New Who Review for "Smith and Jones"

[puppetmaker]

Spoilers behind the cut and in the comments.

It is always interesting to see how a new companion is introduced and how they act and react with the Doctor. Martha Jones is a medical student who is working towards becoming a Doctor. She has a pretty ordinary life over all but she keeps her eyes open to the world around her which is something that the Doctor likes in a companion.

I liked this episode over all. I thought it was a good introduction to a character that is supposes to become our POV character in the series. The villain of the piece is rather creepy but you do have to suspend your disbelief about her weapon of choice. I did miss the call on one of the monsters because of the photos made them look like another old Dr. Who Villain.

Not the best of the season, but worth watching more than once.

This had a Caroline Scare Factor of None. She watched the whole thing without hiding her eyes once.

I am grateful for new companions who are made of stern stuff.



I really like the look into Martha's life. She is the peacemaker in her family. Everyone comes to her with the disputes they have with each other. She is important to them. I find it interesting that both Rose and Martha have strong family connections to Earth but they chose to have a walk about with the Doctor.

I know the Doctor was there because he knew something weird was going to happen, but I also felt like he was scoping out a new companion in Martha. Donna told him that he needed someone to keep him in check. Be his moral compass so to speak. And he seemed to be looking. Martha passed whatever test he handed her. The Doctor sort of took the backseat in this episode but that was fine since it was introducing a new companion to the fandom.

I thought the Judoon were the Sontarians from the pictures I saw. Give the writer/director credit for creating a look that they didn't have to do too many masks for. I can't think of a time during the episode that we saw more than one Judoon face at a time. Great budget saver if you ask me.

Peter is still hung up on how the plasmavor got the straw into a view considering how flimsy plastic straws are. I said how do we know it is plastic straw of earth manufacture? So that's my theory for the straw.

Next episode Shakespeare which was shot in the New Globe Theater.

Comments

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

I thought they were the Sontarans too. Since it had leaked that an "old nemesis" would be returning before the season started, I wonder if it was done on purpose?

[jendaby.livejournal.com]

I really had so much fun when we saw this episode. Loved Martha instantly. As for the straw, well, the straws used for bubble tea are sxceptionally strong...maybe it was one of those.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

I really liked the Judoon. They were terrific in and of themselves, but they were also just a sort of hilarious spoof of how law enforcement sometimes acts.

Having seen all of Season Three, I liked Martha, but never warmed up to her the way I did to Rose.

And yes, the Doctor did seem to be keeping an eye out for a new companion, watching how people around him reacted to the situation, seeing if Martha could keep up with him.

[readinggeek451]

I liked Martha, but never warmed up to her the way I did to Rose.

Funny, I'm just the opposite. I've only seen this one episode of Season Three, but so far I'm really liking Martha. If she keeps on the way she's started, she'll be terrific. Rose, on the other hand, I never really liked all that much. She wasn't horrible, but she's definitely not one of my top five companions, or even my top ten.

[auryn29a.livejournal.com]

Ditto on the Sontaran thing. But I thought the Judoon were really cool.

I kept thinking of an episode of TNG. Specifically the image of Beverly sucking through a straw...someone...was it Riker?

[beldar.livejournal.com]

Good episode. I like how the Judoon were presented as the problem at first, and then it turned out they were only doing their jobs.

Is weird to see a review of an episode that predates your icon pic tho. =)

[readinggeek451]

I enjoyed this one. The Runaway Bride slightly bored me, so I was pleased that this was better. (I was afraid I was overdosing on Dr Who for the night.) And I like Martha a lot so far.