Although I've since watched it in reduced circumstances to make sure, being lucky enough to view "Doomsday" in the midst of a dozen excited fans left the impression that it was among the best and most perfect episodes ever. People have been quick to criticise the elements of the new series that they don't like - Rose and her "baggage" for example (for "baggage" read "characterisation"). But there is something that it hasn't got any of that makes it far greater, which would almost certainly be present in spades if any of the fans critiquing it were at the helm - and that something is pomposity. The new series is utterly unpompous. In the same way that the original series used to lightly mock its most self-proclaimed terrifying icons (for example by having the Daleks using toy TARDIS' as firing targets or barking "well see to it then!" in annoyance, neither example detracting one iota of menace from the scenes in question) the battle between the shows' two greatest enemies was given the respect it deserved, and yet at the same time acknowledged the weakness in both species that they take themselves far too seriously. There's no way no other fan would even thought of approaching the concept without highlighting anything other than the complete strength of both Daleks and Cybermen; here, RTD has it punctuated by no side being willing to "identify" themselves first and the Daleks boasting that one of their number would be able to wipe out five million of his opponents. And why not? Nobody ever said these Cybermen were unstoppable, their horror being borne out of what they do (convert people into themselves) and what they are (dehumanised humans) rather than any bold claims about being the hardest nuts in the Universe. Remember the essence of the original Cybermen was the struggle for survival, not Universal supremacy, and in a way the "new origins" of "Rise of the Cybermen" earlier this year go right back to that. Lumic's original concept was to build a body for himself that wouldn't suffer the same degeneration as his own.

Nevertheless we got bangs and flashes galore, and I'm surprised that wasn't enough for people. The plot, meanwhile, was unusually tight for an RTD end-of-year finale (remembering that last year the companion wiped out the foe by vomming up the time vortex at them) - only the absence of any Cybermen seen flying into the breach demanded to be questioned. And it all tied in nicely with the shedding of the immovable Rose - one could deduce in fact that if the companion wasn't going to be killed (which was one, perfectly valid, method for getting rid of her, though not using it leaves it nicely unexplored for a future storyline), there was one other possible storyline solution for her. She would have to be separated from the Doctor by force - and with the "impossible" dimension making an appearance last week, it was easy to join the dots and guess what would happen. And heartbreaking though the ending was, poor old Rose simply had to go like this; there is no place in the TARDIS for a companion that never leaves, it's not what the format of the show is all about - though given the shoulder-shrugging appearance of mammoth 100 year gaps between stories in other eras, wouldn't it have been daring of them to cast an 80 year old and simply jump forward to show the death of Rose by eventual, natural causes? It's all academic now of course, we've had her and she's had us and many kids will have experienced an emotional landmark in their young childhoods. You can almost hear them talking about it on cheap nostalgia shows in twenty years time.

What this brave, constantly moving series now has to "suffer" is the loss of one of the warmest "regular casts" it had since the Pertwee era - many have quickly forgotten that Doctor Who's newfound roots on the Powell Estate have helped, and not hindered, its current status as King of Saturday Nights, although the ratings dip around the fan-pleasing but utterly alienating "Impossible Planet"/"Satan Pit" two-parter this year was a timely reminder. Let us hope that Martha Jones comes equipped with similar "baggage" to ground her in reality and give the good Doctor some allies back on Earth, where he must be able to return with great frequency for the good of the budget and the audience identification (though no council estate Mum this time please; Jackie was just too great to be replaced). If not, one reluctantly has to acknowledge that crossover with "Torchwood" is another option, despite this raising the possibility that the theoretical failure of Doctor Who's "sister" show might drag it down too, if the links are too tight.

But whatever the hopes and prospects for the future (and they look good thanks to that superbly cheeky ending), if Doctor Who never rises to the heights of "Doomsday" again it can still lay claim to a near-perfect episode. From the oily tear on the Oberleader's metal face to the beautiful score accompanying the Doctor and Rose as they mourned each other from another reality away, to the Dalek that rotated its eyestalk 360 degrees while its gaze followed Rose, the Cult of Skaro and the goading of the Cybermen when the Daleks had been tricked into naming their species first, this was an episode that was lavished with care. It exploded with colour, scale and pyrotechnics but it was also hilariously funny (Jackie and the fire extinguisher; "how rich?") bawl-your-eyes out sad and didn't rely on gizmos, cop-outs or the TARDIS to solve itself. All bases touched, and the series is absolutely on fire. A few weeks ago, I wondered if we all needed a break from "Doctor Who"... right now, I'd be happy if Series 3 began next week.