Alone Again, Naturally

In fear of contradicting myself, one of the problems with two-part stories is that after a week has elapsed, and the first half has been seen three times, when the second half arrives one already feels over-familiar with all the characters! Visually, there is often very little new on offer and so there is a feeling of having seen it all before. They used to get around this particular problem in the Eighties’ four-part stories by introducing a new set in episode three! Anyway, this was the feeling I had with “Evolution of the Daleks”. Like “The Satan Pit”, last year, it didn’t quite live up to the promise of episode one. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it. I think “Daleks in Manhattan” and “Evolution of the Daleks” is easily the best Dalek story of the three Russell T Davies seasons, to date, and would place it after “The Impossible Planet” and “The Satan Pit” as my second favourite David Tennant “Doctor Who” story.

One of the problems I had with “Evolution of the Daleks” was Dalek Hybrid Sec. Whereas Solomon’s Luther King speech of unification seemed determinedly strong, even though I anticipated the Dalek’s one word response and subsequent action, Sec came across as weak when extolling the virtues of his similar argument, fighting a losing battle to convert all three of his minions. Had Sec become the new Davros, the story could have reduced the Daleks, once again, to no more than the henchmen they became post “Genesis of the Daleks”. It was also disappointing that he didn’t have more of a ring-modulated voice in keeping with the mutants from Skaro. But the way his underlings turned against him was beautifully handled. Conspiring down in the sewers of Manhattan, watching each of the two Daleks, one after the other, cautiously swivelling their domes to make sure they were alone, and couldn’t be overheard turning against their master, was a real delight!

Another problem I had with “Evolution of the Daleks” was that the resolution was just a bit too similar to last year’s “The Idiot’s Lantern” with the Doctor climbing a mast to prevent the transmission of a signal that would bring about the end of the world! It was remarkable how he survived the lightening strike, even more remarkable that Martha found the dropped Sonic Screwdriver and even stopped to pick it up in preference to getting to the Doctor as quickly as possible! Here was the perfect opportunity to get rid of the bloody thing although why would they when it’s one of the most sought after of children’s toys! Pleased as punch that Tallulah survived to the end but why kill the black lead half way through just as they did Don Warrington’s wise President last year? Russell has made vocal a positive approach to the casting of black actors so it would be nice to see one actually survive to the end of a story. Frank’s friendship with Martha wasn’t truly resolved either. There were a lot of quick cutaways at the end, making the closing scenes feel rushed, which suggested this story had maybe enough material to warrant a three-parter.

The Daleks themselves are beautifully engineered creations. They look like precision instruments and move accordingly. Witness one entering a lift and effortlessly turning to face forward. It is done with such grace, and indeed like watching a ballet, that one can believe Terry Nation’s story that they were inspired by the gliding movement of Georgian State Dancers. Daleks of the classic series, it has to be admitted, on occasion do look a little battered in comparison, to say the least! It was a shame, though, that the sole survivor of the Cult of Skaro, Dalek Khan, made his escape in exactly the same manner as Dalek Sec in last year’s season finale, “Doomsday”. It might’ve added an extra little twist to the tale if this lone last Dalek had turned out to be the one Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor confronted in the museum in Utah, in “Dalek”, and would also have served to break away from the linearity of Doctor/Dalek confrontations. The meeting would be in Khan’s future but the Doctor’s past! It’s always the case that the last time the Doctor met the Daleks just happens to be the last time the Daleks met the Doctor which is a little unimaginative for a time-travelling hero!!!

A Time for Evolution

Once again, a two-part “Doctor Who” story is proving to be far more satisfying than the single-episode stories. Ignoring the principal cast changes, if you were to run “The Empty Child” and “The Doctor Dances”, then “The Impossible Planet” and “The Satan Pit”, and follow those four episodes with the current Dalek epic you’d come away believing that the series is on top form and as good as it always was! The original show undoubtedly had just as much dross, in amongst the good stuff, as does the present reincarnation. It’s perhaps remembered and rewatched selectively. I’m not saying all two-parters, in the modern version, are better than all single-episode tales. On the contrary. Only one out of three of the two-part stories, in each of the first two seasons, are on the right side of successful. But, when a two-parter gets it right it’s more rewarding than when a single episode does. For a start, you’ve the second half to look forward to! They can be less hurried, you can get to know the characters, you can build to that all-important cliff-hanger, and that’s why I’d love to see Russell T Davies adopt the 1985 twenty-second season-structure of five two-parters and a three-parter. The three-episode story wouldn’t necessarily need to be in the middle, as then, but could be placed at the beginning or preferably the end. It would mean there would only be six opening nights, instead of the present ten, and thus a bigger budget afforded each story.

