I'm thinking 90s film (or TV?), not particularly highbrow.
Blonde, pretty actress, playing a 'ditsy' and comedic role. Quite softly spoken, London accent. Maybe in her 30s. I think the character couldn't see very well and had to put on glasses to see but didn't wear them as a rule.
The character or actress might be called Grace? But that could be a complete red herring.
I've done some Googling to no avail.
Thanks in advance. No idea why this film or actress popped into my head, but the fact that I can't recall it is really frustrating.
UPDATE: Thanks for the suggestions. It was Camille Coduri.

With this post, we view The Stolen Earth and discuss any aspect of that televised Doctor Who adventure. Strictly (if you wish) you are given a week to view this story, on or around Saturday July 14-July 21, 2022. The sharp-eyed among you will notice that date has passed... it doesn't really matter, we'll catch up. (I've been a bit busy.) Do look on the master list to see the full schedule (link below) all the way into early August if you want to keep exactly on top of it. And of course, as ever, there is no requirement to view the story at all in order to join any discussion. You can do both, either or neither!
Please feel free to add below any comments or impressions of yours relating to this Doctor Who adventure.
For information about the Channel of Doom, see the main post here: https://www.reddit.com/gallifrey/comments/m0yj37/channel_of_doom_the_random_adventures_of_tvs/
The Stolen Earth (198)
Session 71: Saturday, July 16, 2022:
When Earth and twenty-six other planets are stolen and taken to the Medusa Cascade and the Doctor is nowhere in sight, it's up to the combined forces of UNIT, Torchwood, Sarah-Jane and Rose to fight off the thieves, who only have one thing to say to the resistance: "EX-TER-MIN-ATE!"
Episode(s): "The Stolen Earth" (total 45 minutes)
The role of the Doctor is played by David Tennant
Also starring: Catherine Tate – Donna Noble; Billie Piper – Rose Tyler; Freema Agyeman – Martha Jones; John Barrowman – Jack Harkness; Elisabeth Sladen – Sarah Jane Smith; Penelope Wilton – Harriet Jones; Gareth David-Lloyd – Ianto Jones; Eve Myles – Gwen Cooper; Thomas Knight – Luke Smith; Bernard Cribbins – Wilfred Mott; Jacqueline King – Sylvia Noble; Adjoa Andoh – Francine Jones; Julian Bleach – Davros; Michael Brandon – General Sanchez; Andrea Harris – Suzanne; Lachele Carl – Trinity Wells; Richard Dawkins – Himself; Paul O'Grady – Himself; Marcus Cunningham – Drunk Man; Jason Mohammad – BBC newsreader; Paul Kasey – Judoon; Kelly Hunter – Shadow Architect; Amy Beth Hayes – Albino Servant; Gary Milner – Scared Man; Nicholas Briggs – Dalek voices; Alexander Armstrong – Mr Smith; Camille Coduri – Jackie Tyler; Valda Aviks – German Woman; Shobu Kapoor – Scared Woman; Elizabeth Tan – Chinese Woman; Michael Price – Liberian Man; John Leeson – Voice of K9.
Writer RUSSEL T DAVIES
Producer PHIL COLLINSON
Director GRAEME HARPER
Script Editor LINDSEY ALFORD
Executive Producers JULIE GARDNER
Incidental Music MURRAY GOLD
Original transmission: 28 June, 2008.
Title card(s): https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Title_cards/Doctor_Who?file=The-stolen-earth-title-card.jpg; https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Title_cards/Doctor_Who?file=Journey%2527s-end-title-card.jpg
Novelisation: (none to date)
Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stolen_Earth
D.W.Wiki entry: https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/The_Stolen_Earth_(TV_story)
Shannonsullivan.com: http://www.shannonsullivan.com/doctorwho/serials/2008lm.html
Eggylettuce Doctor Who Review: Eggylettuce Doctor Who Review: https://eggylettucewordpresscom.wordpress.com/2021/12/31/dwrr-54-the-stolen-earth/; https://eggylettucewordpresscom.wordpress.com/2021/12/31/dwrr-55-journeys-end/
The Stolen Earth (198)
Session 72: Saturday, July 23, 2022:
All hell has broken loose! Humanity is threatened with global annihilation, as Davros and the New Dalek Empire prepare to detonate a bomb that will wipe out all of existence. The Tenth Doctor is helpless, and the TARDIS faces destruction. The only hope lies with the Doctor's companions — the "Children of Time" — but Dalek Caan predicts that one will die...
Episode(s): "Journey's End" (total 63 minutes)
The role of the Doctor is played by David Tennant
Also starring: Catherine Tate – Donna Noble; Billie Piper – Rose Tyler; Freema Agyeman – Martha Jones; John Barrowman – Jack Harkness; Elisabeth Sladen – Sarah Jane Smith; Penelope Wilton – Harriet Jones; Gareth David-Lloyd – Ianto Jones; Eve Myles – Gwen Cooper; Thomas Knight – Luke Smith; Bernard Cribbins – Wilfred Mott; Jacqueline King – Sylvia Noble; Adjoa Andoh – Francine Jones; Julian Bleach – Davros; Michael Brandon – General Sanchez; Andrea Harris – Suzanne; Lachele Carl – Trinity Wells; Richard Dawkins – Himself; Paul O'Grady – Himself; Marcus Cunningham – Drunk Man; Jason Mohammad – BBC newsreader; Paul Kasey – Judoon; Kelly Hunter – Shadow Architect; Amy Beth Hayes – Albino Servant; Gary Milner – Scared Man; Nicholas Briggs – Dalek voices; Alexander Armstrong – Mr Smith; Camille Coduri – Jackie Tyler; Valda Aviks – German Woman; Shobu Kapoor – Scared Woman; Elizabeth Tan – Chinese Woman; Michael Price – Liberian Man; John Leeson – Voice of K9.
Writer RUSSEL T DAVIES
Producer PHIL COLLINSON
Director GRAEME HARPER
Script Editor LINDSEY ALFORD
Executive Producers JULIE GARDNER
Incidental Music MURRAY GOLD
Original transmission: 5 July, 2008.
Title card(s): https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Title_cards/Doctor_Who?file=The-stolen-earth-title-card.jpg; https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Title_cards/Doctor_Who?file=Journey%2527s-end-title-card.jpg
Novelisation: (none to date)
Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey%27s_End_(Doctor_Who)
D.W.Wiki entry: https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Journey%27s_End_(TV_story)
Shannonsullivan.com: http://www.shannonsullivan.com/doctorwho/serials/2008lm.html
Eggylettuce Doctor Who Review: https://eggylettucewordpresscom.wordpress.com/2021/12/31/dwrr-54-the-stolen-earth/; https://eggylettucewordpresscom.wordpress.com/2021/12/31/dwrr-55-journeys-end/
Latest discussion/news on DW Target novelisations:
https://www.reddit.com/gallifrey/comments/s762r7/new_target_novelisations_listed_on_amazon/
https://www.reddit.com/gallifrey/comments/sa3747/which_chibnall_era_stories_would_you_like_to_see/
All future Doctor Who releases, including Target novelisations:
https://merchandise.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/ and https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_future_releases
Fun stuff:
Individual episode titles for all episodes:
https://www.reddit.com/doctorwho/comments/u75djd/i_made_individual_episode_titles_for_every_story/

S01E04/05: ALIENS OF LONDON / WORLD WAR THREE
Written by: RUSSELL T DAVIES
Directed by: KEITH BOAK
Starring: CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON, BILLIE PIPER, CAMILLE CODURI, NOEL CLARKE & PENELOPE WILTON

The series’ first two-parter seems to garner a bit of a negative reputation as being overly silly and too full of RTD camp, most notably with its farting aliens - is it really that bad?
I’m going to be reviewing it as one whole story for the most part, but I will talk about the two separate episodes at some points where it feels relevant.

