Doctor Who Rewind

I'm Charlotte, a used-to-be Doctor Who fangirl who wants to love it again. In the dawn of the 60th anniversary (November 2023), I'm watching every episode from the beginning of the new era (2005) and sharing my thoughts about them here. Alons-y! See my episode index for a list of every episode I've reviewed, plus a list of all writers and directors.

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S3 E8: "Human Nature"

In 1913, Martha watches in jealousy from afar as The Doctor learns what it is to be human and to fall in love with the local school nurse, Joan Redfern.

Episode: S3, E8: "Human Nature" Date: May 26, 2007 Writer: Paul Cornell Director: Charlie Palmer

Doctor: 10th Companion: Martha Jones

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This is the first episode back in my rewatch since December after a took a hiatus, and my god, it hurt my brain. I accidentally started playing the next episode, The Family of Blood, first and I was SO confused when it started with a summary of the episode I definitely hadn't watched yet (this one). I was like, why is the episode starting with a summary of the episode I'm about to watch?? Then when I went back and started watching the right episode (this one), it starts in SUCH an abrupt and confusing way that I thought I had started it halfway through or something, so I was like WHAT IS HAPPENINGGG

So then I calmed down, played it again from the beginning, and realised it was intentionally an abrupt start and continued to watch the episode as normal.

Anyhow, onwards.

This episode is fine – I don't think it's anything super special. I did like the setup a lot (once my brain stopped hurting from accidental confusion) and it's so weird seeing the Doctor with a slightly posher accent and as a human. It puts all the responsibility on Martha's head, and I think she dealt with it all quite well, without her trademark squealing and being annoying for once.

There's also some really great cast members, including Jessica Hynes and Thomas Brodie-Sangster who are always delightful and, quite frankly, British treasures. Also, it's taken me THIS LONG (literally, now, as I'm looking at the IMDB for this episode) realising that Jenny is played by Rebekah Stanton, a.k.a. the mother in Raised by Wolves?! I thought I recognised her! Amazing. What a cast.

I have also just learned that this episode is based on a work of fan fiction, which was turned into an actual official novel, written by Paul Cornell, also the writer of this episode?! See here!

This is a two-parter, so I'm looking forward to the next episode which, for some reason, I always remember being better than the first – but I'll find out!

⬅️ Previous episode: S3 E7: "42" ➡️ Next episode: S3 E9: "The Family of Blood"

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S3 E7: "42"

On a spaceship headed straight for the centre of the sun, the Doctor only has 42 minutes to save Martha and the ship's crew from an inevitable doom.

Episode: S3, E7: "42" Date: May 17, 2007 Writer: Chris Chibnall Director: Graeme Harper

Doctor: 10th Companion: Martha Jones

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As I mentioned in my last post, I watched a couple of episode in December before taking a bit of a hiatus on this because I've been so busy, but I forgot to write posts about them. So I'm doing this from memory!

There's no big introduction in this episode – we're thrown right in as the Doctor and Martha land on a ship that is falling into the Sun and has only 42 minutes left. But someone or something on board seems to be taking out the crew members one by one...

I really like this episode. Great cast, and the episode in general gave me Satan Pit vibes. It keeps the tension up all the way through, and you wonder what the hell is happening, just how I think a DW episode should be – constantly keeping you guessing. Also, seeing them all getting uncomfortably hotter and hotter as the temperature rises makes me almost grateful for all the cold weather we've been having.

⬅️ Previous episode: S3 E6: "The Lazarus Experiment" ➡️ Next episode: S3 E8: "Human Nature"

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S3 E6: "The Lazarus Experiment"

The famous Dr Lazarus has appeared to discover the secret of eternal youth - but do his experiments hide a sinister secret?

Episode: S3, E6: "The Lazarus Experiment" Date: May 5, 2007 Writer: Stephen Greenhorn Director: Richard Clark

Doctor: 10th Companion: Martha Jones

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After 2 ridiculously busy months, I'm back to my Doctor Who rewatch... and realising that I watched 2 episodes before my hiatus, 2 months ago 🙃 So I need to try and remember this one and the next one as best I can!

The Doctor takes Martha back home after they've had one final trip, but after just intending to drop her home, he gets distracted by a press conference in which professor Lazarus (Mark Gatiss) proclaims he's made a scientific discovery that will change what it means to be human – and with Martha's sister standing by his side, they decide to investigate.

