Doctor Who - Series 3 (2007)
Time flies when you're having fun and also when you're the Doctor. Series 3 deals with the aftermath of Rose's departure and how the Doctor deals with it. It shouldn't be too surprising that he deals with it by offering someone else a trip on the TARDIS, despite. his initial protestations that it's going to be a short trip. I know that opinions are mixed on Martha Jones' stint in the TARDIS, but I think she acquitted herself well. She's also the first African American companion the Doctor had taken on, so that's a pretty big deal. Let's take a deeper dive into the fourteen episodes that comprise series 3.
The series opens with the Christmas episode, "The Runaway Bride." Shortly after saying his final goodbye to Rose, Donna Noble appears inside the TARDIS wearing a wedding dress. This offers the Doctor a welcome distraction as he goes from dealing with his loss to figuring out how Donna got on his time ship. Catherine Tate and Russell T. Davies take Donna on a bit of a journey in her characterization. Tate is a famous comedienne so they lean hard into it with mixed results. When Donna is shrieking and being hysterical, it feels like the show is laughing at her, rather than with her. But there are great scenes where the show is empathetic towards Donna. Her rooftop convo with the Doctor is fantastic. It's heartbreaking when Donna finds out her fiancé is a consort of the Rachnoss. I think where Donna really grabbed me was at the end of the episode when the Doctor offers Donna to be Rose's replacement. Donna recognizes the Doctor is as broken as she is and that it would be to her detriment to join him at this time. She encourages him to find someone because she recognizes the Doctor needs that companion to keep him grounded. It's a really affecting scene and it made me adore Donna, so I was sad when the Doctor left. But we'll get into Donna more in series 4.
"Smith and Jones" introduces medical student Martha Jones to the show. Martha meets the Doctor when the hospital she's working in is transported to the moon by the space police force, the Judoon. They are searching for a plasmavore that is hiding in the hospital using the guise of an elderly woman named Florence Finnegan.
Martha is completely different than Rose, which I think was a great choice for the writers to make. Martha has her life together. She's studying to be a doctor. She's not aimless. Her relationship with her family is different. They are in each other's business and while they act like this interconnectedness annoys them, it's obvious that they wouldn't have it any other way. Where I think the episode, and perhaps series 3 itself falters, is what happens when the Doctor kisses Martha in order to transfer some of his alien energy onto her. Martha is immediately infatuated with the Doctor, even though it's obvious from the jump that he doesn't feel the same way. It feels like lazy writing and a cheap way to interject tension or drama into the Doctor and Martha's relationship. While the Doctor is still hesitant about taking on a new companion, he offers Martha one trip in the TARDIS into the past, which she readily accepts once she learns the TARDIS can travel through TIME as well as space, meaning the Doctor can return her before anyone knows she's gone.
The next two episodes are the requisite Doctor takes his companion into the past and future episodes. "The Shakespeare Code" is one of my favorite episodes of series 3. First off, I'm a huge Shakespeare fan and the episode is littered with clever little in-jokes and references to his works and his appearance, even allusions to his sexuality. My favorite sequences is when Shakespeare flirts with the Doctor and he mentions historians fist bumping. I laughed out loud. I feel like this episode really illustrates what is great about Doctor Who. The climax features the Doctor, Martha and Shakespeare repelling the Carrionites, witch-like aliens, with words. And it's not hokey or overly earnest, it feels right.
The Doctor can't resist taking Martha into the future after their trip to the past, so "Gridlock" finds Martha and the Doctor on New Earth back in New New York. "Gridlock" is the final episode of a loose trilogy that began with "The End of the World" and continued in "New Earth." I really liked the concept of people being trapped in an eternal traffic jam and living in their cars. There were also some cool scenes with the Doctor jumping car to car and for me, there's nothing better than watching the Doctor engage with regular folks. He's never busy enough to not try to learn and it's fun to watch. The most important things that happen is that the Doctor receives his third and final message from the Face of Boe: "You are not alone." He also opens up to Martha for the first time since their meeting. Explaining that he is indeed the last of his kind.
