vivdunstan

We've been rewatching David Tennant's first series of Doctor Who 20 years on, one episode a week. Last week it was the turn of "Army of Ghosts", but we ended up following straight on to the second part of the story "Doomsday". So no waiting for that this coming week! I jotted down some quick notes.

( mild spoilers )

We'll probably continue on to the Christmas 2006 episode, but I wouldn't be surprised if it takes us a while. We are currently planning to rewatch the 2007 series next year, 20 years on again.

A review from a rewatch the other week, as we continue our 20 years on rewatch of this series of Doctor Who.

I still liked a lot about it. Elton and his gang are a charming bunch of misfits, and I found it impossible not to relate to them. The monster is as daft as I remember, and really gross at times. There are the best scenes ever for Rose's Mum Jackie, with superb acting from Camille Coduri. The sex joke at the episode end is not good and I still have problems with how one character ends up, and that it's supposed to be an ok ending.

But yes, still enjoyable, and definitely not for me the worst of the worst episodes. And hey, bonus points for the ELO music.

Realised I haven't posted thoughts about this one, which we rewatched recently. It was ok, but not one of my favourites. There are some strong points. Mr Magpie is superbly acted. And I quite liked Rose being sidelined for much of it. But there's a smugness for me about much of this story, and I can't get over that. I also didn't find the solution to the domestic abuse situation realistic for the time. But it filled a slot!

Rewatched this pair of episodes last week and the week before, as part of our continuing 20 years on rewatch of the first David Tennant series.

Going to discuss some major spoilers, so going into spoiler space. Spoiler discussion will also include the later 2006 series finale.

( spoilers )

Another 20-years-on rewatch for us, last week, with my review only going up now.

This is a strong episode, that brought back a much-loved old character, in a way that appealed to both long-term fans from the 1970s and new fans who had no idea who Sarah Jane Smith was. Or indeed K9. It was a risk going for the jealousy angle, and Rose doesn't always come out well, including re the final bit with Mickey. But it gives a new perspective on the role of a companion, and I think was generally well done.

It's another tightly written episode - rewatching this 2006 series I'm constantly agog at how much tighter the single parters were writing wise than in the RTD2 era - with a strong plot and good guest cast. Anthony Head is particularly strong in his role, and I honestly thought that the main kid actors were ok, though I've seen other reviewers less positive about them.

As an old time fan myself, albeit starting watching in 1978 after Sarah Jane Smith left the TARDIS, I loved the ending. And it was easy to see how much fun David Tennant was having, as another lifelong fan. It's no wonder that this led to the very successful Sarah Jane Adventures spin off.

This last week marked 20 years since the start of David Tennant's first full series of Doctor Who. We weren't planning to rewatch anything, but stumbled at midnight that night into a rewatch of "New Earth". I wouldn't be surprised if we rewatch more episodes over the coming weeks ...

I jotted down some quick thoughts while watching.

• DT so young!
• Seeing Mickey is going to be *challenging*, but hey ho
• Nice to combine first new Tenth series story with a sequel to End of the World
• So many lift shafts and stair scenes in this early era of New Who!
• Adjoa Andoh's voice even more recognisable for me now after watching some of Bridgerton
• Certainly pre Covid, with the Doctor opening up multiple patient cells, full of people infected with many diseases, and saying it’s ok as long as you don’t touch them
• Marvellous cat acting from Doña Croll particularly
• Very dark storytelling, but also incredibly concise for the runtime - RTD 2 could take lessons
• Overall a fun intro to a new series. And the middle part of an elongated trilogy story of sorts, which I hadn't appreciated back then.

"The Importance of Being Earnest" of course, starring Ncuti Gatwa. Which is currently free to stream online via YouTube until March 18th.

I hadn't realised before starting to watch it that Julian Bleach (Davros) is in it too, and also Richard Cant ("Blink"). I knew Sharon D Clarke (Grace, Thirteenth Doctor era) played Lady Bracknell. Oh and Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́, who plays Gwendolen, also appeared in a couple of Twelfth Doctor TV stories. Ncuti Gatwa's main co-star Hugh Skinner hasn't been on TV Who, but has appeared in Big Finish audios. Oh and Amanda Lawrence (Doomfinger in "The Shakespeare Code") is also in it!