This episode begins with a great pre-titles sequence. It’s such a great setup and makes for a brilliant use of the running gag of the Doctor getting the flight wrong. That dark chord when the Doctor sees the missing person poster always gives me chills. I think the scene is played brilliantly by Camille Coduri and lays the groundwork for the fractured relationship between her and Rose that is explored throughout the rest of the episode.
The scene later on with Jackie and Rose crying in the kitchen is genuinely emotional because you can really feel the torment that Jackie has obviously been subjected to over the last year, and the struggle that Rose has, wanting to tell her mum the truth but knowing that realistically she can’t. I think it’s a great exploration of the real-world ramifications of travelling in the TARDIS, and makes the character of Rose so much more real and relatable. The audience shares her perspective, having seen the adventures and excitement that this life offers but also not wanting her to hurt the people around her, mirroring Rose’s own internal struggle. This whole dynamic between Rose and Jackie (and to a lesser extent, Mickey) becomes the main character drama throughout and really helps to give it a really personal aspect to a bombastic high-stakes story.

Speaking of the bombastic story, this is another example of the production team going all out and not holding back. Even though we spend most of part two running down cabinet corridors, it never felt cheap to me and it actually adds a kind of claustrophobia to the episode, as the characters are basically trapped inside the villains’ lair. The boldness to straight-up destroy Big Ben in episode 4 is so admirably ambitious, and I honestly adore this sequence. Rose saying how she is the only person on planet earth to know aliens exist then smash-cutting to a spaceship roaring overhead is a brilliant bit of comedy and it always puts a smile on my face. The CGI on the spaceship looks pretty decent I think, and the model shot of it smashing into Big Ben is nothing short of iconic (I don’t even mind that the numbers are flipped because it just looks so damn good). I think it’s a great set-piece and is a great in-your-face, exciting way of getting the A-plot in motion. It really sells the scale of the event so the mass panic that ensues feels completely justified (which is incredibly important for the plot regarding the villains’ plan).
Something this story does so well is managing to expertly intertwine this bombastic, action-packed sci-fi with the mundane and domestic. For example, there’s something so brilliantly normal about Rose’s suggestion of watching the news coverage when she and the Doctor are unable to get onto the crash site (it also begins a trend in this era of using TV news as a quick and efficient way of introducing set-up or exposition, even if there is a slight over-reliance on it later down the line).
Aliens of London does a great job of building the mystery all the way to that cliffhanger ending where we get our first proper look at the Slitheen. It’s obvious that Russell wanted to go all out with this ending, giving us a three-pronged cliffhanger with the Doctor, Rose and Harriet, and Jackie all in danger. Compared to later cliffhangers, it is arguably a little slow in its execution, but I’m tempted to overlook this because it allows for the team to milk it for all its potential. The cutting between these three scenes does wonders for the building tension, only allowing us pieces of them at a time. The scene in the cabinet room is particularly tense as Annette Badland’s Margaret radiates such sinister glee as she reveals herself as a villain. Equally, the Doctor’s realisation of ‘Us. They get us.’ makes me genuinely uncomfortable, as you see the dread sweep across Eccleston’s face. A great cliffhanger, ruined only by the fact that there’s a Next Time trailer straight afterwards that shows everyone safe and sound. (Also, it might be a nitpick but I think World War Three should have opened with the recap of the previous episode, then into the titles, and then have the resolution, that just feels like the right way to do it, I don’t know?)

I’m just going to say it - I think the Slitheen are great. They make for fantastic villains in this story and are a unique and interesting addition to the canon of new series monsters. Despite the perceived goofiness of them, I think they are genuinely intimidating in this story, and have a great presence and memorability, which is more than can be said of a lot of other new villains. The sheer fact that they skin their victims and then wear it as a disguise obviously borrows some ideas from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre but I don’t think is properly appreciated for the truly horrific concept that it actually is. I find them to be well-written, with their (actually really imaginative and unique) plan of faking an alien invasion and using the world’s terror to its advantage, in order to destroy the earth and sell it for profit. The whole concept of these ‘politicians’ faking a threat and utilising the public’s fear for their own gain is honestly a great bit of political commentary regarding the (then-recent) invasion of Iraq and the conspiracy theories surrounding 9/11 being an orchestrated attack by the US government. I’m genuinely surprised that the BBC actually allowed this, but I think that Davies perhaps intentionally turned up the silliness to distract from this so it got the green light from higher-ups. Speaking of…
Okay, the farting. I’m in two minds about this. It is very childish and they definitely overuse it (especially in Aliens of London, meaning some of the jokes can be a little grating) but to be honest, it’s never really bothered me, definitely not to the extent that it seems to some people. I find it kind of harmless because it was obviously intended to give the show some silliness which was no doubt enjoyed by kids watching. I think it also works to show that something here is wrong, not that the farting itself is scary, but the irreverence of it can actually skew things slightly, making things potentially uncomfortable. I don’t think the silly aspects of these villains detract all that much from how unsettling they really are. I think the performances from David Verrey (Joseph Green) and Annette Badland (Margaret Blaine) in particular do so much to sell this idea. The Slitheen are clearly having so much fun with what they are doing, which creates a really creepy tone (particularly in the final moments of episode 4), but also means that the darker moments have so much more weight.
The Slitheen’s design is absolutely beautiful. The prosthetics team are on top form here, yet again. They managed to create these great, hulking monsters with their claws and giant eyes on their big green baby faces - I just love that design. There is definitely a disconnect between the slick CGI versions that are running through the corridors and the actual costumes that are used for most of their scenes. This is a shame because it makes those costume versions look kind of bumbling and less of a threat when compared to the CGI versions that are smashing down doors and running on all fours. I actually like both versions (even if the CG is very unpolished) but it’s a shame that there’s so much of a contrast between the two.
I wasn’t sure about my feelings on the design of the Space Pig, however. I like this of an ordinary creature being taken and stitched together in a different form (Another dark, horror-esque concept that I don’t think gets its dues). I also like the subversion of its reveal, which is somewhat comic and sweet, as we expect to see something alien and it’s instead just a little pig. I’ve warmed to the design after thinking about it for a bit, as I suppose given that the concept of the creature, it should sort of resemble a kind of taxidermy pig which it definitely does.