The Doctor takes Martha to Depression era New York in "Daleks In Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks." Shortly after arriving the duo learns that people are being recruited to do work and then are not being seen again. The Dalek group the Cult of Skaro are behind the abductions. They are working with corrupt businessman Mr. Diagoras. Their leader, Dalek Sec, wants to find worthy humans and create Dalek/human hybrids, while humans deemed unworthy are turned into pig slaves.
I know this two-parter is sort of contentious when it comes to hardcore Who fans due to the way that the Daleks are characterized and how the Doctor reacts to that. Once Dalek Sec merges with Diagoras he begins to feel more human. Once the Doctor finds out that the subjects the Daleks have are already brain dead, he agrees to help them create more hybrids and offers to take them to a new planet to start over. It's jarring to see the Doctor attempt to be compassionate to the Daleks, but I think it's important. It's nice to see this new dynamic even though it's short lived. I sort of wish the episode had stayed on this track for a little bit rather than go the sort of expected route of having the non-converted Daleks revolt agains Dalek Sec and go back to their old ways. It feels like the show trying to have it's cake and eat it too. Like, let's introduce the new ideas, but then still try to not piss off diehards.
The Doctor returns Martha to present day London in "The Lazarus Project." The plan is to drop her at her flat and leave her behind, but the Doctor decides to stick around when he sees a news report about a Doctor Lazarus getting ready to announce a discovery that will rock the scientific community and the world. That discovery is a machine that makes Lazarus young again, but also turns him into a rampaging spider-monster. For me, this is probably the weakest episode of series 3. It's just sort of scattered and shallow. There are some nice character moments like when the Doctor and Lazarus talk about his experiences during the Blitz and how those led him to be obsessed with living forever. These moments help humanize Lazarus, but they are too few. This is also the episode where the Doctor formally invites Martha to join him as his new companion even though her mother Francine is vocally distrustful of him.
"42" is very reminiscent of "The Impossible Planet/Satan Pit" two-parter from series 2. It may not reach the highs of those episodes, but it's still a high point of series 3. After answering a distress call, the Doctor and Martha find themselves on a ship hurtling towards a star. They have 42 minutes before everyone on board is killed. The episode makes the most of it's real-time concept and this feels like the first time that Martha really understands just how dangerous traveling with the Doctor really is.
"Human Nature/The Family of Blood" is the requisite pre finale/best episodes of the series two-parter and it certainly lives up and exceeds expectations. The Doctor and Martha are being chased by the Family of Blood, non-corporeal beings that feed on time energy. The twist is that they are dying and if the Doctor can elude them long enough time will take it's toll. The Doctor hides out in 1913. He transforms himself into a human and places everything that makes him a Time Lord into a fob watch. While the Doctor masquerades as John Smith, a professor, Martha is his maid, keeping an eye on him until he can transform back. Of course, the Family arrives, finds the Doctor and it's on.
It's difficult for me to stress how amazing these two episodes are. For the first time since her introduction, Martha's race is dealt with in how the people in 1913 interact with her. It's done in a way where it is not HER story. The show is also smart about how racism is depicted. No one uses the "N" word, but Martha's treatment is still impactful and no one is immune. Even the Doctor's love interest, Joan Redfern, dismisses Martha and she is someone you sympathize with.
If I ever wanted to use two episodes to demonstrate how David Tennant's iteration of the Doctor differs from Christopher Eccleston's, these are the episodes that I would direct people to. The Doctor as John Smith fights accepting his destiny, but once he does, it's all over. The episodes make it seem as if the Doctor and Martha are fleeing from the Family, but the truth is a little more chilling. The Doctor was trying to show them mercy but that all goes out the window once his Doctorness is re-established. The Doctor's punishments for the Family are cold as ice, a contradiction from the jovial visage that we are normally dealing with. The Doctors final scenes with Joan are some of the best of the series so far, and Tennant and actress Jessica Hynes kill it.
