This episode makes no sense in the continuity of season 2. it's okay on its first watch, but its problems become more glaringly obvious every time i revisit it. everyone is incredibly out of character and the episode does not fit into the doctor and rose's story arc at all. i could buy the doctor's fling with madame de pompadour post season 3, but its placement right after 'school reunion', in which the doctor promises rose he'll never leave her, is confusing seeing that he has no problem sidelining her here, only for everything to go back to normal in 'rise of the cybermen'. it's like this episode never happened. apparently moffat didn't even read the script for the previous episode, which makes a lot of sense given the lack of respect for the continuity, arc, and canon of season 2. honestly, the season as a whole makes more sense if you just skip this one.
Review of The Girl in the Fireplace