The concluding episode of the present two-parter, entitled “Evolution of the Daleks”, can be seen this Saturday, again beginning at an earlier start time, at 6:45pm on BBC1. For a supposed flagship series, “Doctor Who” is certainly shunted around the schedules! I can remember the days when it was a rare thing for a programme not to start at a regular time. For example, every episode of “Survivors” bar one went out at the same time and there were thirty-eight over three years! This is the third consecutive week the good Doctor has been shifted from his 7pm start time. There is certainly less respect given to the regular viewer these days although I notice “EastEnders” seems to manage a more-consistent billing. Speaking of which, “Totally Doctor Who”, this afternoon, has an earlier start time by an hour. I mention it because you can see the marvellous Miranda Raison, as well as the latest story’s writer Helen Raynor, in this week’s edition at 4pm on BBC1 and I wouldn’t want you to miss it! If you do miss it, there’s another opportunity to see it over on BBC2 on Saturday morning at the usual start time of 10:30am!! I presume there will be more disruption to come from the short-trouser brigade, with the “FA Cup Final” still to play, as well as from that bastion of high culture “The Eurovision Song Contest”!!! C’est la vie.

Santa Baby?

The “Doctor Who” rumour mill has been working overtime again! The “News of the World” announced last Sunday that Australian actress and pop star Kylie Minogue will be guest starring in this year’s Christmas special of everyone’s favourite science fiction series. The report claims that Ms Minogue was persuaded to take the role by her friend and stylist Will Baker, a “Doctor Who” fan who has included several sets and costumes inspired by the programme in her stage tour in recent years. The paper also claims she will appear in the programme as a Cyberwoman, but this is not substantiated in any of their “insider” quotes.

Kylie is, of course, best known for hits such as “I Should Be So Lucky”, which I believe she has recently remixed, and “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”. She began her acting career, however, in Aussie soap opera “Neighbours” moving to the big screen for films such as “Street Fighter” and “Moulin Rouge”. Maybe she should’ve been one of the showgirls in the latest “Doctor Who” story! No disrespect to Kylie but I would’ve thought her a little on the short side if she is indeed going to appear as the next Cyberwoman. I always thought they should be at least six feet tall, and the novelisations describe them as having the strength of ten men.

One thing Kylie has in her favour is her lack of arrogance. I would definitely prefer to see her in “Doctor Who” than a certain loud-mouthed comedienne who shall remain nameless! But it does seem to continue the trend for stunt casting. Who will Russell consider next? Mariah Carey as the Rani?! Billie Piper as the companion?!! Oh, he’s already done that. Silly me, I was forgetting! If he casts Robbie Williams as the Doctor I will stop watching. I had enough difficulty accepting Billie because, unfortunately, I could remember the awfulness that is “Because We Want To”! Never forget, Robbie was once a member of a boy band!!! Anyway, “break a leg”, Kylie.

Manhattan Transfer

I had a mental wish list of what I wanted to see from “Daleks in Manhattan” and I’m pleased to say the “Doctor Who” team successfully accomplished everything for which I’d hoped. Actually, I’m more than pleased, ecstatic would be closer the mark! Firstly, I didn’t want the appearance of the Daleks held back to the episode’s end. Despite tradition, I didn’t see the point in doing that considering the title. They took a hold of the story just ten minutes in, appearing from an art deco lift of the period, flanked, Ogron-like, by a couple of Pig Men! Sounds bonkers but it worked. Each of the three seasons of new “Doctor Who” has included a two-part Dalek story and, previously, I felt the first episode, in both cases, was a wasted opportunity. “Bad Wolf”, in the first season, squandered its running time on game show nonsense while “Army of Ghosts”, a year later, tried to convince me that said ghosts weren’t Cybermen! And, I guessed the Daleks were waiting to be released from the sphere at the episode’s end. Both these examples felt like forty-five minutes of padding leading to a moment of revelation from which the story could start. Not so on this occasion.

