OH. DEAR.

Two words sum this one up. When I heard rumours that the Troughton era creature that would return in Series 3 would be the Macra, I thought "Well, at least they may be able to improve on their last outing". But this rather poor take on the "something lurking in the undercity" storyline takes away the one thing that made the Macra anything more than mutant crabs. Coupled with the fact that this isn't even the main plot, we waste rather a lot of the episode finding out about them.

Take away the Macra, and concentrate on the main story (the destruction of New Earth by a virus), and you have a much better plot. This should really have been expanded on. The Face of Boe's return is the first time that Boe has been anything other than an alien face in the crowd. Novice Hame's story of redemption is engaging enough.

However, bearing in mind the content of the Vote Saxon sites started by the BBC, the revelation made by the Face of Boe is hardly shocking.

Unfortunately, because of the tedious inclusion of the Macra Mcguffin, this return to New Earth is scarcely satisfying. Once more we get Davies by numbers ? an episode designed purely and simply to move the series' arc plot along a notch.

I really wish, now, that RTD would just stop writing the episodes on concentrate on producing them. Increasingly, the RTD-penned stories are the least satisfying ones.

Lets hope next weeks Dalek episode picks up a little.

Re-watching The Shakespeare Code, for one thing I was pleased to find I enjoyed it as much as last time, but more importantly I'd utterly missed the bit where the Bedlam guy offers to whip the inmates for the Doctor's amusement, which is an excellent reason for the Doc to dislike him. And also, the Doctor himself looked like he was wearing his old brown suit instead of the blue one he ended Smith and Jones in. Now, I could be wrong, but if not, isn't that a continuity error?

As for Gridlock itself, it fell into the same pre-credits trap as The Shakespeare Code last week ? that is, they were irrelevant and not particularly special, leading me to think that they should ease up on the pre-credits openers a bit, only using the device for scripts that justify it, such as Father's Day and both of Stephen Moffat's scripts. Oddly enough, the return to the 'opening credits, story' type was a significant factor in my great enjoyment of Smith and Jones! Russell T also returns to his stock hawking-your-wares sequences; it was annoying in The Long Game and it wasn't great here. David Tennant wheels out his OTT outrage again, for a short time, as well, but more than makes up for it later on with a cute and tender scene featuring kittens! Now I defy all but the most hard-hearted people not to go all mushy for that bit; I know I did. And am I mistaken, or were those kittens starting to talk?

The setting of Gridlock is a standard case of satire turned up to eleven. It's been argued that the cardinal rule of satire (a major interest of Russell Davies, of course) is simply to take a prominent feature of your own day, and exaggerate it ? this Russell does, and then some, which is how we come to have the first story in Doctor Who history to be set in a traffic jam! There's a fair bit of anti-drug stuff, too, which isn't anything like as bad as it might've been. As settings go, the grime and horror stand in stark contrast to the chilly beauty of the Moon and the warm yellows of Elizabethan London, giving the season a welcome feeling of variety, and it was certainly horrific, though I need to mull it over a bit more before I decide whether or not it made sense (within itself, as a piece of drama, that is).

The whole episode, needless to say, was an excuse for the Face of Boe to tell his big secret, which I'm sure we all saw coming since, ooh, New Earth? The Face has become a big hit ? he seems, from the brief appearances he's clocked up in the show, to be fundamentally a really nice guy (Face), so his death is moving. The Doctor's stubborn insistence on discounting what he says as he breathes his last is pretty odd, but fits with this incarnation's dismaying hostility to anything he doesn't understand, trust, or want to acknowledge. But it was good to see him pull off the same trick as he did last time he visited New Earth, saving tens of thousands, possibly millions, of people from a fate worse than death in one amazing stroke (with the Face's help).

The episode's twin highlights, however, topped and tailed the episode, with some lovely stuff about Gallifrey ? the description of its silver leaves, burnt orange sky et al is a happy mix of the 60s TV stories, the comics and the novels. The final scene of the episode was especially good, with David Tennant playing it? not exactly subtly, I suppose, but movingly. I was never happy with the off-handed way Russell got rid of the planet of the Time Lords, seeing it as a cheap and thoughtless way of darkening the role; rather than any actual targeted characterisation like that seen in the Seventh Doctor era, a mere throwaway line in The End of the World set the bar for what was to come (and set it very low, IMO), and provided pretty much the sum total of both the Ninth and Tenth Doctor's characterisation, although Gallifrey has taken a back seat in DT's Doctor's tormented mind since Rose's disappearing act.

