Doctor Who, Season Two, the Review.
Having finally seen every episode of Season 2 (somewhat out of order, but I understood what was happening), I feel I can now write a review of the series.
I loved it, but that sort of goes without saying. Unless they turned Doctor Who into some sort of daytime talk show or reality TV concept, I'll love the show. Even the weakest episodes of the season ("Fear Her", about a little girl possessed by a reality-altering alien and "The Idiot's Lantern", about an alien invasion in 1950's Britain done through the TV) had their positive aspects.
My favorite episode of the season was "School Reunion" which guest-starred Anthony Stewart Head (of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" fame) and Elizabeth Sladen reprising the role she had in the 70's as the Doctor's companion Sarah Jane Smith. The storyline involves an alien incursion into a public school (so the "Buffy" analogies could be made). I can only say after watching the episode that I wish Mr. Head would be cast as the Doctor's nemesis, the Master.
A close send-to-favorite was the season finale "Doomsday" which pitted two of the Doctor's most popular enemies, the Daleks and the Cybermen, against each other. Upon first glance, since both are cyborg races, you'd think they'd be somewhat evenly matched. That thought is immediately dispelled when four Daleks begin slaughtering an army of Cybermen. I liked this particular interchange of dialogue:
Cyber-Leader 1: Daleks be warned. You have declared war upon the Cybermen.
Dalek Sek: This is not war. This is pest control.
Cyber-Leader 1: We have five million Cybermen, how many are you?
Dalek Sek: Four.
Cyber-Leader 1: You would destroy five million Cybermen with four Daleks?
Dalek Sek: No. We would destroy five million Cybermen with one Dalek. You are superior in only one respect.
Cyber-Leader 1: What is that?
Dalek Sek: You are better at dying!
Of course, this incarnation of the series has a lot more human drama (ironic considering the main character is alien) and when Rose finally departed the series at the end, for the first time ever on the program, the Doctor shed tears. Perhaps as he gets older and exposed to the race, the character becomes more human?
So, which was a better season, one or two? I would have to say Season 2 since it built on several ideas from Season 1 (the Daleks and Rose's relationship with her dead father to name two). And who is the better Doctor, Christopher Eccleston or David Tennant? Good question. It's tough to judge. I really like both because they have fun with the role and chew the scenery with the best of the actors who have played the role. If I had to lean towards one, I would say David Tennant because I know from reading interviews that he was a fan of the show when he was a kid (Eccleston wasn't).
In short, in my opinion, if you're not watching the current incarnation of Doctor Who you are missing out.