Then there was Miranda Raison. I fell in love with Jo Portman, her character in “Spooks”, from the very first and didn’t want to see her prematurely exterminated in new “Doctor Who”, like so many quality actors before her. Again, I’m happy to report that Tallulah, Miranda’s character in “Daleks in Manhattan”, has survived to fight another day in next week’s concluding episode, “Evolution of the Daleks”. She’s currently languishing underground, lost in the sewers of the city, after a wonderfully touching moment when she is reunited with her boyfriend, Laszlo, who has suffered at the protuberances of the Daleks. If I hadn’t known it was Ms Raison, from the cast list, I don’t think I would’ve recognised her! She looked and sounded so completely different from her tough no-nonsense character of the MI5 series. Having sung her praises for the past couple of years, her performance lived up to expectation showing an altogether different persona to the one to which we’ve become accustomed. I love the scene where, knowing the danger, she has the guts and plucks up the courage to join the Doctor in his search, allowing me to imagine her as companion for one brief moment! Even if she meets a fate worse than death, before story’s end, she’ll have played her part.

And, finally an episode in which Rose isn’t mentioned. She’s been name-checked in every episode since her departure and it was beginning to wear thin. There was no silliness worth speaking of in “Daleks in Manhattan”. Even the obligatory gay reference made me laugh and wasn’t as in-your-face as usual. The Doctor told Martha she could kiss him later and Frank too if he wanted! There was a big grin on actor Andrew Garfield’s face at the suggestion! None of the cast let the side down. Hugh Quarshie was marvellous as Solomon especially at the moment of breaking bread. A terrific message for the audience, adults as well as children, to share especially in times of adversity. I knew Black Dalek Sec would end the episode inhabiting the body of Mr. Diagoras as the tie the hybrid’s wearing on the cover of the “Radio Times” gives the game away! It wasn’t just the visual aspect of the monster the magazine revealed but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story. The sequence was handled masterfully. It’s the best Dalek story since the show returned, helmed by the same director as last season’s best story, “The Impossible Planet”. James Strong lives up to his surname!

My Name is Tallulah

Guest-starring in this Saturday’s episode of “Doctor Who”, “Daleks in Manhattan”, starting at the earlier time of 6:35pm, is “Spooks” actress Miranda Raison as showgirl Tallulah. At school, I was always taught to read around a subject. Don’t just read the set book, for example, but try a couple of others by the same author to see if he/she always wrote in the same style using similar themes, that kind of thing! Find out who influenced the writer in question and what other interests occupied their daily lives, together with the historical context in which the work was written.

So, being ever-informative (!), I thought I’d post this clip of a young Jodie Foster from the 1976 film “Bugsy Malone”, the first of five musicals directed by Alan Parker. Tallulah’s name, and character, in the upcoming Dalek two-parter were inspired by Jodie’s performance as her namesake in Parker’s film, in which all the parts are played by children. They play gangsters but instead of carrying weapons firing real bullets they use “splurge guns” that cover the victim in cream! The story details the rise of “Bugsy Malone”, played by Scott Baio, and the battle for power between “Fat Sam”, John Cassisi, and “Dandy Dan”, Martin Lev.

How much of the actual plot, of “Bugsy Malone”, carries over into the “Doctor Who” story remains to be seen but if “Daleks in Manhattan” is as much fun to watch as the thirty-year-old movie then we’re all in for a real treat. And, forget Daleks like you’ve never seen them before, prepare yourselves for the shock of hearing MI5 agent Jo Portman with a Brooklyn accent! It gives a whole new meaning to speakeasy!!