It was good to see more of Martha's family, and see Martha's mum become concerned about the Doctor and who he is, just like Jackie Tyler was. Mark Gatiss was also very good as Lazarus, which he always is – I never have anything bad to say about his acting!

I also loved that the story continues to build on the Mr Saxon thing, and I'm still waiting for the episode where we see John Simm's face for the first time...

⬅️ Previous episode: S3 E5: "Evolution of the Daleks" ➡️ Next episode: S3 E7: "42"

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S3 E4 & 5: "Daleks in Manhattan" & "Evolution of the Daleks"

The Doctor and Martha travel to New York in 1930, where people have been mysteriously vanishing from the streets, and an old enemy resurfaces. // In 1930s New York, the Daleks' plan is in full force. Faced with the cyborgs' most evil and dangerous scheme yet, will the Doctor and Martha be able to defeat their greatest opponents?

Episode: S3, E4: “Daleks in Manhattan” & S3, E5: “Evolution of the Daleks” Date: April 21, 2007 / April 28, 2007 Writer: Helen Raynor Director: James Strong

Doctor: 10th Companion: Martha Jones Main Villain in This Episode: Daleks

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(Note: We're 3 series in and finally we have our first female writer. I have to say, Doctor Who up to this point has been very male-dominated, so it'll be interesting to see if this changes over time.)

I'm not entirely sure what to make of this pair of episodes. The story is okay, but I kind of sit here thinking, Daleks again? I don't really know why they had to be a part of it, and why people were being turned into pigs, of all things. I was also distracted throughout by over-the-top New York accents – I half expected someone to say, "HEY, I'M WALKING HERE!"

However, some positives of these episodes were the absolute star that is Andrew Garfield before The Amazing Spider-Man shot him to Hollywood fame, and the idea of the Daleks evolving into something more human which is then immediately squashed by the already-existing Daleks. It was interesting to explore, even if the "human Dalek" was horrifying with his weird tentacle face.

The second episode dived a little more into the whole "Martha can't replace Rose" thing, and Martha expressed her discomfort that she still feels like he won't see her the same way he saw Rose. Martha definitely has big shoes to fill, not just in the Doctor's life but in the eyes of the viewers too, because Rose left a big void behind that isn't easy to fill. However, as much as I empathise with Martha for that... she still annoys me with her constant shouting, lol.

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⬅️ Previous episode: S3 E3: "Gridlock" ➡️ Next episode: S3 E6: "The Lazarus Experiment"

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S3 E3: "Gridlock"

The Doctor takes Martha to New Earth, where she is kidnapped by two carjackers and taken to an underground Motorway, where the remainder of humanity on the planet live in perpetual gridlock.

Episode: S3, E3: “Gridlock" Date: April 14, 2007 Writer: Russell T. Davies Director: Richard Clark

Doctor: 10th Companion: Martha Jones

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I completely forgot that Ardal O'Hanlon, recent star of Taskmaster, was in this episode as big cat man Brannigan! He was great – I remember liking his character before too. While on the subject of Brannigan, I love how him and his partner's children are literal kittens. (It means we get to see David Tennant cuddling a kitten.)

This episode made me realise something that I don't think is specific to Doctor Who, but stories in general: I seem like really like stories that are confined to one space. This one is largely set in small cars stuck in perpetual traffic, and I also love episodes like Midnight in series 4, as well as similar one-setting episodes in other shows too.

I really enjoyed this one! It has a cast of side characters that make the episode great, and it split up the Doctor and Martha (I just automatically typed "Rose" – still not over her) so Martha got some time to shine on her own and figure things out for herself.

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⬅️ Previous episode: S3 E2: “The Shakespeare Code” ➡️ Next episode: S3 E4: “Daleks in Manhattan”

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S3 E2: "The Shakespeare Code"

The Doctor takes Martha to London in 1599, where William Shakespeare's new play is being used by three witches in an evil plan.

Episode: S3 E2: "The Shakespeare Code" Date: April 7, 2007 Writer: Gareth Roberts Director: Charlie Palmer

Doctor: 10th Companion: Martha Jones

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Initially I thought this episode was cringe af, and some of the acting and writing towards the beginning was a bit questionable, but luckily, it got a lot better. Still not the best episode, but it was fun! Plus, another episode that tries to fill in some of the gaps in history – in this case, why Love's Labour's Won, Shakespeare's follow-up play to Love's Labour's Lost, was lost forever.

I enjoyed the characterisation of Shakespeare; instead of making him into a shiningly perfect example of a man, they showed his flaws, his slight arrogance, and his constant stealing of other people's phrases for his works. Obviously we don't know exactly how Shakespeare was in real life, but this is close to how I'd imagine him to be!

