Gridlock

We've bought a new television, and its fairly large....too large according to my wife. During our second viewing of The Shakespeare Code she remarked, "I can see the Doctor's nose hairs! That thing is too big". In Gridlock I can report that there were no nose hairs visible save those of Novice Hame and Brannigan the cat.

So what of Gridlock? I thought it was a welcome return to New Earth, and under different circumstances. I have few gripes, maybe Pharmacy Town was too deserted for belief, but the story generally held up well. The characters on the motorway were all different and amusing (if not entirely believable). The idea of being stuck in a trafic jam for years really should get people on the M25 thinking!

I thought bringing back the Macra was justified, though we are left to assume that they will quietly die off without the exhaust fumes rather than explaining their fate. Macra would have been a real surprise had I not read some spoilers. A nice little plot twist was Novice Hame seeming to be an enemy turning out to have repented. When she first appears she seems to pose a threat, that was handled well. Russel's script was full of little fun ideas such as the Doctor inventing a new sport of jumping down from car to car.

And to the face of Boe's dying words. I quite like the Face of Boe, so its a shame that we presumably won't see him again (time travel notwithstanding). Nothing we didn't expect but still sent a chill down my spine.

And Martha, showing she can hold her own when separated from the doctor - and that she is realising the implications of travelling with the Doctor more quickly than Rose did. I did like the fact that the Doctor clearly thinks he is over Rose until Martha mentions "rebound". Very well handled, the Rose references are only placed where necessary.

One of Russel's better stories, and a word again for the Mill. Fantastic effects.

8/10