ATB ft Olive - You’re Not Alone

You’re not alone
Open your mind

In a way, it’s all a matter of time
I will not worry for you, You’ll be just fine
Take my thoughts with you, and when you look behind
You will surely see a face that you recognize

You’re not alone
Open your mind, Surely it’s plain to see
You’re not alone, I’ll wait till the end of time
Open your mind, Maybe there’s time for me and you

You’re not alone, I’ll wait till the end of time
Open your mind, Surely it’s plain to see

It is the distance, that makes life a little hard
Two minds that once were close, Now so many miles apart
I will not falter though, I’ll hold on till you’re home
Safely back where you belong, And see how our love has grown

You’re not alone, I’ll wait till the end of time
Open your mind, Surely it’s plain to see
You’re not alone, I’ll wait till the end of time
Open your mind, Maybe there’s time for me and you

You’re not alone, I’ll wait till the end of time
Open your mind, Surely it’s plain to see
You’re not alone, I’ll wait till the end of time
Open your mind, Surely there’s time to be with me

You’re Not Alone

Shock! Horror!! Russell T Davies has finally used that imagination of his and written a story of some creativity. Not only was it imaginative, it was fun to boot. Sure, it drew on ideas from the series’ recent past as well as reincarnating the terror that is the Macra! It also pilfered ideas from “The Fifth Element”, as I suggested in my preview, but it really felt as though it worked. What it most reminded me of was the much-underrated Sylvester McCoy story “Paradise Towers”. In that 1987 “Doctor Who” tale, one of the central themes is the interaction of different strands of society. The young were colour-coded into red, yellow and blue Kangs whilst the older generation were known as Rezzies. Something nasty lurked in the basement of the tower block in that four-parter, too, just as in “Gridlock”. In this latest episode, the sense of community is brought about by everyone keeping in touch, on the congested motorway (freeway, surely?), through what seems like CB radio. Ardal O’Hanlon’s really warm character Brannigan and his wife Valerie, played by Jennifer Hennessy, seem to be the instigators of this activity and it’s the unifying factor of the story.

I have to question the necessity of bringing back the Macra. To be honest, it was purely superficial, just like the return of the Autons in “Rose” and “Love & Monsters”. RTD claims it’s partly because it’s forty years since the Macra originally appeared on our screens but they haven’t exactly been a thriving part of “Doctor Who” folklore! I mean, I’d like to see the resurrection of the Zarbi or the Mechonoids. Both were much more iconic than the Macra in the Sixties despite the former appearing in one six-part story, “The Web Planet”, and the latter only appearing in a single episode at the end of “The Chase”. The Mechonoids popularity proliferated through appearances in comic strips on the back page of TV21 and in annuals such as “The Dalek World” whilst the Zarbi co-starred with the good Doctor on the cover of one of the Hartnell annuals. I don’t recall any such spin-off regards the Macra! Maybe that’s the reason for their sudden resurgence. They’re the underdog of “Doctor Who” monsters!! I’m sure that notion would appeal to Russell greatly.

The Doctor is not the last of the Time Lords according to the dying Face of Boe. On the “big old Face” revealing his secret, the Doctor seemed a bit slow on the uptake. A bit “thickety, thick, thick”! It didn’t seem to register with the Gallifreyan, or he couldn’t bring himself to believe it possible. Why Boe has to be so enigmatic, when he could simply say there’s another Time lord out there besides yourself, and by the way it’s your arch nemesis, is dubious. He’s only being cagey so as not to reveal this major surprise to those who don’t already know when there ought to be a plot reason for withholding the identity of the second Time Lord. A really nice touch in “Gridlock” was the naming of the older lesbian couple, Alice and May. These are the same Christian names Russell gave two of the three Harkness women in his 1993 children’s serial “Century Falls” and, what’s more, May is played by the same actress, Georgine Anderson, in both productions. It hints subtly at the return of Captain Jack just as the Face of Boe hints at the return of the Master.

“What the Hell are They?”

“Gridlock” sees the Doctor return to New Earth this Saturday, grid reference “slap bang in the middle of New New York”, at the later time of 7:40pm, unless he stops off to watch the beautiful game, in which case the TARDIS is going to arrive a week late. Let’s hope the Face of Boe doesn’t mind being kept waiting. One thing’s for sure, any postponement will play havoc with the “Radio Times” impending Dalek cover. It might even mean a second issue of the “Doctor Who Magazine” being delayed a week, in order to avoid any premature revelations!