I don't have a lot to say about this one. It was fine :)

⬅️ Previous episode: S3 E1: "Smith and Jones" ➡️ Next episode: S3 E3: "Gridlock"

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Book: Sick Building by Paul Magrs

I thought, as well as rewatching the show, I would also use this blog to share my thoughts on some of the Doctor Who novels! I'm a big bookworm (I have a book blog) and I discovered my local library has lots of the books, so why not talk about those here too?

Book: Sick Building by Paul Magrs Series No.: New Series Adventures #17 Publication Date: September 6, 2007 Audiobook Read By: Will Thorp

Doctor: 10th Companion: Martha Jones

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Synopsis:

Tiermann's World: a planet covered in wintry woods and roamed by sabre-toothed tigers and other savage beasts. The Doctor is here to warn Professor Tiermann, his wife and their son that a terrible danger is on its way.

The Tiermanns live in luxury, in a fantastic, futuristic, fully-automated Dreamhome, under an impenetrable force shield. But that won't protect them from the Voracious Craw. A gigantic and extremely hungry alien creature is heading remorselessly towards their home. When it gets there everything will be devoured.

Can they get away in time? With the force shield cracking up, and the Dreamhome itself deciding who should or should not leave, things are looking desperate…

–

Thoughts:

I've listened to this audiobook so many times since I was a kid so I have a great deal of nostalgia attached to it. I wonder, if i didn't have that nostalgia, if I would actually like it as much as I still do, because there are elements of it that I don't love – but I still can't help loving the book as a whole.

I like the setting: a whole planet just for a family of three, where they have built their dream home under a dome that gives them protection from outside elements. With the impending arrival of the Voracious Craw, a huge black hole-like monster that sucks up everything in its path, what will they do when they have to leave their lives behind? It's interesting to see the character dynamics and how the family members each react differently to their situation.

My favourite part of this is the Servo-furnishings, and how they each have their own unique personalities. In particular, there's Toaster and Barbara, a sentient sunbed and a vending machine, and you genuinely care for them despite them being robotic furniture.

The story wraps up slightly too quickly and easily, and in quite a childish way (literally burping the monster away – yes, really), and there are elements of the writing that I realised on my millionth re-listen aren't great (like repeated words only a couple of sentences apart, and a lottt of adverbs that get a bit monotonous after a while), but generally, I can't help having a nostalgic fondness for this story!

I also recommend the audiobook for this one – Will Thorp is such a great narrator, and sounds spookily like David Tennant's Doctor. (Fun fact, Will Thorp played Toby Zed in the series 2 episodes The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit!)

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Find the list of all New Series Adventures here, and all of my Doctor Who book reviews here.

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S3 E1: "Smith and Jones"

When the hospital she works at is transported to the moon, medical student Martha Jones joins forces with The Doctor to hunt down an alien fugitive before the oxygen runs out.

Episode: S3 E1: "Smith and Jones" Date: March 31, 2007 Writer: Russell T. Davies Director: Charlie Palmer

Doctor: 10th Companion: Martha Jones

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I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would, and I don't find Martha annoying yet.

I now remember that the reason she annoyed me was because of her writing, and how they made her immediately fall in love with the Doctor and spend the whole time pining after him (from what I remember), instead of being a strong character on her own without wanting him to love her. My ace heart wants more companions to be like Donna, where love doesn't come into the equation and it's just two pals on fun jaunts across time and space. But I digress.

This episode felt like a proper Doctor Who episode with an intriguing mystery (a hospital being transported to the moon and some twisty character reveals), weird alien creatures (the Judoon), and a fair bit of cheesy over-acting from the background actors thrown in for good measure.

My favourite tidbit about this episode is how Russell T. Davies teased David Tennant by making him say "Judoon platoon upon the moon", despite him struggling to say "Judoon" in his Scottish accent. I also very much enjoyed the subtle reference to Mr Saxon, before we knew what that meant in terms of the whole series arc.

My least favourite thing is that they just had to get in a kiss between the Doctor and Martha (with the excuse of him transferring some of his alien DNA onto her so she wouldn't show as completely human on the Judoon scanners), which sparks this whole "omg I love him but does he love me" thing in Martha.

A pretty good episode, albeit maybe a bit underdeveloped in terms of the story wrapping up quite quickly and simply, and already forcing a romantic interest.

