Few episodes of Doctor Who carry the weight of expectation quite like Army of Ghosts. First broadcast on July 1, 2006, this was the beginning of the grand two-part finale of Series 2—an era-defining conclusion that would ultimately bid farewell to Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler and redefine Doctor Who’s relationship with emotional storytelling. Written by Russell T Davies and directed by Graeme Harper, Army of Ghosts is a carefully constructed slow burn, laying the groundwork for what is to come while still delivering its own eerie and action-packed adventure.
From the very start, Army of Ghosts signals that something momentous is about to happen. The pre-titles sequence sees Rose delivering a sombre monologue: “This is the story of how I died.” It’s a striking opening line, one that immediately sets a melancholic tone despite the episode’s playful beginning. It is a bold move by Davies, foreshadowing the heartbreak ahead while still giving the audience hope that maybe, just maybe, there is a way out.
Initially, the Doctor and Rose find themselves in an almost comedic situation—ghosts are appearing all over the world, and yet, humanity has just… accepted it. People embrace these spectral figures, believing them to be loved ones returning from beyond the grave. The Doctor, of course, is skeptical, immediately recognizing that something is very wrong. The premise is intriguing—there is a genuine eeriness in the way the ghosts flicker in and out of existence, and their slow infiltration of everyday life adds an unsettling undertone to what initially appears to be a lighthearted mystery.
The comedic interplay between the Doctor and Jackie Tyler is another highlight. Jackie, as ever, is the voice of the ordinary person, grounding the show in its domestic roots. Her exasperation with the Doctor—mistaking his TARDIS scanner for a camera, questioning his “sciencey” explanations—provides some much-needed levity before the tension begins to rise. But it’s also a reminder of what’s at stake. Jackie represents the normal life that Rose has long since left behind, and the Doctor’s continued involvement in her world threatens to pull Rose further away from any chance of returning to it.
The introduction of Torchwood as a fully-fledged organization adds a new layer of intrigue. While it had been teased throughout Series 2, Army of Ghosts gives us our first proper look at the secretive group, led by the formidable Yvonne Hartman. Tracy-Ann Oberman delivers a performance that is both charismatic and chilling—Hartman is the face of British imperial arrogance, fully convinced of Torchwood’s right to wield alien technology for national security. The way she treats the Doctor with amused condescension is fascinating, positioning Torchwood as neither entirely villainous nor entirely noble. They believe they are doing the right thing, but their arrogance blinds them to the dangers they have invited into their world.
And then, there are the Void Ships.
The mystery surrounding the strange, indestructible sphere deep within Torchwood’s facility is one of the episode’s most effective slow-burn elements. The Doctor immediately senses something is wrong with it—an object that exists outside of time and space should not be here, and yet it is. The way this subplot weaves through the episode, gradually escalating in significance, is a testament to Davies’ skill in structuring a two-part finale. We know that something is coming, but we are kept waiting just long enough for the tension to mount.
When the truth is finally revealed—that the so-called “ghosts” are actually Cybermen bleeding through from a parallel world—it is an exhilarating moment. The Cybermen’s gradual takeover of Earth, emerging from their spectral forms into full-fledged metal warriors, is one of the most striking sequences in modern Doctor Who. The way they infiltrate every corner of society, converting humanity without warning, makes them feel more terrifying than ever before. This is not just an invasion—it is an assimilation on a global scale.
But then, just when we think we know where the story is going, Army of Ghosts plays its masterstroke.
The Void Ship, long teased as an anomaly, finally opens—and out step the Daleks. The impact of this reveal cannot be overstated. To have the show’s two most iconic villains sharing the screen for the first time in its modern era is a moment of pure fan-service, yet it never feels forced. Instead, it is presented with perfect dramatic timing, cutting away just as the stakes reach their highest point. The episode ends with the ultimate cliffhanger—the Doctor, Rose, and Mickey staring down four Daleks, trapped between two unstoppable forces of destruction. It is a breathtaking moment that ensures audiences would be counting the days until the finale.
Rewatching Army of Ghosts in 2025, it remains one of the most effective build-up episodes in Doctor Who’s history. It carefully balances humor, tension, and mystery, ensuring that when the action finally kicks into high gear, the payoff is worth it. It is an episode that thrives on anticipation, setting the stage for an unforgettable conclusion. As the screen fades to black and the words To Be Continued appear, there is only one question left—how on Earth can the Doctor possibly win?
No comments:
Post a Comment