Penelope Wilton’s Harriet Jones is a great addition to the story’s cast. Davies actually wrote the part specifically for Wilton and intended for the character to give the world of Downing Street some heart and integrity. I think this really shines through in the actor’s performance. She is immediately likeable and has a lot of charm, also providing a lot of the episode’s laughs, and proving to be actually useful and instrumental to the plot’s resolution. Her fear after seeing the Slitheen unmask and murder the general, breaking down on Rose, feels so genuine and further sells the horror of the Slitheen in the story. I’m glad that she had a chance to return in future stories as she is a delight to watch in these episodes.

I do find the main plot’s conclusion a little goofy (especially with Mickey being able to become a super hacker with one password and firing a missile at Downing Street). This said, it doesn’t just come out of nowhere, as it’s clearly linked to the Slitheen’s actual plan, I’m just not sure how well it actually works.

There are some brilliant moments of humour in this story (aside from the obvious hilarity of the farting!!!). There are some great bits of almost-slapstick comedy peppered throughout (many of which revolve around Eccleston’s Doctor); goofily waving at the paparazzi; the lift scene; all the soldiers pausing then pointing their guns at him etc. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Russell T Davies script if it didn’t also include a heap of brilliant comedic lines. Some of my favourites:
‘You think you know your own name, how stupid are you?’
‘You been seeing anyone else’ ‘No… mainly cos everyone thinks I murdered you’
‘He had a wife, a mistress and a young farmer. God, I was busy…’
But my gag of the episode(s) is a line that never fails to get a laugh out of me:
‘I think you’ll find the Prime Minister is an alien in disguise and… That’s never gonna work, is it?’
In contrast, there are some great dramatic moments too. Both the ‘Is my daughter safe?’ and ‘I could save the world but lose you.’ scenes have so much weight to them, and there are great performances from all involved. Of course, Eccleston is great here but I think it is really sold by the desperation from Camille Coduri as Jackie.
I think Coduri is a woefully underrated part of the first two series and is often written off as annoying or the writers ‘trying to be funny’, but, to me, she is much more than that. I find that there is a lot of heart to Jackie, and she almost becomes a physical embodiment of the domesticity that Rose is trying to get away from, and there’s so much emotional narrative that is explored through that character and her relationships with others. This is brilliantly demonstrated in the story’s final scene as Jackie is left waiting and not knowing yet again. Coduri is incredibly subtle in her performance here but it’s honestly heartbreaking to see her just shrug and walk back inside after Rose’s broken promise. This scene (and this whole story) is a perfect example of the benefits of having a focus on the companion’s family, and the impact that their travels in the TARDIS have on the people around them.

If I had to pick, I’d say Aliens of London is the stronger of the two, as its main job is to build up the mystery around the plot, to which it does a great job. I think World War Three is lacking somewhat and seems to slow down in the middle, but this is made up for by some incredible scenes. Both episodes have some really great moments, so I think they are probably pretty evenly matched. The political commentary on the war on terror is done really well and not too in-your-face, which makes for a welcome addition to the story, giving an extra layer for older viewers.
I do think this story is unfairly bashed as there is a lot to love about it once you get over some of its goofiness (and if you can’t do that then why are you watching Doctor Who?)

S01E04: ALIENS OF LONDON - 8/10
S01E05: WORLD WAR THREE - 8/10
OVERALL: 8/10

.

Starting 26th March (the anniversary of the first broadcast of Series 1 back in 2005), I have decided to go back and rewatch every episode of New Who. Each week I will be reviewing and sharing my thoughts on each adventure, considering how well they stand up after their original broadcast. I'm not a professional critic or writer and this is mostly for the purpose of honing in on my media analysis skills (as well as an excuse to go back and watch Doctor Who). At the moment, these posts are not going to be properly structured reviews, more a document of my thoughts and feelings on the episode in question.
It would be great if these reviews start a discourse in the comments as I'd love to know what other people's opinions on the episodes are, and if you agree or disagree with any of my points, so please share any thoughts you have (same goes for technical feedback on the reviews).

In this post, we view Love & Monsters and discuss any aspect of that televised Doctor Who adventure. Strictly (if you wish) you are given a week to view this story, on or around July 31. Of course there is no requirement to view the story in order to join any discussion. You can do both, either or neither!
Some possible discussion topics about this adventure may appear here over the next few days, if you cannot think of any. (Depending how busy I am.)
For information about the Channel of Doom, see the main post here: https://www.reddit.com/gallifrey/comments/m0yj37/channel_of_doom_the_random_adventures_of_tvs/
Love & Monsters (175)
Elton Pope sees a photograph of the Doctor and recalls seeing the same man in his house when he was a child. A group who have similarly encountered the Doctor is formed. Soon that meeting is joined by a very peculiar man indeed...
Episode: Love & Monsters (45:00”): (45 minutes total)
The role of the Doctor is played by David Tennant.
Also starring Billie Piper, Marc Warren, Camille Coduri, Peter Kay, Shirley Henderson, Simon Greenall, Moya Brady, Kathryn Drysdale.
Writer RUSSELL T DAVIES
Producer PHIL COLLINSON
Director JAMIE CHILDS
Executive Producers RUSSELL T DAVIES, JULIE GARDNER
Script Editor SIMON WINSTONE
Original transmission: 17 June, 2006.
Title card: https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Title_cards/Doctor_Who?file=Love-%2526amp%253B-monsters-title-card.jpg
Novelisation: (none to date)
Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_%26_Monsters
D.W.Wiki entry: https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Love_%26_Monsters_(TV_story)
Shannonsullivan.com: http://www.shannonsullivan.com/doctorwho/serials/2006j.html
To see the schedule for following weeks: https://www.reddit.com/gallifrey/comments/m0yj37/channel_of_doom_the_random_adventures_of_tvs/
Please add your message to the page linked above if want to recommend any adventures of Doctor Who - from all the way across their long and extraordinary life - to this viewing list!

Previous session: Session 20
Next session: Sessions 22-24
Archive link for earlier sessions

With Ravagers out on Thursday, I've ranked all of the Ninth Doctor stories. Here are the top 25.