And flipping heck, the Macra?! I mean to say! Oh, I'm not complaining; I'm just surprised. What on earth was the point of that?? They don't even do anything (mind you, neither does Martha in this one). I was delighted to see them, personally, though in a sadly reduced state. The restraint from the team in electing not to show them in the trailer last week was admirable, as it would have totally ruined a surprise for which there was actually no pay-off after the initial shock. Russell T Davies baffles me sometimes. Because it's not like you can really use the Macra in a script, obviously, so I guess it's just some fan service he cooked up in a fit of generosity. The Macra? Why?

Martha continues to suffer at the Doctor's unwitting hands, although at the end her sit-down protest demanding his attention and a serious talk pays off, and she ends up getting his back-story (in recycled dialogue, but she's not to know!) But even she seems to have realised what I've been saying is true about semi-conscious behaviour patterns being the reason that he picked her up in the first place, and early in the episode you can see the light bulb go on over her head as it becomes clear that he's on some level trying to re-create what he had with Rose. This subplot would be really unpleasant if it wasn't for the fact that the Doctor actually does seem to be getting to like Martha and to enjoy her company; as it is, it's quite a poignant storyline, and the Doctor-Martha relationship is more engaging than the Doctor-Rose love-in ever was. Just a shame that the love-in still isn't over, even in the dratted girl's absence!

Series 3, I am happy to say, is continuing to perform beyond expectations. It's got to the point where seeing Doctor Who on a Saturday evening has really cheered me up, rather than given me a sick feeling like it frequently used to, post-2005 ? the episodes are mostly enjoyable at the moment and there is nothing really to complain about (nothing new, anyway), whereas throughout Series 1 & 2 there invariably was. Rock on, Doctor. And please, please, please, don't let the space pigs spoil everything. Oh God, I can see it now?

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

Something that fans of Doctor Who need to remember is that the show is first and foremost a family show. It's possible that sometimes RTD and the gang get away with so much (cheeky humor, violence, etc) that people forget that. When you watch this episode there are a few things that require a HUGE suspension of disbelief. The most important item, obviously, is that people would actually get stuck in a traffic jam for anywhere from six months to 20+ years and not go insane. If you get that out of the way, 'Gridlock' is an extremely entertaining episode.

No one could argue that there are some excellent moments in this episode. I don't usually recap episodes in these reviews but if you haven't seen the episode yet...

The talk of Gallifrey in the episode is excellent. Being a long time Doctor Who fan, I always hope for more discussion of past adventures or companions but Tennant is such a good actor in his description it is done very well. The doctor and Martha's relationship is growing along at just the right pace as well. He is still putting up barriers at the beginning of the episode, acting like Gallifrey is alive and well and at the end giving her the truth.

In the past three years, there have been some excellent moments in the show for longtime fans of the series, the major ones being the return of the Daleks and the "return" of the Cybermen. The Face of Boe now gives us something even more exciting to look forward to. In a very touching moment he tells The Doctor he is not alone! I never understood The Doctor's stubborn, absolute belief that every single Timelord perished in the Time War. It is almost insulting as a longtime fan because we know there are Timelords out there such as The Rani, The Meddling Monk and of course The Master who wouldn't help someone change a tire, much less help save their race against the Daleks. Still, I hope it it someone else entirely The Face of Boe refers to.

Once again, in my honest opinion, this episode was a home run. If you are able to get past the premise of happily living many years in gridlock traffic, the effects were absolutely top notch. No episode of Doctor Who has had this much CGI and it looked exactly the way it should. The acting from all of the extras, Brannigan, Martha's kidnappers and of course Doc and Martha themselves were all excellent. The only real complaint I have is the throwaway use of a previous enemy. I have no idea what made RTD decide that the Macra were a good monster to use again, but they aren't really used here at all. In fact, they are really quite useless! There is a huge drug epidemic on the surface of New Earth that kills everyone. The people in traffic below the surface are all saved thanks to The Face of Boe. So why (besides, of course, the added action) do the Macra even need to be in the episode? Where did they come from? Why did they de-evolve and how did they get down there in the first place? Once again, I am a longtime fan so any tie to previous episodes (especially one of the best Troughton era stories) is cause for happiness. Yet, I can't help but think RTD might have well just put a mechanical menace down there instead. It would have saved quite a bit of questions. Still, they do live on gas and they did look awesome so I guess I can just accept it.

Oh and the couple that dies at the beginning supposedly 'lied' about having three passengers to get to the fastlane but later The Doctor finds out the controls are locked. Plus, Brannigan seems to drive the vehicle when the traffic moves 20 yards.

That's nitpicking however. Kids don't ask these type of questions and if you watch this episode with an open mind, I believe this season continues to be the best season of the new series yet. Plus, next week, DALEKS!