Next up is Series 3's Doctorlite episode and it proves that they don't have to be garbage. "Blink" introduces the Weeping Angels, some of the creepiest villains the series has introduced so far. Creatures that move so fast you can't see them hence the blink of the title. Future Oscar nominee, Carey Mulligan, leads the episode and shocking no one is perfect. The episode plays with time so well and the Weeping Angels are actually frightening. There was actually tension and I was worried. I thought that Mulligan's character, Sally Sparrow, wouldn't make it. I don't think the episode would have worked as well as it did if not for the final resolution. It's brilliant and I don't want to give it away in case you haven't watched. Trust me. It's really good.
Normally "Doctor Who" keeps it's series finales to two-parts, but bucks the trend and goes full three-parter. The first part "Utopia" finds the Doctor and Martha teaming up with Captain Jack Harkness and heading into the future where Professor Yana is building a rocket to transport the remainder of the human race to Utopia. Professor Yana is hiding something. It turns out he is the Doctor's arch nemesis, the Master. What I love about "Utopia" is the call backs. YANA is an acronym for the Face of Boe's final message to the Doctor, "you are not alone." The Master is another Time Lord, but is not a nice one. Derek Jacobi who plays Yana/The Master does a really good job of selling the personality change once he becomes the Master. It's also nice to see the Doctor and Captain Jack talk about the Doctor leaving Jack behind and the Doctor owns his behavior more than we've maybe seen. He leaves Jack because Jack's newfound immortality scares him and makes him uncomfortable. It ends on a great cliffhanger. The Doctor, Jack and Martha stranded as The Master steals the TARDIS with the Futurekind, bestial, mindless humans, coming after them.
"The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords" closes out Series 3. The Doctor, Martha and Jack thwart the Master and Martha decides her time with the Doctor is up. This two-parter is super divisive and I get why. The cliffhanger at the end of "Utopia" is resolved too easily. The Doctor just rigs Jack's wrist time travel device to act as a TARDIS. Once they get back to present day London they find out that The Master has taken up the guise of Harry Saxon and is getting ready to be elected Prime Minister.
So, my first issue with this two-parter is that the cliffhanger is resolved so simply and that's annoying. Why do that? It just feels really, really lazy and I expect a little more. I'm not huge fan of John Simm's performance as Harry Saxon/The Master. It's so hammy and over-the-top and it doesn't really feel menacing. We are supposed to believe that the Master is this horrible guy and he's like the dark mirror version of the Doctor, but it's difficult, especially if, like me, you have no past experience with the character. I think they could have maybe expanded this finale by one more episode to kind of flesh out the character of the Master. I would have loved to see how he chose his companion, to see what that relationship looks like and how it differs from the Doctor's relationship with his. The Doctor's role in this two-parter is a little head scratchy too. It's difficult to take it seriously when at one point he looks like Dobby from Harry Potter.
There is good stuff though. I personally found "Last of the Time Lords" to be the better of the two episodes. I know that is up for debate. The reason I preferred it is because I enjoyed Martha's role. Martha is given time to shine and it's about. more than just her being in love with the Doctor. I also liked that it was Martha spreading tales of the Doctor across the world and their belief in him that was able to get him back to normal. It feels in character for the show and it also felt like a nice call back to the Shakespeare episode. Circling back to Martha, she also finally decides to do something for herself. She realizes that her feelings for the Doctor will never be reciprocated and that she is doing herself a disservice by staying with him. It's a nice moment and it feels earned. I don't think that her fawning over him is redeemed by this moment, because it's not, but it still works.
All in all, I really enjoyed Series 3. It's not perfect, but this is the most assured the show has felt since it has been revived. The writers have gotten into a groove and it shows. I'm excited to welcome Donna back in Series 4 and start saying good-bye to David Tennant.
What do you guys think? Does anyone else love Series 3? Hate it? Let me know in the comments.