The Clockwise Man - well-written story with good atmosphere and twists. The Doctor and Rose are perfectly characterised and the beginning intriguing, although the ending is rather drawn-out.
What I Did on My Christmas Holidays – Moffat reused a lot of this for Blink, and it’s not hard to see why. The concept and prose are top-rate, and for a story of only a few pages it’s rather good.
Monstrous Beauty – The Ninth Doctor’s main contribution to Time Lord Victorious, and it starts off feeling quite important and lively. Unfortunately, the next two editions of the comic are a bit shorter and don’t do quite enough with the Gallifreyans, although the Vampires are well-served. One of the better parts of TLV.
The Other Side – the Adam audio. Decent plot, fits in nicely, great chemistry between the TARDIS team. Adam is quite well-served and Langley is good in the role here.
Night of the Whisper – One of the better releases in the Destiny of the Doctor series, even though it’s the only one without a companion actor.
The Beast of Babylon – I think this story will be the most similar to Ravagers, due to being space and time hopping and not being throw-away. Set in the closing moments of Rose, Charlie Higson writes an on-point goofy Ninth Doctor and adds in a fascinating and unique character in the form of Ali.
The Bleeding Heart – Actually a good story. Briggs puts in a strong performance, and the sound design and music is suitable. Surprisingly touching.
The Stealers of Dreams – Interesting dystopian concept with some clear messages about fiction and reality. The novel excels with The Doctor, Rose and Jack and has some great twists.
Aliens of London/World War Three – Yes, it has farting aliens but it’s so much fun and a nice New Labour allegory. I genuinely like the Slitheen, it develops the main characters for the series and Penelope Wilton is superb.
Doctormania – One of the best Ninth Doctor comics. It’s fast, exciting and colourful.
Retail Therapy – Camille Coduri returns as the fabulous Jackie Tyler in this constantly funny script by James Goss, who obviously understands the working-class nature of the RTD era. Jackie gets some great lines, and her relationship with her daughter is nicely explored.
The End of the World – Completely underrated story which is fabulously scripted with some intriguing aliens. It has funny, thrilling and emotional moments.
Battle Scars – The other Ninth Doctor Short Trip focuses on the Daniels Family from Southampton and the Titanic. Battle Scars is extremely well-written, gentle and poignant.
The Winner Takes All – Although it’s obviously aimed at a younger audience, the book is so much fun. If you’re a fan of video games and are nostalgic for the mid-2000s, this one is for you.
Rose and the Snow Window – Jenny Colgan’s story, like the best of Ninth Doctor material, fits in with Series 1 seamlessly. The best characterisation of Rose is on display here – she’s intelligent, flirtatious, and completely down to Earth. The story has enough depth with some great imagery and very readable prose.
Rose (TV) – People forget just how great this is at reintroducing Doctor Who on TV. Introduces so many memorable characters and is very well-structured.
Pitter-Patter – This is a really good short story from Robert Shearman. Mature and serious with some brilliant prose and imagery, every single line in this story has a purpose. The threat is unique, and the only issue is the resolution is rather quick.
The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances – Right, something to confess. I never really understood why people loved this one so much, particularly as I knew most of the story and memorable moments after reading them in the Doctor Who Adventures Magazine as a child. On re-watch, this is a very well-crafted script (the humour, sex-references, scary moments, and war themes) with superb acting. I may not love it as much as some, but it’s still great.
The Cruel Sea – Another Rob Shearman story, this time a comic. The Cruel Sea is incredibly imaginative, and knocks the socks off all the other comics on this list. Cracking imagery, haunting and unique.
Father’s Day – Strong emotional episode that always resonates with me. Good performances all round.
Only Human – Easily the boldest novel on this list. Many funny moments which feel completely in line with the RTD era. Rather unique, what’s not to love about a story with Cavemen?
Dalek – Come, on. Do I need to even say anything about this one?
Rose (Novel) – This would have been my second if I hadn’t read the Dalek novel. Coming twelve years after the TV episode, RTD gets to add in new fun details and make some striking changes. It reads like this is what he would do if he had another go. I could hardly put it down and fell in love with it.
Dalek (Novel) – Wow. I was expecting good things, obviously, but this far surpassed my expectations. The pacing is *perfect* and the novel retains all the great moments and imagery of the TV episode, while adding some amazing backstories to the characters. The prose is so very readable, and somehow manages to keep the episode’s claustrophobic feel. Incredible.
Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways – Greatest episode of all time. Rivalled only by Day of the Doctor, the series finale is perfect. I could rant and rave about these episodes forever; the acting, dialogue, sets, costumes, music, everything. I get transported to Satellite Five every time I watch it. Fantastic.

What do you think of this list? What are your favourite Ninth Doctor stories, particularly those from the expanded universe? And I have I missed any stories?