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⬅️ Previous episode: Christmas Special (2006): “The Runaway Bride” ➡️ Next episode: S3 E2: "The Shakespeare Code"

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Christmas Special (2006): "The Runaway Bride"

The Doctor is baffled when a young woman is transported to the TARDIS on her wedding day, and attempts to find out how she is connected to an alien plot to destroy Earth.

Episode: Christmas Special (2006): “The Runaway Bride” Date: December 25, 2006 Writer: Russell T. Davies Director: Euros Lyn

Doctor: 10th Companion: None

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Donna!! Donna is such a breath of fresh air and a glimmer of light and comic relief after the pain of the loss of Rose in the last episode of the series. I immediately loved Donna and her attitude, and her utter distain towards the Doctor right from the get-go is the best.

Just within one episode, you start off not quite knowing what to make of her character as she is quite loud and obnoxious, to feeling so sad for her by the end and you just want things to work out for her. It's a really good story, and I enjoyed this episode!

I completely forgot that it's this one that has the Empress of the Racnoss, and I still have a clear memory of an episode of Doctor Who Confidential where they explained how they created and controlled her costume, and I was utterly astounded by it. (I think it was partly that costume that inspired one of my unwritten university disseration ideas about practical vs digital effects in media.) So that was a fun bit of nostalgia that I wasn't expecting.

It made me so sad seeing the Doctor repeatedly remembering that Rose isn't there anymore, and the sheer pain on his face every time Donna asked about her. I hate it I hate it. Please be okay.

Now it's time for a brand new series and a brand new companion, and I'm hoping to like Martha more than I did when I originally watched it, because at the moment she's close to the bottom of my ranking of companions. So we shall see...

Onwards!

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⬅️ Previous episode: S2 E13: “Doomsday” ➡️ Next episode: S3 E1: "Smith and Jones"

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S2 E13: "Doomsday"

Earth becomes a battleground for the Daleks and the Cybermen. With the whole planet at stake and the Genesis Ark activated, how much will the Doctor sacrifice in order to end the war?

Episode: S2, E13: "Doomsday" Date: July 8, 2006 Writer: Russell T. Davies Director: Graeme Harper

Doctor: 10th Companion: Rose Tyler

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I watched this like a week ago and just haven't been able to write this post until now because I didn't know how.

I forgot how much this episode hurts.

It was the worst possible ending for Rose, in the best possible way – what I mean by that is storytelling wise, it was heart-wrenching and made for an incredible, twisty end to the episode. The fact they couldn't even properly say goodbye is painful, and I think there's a part of me that will never forgive Russell T. Davies for ripping everyone's hearts out and stamping on them.

I'm not ready for a new companion, aaah. I'm not ready to move on. But at least we had the entertaining end to the episode, with Donna suddenly standing inside the TARDIS, to bring us some light at the end of the darkness.

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⬅️ Previous episode: S2 E12: “Army of Ghosts” ➡️ Next episode: Christmas Special (2006): “The Runaway Bride”

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S2 E12: "Army of Ghosts"

When ghosts of loved ones appear all over the world the Doctor traces the phenomena to the Torchwood Tower, where some old friends and enemies are waiting.

Episode: S2, E12: "Army of Ghosts" Date: July 1, 2006 Writer: Russell T. Davies Director: Graeme Harper

Doctor: 10th Companion: Rose Tyler (& Jackie Tyler)

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This is it. The beginning of the end for Rose Tyler.

I will never understand why they cast Freema Agyeman in this episode, literally 2 episodes before she appears as Martha, as if we wouldn't notice. (Remember that time they tried to play it off as the character in this episode being Martha's cousin? Her completely identical cousin?)

I don't have a huge amount to say about this one because it's a two-parter, and I will leave all my thoughts for the next one.

I don't think I'm ready to say goodbye to Rose yet. Especially because Martha is next, who is one of my least favourite companions (unless I change my mind upon rewatching). But alas, we must push on.

Allons-y...

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⬅️ Previous episode: S2 E11: “Fear Her” ➡️ Next episode: S2 E13: “Doomsday”

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S2 E11: "Fear Her"

When children vanish into thin air in 2012 London, the Doctor and Rose find the answers in a seemingly ordinary household and a girl whose drawings can come to life.

Episode: S2, E11: "Fear Her" Date: June 24, 2006 Writer: Matthew Graham Director: Euros Lyn

Doctor: 10th Companion: Rose Tyler

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The best opening to the episode, with the TARDIS landing between two big skips or shopping containers, and the Doctor getting back in and turning it around the other way. Also love how he described the silver sugar balls on fairy cakes as "cakes with ball bearings on top."