The episode itself looks promising. Or rather, the imagery does. David Tennant has referenced Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” but, from what I’ve seen, it looks more like Luc Besson’s “The Fifth Element”. Both films, though, owe much to Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis”. The Doctor’s coat does look a bit Harrison Ford, which is preferable to Bruce Willis, while the vehicles seem to belong more to the French director’s effort. No sign of this blog’s resident eye Milla Jovovich dropping in, however! I have to admit disappointment that no one has ever enquired about the evil one!!

Ardal O’Hanlon is the main attraction, this week, appearing as cat man Thomas Kincade Brannigan. It’s preferable that he’s best known for playing Father Dougal McGuire in “Father Ted” rather than George Sunday, aka Thermoman, in “My Hero”! My personal preference, though, is for his portrayal of Eamon Donaghy in the excellent first series of ITV1’s “Big Bad World”. The second series wasn’t bad, exactly, just didn’t live up to expectation. And, scoring his hat trick, football permitting, Struan Rodger reprises his role as the Face…

Happy Birthday, Peter!

56 Today!

In Remembrance

I’m saddened to report the death of actor George Sewell, who passed away on Sunday, 1st April, aged 82. To most science fiction fans, he’ll be best remembered as Colonel Alec Freeman in Gerry Anderson’s “UFO”. It’s less than two years since the world lost his acting colleagues on that series, Ed Bishop who played Commander Ed Straker and Michael Billington who appeared as Colonel Paul Foster, so now all three leads of the classic show are no longer with us. George appeared in the first seventeen of the twenty-six episodes that comprise “UFO”. The reason he didn’t complete the series was the closure of MGM’s British Studios. This caused a hiatus in production during which he naturally moved on to other projects.

George first came to Gerry Anderson’s notice when he appeared as the tough EUROSEC security chief Mark Neuman in Anderson’s late-Sixties’ live-action science fiction feature “Doppelgänger”, aka “Journey to the Far Side of the Sun”. But, in the movie world, he will undoubtedly be best remembered for his notable part as Con McCarty, opposite Michael Caine, in Mike Hodges’ cult thriller “Get Carter”.

“Doctor Who” fans will remember George for his terrific portrayal of the misguided Ratcliffe in the 1988 Sylvester McCoy serial “Remembrance of the Daleks”. Those of you with ITV3 may well have caught Mr Sewell’s episode of “Rising Damp”, “The Prowler”, with dear old Leonard Rossiter, during one of its many repeats! George also appeared in the superior 1985 version of “Bleak House”, as Rouncewell, alongside Denholm Elliott and Diana Rigg. The general public will perhaps best remember him, though, for his starring role as Detective Chief Inspector Alan Craven in Euston Films’ “Special Branch” series. A fine actor.

The Taming of Doctor Who

Whereas I felt the opening story of the current series of “Doctor Who” bettered its predecessors, this year’s reworking of “The Unquiet Dead”, retitled “The Shakespeare Code”, seemed to lack the magic it was reassuringly denying. I wish Executive Producer Russell T Davies would break away from the formulaic “Doctor Who” he is regurgitating. He takes the first three episodes from his original run, jumbles them up just a bit, and dumps them straight back into place for each new season! What’s the point of having his entire team straining at the bit to produce something visually spectacular when all the ideas are old hat? It might have been more surprising, for example, if the witches had eventually turned out to actually be the Gelth, or their ancestors if we have to be so linear in a time-travel drama, trying to break through in an earlier period, with the revelation being the need for the involvement of a writer to achieve this. Hence the original participation of Dickens, and latterly the Bard; the reasoning being that creativity in the written idea can bring about the creation of life.