Following on from my review of Season One (which you can find here), it’s time to move on, to rank review and rate Season Two, David Tennant’s first season as The Doctor and Billie Piper’s second as companion/major love interest (why tho?) Rose. Much like my last one, this is going to be a long read, so feel free to skip to the shorter rankings and placements at the bottom!
THE CHRISTMAS INVASION (5/10)
The first ever official Christmas episode of Doctor Who, and it’s not the worst thing that Who has done or will do that’s for sure. Rose’s reaction to the Doctor who she was so close with changing into someone else was very well scripted and acted, but the focal point of this episode is introducing the 10th Doctor to the show’s audience – this is a man who should not be crossed, no second chances. His takedown of Harriet Jones, Prime Minister, is brutal to watch mostly because she had a valid point – he won’t always be there to save the Earth so they have to defend themselves. So much for three successive terms. It does a decent job of introducing the sort of person that he would become… in the last third of the episode. Because we spend way too much of this episode watching Rose and her loved ones getting attacked by robot Santas and Christmas trees rather than getting to know the new face we have before us and the Sycorax are one of the most generic villains Who would ever give us. The episode is entirely skippable and quite dull until the Doctor wakes up, which is a shame because it’s supposed to be his first actual story – the only thing that makes this one worth watching for me. Okay, but there would be better Christmas episodes to come.
NEW EARTH (6/10)
I probably like this episode way more than most Who fans. The comedy elements throughout the episode work well and both Tennant and Piper do a brilliant job with the body-switching shenanigans they’re caught up in. This is of course courtesy of returning villain Cassandra whose name was on absolutely nobody’s lips when asked who should return; she does, however, get a surprisingly emotional ending when she meets her past self on the night she was last called beautiful. It’s a moment that really raises this episode up and does Cassandra much better service than The End of the World ever did. However, everything else in the episode is rather uninteresting, with the infected living flesh and Cat-Nuns proving to be the worst parts of this episode and the resolution of a big cocktail with every cure mixed in being an easy RTD ending that doesn’t feel satisfying enough. Solid episode overall, mostly because of the character work between 10, Rose and Cassandra.
TOOTH & CLAW (6/10)
A werewolf. In 19th Century Scotland. Who is coming to kill Queen Victoria and claim the throne. And yet I can’t really remember much about this episode besides Rose’s nakedness, The Doctor’s Scottish accent and them both trying to get Victoria to say ‘I am not amused’ – yes, the highlight of this episode for me was the Doctor and Rose’s shenanigans throughout the episode and their sheer joy at seeing a real life Werewolf. The Wolf is a decent villain for the episode, even if it does spend most of the episode running around the mansion killing off expendable characters. Torchwood is also established in this episode, this season’s overriding arc, and that’s all I have to say about that now. The whole deal with the Monks is completely unneeded and is something that brings the episode down for me, especially the opening scene which is cringey for me. It also suffers from being made in 2006, with the CGI arguably at its worst in NuWho here. Okay, but not really memorable.
SCHOOL REUNION (7.5/10)
I really wanted to give this one a higher rating, but I’ll get to why this episode only has a 7 in a moment. This episode has two major draws for me, the first of which is Sarah Jane Smith – I’ll admit I haven’t really watched Classic who but as a major fan of the Sarah Jane Adventures, anytime I see her on screen I get the biggest grin on my face. The second is Anthony Stewart Head, who is an absolute treasure to watch in anything he does (I should point out that I absolutely adore Buffy) and pulls in a brilliant performance in this episode as the main villain Mr. Finch.
This is an episode that really relies on it’s performances by the cast to pull it up because it has two major issues for me, the first of which is Sarah Jane Smith – I get that RTD really wanted to push the DoctoRose star-crossed lovers relationship thing, but it was at the expense of making Sarah Jane seem like nothing more than a jealous ex-lover of the Doctors’ and is truly a disservice to the character. Secondly, the plot is paper thin – aliens disguised as teachers are feeding children alien oil which makes them smarter to solve the Theory of Everything. I do really like this episode but it’s hard to overlook its flaws.
THE GIRL IN THE FIREPLACE (10/10)
The most emotionally effective episode of Davies’ era, who must have been envious that he didn’t write this one himself. I really can’t find one flaw with this episode so if anyone has any please comment below because there may be something I missed. The Doctor and Reinette have genuine chemistry between each other and work better than him and Rose (maybe because Tennant and Myles were in a relationship at the time) meaning that the dramatic core of the episode really works. Reinette’s letter to the Doctor which closes the episode is an emotional gut punch that feels inevitable and acts as the perfect yet bittersweet ending the episode deserved and the reveal that she ship was named after Antoinette answers any lingering questions without having to explain the answers. The comic relief provided by Mickey and Arthur the horse is also fantastic but also necessary for the episode to work and the Clockwork Robots are an example of a simple enemy with a simple motivation that actually works but is unique compared to other enemies. Tightly paced and brilliantly acted, this was another triumph for Moffat.
RISE OF THE CYBERMEN/THE AGE OF STEEL (7/10)
The first two-parter of the season and I can say, unequivocally that this is Mickey’s story – his character arc really pays off in this two-parter, where he goes from somebody scared who would cling on for safety to a front-line warrior who finally finds his place, even if it is on a different planet. This episode also marks the return of Rose’s dad Pete from Season One, but a parallel version of him, who never died and became really successful, and that’s the only way these episodes use the parallel Earth really because nothing else that could be different is really explored in as much depth as this despite the opportunities. There are some memorable side characters in this episode – Jake in particular (is it just me or was something going on with Ricky and him?) and the ill-fated Mrs Moore who feels like the only notable casualty across both episodes. Also, Rose being Jackie’s pet dog in this universe is a hilarious reveal.
The Cybermen also make their NuWho debut this episode and even though they don’t feature much across the RTD era, they aren’t well handled. They are led by cliché baddie John Lumic, owner of sinister tech company Cybus Industries and possibly the blandest two-parter enemy of the show so far – at least the Slitheen were memorable. It’s an issue with NuWho in general that the Cybermen are often nothing more than henchmen to someone more powerful than them, and this is where that trend started from. However, this is a two-parter that is watchable, but struggles with its bland enemies.
THE IDIOTS LANTERN (4/10)
Mark Gatiss returns to Who to deliver his next offering. And is this episode watchable? Kind of – it’s an episode that is carried largely by more DoctoRose banter between the two and the Wire is a passable, if extremely campy villain (honestly ‘HUNGRY’ as a catchphrase was never going to catch on). I had fun watching it, even if its plot is barely even there – use a big aerial to suck people’s faces while watching the Coronation then… I don’t remember the Wires’ endgame here to be honest. The faceless people could’ve been so much scarier but weren’t. And we can say ‘what was the point of this episode’ about any episode if you’re pedantic enough but really, what was the point of this episode? Don’t watch TV because it’s dangerous? Forgive your abusive and vile father? Again, I can watch this episode, but it draws some negative opinions from me.
THE IMPOSSIBLE PLANET/THE SATAN PIT (9.5/10)
I absolutely love this two-parter and I’d be inclined to say it’s one of the best and well-paced ones of the entire show. The first part is one of those episodes that know exactly how to draw you into the episode – The Doctor and Rose land on an empty base and decide to investigate around eventually finding the Ood and then the crew who are all characters who we genuinely root for and care for in regards to their wellbeing. But this is an episode that build the intrigue fantastically - the Ood and the AI uttering creepy phrases like ‘He is awake’, The Beast reaching out to Toby and Scooti’s horrific death-by-vacuum at the hands of Toby!Beast are all some of the most tense moments of the entire show and fill the audience with dread. It’s an episode that plays out like a horror film in every way right up to the cliffhanger which sees every character in perilous danger at the hands of the Ood.
If The Impossible Planet built up the tension, The Satan Pit allows it all to be released in one of the most action packed 45 minutes the show has ever given us – the crew are wiped out one by one, there’s chase scenes through claustrophobic tunnels and one of the best scenes of the episode, where the Beast talks to the crew for a gripping 5-minutes, and refers to Rose’s upcoming fate – he knows more than The Doctor does, and the episode ends that way too. There’s the gripping conversation between The Doctor and The Beast acting as the joint climax of the episode, which allows Tennant to show off his acting chops once again this season. There’s lots at stake here and tough decisions must be made but it makes for a gripping episode.
I’ll admit that I’m not keen and The Doctor and Rose’s conversation about settling down – the subtleties of Rose and the 9th Doctor’s relationship have completely vanished, and the ending relies on a major convenience in show with the TARDIS being found where the Doctor is. But it’s still a gripping two-part story and remains a favourite of mine to this day.
LOVE & MONSTERS (3/10)
I’m keeping this one short because we all know what’s wrong with this episode – the slab-f***ing joke, the Abzorbaloff is an awful enemy and I get whiplash from the tone of this episode, which goes from comic to dark to dull in the space of a few seconds. I also cannot stand a single member of LINDA. Not. A. Single. One. The one positive I have on this episode is the development of Jackie – one thing I miss from the RTD era is the companions’ connections to Earth and those left behind feel about the fact they may never see that person again. Jackie’s fear for Rose is expertly played and Camille Coduri carries this episode – it’s a shame that that’s the only real diamond in the rough here. And that said rough might be one of the worst crimes committed to TV.
FEAR HER (4/10)
I gave The Idiots Lantern the same rating because I can watch it but it makes me angry in parts in the process. This is the opposite. Can I watch it? Yes, but it literally generates no reaction from me. No fear, despite the title, no emotional or threatening stakes throughout the episode and no real joy from watching it. There are a couple of good comedy moments such as the Doctor parking the TARDIS the wrong way and the drawings were absolutely hilarious looking, although I suspect they weren’t meant to be. But this episode suffers from one of my biggest pet hates about Doctor Who: the ‘love trumps all’ ending which is just lazy and uninspired. And the less said about the child actor the better, except for the fact that she clearly struggled with the whispering her character had to do. Big fat meh from me, although I don’t hate it as much as others do.
ARMY OF GHOSTS/DOOMSDAY (9/10)
I could write pages on this episode, but I’m really going to try and keep this one short.
The emotional payoff of Rose’s arc and hers and the Doctor’s love for each other occurs in these episodes – Rose is sealed off in a parallel universe and they can never see each other again, except for when the walls of the universe are breaking down, or the Doctor crosses his own timeline or burns up a sun to say goodbye. It’s all wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff. But seriously, the scene on Bad Wolf Bad is supremely acted by Tennant and Piper and is as gut wrenching as it could be. Rose is completely broken as is the Doctor and even if I wasn’t a fan of their relationship and thought Piper had better chemistry with Ecclestone than Tennant, I still can’t help but shed a tear. This also means we say goodbye to Jackie and Mickey, both of which grew so much as characters throughout their two seasons on the show.
But that’s not all because two of the most iconic enemies in Doctor Who history return for an explosive two-part finale – the Daleks in the form of the sassy Cult of Skaro, which in my opinion were sorely underused. This feels like the last time the Daleks feel menacing for a long time yet in NuWho. There’s also the Cybermen, who work better here than they did in their previous appearance but still kind of feel underutilized once the Daleks appear. The idea of them appearing on Earth as ghosts and slowly infiltrating their what through is chilling. One of my major gripes with this two-parter is that we could’ve had an all out war between the Daleks and the Cybermen with humanity caught in the crossfire but we instead spend our time in Torchwood Tower, missing out on the action. The climax of them getting sucked into the Void feels a bit too easy, but the sight of both enemies flying back into Torchwood Tower is amusing.
I will admit that its extremely hard to talk about Army of Ghosts because so much of the noteworthy action that happens actually occurs in Doomsday. However, it does feature the reveal of what Torchwood really is except I don’t really care personally, mostly because it felt like a slightly more developed imitation of Season One’s Bad Wolf arc, but part of me feels like Canary Wharf’s Torchwood should’ve stuck around for longer – and I loved Yvonne Hartman and wished she’d made more appearances in Who before the finale because the payoff for the Torchwood arc may have felt more substantial.
Overall, its probably one of the best season finales that RTD had to offer yet it feels like it’s lacking in something, whether that was seeing a big Dalek v Cybermen battle to add some levity to the emotional weight of the episode, but it ends Rose’s arc in a good way.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I feel as though Season Two isn’t as strong overall as its predecessor and the chemistry between Tennant and Piper wasn’t as strong as when Ecclestone was Doctor. This is arguably also Tennant’s worst season in the lead role, but he’s still a joy to watch regardless But Rose was a good companion, the perfect surrogate for the show who was flawed, but ultimately human. The amount of growth that happens in this season, especially with Mickey, was fantastic to watch too. Onwards and upwards though!
FINAL RANKING
The Girl in the Fireplace (10/10)
The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit (9.5/10)
Army of Ghosts/Doomsday (9/10)
School Reunion (7.5/10)
Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel (7/10)
Tooth & Claw (6/10)
New Earth (5/10)
The Christmas Invasion (5/10)
Fear Her (4/10)
The Idiots Lantern (4/10)
Love & Monsters (3/10)
SEASON RANKING
Season 1 (7.6)
Season 2 (6.9)

