:20 AM

Love your signature :D "The Signal" person

gate_gurl1

October 16th, 2007, 10:05 AM

I loved this episode, too. My 23 year old sister and I were huddled together with the lights off, freaking out because of the little child saying "Are you my mummy?". It was terrific!

I also felt like slapping Jack upside the head and say, yes, your actions WILL come back to haunt you. But in truth, I do like Jack, to a point. But it was once again the Doctor and Rose who saved the day :)!

gateship15

November 22nd, 2008, 08:08 PM

this episode scared me half to death i loved it tho. even my mum was scared

Puddle-Jumper

July 30th, 2009, 06:10 PM

There is a kid with a gasmask who looks just like the one from this episode in the queen video for Radio Gaga....

gateship15

July 30th, 2009, 06:43 PM

really maybe i should pay more attention. i re watched this today and it still freaks me out a little its a good episode

Gen. Chris

November 13th, 2011, 09:00 PM

This and the second episode are freaking creepy...

dhsora95

April 1st, 2012, 04:38 PM

I would give this episode 10 stars out of 10. the concept of the episode was the best i had ever seen(so far:O). now, when ever someone has seen that episode and reads the doctor suess book ARE YOU MY MOMMY?, they shall forever see the kid as a child with a gas mask on.

iJOKE

April 4th, 2012, 05:07 PM

Yeah, "Mummy" is a creepy word, now. ;) And gasmasks... yeek. :S

oh my god that episode was so scary. :O
I have a gas mask (exactly like the one in the episode) a few rooms from where i am now... all that would go through my mind now is 'Mummy.. are you my mummy'
And how it morphed onto their faces.. i almost fell off my chair.
Creepy episode
Kudos to moffat!

watching the next ep now....... not in the dark!

maneth

May 21st, 2012, 10:02 AM

Cool episode, and definitely the most creepy one so far! Yikes. And yay for Harkness!

Cold Fuzz

May 21st, 2012, 07:39 PM

Cool episode, and definitely the most creepy one so far! Yikes. And yay for Harkness!

I found this one of the more enjoyable episodes for the Ninth Doctor. Part of it was the mixture of opposites. The episode was set in the past but contained elements from the distant future, namely Jack and his ship, as well as the situation they're all caught up in.