As it was, the biggest surprise of the second episode was the brief involvement of Donald Pleasence’s daughter Angela, at the story’s close, as Queen Elizabeth. I hadn’t heard about her casting and checked the closing credits to make sure I was right because I wondered, immediately, why an actress with her track record would agree to take on such a small part. She was Nigel Hawthorne’s wife, Susan Grantly, in “The Barchester Chronicles”, admittedly a quarter of a century ago, and the drug-addled Molly, mother of golden-haired Eppie, in “Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe”, to name but two of her most memorable roles, and perhaps the most accomplished player in “The Shakespeare Code”! That’s not to take anything away from the two main guest stars. They were both on fine form though I thought Christina Cole the better of the two. That might simply be because she was the baddie, and got to chew the scenery, but Dean Lennox Kelly had most of the best lines, not surprisingly as they were nearly all written by a certain William Shakespeare!!

The effect of Queen Elizabeth’s entrance and attitude, upon this viewer, was not dissimilar to that induced by Donna at the end of last season (continuing into the Christmas “special”). A silly woman in an even sillier frock giving the poor young Doc a piece of her mind and him the appearance of a harried man eager to scarper. Any serious intent was thus scuppered, undermined once again, in favour of a cheap laugh. It was the same last week with the shrill Annalise designed to hit the same raw nerve as Jackie. The government must love this programme’s recycling policy! What is it with RTD and this strange view he has of women? I reckon he only made this episode in order to have a few of the male extras in skirts down on film for posterity! You’re a bit late there Russell, me old chum, as John Nathan Turner’s beaten you to that one. Take a closer look at “Remembrance of the Daleks”.

A man drowning on dry land was done in the Jon Pertwee story “The Mind of Evil” whilst an arrow piercing the door of the TARDIS was last seen in “Silver Nemesis”! Then it was handled more evocatively and on a much smaller budget. Mr Davies has gone on record as saying this series is more of the same as his last two, only bigger. I think he said bigger and not better which is a shame as the two are definitely not the same thing. Different and smaller might’ve meant more interesting. In “Doctor Who Confidential”, immediately following “The Shakespeare Code” over on BBC Three, the evening’s episode was likened to a Hammer horror film. Which one, I wonder? All the ones I know are beautifully-gothic romances, strong in the fright department, and preferably with a music score by James Bernard. Vampires inspired by Mr Stoker with plenty of bite! Now, where’s my copy of “Taste the Blood of Dracula”?..!!

The Shakespeare Code - In Pictures

The Play’s the Thing - Episode Two Trailer

The time is out of joint. Oh, cursèd spite
That ever I was born to set it right!

Dean Lennox Kelly guest stars as William Shakespeare in the second episode of the third series of new “Doctor Who”, “The Shakespeare Code”. I’m unfamiliar with this actor’s work, although I know his name. Despite enjoying previous productions involving David Threlfall, Maggie O’Neill and “Cracker” writer Paul Abbott, I’ve never watched an episode of “Shameless”, all the way through, due to my aversion to dramas relentlessly set on housing estates! Therefore, I’m unfamiliar with Dean’s main claim to fame, to date.

The supporting actress in the latest episode is Christina Cole, in this case a name with which I’m unfamiliar, although I’ve seen some of her work! Last year, on television, she appeared as Blanche Ingram in the BBC’s excellent adaptation of “Jane Eyre” while, in the cinema, she was the Ocean Club Receptionist in Bond comeback “Casino Royale”. “Doctor Who” isn’t her first brush with fantasy as she played Cassie Hughes in eight episodes of “Hex”. In “The Shakespeare Code”, she plays the lead female witch Lilith. Both actors can be seen at the usual time of 7pm, this Saturday, on BBC1. Miss it at your peril!

Smith and Jones - In Pictures

When Two Worlds Collide…

This trailer takes us right up to the end of the latest third series of “Doctor Who” including brief clips of Sir Derek Jacobi as the Professor in episode eleven, toasting “Utopia”, and the appearance of “Life on Mars” actor John Simm, as “Mr Saxon”, in the final two episodes. John doesn’t say anything but appears to be on a television monitor presumably partaking in a spot of political campaigning! I think that’s what they call it when power-mad peeps try to suppress the rights of the individual!!

Also featured are John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, returning to the show only to find it severely changed, personnel wise! How on Earth is he going to recognise anyone? Will he like Martha as much as he did Rose? Will he wanna kiss Davey-boy as much as he did Chris?!! All pertinent questions! Me, I wonder how Rose feels knowing she will never learn the secret the Face of Boe is waiting to impart in episode three!!