Doctor Who EU Releases - March 2020

BIG FINISH AUDIO DRAMAS

RANGE	TITLE	WRITERS	DETAILS
The Monthly Adventures	262. Subterfuge	Helen Goldwyn	It is London 1945. The PM Winston Churchill is looking at reelection. His political advisor assures him that Britain has a bright future. At least, that's what the Doctor is hoping for. But the Monk is intefering, and this may turn out to be a very difficult election.
Short Trips	10.3 Decline of the Ancient Mariner	Rob Nisbet	Read by Mark Reynolds, this Third Doctor and Sarah short trip must help out NASA after a probe disappears. The disappearance having dire consequences....but the manner of disappearance is rather familiar to the Doctor.
The Nth Doctor Adventures	4. The First Doctor Adventures Vol. 4	Jonathan Barnes; Andrew Smith	The Adventure in Space and Time crew return! To Skaro that is. In Return to Skaro, the team....erm, you get the idea. But they return in Skaro's future, the Thal's are developing...but the shadow of the Daleks looms. In Last of the Romanovs, the crew land outside a house. A house containing Nicholas, the last Tsar of Russia, in the moments before one of the most devestating crimes in history occurs.
New Series Boxsets	Donna Noble-Kidnapped!	Jacqueline Rayner; John Dorney; James Goss; Matt Fitton	Donna and her BFF Nat (Niky Wardley) are kidnapped along with the TARDIS. By themselves, they must navigate their way back to Earth, all without the Doctor around to help. They must go to a planet with an invasion with wonderful PR, to the middle ages, and of course: deal with Donna's mother.
The Lives of Captain Jack	The Lives of Captain Jack Vol. 3	Guy Adams; Tim Foley; James Goss	Captain Jack Harkness, reunited with Jackie Tyler (Camille Coduri)! Captain Jack Harkness, mythical space hero of Ozymandias proportions! Captain Jack Harkness, meeting the Doctor's Wife (Alex Kingston)! Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and his many, varied lives.
Bernice Summerfield Audiobooks	6. The Glass Prison	Jacqueline Rayner	This audiobook, read by Lisa Bowerman, Benny is thrown into a glass prison on Deirbhile. She's being watched at every second, under constant threat, even whilst pregnant (with a baby people are trying to kidnap). Things are going to be rather messy for Benny.

BBC AUDIO RELEASES

RANGE	TITLE	WRITERS	DETAILS
Novelisation Audiobooks	Doctor Who and the Monster of Peladon	Terrance Dicks; Brian Hayles	The audiobook of the classic Third Doctor serial, The Monster of Peladon is read by Jon Culshaw and features the Third Doctor and Sarah Jane.
Linking Narration Collections	Doctor Who: The Lost TV Episodes Collection Three	Bryan Hayles; Kit Pedler; Gerry Davis; David Whitaker; Geoffrey Orme	This collection of linking narration tapes covers the following serials: The Smugglers; The Tenth Planet; The Power of the Daleks; The Highlanders; The Underwater Menace; The Moonbase. The narration is provided by Anneke Wills and Frazer Hines. There's also a bonus interview with Anneke Wills, and a Matthew Sweet documentary: 'Dance of the Daleks.'
Digital Collections	The Sarah Jane Adventures Audio Collection	Stephen Cole; Justin Richards; Peter Angehelides; Gary Russell; Scott Handcock; Jason Arnopp; Cavan Scott; Mark Wright; Martin Day; Scott Gray	This collection of original audiobooks, based off The Sarah Jane Adventures, is read by Elisabeth Sladen, Daniel Anthony and Anjili Mohindra. The stories are as follows: The Glittering Storm; The Thirteenth Stone; The Time Capsule; The Ghost House; The White Wolf; The Shadow People; Deadly Download; Wraith World; Children of Steel; Judgement Day

BOOKS

RANGE	TITLE	WRITERS	DETAILS
Black Archive	Vengeance on Varos	Jonathan Dennis	This monograph covers the Sixth Doctor story, Vengeance on Varos. Many say it's a classic.

