The Stolen Earth: Doctor Who Series 4 Episode 12

It is often difficult for those who have not fallen under the spell of a certain Time Lord to understand the emotion that the universal wanderer engenders in those who have. During the late sixties and early seventies my mother scratched her head in bewilderment at the state of rapture a TV show would produce in her second and youngest son and, no doubt, wonder why and how it would not channel itself in to something more useful! That state of rapture overtook the child again last night, when the BBC screened the penultimate episode of the fourth (new) series of Doctor Who.

It is going to be difficult for me to not to gush, so good readers, apologies beforehand. Russell T Davis last night delivered to a waiting nation the episode we have all been waiting for - the ultimate Doctor Who adventure. To recount the plot would make this more story time than review but some elements of it will have to be revealed as we proceed. Read no further if you have not seen the episode and do not wish for it to be “spoiled”.

The episode opens with one of the longer pre-title sequences we have ever seen. The questions piled up as one by one we visited various large cities and the companions who inhabit them. We see Martha in New York, Jack in Cardiff and Sarah Jane in London (plus a milk man too). The action is very much from their perspective, these “children of time” as the Doctor and Donna retreat in to the Tardis and effectively miss the action.

I have to admit here and now that I found it difficult to contain my excitement and sat awestruck through the opening sequence. So, the TV series is preaching to this converted one already, but several of the episodes of this season have left me feeling distinctly cheesed off (particularly the risible “The Doctor's Daughter” and the shambolic “Midnight”). However, the excitement the first five minutes of this episode elicited from me was reminiscent of that I experience during my child hood. What the real six and seven year olds were going through during this broadcast is anyone's guess.

To say that the episode was hugely enjoyable is, from my perspective, an understatement. In fact, it was more of an event than anything else. It dealt realistically with what might happen if the earth were suddenly to disappear. There was a great moment when Rose appeared and strode, calm as ice and sharp as diamonds through the riot strewn streets of London. Though later she displayed some signs of what I can only describe as petulance when she was unable to link up with the others on the subwave channel and was a little impolite about Martha, she seemed in total control of the situation - at least to begin with. Billie Piper was excellent (the lisp seems to have somewhat abated, fortunately for her and audience alike) as the primary companion a little usurped by the others.

Martha Jones - what can I say? Seeing both her and Rose together in an episode has made me ponder that question which many fans have debated for it seems like eons. Who is the better companion? I think I must betray my liberal tendencies here and sit firmly on the fence. They both have their strengths. They both take situations in their stride. However, they were both here without the Doctor and despite this stood on their own two feet and acted on the situation rather than being passive about it.

It may be because of the pre-pubescent crush I had on her all those years ago but I must give the highest honors here to Elizabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith. It wasn't that she acted the others off the screen it is just the immense amount of pathos that she puts in to her performance. With just minor changes in facial expression she manages to pull of a huge range of emotions, from motherly concern to flattered middle-aged lady to the horror of the dawning realization that an old enemy was still alive. She cannot be just exterminated, surely? I would like to see her give Davros a good slap at least before she gets blown in to atoms!

Plot wise the episode was one that had to be seen again to be understood fully - much was given away in hurried dialogue that was hardly taken in before the next crisis happened - and so forgotten. I am sure that many people will have watched the episode again, with a finger on the pause button, ready to use should rumination be required. The missing bees were finally explained in this episode. I am guessing that many people will be pointing the finger of plagiarism in the direction of RTD. After all, the late great Douglas Adams had an alien nation leaving a doomed planet of earth many years ago in “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy”. Then, it was the dolphins who flippered away with the message “Goodbye, and thanks for all the fish”. Now it is the turn of the bees who give the Doctor the clue that he needs to find the missing planets. Rather than a case of plagiarism going on here, I see it as much more a cheeky homage to Adams. It was, in any case, a relief that it was a pivotal plot device, rather than a confusing red herring.