Partners in Crime
So, when I heard that Donna would be the companion for the
fourth series (2008) I was somewhat aggrieved because to be frank she was pretty
hard to stomach in ‘The Runaway Bride’, but all in all you have to give it a
go, right? So I am prepared to see how it all pans out over series four.
‘Partners In Crime’, by Russel T Davies, is the series opener, reuniting Donna
(Catherine Tate) with the Doctor as they try to solve the mystery of Adipose
Industries, a company that specialises in weight loss.
So, when I heard that Donna would be the companion for the
fourth series (2008) I was somewhat aggrieved because to be frank she was pretty
hard to stomach in ‘The Runaway Bride’, but all in all you have to give it a
go, right? So I am prepared to see how it all pans out over series four.
‘Partners In Crime’, by Russel T Davies, is the series opener, reuniting Donna
(Catherine Tate) with the Doctor as they try to solve the mystery of Adipose
Industries, a company that specialises in weight loss.
The plot is somewhat lightweight, but there’s some good
comedic moments as Donna and the Doctor keep investigating but not quite
bumping into each other. Donna is not the normal companion, I’ll give you that,
and perhaps it will work. Eventually they find each other, solve it all and
Donna declares she is going with the Doctor who doesn’t seem so convinced.
David Tennant is rather good in this one, and there are some great scenes,
especially on the window-cleaner’s lift. The Adipose themselves don’t look very
convincing, again it is a clear case of CGI, and I think again because we know
how it’s done, it makes it harder to believe.
So, when I heard that Donna would be the companion for the
fourth series (2008) I was somewhat aggrieved because to be frank she was pretty
hard to stomach in ‘The Runaway Bride’, but all in all you have to give it a
go, right? So I am prepared to see how it all pans out over series four.
‘Partners In Crime’, by Russel T Davies, is the series opener, reuniting Donna
(Catherine Tate) with the Doctor as they try to solve the mystery of Adipose
Industries, a company that specialises in weight loss.
The plot is somewhat lightweight, but there’s some good
comedic moments as Donna and the Doctor keep investigating but not quite
bumping into each other. Donna is not the normal companion, I’ll give you that,
and perhaps it will work. Eventually they find each other, solve it all and
Donna declares she is going with the Doctor who doesn’t seem so convinced.
David Tennant is rather good in this one, and there are some great scenes,
especially on the window-cleaner’s lift. The Adipose themselves don’t look very
convincing, again it is a clear case of CGI, and I think again because we know
how it’s done, it makes it harder to believe.
It’s not one of the stronger opening episodes, and like ‘New
Earth’, it aims to be comedic before anything else. Nevertheless it is pretty
enjoyable, and Donna comes across as less angry and more excitable which I
think was a good decision for the character. We will see how it all progresses.
Oh and yes, spoiler alert, we have the mysterious appearance of Rose (Billie
Piper) for a brief second at the end of the episode, presumably that’s
something to do with the season arc…
6.5/10
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| Bernard Cribbins as Wilfred Mott. |
The Fires of Pompeii
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| Peter Capaldi. |
The Doctor takes Donna to ancient Rome for her first proper
trip in the TARDIS, except it isn’t Rome, it’s Pompeii the day before Vesuvius
erupts. A great idea for a story. However, it’s a bit hit and miss. It does
have some great moments, in particular where Donna points out things to the
Doctor about himself (specifically saving the family in the end).
 |
| Hello there! |
I’m not sure all the elements work well together. We have
people turning to stone for example, a sisterhood, and the creatures from
Pirovillia, a planet which disappeared. The Doctor is then responsible for the
eruption, which destroys the fire monsters. It’s an exploration of cause and
effect, of being part of history rather than changing history. It’s interesting
that the Doctor needs Donna to spend the whole story badgering him before he
will considering saving one family from the ravages of the volcano.
The monsters are under-utilised and under-explained, as is
the sisterhood. Perhaps that’s a pitfall of a 45-minute episode, you can’t
fully explore or exploit elements of the plot. I loved the idea of a marble
circuit. I despised the use of accents in this story, although the idea that
Donna sounded Welsh is quite funny.
Some good guest performances here, including Peter Capaldi
who is going to be the 12th Doctor, and Karen Gillan in a small role
as one of the sisterhood, who apparently is the next companion come series 5…
The story is ok, a bit mad which is fine, but also a bit of a hodge-podge of
elements.
6/10
Planet of the Ood
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| Tim McInnery |
I liked ‘Planet of the Ood’ quite a lot. Not just because it
refers to the Ood being related to the Sensorites, of the appearance of Percy
from Black Adder (the brilliant Tim McInnery). This is quite beautiful at
times, and horrid at others. The sad song that the Ood sing is very moving, and
great work from Murray Gold. Catherine Tate cries when she hears it as Donna,
she is really growing on me. This story pulls no punches, it is quite clearly
anti-slavery, and you could even say anti-human.
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| An Ood shows the Doctor his 'hind-brain'. |
It doesn’t all work. When McInnery’s character turns into an
Ood in the end, that just doesn’t right true or even as a fitting resolution
for the character. But the idea of three parts of the brain is quite original
(as far as I know), the poor having to carry their hind-brain in their hands, their
connection to the collective brain, it’s all great plotting.
When the Ood turn rabid, when they start killing, that’s
really scary stuff as well. Kudos to the writer, Keith Temple, for turning out
such a great tale. The Oodsphere looks beautiful too.
8.5/10
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