 In an interview with The Independent , Russell T Davies said the episode is " practically a love story for the Doctor ... It 's very understated , very beautifully done , but it 's nonetheless a Time Lord falling in love and Rose 's reaction to him falling in love with someone else . " Moffat was inspired by Audrey Niffenegger 's novel The Time @-@ Traveler 's Wife , though the episode 's structure is different from that of the novel . During the production , Moffat considered " Madame de Pompadour " , " Every Tick of My Heart " , " Reinette and the Lonely Angel " and " Loose Connection " for the episode 's title . " The Girl in the Fireplace " was planned as the second episode of the 2006 series , however when Davies realised how experimental it had become in Moffat 's hands , he decided to move it to fourth in the running order between " School Reunion " and " Rise Of The Cybermen " . 
