It is a strange thing. I was eagerly awaiting the latest Dr Who episode, however my enthusiasm was mixed with a certain trepidation. Russell T Davies was the writer and I hadnВ’t been very impressed with his previous work. The rumours on the grapevine had further fuelled my anxiety. When I sat down to view this episode, I had no expectations of greatness.

Which is just as well. New Earth isnВ’t a bad story, it has a few good moments and Billie Piper puts in a decent performance. Sadly it shares the same flaws as itВ’s predecessor The End of the World.

The story is a collection of good ideas which are not cemented together with the glue of a good plot. I liked the idea of a hospital with secrets, it was also good to see Cassandra back. However it is marred by RTDВ’s inability to use simple logic.

The most troubling elements concern the guinea pigs in their closets. I canВ’t think of any reason why they knew language? How could they move when cooped up cells for all their lives? Why were they wearing clothes? Why not grow bodies without the thought processing parts of the brain. Surely the Sisters should have known better.

Strangest of all, why did all the В‘FleshВ’ look like lepers. If they had been infected with every known disease, IВ’d expect them to show different symptoms. Instead they looked as if they had wandered off the set of Terminus

The worst part of the story though was the way in which it was concluded. The Doctor cures the lepers by spraying them with a mixture of all cures the Sisters have gathered. Intravenous cures. That is poor science and is more suitable for the realms of fantasy.

In the far future Modern faculties still use pulley operated lifts. I suppose RTD thought that would look cool, just like the improbable fan from TEOTW.

Cassandra is a character with an iron will to live. Well until the end anyway when she has a sudden change of heart and just goes quietly. What a cop-out.

Also the scenes where she complains about Rose being a Chav are jarring. Cassandra is a lady from 5 billion years in the future, she should have no idea what a Chav is. Then she starts mangling slang once in RoseВ’s body. This highlights a problem I have with RTDВ’s scripting, which is his insistence on cramming in contempary culture into every story. Bad Wolf was a good example of this.

The whole body swapping/possession element was hackneyed. How many times has this Sci Fi staple been used now. No new twist was added to the stereotype.

The Face of Boe doesnВ’t contribute much but I think that something is being set up for later, so IВ’ll let that pass.

The acting in this story was competent, though nothing stellar was on offer. Billie Piper was effective in portraying Zoe WanamakerВ’s mannerisms, though my dislike of the Rose Tyler character prevents me from being too effusive in my praise. Zoe Wanamaker was decent as Cassandra, though I doubt it is really a role that tests her abilities.

David Tennant as the Doctor, hmmn. IВ’m still undecided. He gurns a little too much in this story and he hammed up his atheistic scenes near the end. He is pretty good when quieter though, he just needs to turn the volume down a bit.

The SFX was OK, apart from the opening scene on New Earth. The CGIВ’d flitters looked awful and totally artificial.

Murray GoldВ’s music was poor once again. His music never stops and the Bondish strains played during the dramatic scenes were very irritating.

OVERALL GRADE 5/10

A unaffecting opener, entertaining but full of holes.

Oh dear. As with other RTD stories, arenВ’t you just left with the feeling that it could have been so much better? There are tonnes of great ideas in this episode, and the hospital the setting is extremely well realised. But 45 minutes just isnВ’t enough time in which to develop them. In fact, itВ’s worse than not having enough time. The series feels constrained by the rhythm of the 45-minute format. You can almost predict how the pace of the show will change at any given moment. Star Trek TNG had the same problem, with the dramatic ebbs and flows timed around the commercial breaks. At 25 minutes gone, with most of the ideas introduced, I found myself looking at the clock and waiting for each of them to be wrapped up in the time remaining. This argues against making any emotional or intellectual investment in the story. The old four-episode structure allowed for a more thoughtful development of the ideas less predictability.

On the plus side, I was favourably impressed with Tennant. The Christmas Invasion left me very cold, but in this story we were shown the new DoctorВ’s serious side. He still canВ’t quite do angry (like McCoy), but heВ’s definitely got the hang of thoughtful. Those glasses probably helped. He lacks EcclestoneВ’s insecurity and accompanying arrogance, which is great. Hopefully, he will also lack the 9th DoctorВ’s questionable moral judgement.