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| Rooftop contemplation |
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| Three's a crowd. |
Martha is completely different than Rose, which I think was a great choice for the writers to make. Martha has her life together. She's studying to be a doctor. She's not aimless. Her relationship with her family is different. They are in each other's business and while they act like this interconnectedness annoys them, it's obvious that they wouldn't have it any other way. Where I think the episode, and perhaps series 3 itself falters, is what happens when the Doctor kisses Martha in order to transfer some of his alien energy onto her. Martha is immediately infatuated with the Doctor, even though it's obvious from the jump that he doesn't feel the same way. It feels like lazy writing and a cheap way to interject tension or drama into the Doctor and Martha's relationship. While the Doctor is still hesitant about taking on a new companion, he offers Martha one trip in the TARDIS into the past, which she readily accepts once she learns the TARDIS can travel through TIME as well as space, meaning the Doctor can return her before anyone knows she's gone.
The next two episodes are the requisite Doctor takes his companion into the past and future episodes. "The Shakespeare Code" is one of my favorite episodes of series 3. First off, I'm a huge Shakespeare fan and the episode is littered with clever little in-jokes and references to his works and his appearance, even allusions to his sexuality. My favorite sequences is when Shakespeare flirts with the Doctor and he mentions historians fist bumping. I laughed out loud. I feel like this episode really illustrates what is great about Doctor Who. The climax features the Doctor, Martha and Shakespeare repelling the Carrionites, witch-like aliens, with words. And it's not hokey or overly earnest, it feels right.
The Doctor can't resist taking Martha into the future after their trip to the past, so "Gridlock" finds Martha and the Doctor on New Earth back in New New York. "Gridlock" is the final episode of a loose trilogy that began with "The End of the World" and continued in "New Earth." I really liked the concept of people being trapped in an eternal traffic jam and living in their cars. There were also some cool scenes with the Doctor jumping car to car and for me, there's nothing better than watching the Doctor engage with regular folks. He's never busy enough to not try to learn and it's fun to watch. The most important things that happen is that the Doctor receives his third and final message from the Face of Boe: "You are not alone." He also opens up to Martha for the first time since their meeting. Explaining that he is indeed the last of his kind.
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| Botched. |
I know this two-parter is sort of contentious when it comes to hardcore Who fans due to the way that the Daleks are characterized and how the Doctor reacts to that. Once Dalek Sec merges with Diagoras he begins to feel more human. Once the Doctor finds out that the subjects the Daleks have are already brain dead, he agrees to help them create more hybrids and offers to take them to a new planet to start over. It's jarring to see the Doctor attempt to be compassionate to the Daleks, but I think it's important. It's nice to see this new dynamic even though it's short lived. I sort of wish the episode had stayed on this track for a little bit rather than go the sort of expected route of having the non-converted Daleks revolt agains Dalek Sec and go back to their old ways. It feels like the show trying to have it's cake and eat it too. Like, let's introduce the new ideas, but then still try to not piss off diehards.
The Doctor returns Martha to present day London in "The Lazarus Project." The plan is to drop her at her flat and leave her behind, but the Doctor decides to stick around when he sees a news report about a Doctor Lazarus getting ready to announce a discovery that will rock the scientific community and the world. That discovery is a machine that makes Lazarus young again, but also turns him into a rampaging spider-monster. For me, this is probably the weakest episode of series 3. It's just sort of scattered and shallow. There are some nice character moments like when the Doctor and Lazarus talk about his experiences during the Blitz and how those led him to be obsessed with living forever. These moments help humanize Lazarus, but they are too few. This is also the episode where the Doctor formally invites Martha to join him as his new companion even though her mother Francine is vocally distrustful of him.
