20 Years Ago, This 'Doctor Who' Episode With 9.0 on IMDb Made Steven Moffat a Legend
"The Empty Child," written by Steven Moffat, premiered on May 21, 2005. Here's why it's so important in Doctor Who history.
If one asks why Doctor Who has survived for so long, the answer is simple: love. It was the love of the fans that helped Doctor Who stay afloat for so many years – and when the series ended, their love inspired the creators to bring it back.
Time and again, love encourages viewers to return to their screens to see the continuation of the story about the alien in the blue box.
While the second season of the new Doctor Who is struggling, we decided to revisit the series's best episode, which premiered almost exactly 20 years ago on May 21, 2005 – "The Empty Child."
What Is "The Empty Child" About?
The TARDIS pursues an alien ship that, some time later, crashes in London during World War II. While trying to find it, Rose and the Doctor become separated.
The Time Lord soon encounters a terrible phenomenon: people are infected with a strange virus, their faces turn into gas masks, and they start calling for their mothers. Meanwhile, his companion Rose Tyler meets the charming Captain Jack Harkness.
"The Empty Child" Was Steven Moffat's First 'Doctor Who' Episode
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"The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" holds a special place in Doctor Who history as the first two-part episode of the series. It also marked Steven Moffat’s debut as a writer for the show, setting the stage for his future contributions, including his role as showrunner, which he took on in 2011.
Remarkably, Moffat crafted one of the franchise's most iconic episodes on his first try, a feat recognized with the 2006 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
This two-part story also introduced Captain Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman. Harkness would later become a central figure in the Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood.
What Did Viewers Think of "The Empty Child"?
Even 20 years later, many fans still consider "The Empty Child" to be the best episode of the revived Doctor Who series. Reddit user Bulbamew wrote:
“With the possible exception of Heaven Sent (which I think transcends being just a standard who episode) I think this is the best episode of the revival. It’s absolutely amazing from start to finish for a bunch of reasons, too many to count.”
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On IMDb, "The Empty Child" has a score of 9.0/10.