RTDВ’s mixture of smutty, ironic humour isnВ’t to everyoneВ’s taste, but he does bring it off very cleanly. I think it would certainly be a problem if he continues to dominate the series as he did last year. Doctor Who doesnВ’t belong to anyone В– not even him. Its strength is in the flexibility of the format, which allows new writers and directors to come in and do their own thing in their own way. RTDВ’s obsession with referring to the mythology of his own episodes is a means of maintaining some continuity and familiarity from one week to the next (in the absence of multiple-episode stories), but he must be very careful not to undermine the very thing that makes Doctor Who so successful В– and durable. Likewise, the smut and irony is used to gloss over the fact that the story is too short to sustain all those wonderful ideas В– so it all comes back to format in the end.

Next weekВ’s episode looks good, but letВ’s go further back in time! Think of the epic quality of Marco Polo: the historical setting, the time spent on the journey to Peking, the distance covered, the range of different setting, the changes of pace. Doctor Who in 2006 simply cannot so this anymore, and the series is the poorer for it.

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 ...

I grew up with Doctor Who from Tom Baker's hey-day onwards; overall I enjoyed last year's new series very much, and I've even built my own Dalek. I've bit my tongue, sat back and read other people's reviews for year, and haven't said much of anything myself.

Until now. Russell mate, this has got to stop; if there's one Doctor Who website you read, then surely it's this one, and if so, I truly hope that you take some notice of the reviews here.

Your episodes, while not always sucking, are certainly always the poorer ones. You're a great executive producer, maybe even a great script editor, and should remain in both of those roles, but it's time to hand ALL the individual episode writing out to other people.

'New Earth' has so much wrong with it it's hard to know where to start, from production difficulties that were obviously beyond the crew's control- namely, the Gower weather, leading to some very obvious dubbing, through to frankly embarrassing dialogue.

The opening powering-up of the TARDIS by the new Doctor was great; I'll even allow for the constant prescence of the reject cast of EastEnders to see Rose off again (Anyone else notice the 'Wolf' still written on the ground?) But by the time we've arrived on 'New Earth', with it's flat CG buildings and it's sub-Playstation quality flying cars, we're in trouble. The use of the Cardiff Millenium Centre as the shopless-hospital foyer was all too obviously just a building from 2006; another fault with this series. Despite what they say, there's not THAT much of Cardiff, you know.

Giving Rose a 'comedy episode' was a grave error of judgement, at least for a series opener; this episode should have been all about the new Doctor, his companions' breasts. (Nice as they undoubtedly were) David Tennant is clearly settling in well, and I look forward to the rest of the series- though not so much to the episodes written by Russell.

The zombies felt decidedly flat and unthreatening, and the ending- with the Doctor supposedly mixing up a multi-coloured cure for everything- was pure RTD stupidity and laziness. Likewise, Cassandra's instantaneous change of heart at the end was very rushed and unbelieveable.

Another big issue for me with this one was the music; seemingly patched-together from all sorts of pieces from last year, it was yet again too loud, and too constant. And the sound effects; in this one new episode alone, I heard many effects from throughout the last series. Cheap, and lazy.

It's wonderful to have Doctor Who back, but the 45 minute format rarely works...and neither does Russell.

Where to start? It's a new series, a new Doctor, and a new Earth...

First of all, I loved the last series, and couldn't quite understand why Christopher Eccleston left so soon into what promised to be a truly 'fantastic' era of Doctor Who. But then the news broke that David Tennant was to take over the role, and I promptly forgot my complaining. From his very first appearance ("new teeth!") he promised to be the best Doctor yet - or at least, my personal favourite. Then we got "The Christmas Invasion" and I was absolutely certain that this was the case.

Secondly, I think the scripts are wonderful. After all, wonderful acting is only a part of what goes into making a wonderful character - and every person who is saying "David Tennant is a wonderful Doctor" (like I am!) should give at least a little bit of credit to the script-writer - who, in this case, was the very same man who rescued Doctor Who from the realms of nostalgia and brought it into the 21st century bigger and better than ever before. Maybe it's because I've never seen the original series in any great depth, but I really can't find anything to complain about in regards to the script... apart from the fact that so far there have been no episodes scripted by women: it would be nice to show that girls can write sci-fi, too! In fact, I've a few ideas of my own for series three... but that's something else entirely.