I've watched the first half of the play tonight and will watch the rest tomorrow or the next day. Very much enjoying it.

Was a bit shocked the other night to find I didn't have a Ninth Doctor icon already here. Added one, based on Alice X. Zhang's fabulous comic art. And now just added a Tenth Doctor one, ditto. Which given he's my favourite Doctor ever - even beating the mighty Tom - I should have good use for! Not least because I plan to rewatch Ten's Doctor Who stories. I've recently been rewatching Eleven and Twelve, and expect to go on to Thirteen. Should give Nine and Ten another look too.

Another Doctor Who Nu Who anniversary rewatch for us tonight, David Tennant’s very personal episode of Doctor Who Confidential from 2007. Only available for UK folks on the iPlayer seemingly until this Sunday.

Writing up brief reviews of a couple more stories in my Matt Smith era rewatch, which is nearly over. As I write these reviews it is currently Doctor Who's 61st birthday. Happy birthday to my all time favourite TV show, which I have watched almost continuously (I didn't know about and missed the 1996 TV movie!?) during its broadcasts ever since 1978 and the Key to Time series.

I am going to discuss spoilers, but not put them into spoiler space after all this time. Look away if in doubt though.

These two stories, as well as the Night of the Doctor minisode between and The Time of the Doctor after, provide a quadrology of "of the Doctor" stories. Which is a surprisingly little used title form for the series. Though recently we had "The Power of the Doctor" with Jodie Whittaker.

"Name" provides an answer to the long running Clara mystery, with her jumping into the Doctor's time stream, and scattering into splinters. This was a satisfying resolution for me, and also neatly handled in a way that led in to the mystery of John Hurt's War Doctor.

Not so good was the rest of the episode for me. It felt like it had too many things packed in, and lots didn't get enough depth. I liked the conference call, with Vastra, Jenny, Strax, Clara and River. I liked the farewell between River and the Doctor. But so much else, including Richard E Grant's Great Intelligence and the Whisper Men, was just too much thrown in. Of course without REG we wouldn't have seen Clara jump into the Doctor's time stream. Yes, REG's character was necessary. But a lot felt clumsy, and too thinly spread.

"Day" by contrast has an extended running time. 77 minutes versus 44 minutes for "Night". and it needed that to balance its many elements. There are slower, more thoughtful moments, such as John Hurt's War Doctor's trudge to the barn. But these are matched by numerous hectic action scenes. And just so many ingredients. Elizabeth I and Zygons, UNIT in the present day Tower of London, Gallifrey during the Time War, the High Council of Gallifrey, Doctors and their TARDISes swirling. But somehow, and even though it feels as though it shouldn't, it works. Really well.

Even the three main incarnations of the Doctor on screen are each given sufficient time. It does feel like a Matt Smith episode though. He's at the start and end, bookmarking, and is in no way outshone by David Tennant or the War Doctor. I *love* how the War Doctor effortlessly sums up the other pair in a few words, far from flattering. Billie Piper, this time as a sentient interface to a weapon of mass destruction, works too. And yes, Clara is also well handled. This is by far the best representation of her since The Snowmen, though Steven Moffat writing her again will have helped. It was a little strange to realise there must have been quite a time jump, for her to qualify as a teacher. Of course she's at Coal Hill School. But that's ok too.

Ultimately though the episode is a love letter to the past. The scene where multiple Doctor incarnations appear briefly to save Gallifrey is epic. This was the first time my husband had any clue about the next doctor after Matt Smith, and he recognised Peter Capaldi immediately from just his eyebrows! The best nod to the past for me though had to be Tom Baker's appearance. I'd heard a hint that he might appear, but forgot when watching. And then was in tears seeing it on screen. The doctor of my first years as a fan, and still one of my all time favourites. And played and scripted so beautifully.

So yes, a lot to like. I would also highly recommend the Target novelisation of this, written by Steven Moffat himself. Which plays with the structure and details in a highly imaginative way. A great read, even if you think you know the version from the telly.

Just one more Matt Smith story to go. To quote my all time favourite doctor "I don't want to go ..."