New Earth

ItВ’s back!

One ridiculously long wait later, and we have the Doctor and Rose all to ourselves for the next 12 weeks. This time, however, thereВ’s nothing to prove В– only to improve upon. And therein might lie the problem.

I was hoping that Russell T Davis would give us a premiere of delightful proportions, throw us into a new adventure and new arc which would bring all of last yearВ’s fun and excitement back again. I have always admired him as writer and have previously noted that he was by far the best-qualified to bring the Doctor back. The success of the show has proven this to be true. The one issue with last seasonВ’s run, though, was that the Davis-penned episodes (or, at least, those without the built-in enjoyment of a season finale) were a little patchy at times. New Earth, then, was going to be an indication of what we could expect this year.

The verdict? Well, as ever, somewhat mixed.

Rose and the DoctorВ’s relationship, by far the strongest aspect of season 1 (or 27, blah, blah, blah), is present, correct, and just different enough to promise another year of televisual pleasure. The effects are, for the most part, even better than before and work just fine. As ever, the matte painting backgrounds were a little sketchy at times, and the plague CGI was kind of ropey, but this was balanced out by the astonishing New Earth backdrops.

The problem, then? Davis STILL has a problem meshing his excellent character work with the sci-fi adventure yarn that Doctor Who has to be. The premise, cloning beings for medical research, is a good one, with depth and resonance. ItВ’s disappointing, then, that the adventure aspect of the episode is so by-the-numbers. The Doctor is captured, but escapes rather easily, the clones are released and act like dull, plague-ridden zombies, rather superfluous characters that we care little about are endangered. It is the B-plot which is the soul of В‘New EarthВ’. The return of Cassandra is slightly naff, but makes for some great body-swapping comedy and banter (a Davis strength that even his most bitter detractors cannot possibly deny). The episodeВ’s conclusion, where Cassandra gives herself a last moment of pleasure, is bizarrely touching, and much more affecting than the one-dimensional zombies and shallow cat-nuns which had preceded it.

Davis is a self-confessed sci-fi fan and really needs to let loose with that influence, instead of rushing through bog-standard running around scenes in order to get to the next character moment. Still, itВ’s a lot stronger than В‘RoseВ’ as a start to the season.

As far as the cast go, Tennant is still settling in, but has done so a lot more quickly than Chris Ecclestone did В– it wasnВ’t until В‘DalekВ’ that I felt he was really В‘myВ’ Doctor. Tennant is almost there, though, and when completely comfortable will clearly be a wonderful Doctor. A few more opportunities to show the DoctorВ’s power will help.

Next week, Scotland, warrior monks (which IВ’m reserving judgment on until I see their role in the story В– please donВ’t be a meaningless Matrix rip-off!) and a superb-looking werewolf.

WeВ’re off В– and not a sign of a new В‘Bad WolfВ’. Although, what is the Face of BoeВ’s great secret ...