COMIC BOOKS

RANGE	TITLE	WRITERS	DETAILS
Titan Comics - The Thirteenth Doctor	The Thirteenth Doctor 2.3	Jody Houser	The continuing adventures of the Thirteenth Doctor, the Tenth Doctor, the fam, an army of Weeping Angels and an army of Autons.

DVD'S/BLU-RAYS/SOUNDTRACKS/MISC.

RANGE	TITLE	SEASON/ERA	DETAILS
The New Series	Doctor Who Series 12	The Chibnall Era	The twelfth series of Doctor Who is here! In DVD! In Blu-Ray! and of course: The Blu-Ray Steelbook!. This series covers Jodie Whittaker as the 13th Doctor, Tosin Cole as Ryan Synclair, Mandip Gill as Yaz and Bradley Walsh as Graham O'Brien. We encounter Judoon, other shit.
Classic Animations	The Faceless Ones	Innes Lloyd/Gerry Davis Era	The animation of the classic missing Second Doctor serial, The Faceless Ones! Featuring Patrick Troughton, Anneke Wills, Frazer Hines and Michael Craze, it comes in three forms: Steelbook; DVD; and Blu-Ray. Seeing the departure of Ben and Polly, the TARDIS takes the team to.....Gatwick Airport! But there seems to be strange....decoys, going around.

AND WE ARE B-B-B-B-B-BACK FELLAS! Back for another month of EU releases, as we continue our adventures of the 13th Doctor in the comics, more Captain Jack (and finally meeting one Miss Song), more Monk, more David Bradley and more Donna. It's yet another busy busy month! But wait, it's going to get even busier!
Edit: I know it's meant to be some sort of taboo to say "Thanks for the Gold" on Reddit for some reason but umm...thanks. Really, I appreciate it, that someone appreciated what I'm doing.
PREVIOUS RELEASES:

January 2020

Doctor Who EU Releases - January 2020

BIG FINISH AUDIO DRAMAS

RANGE	TITLE	WRITERS	DETAILS
The Monthly Adventures	260. The Dark Universe	Guy Adams	The Doctor must come up with a grandplan, a Masterplan, to capture the dangerous renegade, The Eleven. The Doctor must team up with Ollistra. The Eleven must team up with Ace. Things will never be the same.
The Fourth Doctor Adventures	The Fourth Doctor Adventures Series 9A	Marc Platt; Jonathan Morris	This boxset contains two two-hour stories featuring the S18 E-Space team, of Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, John Leeson and....Matthew Waterhouse! On Purgatory 12 the TARDIS lands on a penal colony in E-Space where mischief occurs. And in Chase the Night the crew land on a planet where the sunlight kills and they must stay upon a train that is forever chasing the night.
Short Trips	10.1 The Infinite Today	Sharon Bidwell	A Jo Jones adventure, read by Katy Manning, living the Groundhog Day experience on a plane that is going from London Gatwick to Mexico. And the Eleventh Doctor is involved.
The Diary of River Song	The Diary of River Song Series 7	James Goss; Lizbeth Myles; James Kettle; Roy Gill	Detective Melody Malone is back! In these 4 adventures, we explore River Song's detective side. Going from a scandi-noir set on a human colony, to a medieval nunnery, to a court case and finally: New York, 1920's. The Angels are returning.
Torchwood Monthly Adventures	35. Fortitude	James Goss	Queen Victoria is stranded with Maharaja Duleep Singh on a mysterious fort in the middle of the ocean. And there is something in the fort that is trying to escape.
Torchwood Special Releases	The Sins of Captain John	David Llewellyn	In this boxset, we see what Captain John Hart (James Marsters) gets up to when Captain Jack isn't around to stop him. Involving sex, scandals, wooden Alien 3 space stations, zombies, sex, and possibly zombies with sex. It is salacious, it is dangerous, and it is really, really sexual.
Bernice Summerfield Audiobooks	5. The Infernal Nexus	Dave Stone	Benny locates Central Station, a place that somehow exists in 500 dimensions. Including hell.

BBC AUDIO RELEASES

RANGE	TITLE	WRITERS	DETAILS
Digital Collections	Doctor Who: Ninth Doctor Novels Vol. 2	Justin Richards; Gareth Roberts; Steve Lyons	The second collection of the audiobooks of the Ninth Doctor NSA's, including The Deviant Strain (written by Justin Richards and read by Stuart Milligan); Only Human (written by Gareth Roberts and read by Anthony Head); and The Stealers of Dreams (written by Steve Lyons and read by Camille Coduri).

BOOKS

RANGE	TITLE	WRITERS	DETAILS
Black Archive	The Silurians	Robert Smith	A monograph dissecting the classic Season 7 serial, The Silurians.

COMIC BOOKS

RANGE	TITLE	WRITERS	DETAILS
Titan Comics: The Thirteenth Doctor	The Thirteenth Doctor 2.1	Jody Houser	The fam encounter a familiar enemy, and perhaps a familiar face as well.

DVD'S/BLU-RAYS/SOUNDTRACKS/MISC.

RANGE	TITLE	SEASON/ERA	DETAILS
The Collection	Doctor Who: Season 26 - The Complete Collection Blu-Ray	JNT/Andrew Cartmel Era	In this boxset containing the last classic season of Doctor Who (though obviously not the last boxset to be released!) The Seventh Doctor (Sylvestor McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) must team up with the Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney) to fight the devestating Morgaine (Jean Marsh), fight the manipulative Fenric, investigate a mysterious house in Perivale and finally....a return for The Master and the Cat-People in the last Classic Who serial, Survival. As well as all the bonus features, there's also brand new features including a documentary on JNT, Fenric, In Conversation with Matthew Sweet with Sophie Aldred and The Writer's Room. Plus, here's a nifty trailer.

You must be getting sick of me posting at this point! (But don't worry, I'll still have one for tomorrow as well!). And we begin a new year, a new decade, with some rather exciting stories! Dark Universe! The release of the Season 26 blu-ray boxset. A new comic arc featuring the Angels and Tenth Doctor! And the return of the Season 18 TARDIS team. So: What are you looking forward too?
PREVIOUS RELEASES:

Eighth Doctor Reviews
Rose Review
The End of the World Review
The Unquiet Dead Review
An alien spaceship crash-lands in London giving the Doctor and Rose a chance to catch up on some TV.
When Doctor Who was created in 1963, one of the basic premises was to show the impact of travelling through time and space upon ordinary people and thus Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright were born. The two teachers travelled with the Doctor until they were able to use a Dalek time machine to travel back to London, but they actually arrive in 1965, two years after they left. The implications of this are quickly brushed over by Ian remarking, “Hey, what’s two years between friends!” before some jolly postcard-style photographs show their high-jinks in London-town. For those who might be interested, David A. McIntee’s book The Face of the Enemy, catches up with Ian and Barbara after their return to Earth.
Aliens of London directly confronts this question when the Doctor gets his aim a little wrong and returns Rose to the Powell Estate 12 months, rather than 12 hours, after her departure. The opening scene is brilliant, the two friends relaxed in each other’s company, Rose running back to her home, and then the Doctor notices the poster asking for information about the disappearance of Rose Tyler. There’s a lovely key change in Murray Gold’s music that recreates the sinking feeling the Doctor must be feeling as he realises his mistake.
I said in my review of Rose that Jackie Tyler is both dreadful and brilliant at the same time; dreadful in that I know (and dislike) people very like her, but brilliant because of Russell T Davies’ writing and Camille Coduri’s performance. The hurt she shows when Rose can’t tell her the truth about her absence, turns into anger at the Doctor, and the moment when he says “I am a Doctor” and Jackie replies “Prove it. Stitch this, mate!” and wallops him is still incredibly funny all these years later.
Unfortunately, there have been far too many news items about people disappearing and we all think “it’s obviously the partner who did it.” Davies plays with this idea in his treatment of Mickey Smith; Mickey saw Rose run into the TARDIS but couldn’t tell anyone because they would have thought he was insane, instead he’s spent the last year as the prime suspect for Rose’s murder. When he finds out Rose has returned, he goes to Jackie’s flat and one of her friends remarks that Jackie owes him an apology. It’s perfect characterisation that Jackie does not say sorry – “Well, it’s not my fault…what was I supposed to think?”
After the fireworks, Rose and the Doctor are chatting up on the roof of the flats when a space ship flies across London and smashes into Big Ben. There’s obviously no way the classic series could have done this kind of special effect (although I’m surprised they never gave it a try!), but this is the sort of image seen in features films - 1996’s Independence Day based much of its publicity around scenes of the White House being destroyed. Things have obviously moved on with CGI, but I still think the spaceship is incredible, it’s bold and in your face and its presence in the next time clip during The Unquiet Dead definitely made me want to watch the show.
After the crash the Doctor and Rose try to get a closer look, only to find the streets gridlocked and police blockades in force. One of the biggest changes between 1989 and 2005 was the advent of 24-hour news; Britain’s first dedicated news channel, Sky News, launched in February 1989 but only a tiny fraction of the population watched this. During the nineties and noughties, more people had access to news channels, so events like Princess Diana’s death in 1997 are burned into our brains as a result of watching the constant coverage. In classic Doctor Who, I can only think of two serials that tried to weave news footage into on-screen events – Day of the Daleks and The Daemons, but it was a feature of other TV shows such as Spooks so it doesn’t feel strange being part of Doctor Who in 2005.
The BBC reporter not only tells the nation that a body has been pulled from the wreckage, but adds that it has been taken to Albion Hospital, and of course the Doctor can’t resist investigating. There are certain things that should be immutable in the Doctor’s character and taking charge in a crisis is one of them. The TARDIS materialises inside the hospital and the Doctor opens a door to find a squad of soldiers pointing assault rifles at him, then there’s a scream and the Doctor shouts “Defence plan delta! Come on. Move! Move!” and the soldiers obey him. The dialogue isn’t very convincing but the idea is spot on.
Back in 1996, the body of the Seventh Doctor was shut up in a morgue in a San Francisco hospital before regenerating, the Eighth Doctor then smashed down the morgue’s door causing the hospital worker to faint. Davies replays this with the Space Pig in Aliens of London - even the lighting effect is similar. Only he will know whether he’s having a dig at the TV Movie or if this is purely coincidental!
I really like the moments with the pig; we’re expecting some kind of scary alien, so it’s funny when it pops its cute little face around the desk to look at the Doctor, it squeals and runs away before being shot down by a soldier. I love the journey from tension, to humour, to anger, to sadness and Eccleston is brilliant here; I’ve said I don’t like it when he just shouts but the rage turns into a regret which is much more effective – “What did you do that for? It was scared!”
Okay, I’ve put this off long enough, it’s time to talk about the Slitheen! I’ll admit to having an inconsistent attitude to realism, but the way the Slitheen come to power is absolutely ridiculous and damages Aliens of London. The crashing spaceship creates a national emergency so, because the Prime Minister is missing, the highest-ranking member of the government takes charge in his absence. This is fine so far but the chosen man, Joseph Green, is the “Chairman…on the monitoring of sugar standards in exported confectionary.” If Green had been Home Secretary or Minister of Defence, his portfolio would make it believable that he would take over but Davies let a good joke override his common sense. Even if we accept Green being temporarily in charge, he then has the power to stop the cabinet being airlifted into London to take over, this is a nonsense because they wouldn’t ask, they’d just turn up. Being a pedant here, but Aliens of London takes place on 6 March 2005 which was a day when Parliament was sitting, so it’d be a mere 10-minute walk from the House of Commons to Downing Street for someone more senior!
Then there’s Harriet Jones. The first time I saw this episode in 2005 I thought Harriet was great, and Penelope Wilton does so much to make her engaging, but she’s written like an absolute idiot. An alien spaceship crash-lands in London but she wants to submit an item for the cabinet agenda about cottage hospitals! Despite being told numerous times to get lost, she sneaks into the Cabinet Room to slip her proposals into a Ministerial briefcase. What does she expect, that the Prime Minister will stop the discussion about a potential alien invasion to deal with the threat to small hospitals? I would say that it would be impossible for a politician to be that stupid, but we are in the middle of the Conservative Leadership election!
The Slitheen made headlines because of their farting and it is a little bit children’s TV, but they are genuinely unsettling. When General Asquith speaks to them, and they’re farting and giggling manically, it’s believable that they are aliens in human skins. The undressing effect hasn’t aged well, but the flashing blue light and the noise still makes it incredibly creepy and they become a credible threat when Margaret Slitheen lifts an unfortunate Civil Servant high into the air with one arm.
The Doctor returns from the hospital in his ship, but Rose, Jackie, and Mickey are waiting outside and Jackie walks into the TARDIS. The Doctor tells Rose “Don’t you dare make this place domestic!” but Jackie has already run out and calls a helpline to report the presence of an alien in blue box. As the ultimate expert on aliens, the Doctor (and his plus one) are whisked off to Downing Street to take part in a conference, meanwhile an overweight policeman comes to interview Jackie about her alien visitor.
Perfunctory is the word we could use to describe most Doctor Who cliff-hangers, you can imagine the Producer saying “quick, we’re 22 minutes in, someone needs to pull a gun on the Doctor.” Russell T Davies has obviously put a lot of thought into his first cliff-hanger, manipulating the action to give three endings at one – Jackie menaced by a Slitheen disguised as a Policeman, Rose and Harriet in the Cabinet room with another Slitheen and the Doctor being electrocuted. At the time I thought this was amazing, and it’s still clever, but 14 years on it does seem very slow as we cut between the different locations.
Aliens of London is a tale of two halves, Rose’s reunion with Jackie and Mickey is great but, as with many politicians, it all turns a bit sour when they get into Downing Street! (6/10)

Coduri tv

Who is this actress or what film am I thinking of?

Doctor Who EU Releases - March 2020

Doctor Who EU Releases - January 2020