Doctor Who 4.04 - The Sontaran Stratagem

[caz963]

Well, I'm still loving this season so far. And - *gasp* - I even liked Martha in this one! To be fair, I liked her when she appeared in Torchwood too - it shows what her character could have been like in DW last season without the drooling over the Doc.

Anyway, a good action/adventure yarn - nice to have UNIT back in the picture.

The part where the Doctor and Martha were reunited was well done - you could see he was a bit worried about what he was going to be confronted with - and then half hoping that Martha and Donna were going to scratch each other's eyes out over him. But instead, as is usual when the missus and the ex meet up, he was used for target practice. Heh. Hug him and you get a papercut!

I did like the Is this what you did to her? Turned her into a soldier? line as well. I mean, it's not like the Doc doesn't carry enough guilt around with him, so a bit more won't hurt.

The Doctor's relationship with UNIT has always been a bit uncomfortable. He doesn't like men with guns... although if pressed, I'd guess the Doc could do a damn sight more damage than they could if he had to! And again, Donna's the 'moral voice' when she questions UNIT's raid on the factory and likens things to Guantanamo Bay! I'll take a salute. *g*

Martha's warning about the Doctor being like fire - get too close and you'll get burned - was quite chilling really. Although she wasn't telling Donna to get away from him - I think she was just telling her to make sure she (Donna) knew what she'd gotten into.

So Donna goes home (and, hee! Dumbo!) to see her Grandad (more Bernard Cribbins - never a bad thing!), who's a lovely character, I think. Unlike the families of the other companions so far, he's much more supportive and intrigued by what Donna's doing, and the part where he meets the Doctor (again) and realises who he is was well done.

And - the return of another old enemy, this time the Sontarans. Who look like a cross between a baked spud and Humpty Dumpty, which is why I've never really found them to be all that scary! But still, it's great to see the arch-enemies of the past reappearing in the new series.

So we've ended on a pretty nifty cliffhanger - evil doppleganger!Martha, poisoned gas being released the world over, Donna's Grandad trapped in the car - and the Doc staring off down the street wondering what the hell to do.

Looking forward to next week!

Comments

[zinke.livejournal.com]

And - *gasp* - I even liked Martha in this one! To be fair, I liked her when she appeared in Torchwood too - it shows what her character could have been like in DW last season without the drooling over the Doc.

I second this. I think that's one of the reasons I really like Donna as well: no moon-eyes at the Doctor. There's an energy and a sense of fun this season that just wasn't there in s3, and I think a part of that is that there isn't think unrequited love undercurrent making every interaction awkward.

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'd agree with that completely. Donna's a marvellous foil for him - and the writers are doing very well by Catherine Tate, I think. You get the sense that they know who Donna is and she's nailing it week after week so far.

[olsonm-raymond.livejournal.com]

Hi Caz! *hug*

I'm up to this ep now. All I have to say is that I agree about Martha in this episode and that I think Donna is a great companion for the doc. Great season so far!