My favourite aspect of "New Earth" has got to be the sub-plot involving the Face of Boe. Okay, I know some people found the Face floating in the giant jar a bit pointless, but I think he's great because - unlike every other alien we've met - he is the Doctor's superior, or at least elder. To the Doctor every other alien is just a child, considering his age of (apparently) 900 years, but Boe, it seems, tops that by entering the millions. What is this mysterious secret which he is to impart the Doctor? I have a feeling it may be a series or even several-series' long arc, which makes this series different from the first in that it brings in the 'arc' so early on - Bad Wolf did not appear in the first series until Episode Four, I believe.

Cassandra is a hilarious creation, and will hopefully put any viewers toying with the idea of plastic surgery off such things for life! The 'body-swapping' was very cleverly done, and actually quite funny - "I'm a chav!" - and it let Billie Piper and David Tennant show off a few unexpected talents. And no, by that I did not mean THE kiss, but that was certainly interesting to see - especially the Doctor's reaction to it!

The Cat-People were extremely well made-up, and I liked the way you had different 'characters' of cats - the kind nurse looking after Boe could be ascribed to one of those calm, stay-at-home cats, whilst the Matron-Cat is undoubtedly the cat who goes around getting into scraps with its neighbouring felines...

When I first heard that Billie Piper was to be the Doctor's companion I was rather unimpressed, which shows how much I know. She has been brilliant from start to finish, and the 'chemistry' between Rose and the Doctor has been beautifully done - a friendship which should be a romance but can never be. Unless, that is, the writers decide otherwise... but we'll see. In "New Earth" Rose is still getting used to the 'new' Doctor... shades of which there certainly are, especially in the disinfectant-lift scene, with the Doctor trying to shout to Rose and then eventually getting exasperated. I think Rose should keep a close eye on this Doctor, though... he seems to wander away from her a bit! Though he is, as ever, protective - and in my opinion the Doctor is always at his best when shouting down the villains in righteous anger...

And as for the trailer for the rest of the series... well, the Beeb are certainly pushing the new series an awful lot - one trailer I saw was almost five minutes long, and as my Dad said seemed to 'show the whole series'. Hopefully, unlike some films nowadays, they aren't showing all the good bits in the trailers... though the next episode, complete with Queen Victoria, Scottish accents and werewolves galore, promises to be brilliant... not to mention scary!

Hmm... 8/10 for New Earth, but only because I'm hoping the rest will be even better.

Well it took me two screenings of the first episode to be able to write down how I felt. My anticipation was so high that I was a nervous wreck watching it. I watched it - thought it was OK - looked at the reviews later that night and was not surprised by the mixed reaction. I think everyone's expectation was very high. On the Monday I watched The Christmas Invasion and then calmly watched New Earth again. I loved it. I think there is the danger of becoming to analytical - about the CGI - The writing - Did The Doctor do this? - Did Rose do that? - Didn't like the make up! ENJOY IT. It is damn good.

It followed on from The Christmas Invasion and David Tennant has got it nailed. No point comparing him to Eccleston or anyone else - he is not the new Baker or Pertwee he is David Tennant and he is The Doctor. It works.

The opening was great - they left old comfortable earth and arrived at New Earth! It is Sci Fi - It is 5,000,000,023 and that is how it looks - Who are we to argue? The Doctor and Rose enjoy each others company and each other - and why not! They travel through time and space. Straight away there is intrigue - Chip and Cassandra - The Sisters of Plenitude - The Face of Bo. There are patients with every disease - the scene of all the pods was breathtaking. Rose gets possessed by Cassandra and she in turn then kisses the doctor - and do you blame her? Stuck with no body for ages. Like the zombies - she wanted physical contact. It was Cassandra and NOT Rose kissing the Doctor.

The Doctor knows this - and he in turn knows he has to save the day - Cassandra is a good sub plot but it all ties in. The Zombies are cured - Mankind lives on - Rose comes back and Cassandra realises this is a New Earth - not her earth of old and she lets go - and again why not? The beautiful scene at the end where she meets herself and tells herself she is beautiful - because for years she had not seen it and only had memories - but there she was face to face with it again. It was great.

Finally - The Face of Bo. What a great cliffhanger there - waiting to run with it throughout the series - what will he tell the Doctor? - I cannot wait.

Some people have quoted - Plot holes - CGI not good enough - Acting not good enough - Using the word Chavtastic! - Body swapping - !!!!! CHILL - It is Sci Fi. Russell T Davies will never please everyone - but to say he is no good is all wrong - he is the driving force behind this revival and we should get on our knees and thank him for it. He is not perfect - but then again neither are any of us.

So sit back and enjoy Series 2 - It is going to be a great ride!