The writing in this one feels like it's aimed at a younger audience than some darker, often more complicated episodes, and this makes sense considering this section from the Wikipedia article for this episode:

""Fear Her" was an overcommissioned episode, which replaced a planned but unproduced script by Stephen Fry. Writer Matthew Graham was told by showrunner Russell T Davies that it was going to be an inexpensive episode and had to take place on a housing estate, but Graham was nevertheless thrilled to be asked to write an episode. Graham stated in 2011 that they "set out to do right from the start" making the episode more aimed at children, rather than adults and older Doctor Who fans, as the much darker finale would be broadcast following it. Davies specifically asked Graham to write for his seven-year-old son."

Apparently it got very positive reactions from kids who watched this episode, but a lot of bad negative responses from adults — I think adults need to remember that Doctor Who is a family show, and sometimes it's written for its younger audience! I enjoyed this one and thought the premise was interesting.

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⬅️ Previous episode: S2 E10: “Love & Monsters” ➡️ Next episode: S2 E12: “Army of Ghosts”

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S2 E10: "Love & Monsters"

Elton Pope is an ordinary man intrigued by the world of the Doctor. When he and fellow enthusiasts - L.I.N.D.A. - meet the mysterious Victor Kennedy, their lives will never be the same again.

Episode: S2, E10: “Love & Monsters" Date: June 17, 2006 Writer: Russell T. Davies Director: Dan Zeff

Doctor: 10th Companion: Rose Tyler Main Villain in This Episode: Abzorbaloff

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Things that are great about this episode:

The home video vlog-style episode as told by Elton Pope, played by Marc Warren.

This whole episode feels like a bit of a comedy, almost spoof episode, and it's a welcome relief from the darkness of the previous two episodes.

How they connect Elton to various events that we've already seen in previous episodes, way back to the first episode of series 1. 

Shirley Henderson as Ursula. That's it. 

The iconic line: "What's the twin planet of Raxicoricafallapatorius?" "Clom." "Clom?" "Yes, Clom." (Which sounds even better in Peter Kay's accent.) 

I think it's interesting to see a group of people joining together to discuss their conspiracy theories about the Doctor. I do wonder sometimes how he appears all over space and time without people talking about him, but this shows that in fact, people do. 

Just like Blink, this episode isn't really about the Doctor - it's about people who are interested in him, and he and Rose are only in it briefly, and don't really interact much with the characters until absolutely necessary. I quite like episodes like this because it shows what it's like from the people's perspective, rather than from the Doctor's. It gives us an idea of what it's like for the normal people who are going about their daily lives and experience the Doctor making an appearance briefly in their lives, and then disappearing again. 

This episode proves once again that a big strength of Russell T. Davies' writing is his characters. I've mentioned before that he writes real, genuine people so well, and this episode is no exception.

A couple of final notes: 1) the Abzorbaloff is absolutely repulsive and I hope to never see him again; and 2) the biggest surprise of this whole rewatch so far is that I'm putting the Abzorbaloff episode in my 'favourites' tag, but here we are.

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⬅️ Previous episode: S2 E9: “The Satan Pit” ➡️ Next episode: S2 E11: “Fear Her”

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S2 E8 & 9: "The Impossible Planet" & "The Satan Pit"

When the Doctor and Rose become stranded on a planet orbiting a black hole, they find a human expedition crew and their servants, the Ood, being terrorised by the Devil.

Episode: S2, E8: “The Impossible Planet” & S2, E9: “The Satan Pit” Date: June 3, 2006 / June 10, 2006 Writer: Matt Jones Director: James Strong

Doctor: 10th Companion: Rose Tyler Main Villain in This Episode: The Ood / The Devil

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Terrifying. Toby Zed’s smile outside the spaceship when he’s literally possessed by the devil is forever burnt into my nightmares, and it’s still as sinister and horrible as I remember finding it as a kid. Will Thorp, who plays Toby, is so good at showing tiny little signs of being possessed, like subtle face twitches and an unsettling smile. It gets to a point where Toby and the devil are so blurred that you don’t know what he’s saying as him, or as the possessed him. Genuinely I think one of the best actors to play a side character that there has been so far, if not of all time.

(It’s weird seeing Will Thorp as Tony Zed, because he narrates mine and my sister’s favourite ever Doctor Who audiobook, Sick Building. Thought that was quite cool!)

