The Lazarus Experiment

Almost halfway through Series 3 and, after two trips to Earth's past and one to New Earth in the distant future, we're back to present-day London. These episodes haven't tended to be amongst my favourites since the series returned - no particular objection to them, I just have a personal preference for "historicals" and "other planets", as I think they're more interesting settings.

And this one, although eminently watchable, didn't change my perception about present-day London as a setting. Again, I must harp on about the episode length - there really isn't that much you can do plot-wise in 45 minutes (and the running time of this was very short, a lot closer to 35 minutes) and, as a result, the story is over before it's begun.

So what was this latest short story all about?

The Doctor takes Martha back to Earth after her "one trip" in the TARDIS but, just as he's about to leave, his interest is piqued by a TV news item featuring Martha's sister, Tish, a PA, and her boss, the ageing Professor Lazarus.

At a demonstration in Lazarus Laboratories, The Doctor, along with Martha and Tish and their mother and brother, watch in amazement as Lazarus performs an experiment using his Genetic Manipulator, from which he emerges 40 years younger. He believes this discovery of cheating the ageing process is set to transform the human race.

The Doctor works out that Lazarus has altered his DNA to change his molecular structure, but a side effect is that he transforms into a monster which drains the life force of humans. The Doctor manages to lure the creature away, so that the guests at the demonstration can flee and, once she is sure her family are OK, Martha returns into the building to help her new friend.

They think they have destroyed the creature, and it reverts to the form of Lazarus. However, the ambulance which takes the body away suddenly stops, and The Doctor realises Lazarus has indeed risen from the dead. Pursued by The Doctor, Martha and Tish, Lazarus heads for a nearby cathedral.

Meanwhile, a "mysterious man" takes Martha's mother to one side, and warns her about The Doctor.

In the cathedral, Lazarus once again reverts to monster form, and chases Martha and Tish to the bell tower at the top. Just in time, The Doctor kills the creature for good by playing the organ which creates massive sound waves that revorborate off the bell.

The Doctor agrees to Martha's request for more than "one trip", and she joins him full time in the TARDIS. As it dematerialises, Martha's mother leaves an urgent message on her phone, warning her to leave The Doctor because she's in terrible danger . . .

The story itself - mad scientist's quest for eternal youth/immortality/turns into monster/dies wouldn't win any prizes for originality, but it was a perfectly-decent romp - although, even for Doctor Who, they might have been over-quota for running!

Writer Stephen Greenhorn's debut episode for Doctor Who had plenty of good dialogue for the main characters, though, and the script was well served yet again by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman as The Doctor and Martha. Some humorous moments, too - The Doctor grabbing Martha's underwear from a clothes horse in her flat to her horror, Mrs Jones dealing a hefty slap to The Doctor (shades of Jackie Tyler to the previous incarnation), and the monster itself (peek-a-boo) being given a character.

Mark Gatiss was also excellent as the older and younger Lazarus, particularly the former, which he seemed to relish. I was actually more taken with the prosthetic work to make him up into the 76-year-old Lazarus than the CGI monster, impressive beast though it was. And Gatiss, as a DW fan and dual writer for the series, knew how to pitch the villain so as not to make him over the top. Good performance, and some nice scenes in the cathedral with his friend, Tennant.

It was always going to be a big ask to integrate three members of Martha's family, and Reggie Yates as Leo was the big sufferer of time constraints here, unless there's an award for "standing there". More substance to Gugu Mbatha Raw as Tish and Adjoa Andoh as concerned mum Francine, and it'll be interesting to see them again, as we undoubtedly will later in the series.

Plenty of "green screen" acting and, again, kudos for Tennant, now an old hand at acting against nothing. I'm finding it difficult to find any fault with the show's star at the moment.

No denying that The Mill's latest CGI masterpiece did what it said on the tin, and filled the screen magnificently, but these creatures are rather one-dimensional in that after devouring a couple of sacrificial extras, all they can really do is chase people down corridors. We've seen it with the Reapers, The Werewolf and the Krillitanes - plus the static CGI creatures in Rose, The Long Game and The Satan Pit - all very different visually, but limited in what they can actually do. And, speaking of limits, there is a finite amount of times you can go to a well. I think we might be close to the bottom of this one.

Intriguing titbits for future episodes, with more mentions of Mr Saxon, who was the paymaster behind Lazarus's experiment. We now know Saxon's first name is Harold and has, through an intermediate (who rather reminded me of Willy Wonka's sidekick who tried to bribe the golden ticket winners in the original version of that film), started to sow seeds of doubt about The Doctor with Martha's mother. And just a little hint that there may be a touch of sibling rivalry between Martha and Tish, which may also prove significant.

Good, too, that Martha (probably the most-eager-ever incumbant of the companion role - even more than Rose) has convinced The Doctor that she is worthy of a regular spot in the TARDIS. There are similarities with Rose in that she has already effectively suggested she would choose The Doctor over her family, but there is no indication in the slightest that The Doctor sees her in any other terms than a companion. She has been an excellent addition to the show - both character and actress - since her first scene really. Particularly pleasing that, like Rose, she takes an active part in the solving of the mysteries and using her own initiative, rather than just being The Doctor's foil. Makes her a much more rounded character.

On the whole, more filler than thriller, but pretty slick, and hard to criticise. But no more than 7 out of 10 because most of it has been seen in various guises before. However, I do believe there is better to come, and we haven't seen anything like the best of this series so far.