"42" is very reminiscent of "The Impossible Planet/Satan Pit" two-parter from series 2. It may not reach the highs of those episodes, but it's still a high point of series 3. After answering a distress call, the Doctor and Martha find themselves on a ship hurtling towards a star. They have 42 minutes before everyone on board is killed. The episode makes the most of it's real-time concept and this feels like the first time that Martha really understands just how dangerous traveling with the Doctor really is.
 |
| Scarecrows are scary. |
It's difficult for me to stress how amazing these two episodes are. For the first time since her introduction, Martha's race is dealt with in how the people in 1913 interact with her. It's done in a way where it is not HER story. The show is also smart about how racism is depicted. No one uses the "N" word, but Martha's treatment is still impactful and no one is immune. Even the Doctor's love interest, Joan Redfern, dismisses Martha and she is someone you sympathize with.
If I ever wanted to use two episodes to demonstrate how David Tennant's iteration of the Doctor differs from Christopher Eccleston's, these are the episodes that I would direct people to. The Doctor as John Smith fights accepting his destiny, but once he does, it's all over. The episodes make it seem as if the Doctor and Martha are fleeing from the Family, but the truth is a little more chilling. The Doctor was trying to show them mercy but that all goes out the window once his Doctorness is re-established. The Doctor's punishments for the Family are cold as ice, a contradiction from the jovial visage that we are normally dealing with. The Doctors final scenes with Joan are some of the best of the series so far, and Tennant and actress Jessica Hynes kill it.
 |
| Don't look at me |
Normally "Doctor Who" keeps it's series finales to two-parts, but bucks the trend and goes full three-parter. The first part "Utopia" finds the Doctor and Martha teaming up with Captain Jack Harkness and heading into the future where Professor Yana is building a rocket to transport the remainder of the human race to Utopia. Professor Yana is hiding something. It turns out he is the Doctor's arch nemesis, the Master. What I love about "Utopia" is the call backs. YANA is an acronym for the Face of Boe's final message to the Doctor, "you are not alone." The Master is another Time Lord, but is not a nice one. Derek Jacobi who plays Yana/The Master does a really good job of selling the personality change once he becomes the Master. It's also nice to see the Doctor and Captain Jack talk about the Doctor leaving Jack behind and the Doctor owns his behavior more than we've maybe seen. He leaves Jack because Jack's newfound immortality scares him and makes him uncomfortable. It ends on a great cliffhanger. The Doctor, Jack and Martha stranded as The Master steals the TARDIS with the Futurekind, bestial, mindless humans, coming after them.
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| Hot threeway |
So, my first issue with this two-parter is that the cliffhanger is resolved so simply and that's annoying. Why do that? It just feels really, really lazy and I expect a little more. I'm not huge fan of John Simm's performance as Harry Saxon/The Master. It's so hammy and over-the-top and it doesn't really feel menacing. We are supposed to believe that the Master is this horrible guy and he's like the dark mirror version of the Doctor, but it's difficult, especially if, like me, you have no past experience with the character. I think they could have maybe expanded this finale by one more episode to kind of flesh out the character of the Master. I would have loved to see how he chose his companion, to see what that relationship looks like and how it differs from the Doctor's relationship with his. The Doctor's role in this two-parter is a little head scratchy too. It's difficult to take it seriously when at one point he looks like Dobby from Harry Potter.
There is good stuff though. I personally found "Last of the Time Lords" to be the better of the two episodes. I know that is up for debate. The reason I preferred it is because I enjoyed Martha's role. Martha is given time to shine and it's about. more than just her being in love with the Doctor. I also liked that it was Martha spreading tales of the Doctor across the world and their belief in him that was able to get him back to normal. It feels in character for the show and it also felt like a nice call back to the Shakespeare episode. Circling back to Martha, she also finally decides to do something for herself. She realizes that her feelings for the Doctor will never be reciprocated and that she is doing herself a disservice by staying with him. It's a nice moment and it feels earned. I don't think that her fawning over him is redeemed by this moment, because it's not, but it still works.
All in all, I really enjoyed Series 3. It's not perfect, but this is the most assured the show has felt since it has been revived. The writers have gotten into a groove and it shows. I'm excited to welcome Donna back in Series 4 and start saying good-bye to David Tennant.
What do you guys think? Does anyone else love Series 3? Hate it? Let me know in the comments.
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