When I was a much younger man, probably no more than a boy (though I wouldn’t see it that way in those days) I catalogued all the Doctor Who I owned. I created a catalogue of all the Doctor Who episodes I ever had on tape (either off-air or purchased). The catalogue was, I think, created initially on a typewriter, but eventually it made it into WordPerfect 4.1 and has continued to evolve over the years as it’s journied from its original file format up the WordPerfect ladder and over to Word. (It also went on to include Target Novels, Reference Books, NAs and Audios but that’s another story)

As you can see, like all geek scribblings, my video collection catalogue is extremely idiosyncratic. I list the title and date. “P” stands for “premiere story” (“F” stands for “finale story”). There’s the author, the companion, the director, the number of episodes (and if it was in movie format) whether it was a purchase or an off-air recording and finally the tape number in my video collection (back when I did such numbering).

I haven’t updated my collection in a couple of years. Editing a fanzine and organized fandom has made me lose interest in some of my more personal geekinesses. But tonight I watched The Parting of the Ways, Christopher Eccleston’s last story as the Doctor and suddenly I felt compelled to update my video collection.

And so I did. Some adjustments for format had to be made—most stories are just listed as ‘45 minute episode’—and some things had to be left ambivalent or unknown (does a DivX .avi file count as an off-air recording? What about a tape number?). And I made my peace with certain controversies by calling it “Season One”. But once that minutae was out of the way, I can’t begin to describe you the thrill I felt as I entered the heading “Ninth Doctor: Christopher Eccleston (2005).

Then I entered “Rose” with the “P” to signify that it was a first story. A flash on the unusual big-eared guy in a leather jacket, talking about feeling the rotation of the earth under his feet. Onward to Platform One, aliens and alienation. Back in time to meet Dickens and the Unquiet Dead. We get to the first two parter (I just give it a single entry but include both episode’s titles) and I smile at the thought of farting aliens and Penelope Wilton acting out Who at its most Holmesian.

By the time I reach Dalek, I’m sensing the next controversies to erupt in some corners of fandom—does Adam count as a companion or not? I decide he is and then think of watching that story with my 12 year-old goddaugher who was more excited after watching that the Dalek fly, exterminate and bare its soul than she was seeing Pirates of the Caribbean, which is saying something.

There’s the Long Game and Simon Pegg oozing new Who villainy. And the Empty Child which gave me the scariest moments I’ve ever had watching Who…and then The Doctor Dances which gave me the most exultant and jubilant moments too. One story entry, two episode titles and a slash marking some of the smartest, funniest, creepiest television this year.

Brief stop-over in Cardiff, or Buffy-land depending on your sensibilties. And then I typed:

BAD WOLF / PARTING OF THE WAYS (2005) (F)

“F” already? Finale story now? It was funny and sardonic and then exciting and then horrifying and then it was sweet, and then bittersweet…

...and then it was over.

Two new pages in my Video Catalogue. The entirety of Christopher Eccleston’s career as Doctor Who. He kept the promise he made in the promo trailers before the series was broadcast. He took us on the trip of a lifetime.