Gridlock

The short summary: I liked this one a LOT more than I expected I would, given the setup. Davies shows no signs of giving up his excessive indulgences, but his gifts -- the characterisation of the Doctor, the dialogue, the lovely amounts of real emotion he works into those scripts -- all win out.

That said, that doesn't mean I don't half have some nits to pick. Martha isn't the only one who groaned when she found out she's retreading planets Rose visited, I was right there with her. There was absolutely ZERO need to revisit New Earth to make this story work (particularly as the Face of Boe was seen LEAVING the planet at the end of "New Earth"), other than getting to hear David spit out "Newnewnewnewnewnewnewnew York" again (and it's fun, but that's still no good reason!).

There were some logic problems as well. As the story really begins, we found our heroes have landed in NNY's undercity. It's revealed later that this area is completely sealed off, but when we first see it, it's raining (how does that work in a sealed off area, we wonder?). That whole sequence paid a nice homage to both Blade Runner (the rain, the drugs) and Brazil (kidnapping Martha because you need a third adult to get into the Fast Lane?!), and was the first of many surprises in this story that gave it a more original feeling than we'd reckoned.

Much of the rest of the episode takes place on one set, the (continually re-dressed) car that people live in. One wonders why they can't just walk to where they're going (easily explained a half- dozen ways, but not made clear in the story), or why they want to get away since the non-Motorway part of the undercity doesn't seem THAT bad, but put those things aside and enjoy the campy, overplayed stereotypes of drivers the Doctor cleverly comes across (a very Sixth Doctor idea of getting from A to B, I felt).

My other major issue with Gridlock is down entirely to the writer, Davies. As with the Daleks, I do think RTD is overamping the necessity for a "gay statement" in nearly every episode he writes. I love gay people but this nearly-constant reference to them (particularly when the story has to take a significant detour to get there) is wearing. Note to RTD: No Daleks AT ALL next season, and you can only put gay characters in if they're significant to the plot (like Capt. Jack).

Lastly, I'm afraid I didn't care much for Brannigan. Unlike most people in similar roles/disguises, Brannigan came over painfully as a guy with lots of makeup on his face rather than selling the character. I felt much the same way about the Absorbaloff (Peter Kay), but I recognise that sometimes the public love of a personality (like Ken Dodd) overcomes the lack of sincerity in their performance. I don't think Brannigan (Ardal O'Hanlon) has that kind of admiration. I also think I may be getting old, since I was a bit bothered by the idea of a human female giving birth to kittens. Probably just me though.

So a few things not to like. There were, as balance, plenty of things to like. I was surprised, and deeply moved, by the inclusion of the "Old Rugged Cross" scene in the show. This is precisely what I love about Doctor Who: no other show throws me these curveballs so delightfully well. It was a really touching moment beautifully handled, and again at the end when they sang "Abide in Me."

The revelation of the "devolved" Macra was a nice touch, but if they wanted a true homage to the original story they could have at least put together ONE scene where the Macra weren't CGI (specifically, I wanted one giant half-offscreen cardboard claw to grab someone!).

Martha continues to find her feet, but the qualities that make her a companion are starting to come to the fore. Whatever worries I have about this "crush" business are starting to fade. She can even say things Rose would have said and it doesn't bother me a bit.

At last we come to Novice Hame and the Face of Boe. I'll admit it for the record -- I got a tear in my eye when Boe passed on. This is the only show in the entire world that can make me cry for a prop head. Damn that's good television. Anna Hope (as Hame) really got to show all sides of her character, and I was greatly amused when the Doctor recognises her and moves to embrace her -- before remembering that she was attacking him last time they met.

I was annoyed that Boe's "last great secret" as prophecied in "New Earth" was merely to let the Doctor know that he is both the last of his kind (Time Lord) *and* not alone. I think I've got that meaning worked out, but of course we'll see. Martha finally puts her foot down and demands to be brought up to speed, and the Doctor reluctantly agrees -- a nice scene nicely realised.

Overall, "Gridlock" was better than "Smith & Jones," and probably on par with "The Shakespeare Code." It's a tribute to the production team that they can go from richly historical location shooting at the Globe Theatre to a small prop car set on a greenscreen stage in Wales and still make everyone buy into it. Season Three might not yet have really taken off, but while we wait for the "Fast Lane" of Important Stories with Major Plot Revelations, the entertainment factor we've seen so far is pleasingly high.