I am – Hercules!!
While we here in America are watching the 27th season of “Doctor Who” on the SciFi Channel, the wily Brits have already seen “Doctor Who” 28.3. The verdict …
“Kelvington” says:
Doctor Who – School Reunion
First let me say I love Liz Sladen, so anything else I say in this review is going to be coloured by the fact I absolutely love Liz.
Tonight’s episode of “Doctor Who” starts out great with Anthony Stewart Head being a killer Headmaster of a middle school. Then come the title credits, followed by a scene right out of “Raiders of The Lost Ark”. Unless you got the Tardisode on your mobile you have very little idea why The Doctor is teaching a physics course, or why Rose is mucking out food in the cafeteria. A few lines of dialog do try to fill you in, but this is an ugly start to an otherwise good episode.
We then get to see some rather nasty food additive burn away at one of the cooking staff, complete with screams and smoke. It seems the worker does that you know.
Finally after a scene of kids putting on headphones and watching some matrix-esque screen savers. We are reintroduced to Miss Sara-Jane Smith, looking as lovely as she did years ago in the Pertwee era.
Now comes the bit of the episode I didn’t like at all. Sara-Jane is introduced to “John Smith”, The Doctor’s current and previous alias. Why doesn’t The Doctor say, “It’s me Sara-Jane”. Don’t give me this BS about not being a good time or anything. They are old friends and companions. It doesn’t take her long to figure out there’s something about this “John Smith”. But still it’s my least favorite moment.
The Doctor, Rose and Ricky (why THIS Doctor has taken a shine to him is beyond me) start to investigate the school at night, as does Sara-Jane. During this bit, is when Sara-Jane stumbles upon the TARDIS. From that point on the show is off and running, including the reappearence, of the worst kept secret in the UK, of K-9.
Overall this episode should be given kudos for linking to the old series. Liz Sladen hasn’t missed a beat and easily falls right back into the role of Sara-Jane. Even K-9 and his laser get into the act later on. I can’t say I loved this episode, but I did enjoy it, about as much as any school reunion can be enjoyed.
One special note should be made of Buffy alumni Anthony Stewart Head, who as has been suggested many times over the last few weeks, he would make a perfect Master. While this episode doesn’t leave that open for possibility, one cleverly written line of dialogue should do the trick. “A new body”.
Just my 2¢
“Amir” says:
School Reunion
Right off the bat: it's the best Doctor Who episode this series. Last week's one was quite a lot of fun, but this had some moments of great humour mixed with some really hard-hitting emotional interludes.
I was worried the episode would be a bit cliched (creepy-goings on in a school with a weird headmaster (Anthony Head chewing scenery wonderfully) who remarks how "thin" the kids are, super-intelligent children, etc.), but things really stepped up a gear once the Doctor ran into an old companion...
"Sarah Jane Smith..." David Tennant's reaction to seeing her was just brilliant. I wasn't sure about how David Tennant would compare to Christopher Eccleston, but while they both play the Doctor differently, they're both amazing at what they do. The Doctor's undercover at the school since Mickey has reported some weird goings-on occurring around the area (UFO sightings, exam grades going through the roof, etc.). Anyway, the Doctor and Rose stay behind after school to investigate and whatnot, and while Sarah Jane is doing her own thing, she stumbles across... the TARDIS.
I was worried that I would get bored of the Sarah Jane complaining that the Doctor just left her, but writer Toby Whithouse really did his work, with Sarah Jane really seeming hurt that the Doctor has never mentioned to her Rose. However, the Doctor doesn't have long to be amazed at the reappearance of one former companion, as here comes K-9! "Why does he look so... disco?" Rose's comment upon seeing the "tin dog" was just hilarious! The classic self-deprecating British humour just doesn't get old. While I found the character of Mickey rather superfluous beforehand, one of the best parts of this episode was when he realises just what a chump he is: "I'm the tin dog".
Next day, it's the first showdown between the Doctor and the Headmaster. Turns out they're some alien composite species, meaning they change appearance over generations by gradually taking the form of the other races they conquer. The "Old West" style music was a nice touch (an even nicer touch was the marvellous use of Ennio Morricone's theme from "Once Upon A Time In The West" on Doctor Who Confidential). After a school lockdown and some chasing, it turns out the kids are being used as computers to crack the "Godmaker" code. When the Doctor tries to stop these aliens from doing so since they could, well, play God and mould and bend the space/time continuum (a nice catch-all sci-fi phrase) to their will, he's presented with a difficult choice by the villain: the Headmaster offers him his place by his side, and while that in itself is hardly novel, he's offering him the chance to use such powers for good: the Doctor could become a benevolent God, saving those he loves (e.g. Sarah Jane and Rose) from death, and preventing even the destruction of the Timelords. But it takes Sarah Jane to make him realise that pain and loss are integral to life.
One final chase, and in steps K-9, to save the day by blowing up the school, with the Doctor being forced to leave him behind. K-9.3's death really did bring a tear to my eye ("Bad Dog!", "Affirmative", which is something as these robot companions are usually rubbish. The biggest emotional moment was the the parting of the ways between the Doctor and Sarah Jane, as he finally says goodbye to her.
A brilliant episode, to be followed by alien encounters in Georgian England...