The story is so well-written, and every character is well utilised. The cliffhanger at the end of The Impossible Planet is one of the best, and the second episode launches right back in where it ended. So much goes wrong at every turn, and you truly don’t know how they’re going to get out of each situation they find themselves in, so it’s a tense ride.

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⬅️ Previous episode: S2 E7: “The Idiot’s Lantern” ➡️ Next episode: S2 E10: “Love & Monsters”

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S2 E7: “The Idiot's Lantern”

As the coronation of Elizabeth II nears, the streets of London live in fear. Faceless people are stolen from their homes in the night and something evil is lurking in the television.

Episode: S2, E7: “The Idiot's Lantern" Date: May 27, 2006 Writer: Mark Gatiss Director: Euros Lyn

Doctor: 10th Companion: Rose Tyler Main Villain in This Episode: The Wire

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This episode was a lot less scary/creepy than I remember thinking it was when I was younger. I don't find the Wire very scary (maybe even a bit cringe?), but the faceless people definitely are still a bit unsettling.

One of the good things about this episode though is that there are some great Doctor/Rose moments that show the silliness and humour in their relationship.

I wasn't too impressed with the message at the end that the boy should go after his horrible abusive dad and be by his side after he was kicked out by his wife who has finally built up the courage to get rid of him, and he should keep him close just because he's his dad. But meh, maybe that was best for him, idk.

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⬅️ Previous episode: S2 E6: “The Age of Steel” ➡️ Next episode: S2 E8: “The Impossible Planet”

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S2 E6: "The Age of Steel"

The Cybermen take control of London as the population is enslaved and the Doctor and his friends become fugitives.

Episode: S2, E6: "The Age of Steel" Date: May 20, 2006 Writer: Tom MacRae Director: Graeme Harper

Doctor: 10th Companion: Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith Main Villain in This Episode: Cybermen

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I feel like I always have so much less to say about a two-part episode because I say most of it in the first post, and it’s the same here. I also usually find myself losing interest part way through the second part, and I don’t know if that just says something about my brain’s ability to focus or my attention span, but who knows.

I love Andrew Hayden-Smith as Jake in these two episodes, and he’s always the character I remember most from them. Him and Mickey make a great team, and I completely forgot how it concluded, with Mickey deciding to stay in the parallel version of London to help save the world! I can imagine a series of comics or something with Mickey and Jake saving the world from Cybermen attacks, like their own little spin-off.

This got me thinking too much about parallel universes and imagining what a parallel me would be doing in another dimension. Would I be more successful than I am now? Would I live somewhere completely different? Would I be rewatching Doctor Who? The possibilities are endless.

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⬅️ Previous episode: S2 E5: "Rise of the Cybermen" ➡️ Next episode: S2 E7: "The Idiot's Lantern"

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S2 E5: "Rise of the Cybermen"

The TARDIS crash lands in London on a parallel world, where Rose's dad is still alive, people are disappearing off the streets and one of the Doctor's deadliest enemies is about to be reborn.

Episode: S2, E5: "Rise of the Cybermen" Date: May 13, 2006 Writer: Tom MacRae Director: Graeme Harper

Doctor: 10th Companion: Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith Main Villain in This Episode: Cybermen

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Aaaah the first time we saw the Cybermen back! I always get chills when we first hear a recognisable voice, just like with the reintroduction of the Daleks. Also, an appearance from the late, great Roger Lloyd Pack!

I completely forgot this is the episode with parallel London, and about the great twist that Rose is Jackie’s tiny pet dog instead of an actual person (the Doctor’s laughing reaction when he and Rose discover this is classic). It’s interesting to see how Jackie and Pete might have lived if Pete did make it successful, and they were rich instead of Jackie living on a council estate.

I don’t often talk about the music choices, but whoever decided to put “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” over the sound of distant screams as people are people converted into Cybermen deserves a medal, because it was a great choice.

When one of the Cybermen said “you are not compatible” in its robotic voice, I realised that this one has a very similar vibe to the previous episode, The Girl in the Fireplace, both with their robotic villains that storm a party, with the sounds of the people’s screams even sounding like they could have been the same sound recordings used twice. Just a weird observation when watching them one after the other!

I don’t have much else to say about this one, except it’s a worthy reintroduction of one of the most classic DW villains, and I completely forgot it’s a two-parter… So on we go!

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⬅️ Previous episode: S2 E4: "The Girl in the Fireplace" ➡️ Next episode: S2 E6: "The Age of Steel"