Episode Four/Five: The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky by Helen Raynor
Given that this script was penned by the same woman responsible for the most atrocious episodes since Love & Monsters, I didn’t have very high hopes.
Her offensive Dalek episodes from last year rank among the very few episodes of Doctor Who I can’t stand. They were abysmal, and even though a former gentleman caller of mine was in it (!) I still find myself unable to watch it again when ploughing through the Box Set. So imagine my surprise when I actually start enjoying this two-parter. More than enjoying it, LOVING it!
Okay, so Martha just seems a bit redundant now. Compared to Donna, she seems like such a waste of screen time. (Which is a shame, because I think Freema Whatshername is actually quite likeable). So then to have TWO Martha’s running around… Well, that was just a silly idea. Now two Donnas? THAT would have been worth seeing!
The opening five minutes were gripping; like a modern-day thriller. The Doctor giving a heartbreaking farewell speech to Donna, thinking it was the last time he’d see her, before she went and ruined it by saying she was merely popping home – GENIUS! The thought of Wilf dying at the end of Episode Four upset me greatly… So I was most pleased to see him survive. (Although the piss-easy way they got around it – smashing the car window with an axe – felt like a bit of a cop-out)
That irritating little gob-shite human kid assisting the Sontaran’s was rather well played, and I don't suppose I would have kicked him out of bed, either. (Him AND Ross... Mmmm...)
I particularly enjoyed his self-sacrifice at the end of the episode. Even though I saw it coming a mile off.
The Sontaran’s were nicely realised. Their war-mongering dialogue was amusing, and they made a much better ‘classic enemy’ that the Cybermen.
All in all, a really quite enjoyable two episodes.
Total Score: EIGHT out of TEN
Given that this script was penned by the same woman responsible for the most atrocious episodes since Love & Monsters, I didn’t have very high hopes.
Her offensive Dalek episodes from last year rank among the very few episodes of Doctor Who I can’t stand. They were abysmal, and even though a former gentleman caller of mine was in it (!) I still find myself unable to watch it again when ploughing through the Box Set. So imagine my surprise when I actually start enjoying this two-parter. More than enjoying it, LOVING it!
Okay, so Martha just seems a bit redundant now. Compared to Donna, she seems like such a waste of screen time. (Which is a shame, because I think Freema Whatshername is actually quite likeable). So then to have TWO Martha’s running around… Well, that was just a silly idea. Now two Donnas? THAT would have been worth seeing!
The opening five minutes were gripping; like a modern-day thriller. The Doctor giving a heartbreaking farewell speech to Donna, thinking it was the last time he’d see her, before she went and ruined it by saying she was merely popping home – GENIUS! The thought of Wilf dying at the end of Episode Four upset me greatly… So I was most pleased to see him survive. (Although the piss-easy way they got around it – smashing the car window with an axe – felt like a bit of a cop-out)
That irritating little gob-shite human kid assisting the Sontaran’s was rather well played, and I don't suppose I would have kicked him out of bed, either. (Him AND Ross... Mmmm...)
I particularly enjoyed his self-sacrifice at the end of the episode. Even though I saw it coming a mile off.
The Sontaran’s were nicely realised. Their war-mongering dialogue was amusing, and they made a much better ‘classic enemy’ that the Cybermen.
All in all, a really quite enjoyable two episodes.
Total Score: EIGHT out of TEN