Mark Gatiss looks on fine form in episode six as Dr Lazarus. Interesting that he’s acting in the series this year, having narrated “Confidential” last year, whereas Tony Head, having acted in the show last year, is narrating “Confidential” this year! Simon Pegg managed both in the first year appearing as the Editor in “The Long Game” whilst also narrating “Confidential”!! Enough plugs for the BBC THREE documentary series!!!

Best of all, the 82-second trailer, which is available on loop to Sky and Virgin subscribers but not Freeview users, includes brief footage of delectable “Spooks” actress Miranda Raison as a showgirl in the Dalek episodes, who seem to be whizzing about all over the place exterminating everything in sight. Regular readers of my blog will know I’m rather partial to naughty Miranda! I demand to be transported back to 1930s New York this minute!! I don’t mind fending off the Pig Men to save her!!!

More curiously, the Doctor seems to be with someone in a wedding dress… again! It’s not Donna. Her name’s Joan and she’s played by Jessica Stevenson, who’s just tied the knot for real herself, in the two-part story by Paul Cornell. Could the Time Lord really be considering taking a wife, getting married, a mortgage, settling down and all that?!! He did mention something of the sort in “The Impossible Planet”. Even more curiously, he tells Martha he’s not the Doctor! Who is he then, Tony Blair? Watch and enjoy!!!

Just Jones

Walking on the Moon

With “Smith and Jones”, “Doctor Who” was back with a bang! A better season opener than either of its two predecessors, I only wish an episode as strong as this had heralded the programme’s return a couple of years back. It got the balance right between domestic and universal. Martha’s family problems were only allowed to top and tail the episode not dominate the entire proceedings. What happened in-between highlighted the triviality of those everyday concerns.

The problem, of course, is that Martha’s family follows Rose’s, which on paper makes it sound like a new family has moved into the square, umm… street, sorry TARDIS! If Rose’s family hadn’t preceded Martha’s I wouldn’t be focusing on it now because, despite Martha’s Dad’s airhead bimbo of a girlfriend, her family weren’t overwhelming for the viewer even if they were for each other!

Russell wrote Roy Marsden out too quickly for my liking, also, which is another trait of new “Who”. Every year this happens with only a short amount of airtime given to quality guests such as Richard Wilson and Don Warrington. Good actors obviously don’t come cheap so I suspect they’re hired for a short space of time in order to lay claim to having had them on the show! Anyway, Roy had the best line, at least the one that made me laugh-out-loud, albeit lifted from “Fawlty Towers”, as he walked away from patient “John Smith” recommending a full psychiatric review!!

Anne Reid was the main guest of the episode and she clearly relished her role. She was more memorable in this than “The Curse of Fenric” although I’m not for one minute saying that “Smith and Jones” is better than my favourite McCoy serial. And Freema was terrific. For my money, miles better than Rose because she is playing an intellectually, not emotionally, more intelligent character and hopefully won’t be prone to bouts of tears every few minutes.

I hope the audience picked up on all the clues. The Doctor’s passing reference to once having had a brother. Now, I wonder who that could be?!! That could be the red herring that RTD has slipped in to put the fan forums into meltdown, never to be mentioned again, or might conceivably be connected to the posters in the alleyways urging us to vote Saxon! As I’m sure everyone knows by now, a certain actor from “Life on Mars” has been cast to play the villainous black-suited Mr Saxon in the final two episodes. Now, again, I wonder who Saxon could really be?!!

I really hope the rest of the season is as strong as the first episode and doesn’t let up like it did after the black hole story last year. Even so, I couldn’t help thinking “Smith and Jones” would’ve made an even better four-parter with the cliff-hangers coming where Florence is revealed to be more than just a little old lady, where the marvellous Judoon march inexorably towards Martha, the audience in the knowledge she contains Time Lord DNA, and finally, and very traditionally, where the Doctor is believed dead. However, “Doctor Who” seems very much back on his/its feet, with or without trainers!!!