It’s taken four series of New Who for this to happen but with the Daleks done to death and the Cybermen having their own run of fame, it’s nice to see that Mr Potato Head has returned! Sorry…I mean the Sontarans.
It’s also interesting to see more elements of the classic series seeping in so far, currently I’m of the opinion that this is a good thing as it’s the more entertaining elements such as a hint of pantomime to proceedings, however let’s hope it isn’t a sign of the show slipping back to McCoy era stupidity and inanity.
So, without further ado…spoilers!
I’m going to be the odd one out this week and say that I’m really not all that bothered about Sontarans. I mean the Mr. Potato Head jokes will never get old and they were certainly far more entertaining than the Daleks or Cybermen but for me the real draw was the proper return of the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce (now known as the Unitary Task Force due to some behind the scenes politics.)
For me Colonel Mace was the perfect replacement for the much loved Brigadier, even having many of the characteristics of old Lethbridge-Stewart. The professional restraint and clear respect for the Doctor is what I’m referring to here, his general demeanour though was close enough that it brought back some fond memories of the dynamic. That said I am wondering just how many new Who watchers would clock this, not to mention how many would understand the many comments about the Doctor’s active service as a member of UNIT. I doubt any of them would get the extremely obscure in-joke of his recalling that he worked for them “…sometime in the Seventies. Or was it the Eighties?” This is for those Who fans that recall the ongoing debate over exactly what time period the UNIT stories actually took place in (which it turns out could be any time period from the Sixties to the Nineties it seems, nobody really knows.)
Of all the comments I’ve read this evening on the show, the one that appears to crop up a lot is that of the Doctor’s disdain for the organisation and all it stands for. Many are confused by this which makes me wonder if I’m the only one that remembers the Doctor’s many clashes with them, including his last proper involvement with them in his seventh incarnation. I have a feeling this may have something to do with people confusing his relationship with UNIT with that of the Brigadier, which always seemed to me to be somewhat separate.
However with all these fan mentions, I really would love to have seen a greater nod to the Brigadier, though I’m hearing rumours that this could still be likely. After all, he received a fairly prominent mention or two in the Sarah Jane Adventures.
A comedy nod to Bessie would have been quite entertaining too, though that may have been pushing it despite their revival of K9 two series ago.
So with the fandom out of the way, onto the inevitable discussion of the omen. What? Did you all miss it? I wouldn’t be surprised, Sian didn’t even spot it and thought I was silly when I pointed it out. The Doctor once again mentions that which the Master first talked about in The Last of the Time Lords, the Medusa Cascade. It turned up in The Fires of Pompeii a few weeks ago as well, followed by an interview with Russell T Davies stating that this is indeed a plot element for the series. We now know that it is a place rather than an event, with a seventh moon which has become broken and that the Doctor single handedly “sealed the rift” there during the Time War. Finally and rather oddly, we were told that the Doctor would burn there. Place your bets on this being the mysterious title for the finale.
What would an episode review be like without my continued suspicions over Donna? You see I could buy that maybe it’s simply because she’s a different type of companion, not a love interest and not as timid as many have been. This could be the reasoning why I find her odd, however I’m sticking with my theory that there’s something wrong with her which will out in the end. If more proof were needed, who can remember just how many companions could pilot the TARDIS? Sure, we’ve got a long list of those capable of pressing scanner buttons and doing simple tasks the Doctor asked of them, yet have we had one capable of getting the time ship through the vortex from A to B? Not even Rose who he trusted implicitly was that capable, yet here Donna was in almost full control (aside from a momentary slip that allowed the Doctor a snide reference to the cancellation of the show in the Eighties.) The Doctor himself seemed concerned by her proficiency as well, or at least that’s what I interpreted the look on his face as.
Finally I have to say something on the return of Freema Agyeman but I’m not sure what. Okay, I am fairly sure that what I’d like to say is just how much I despised Martha Jones in the previous series and in her stint on Torchwood. I’d love to comment on Agyeman’s truly wooden and vacuous acting ’skills’. I understand I’m in a minority here however I know that many men ignore her acting and (lack of) ability because they find her attractive. I don’t, so she doesn’t even have that going for her with me. The proof of how little she’s actually improved over the hiatus was her opening line. “Doctor? It’s Martha, and I’m bringing you back to Earth!” (”Because I think I’m just that ruddy important and I live under the delusion that since I foolishly abandoned you, you’ve been incapable of setting foot on my planet due to the strong feelings you felt for me…or didn’t.”)
That sums Martha Jones up really, egotistical and annoying.
That’s what I wanted to say, though I’m wondering if I should. 
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