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Post By
Scott

Location: Southwest US
Member Since: Sun Sep 02, 2007
Posts: 326
In Reply To
HH

Subj: Great episode all around. I'm glad...
Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 at 07:27:38 pm EDT (Viewed 411 times)
Reply Subj: Re: Doctor Who, "The Sontaran Stratagem:"
Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 at 09:52:23 am EDT (Viewed 2 times)

Previous Post

> Last season, Helen Raynor wrote "Daleks in Manhattan" and "Evolution of the Daleks," an absolute failboat of a two-parter which very nearly destroyed (in every sense of the word) the classic series villains. This season, Russell T. Davies got the bright idea to let her do the same for yet another set of classic series villains. So, what was the result?

I didn't care for the "Daleks in Manhattan", which mostly failed because it didn't quite grasp the nature or paradigm of the Daleks themselves.

I thought the Sontaran Strategem with solid Who fare, neither terribly bad nor inspiringly good. A reasonable story.

> Surprisingly, really quite good, in a way that illustrates one of the central differences between the Daleks and the Sontarans.

I felt we'd missed the chance with UNIT and the Sontarans there to have a proper military engagement, playing to both sides' strengths - although I admit we saw some of that in the closing confrontation. I can live with the addition of another villain catchphrase, although we've never seen such exhuberent Sontarans before.

I was disappointed with the Sontarans' appearance. Unlike other redesigns of classic series baddies, this one felt a step too far. The space-worn silver and black leather look was much superior to the Mattel-blue plastic armour they appeared in this time. And while the Sontarans have sometimes been shown before to be of short stature it's never been emphasised as in these episodes.

> The verbal sparring match between Rattigan and the Doctor was fascinating to behold, because you could see what the Doctor saw; Rattigan was a young man on the cusp between becoming either the Doctor or the Master, and in both cases, it was because he suffered from the Genius' Lament.

I thought that was a good character arc for Rattigan, and the actor did well with the part.

> And on the other end of the spectrum, we have the debut of the first enlisted man from UNIT since the classic series - Private Ross Jenkins, the minor supporting character who's already launched a thousand slashfics, including this one from yours truly.

He's the latest in a series of "could-be companions" who seem to be a thematic staple of recent episodes.

> And Jesus Christ, what ABOUT Donna in this episode?

She mamaged to hold her own very well, not just in the story but onscreen opposite Tennant. The respective reactions of Martha and Donna to the Doctor not dying were pitch-perfect.

> Once again, though, Martha got short-shrift.

I think we were expected to be more invested with Martha-as-clone-enemy. Martha did get one shining scene, though, at the clone's death.

> At least she got better treatment from the Doctor than UNIT did, though, since the Doctor seems to be channeling his survivor's guilt into a rather hypocritical condemnation of his former allies.

I think the Doctor's always had a prickly relationship with the military side of UNIT, and this current incarnation seems more military than ever.

> And Bernard Cribbins continues to charm as Donna's grandfather Wilf. He and Maria's dad Alan, from The Sarah Jane Adventures, are easily the best parents in the NuWhoniverse.

I'm also fond of Rose's mum. By the way, a couple of years ago there was a special episode of the quiz show The Weakest Link, with Anne Robinson quizzing the actors who play the Doctor (Tennant), Mickey, Martha, K9, Jackie, Rose's dad, Hartmann, plus monster-actor Paul Casey. Jackie won.

> And this week's sledgehammer-subtle hint of things to come? The Medusa Cascade, mentioned YET AGAIN. Gee, I wonder if that might be significant.

There was a fine page of speculation in the Doctor Who Magazine about hints to come. My favourite was linking "There is something on your back" to Planet of the Spiders and the Racnoss.


... they answered the Martha questions brought up in Torchwood (how'd she get to be a doctor so fast? Who is she engaged to?).

And each week I find myself enjoying Donna more and more. Dare I say she's my fav companion?








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