So. "Gridlock" then.

First off, much better than last week's, although really IMO they didn't have to try TOO hard in order to accomplish that. A wider array of characters, from Ma and Pa out of the "American Gothic" painting (the Hell?!), to Brannigan, to a Max-Normal-looking businessman type. Oh, and Novice Hame, now a worshipper of the Face of Boe. Looks like we won't be seeing any more of him tho. Shame, really.

New Earth, meanwhile, has devolved somewhat to a society of Moods and Pharmacists, and everyone else is stuck on the Motorway. And have done for quite some time now. A very...VERY long time indeed. Er. You know, just between you and me, I get shitty if I'm stuck in traffic on I-465 for more than a few minutes, how has this entire society been able to tolerate being stuck indefinitely for decades? Enough to start families and such? Everyone singing "The Old Rugged Cross" in unison? Huh?? No warning, no nothing. Who would stand for it??

Within this, I'm really starting to see some disturbing trends with RTD. First, the need to create something in order to utterly destroy it the next time we see it. Cases for this study would include: Harriet Jones, Satellite 5, and yeah, even Rose Tyler. Now we have a New Earth that, yes, was harboring a nasty secret in the hospital, but the rest of the society seemed to be OK. When next we see it, the Mood Bliss contained a virus that went airborne and wiped out much of it, and the rest devolved to what we see in this episode. Why the need to show everything or everyone in decay?

Second, I'm starting to have some issues accepting that in the far-future, humanity just humbly and meekly accepts its fate, no matter how far back the species is in retrograde. We already saw this not once, but twice, with the denizens of Satellite 5, but now with New New York as well? I'm really not feeling this. Sure, one could make some pointed commentary about our own societies, but this bad? And repeatedly?

The Doctor, will he finally get over it regarding Rose? Taking Martha, who I thought was maybe a little more muted in this episode than the previous two, but still kept it together rather well, over to New Earth mainly just because he'd already taken Rose there was a bit much. IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON NOW, methinks. At least the Doctor realized that getting Martha into this mess was all his fault.

The Macra ... well, didn't see THAT one coming.

The Face of Boe's final message...er, why was that such a big hush hush secret that he couldn't have said that in "New Earth," exactly? Oh, wait, less opportunity for Doctor-Emo, right.

And as far as that final message.... good Lordy, PLEASE let it not be him. PLEASE GOD ANYTHING.

And you KNOW I am so all over next week's.

Well, so far the new series of Doctor Who has in turn made us laugh and cry, but with the episode that beat Star Trek's total number of episodes, it also knocked all other competition into a cocked hat by making something truly beautiful. With this third series, David Tennant speaking Russel T Davies' words encapsulates Doctor Who perfectly. The collaboration between these two men is now at its zenith. And what a wonderful place it is too - I just hope that said zenith lasts as long as possible. Ably assisted by the brilliant Freema Agyeman, the series really is striding confidently through the television schedules, and much like the good Doctor himself, scattering chaos in his wake as he shows what British television really can do.

The central idea - a perpetual traffic jam in which people are born and die and live there for years and years without seeing daylight or hope - is a brilliant one, and one that will strike a chord with anyone who has spent a whole afternoon trapped on the North Circular in baking heat and smog. A lesson there for all us, perhaps. The fact that there was nobody outside the gridlock of the title to save the trapped motorists really is the stuff of nightmares. And, in true Doctor Who style, there are monsters below to boot...

It is the mark of a series when it crams in so much thematic and particular incident that its difficult to take in all on the first sitting. In this day and age, that can only be a good thing. Doctor Who, probably like few other programmes on the box, will be picked apart for years on end by the fans and rewatched by casual viewers on Sky Plus, so that can only be a good thing. So, not only did we get CGI'd up return of a classic series monster in the giant crab like Macra, but the Face of Boe and Novice Hame too, to complete the very loose trilogy of the year 5 Billion.

The effects of the Macra and the vast traffic jam were nothing short of brilliant. The Mill seem to have gone really to town of late, and it shows. The prosthetics, too, were nothing short of astounding. Ardal O' Hanlon's cat make up, and that of Hame's, were utterly convincing. Not that iI want to think too much about the birth of the kittens...

And then there was the death of Boe, the sad coda to the end of this story and his prophetic words: You are not alone. The look on the Doctor's face said it all, matched only by the lump in my throat that returned with the release of all the travellers and the Doctor's heart rending admission to Martha as he describes the long gone Gallifrey. Smashing stuff.

This is Doctor Who at it's best. We've never had it so good.