Review: Doctor Who: Series 4, Ep 4: The Sontaran Stratagem

[tromana]

YAY MARTHA.

Now that's out of my system, I'll try and be more coherent.

First things first, UNIT = UNIT, not the Unified Intelligence Taskforce. I did like the reference to the fact that he was still technichally a member of their staff though.

No biology bugged me this week! Yay! Sure, there was skience, but it didn't annoy me for a change. That makes me very, very happy.

The reunion scene was nice. I loved the fact that Donna and Martha began picking on the Doctor - to the extent that he wished they were fighting instead. Donna continues being pretty awesome, although she was rather quick to judge the fact that Martha was now working for UNIT. The 'super temp' bit was brilliant, as was the scene where she said she was going home.

Medusa Cascade... hmm, I always under the impression that it = dangerous.

Rattigan, well I was torn between being highly amused by him and just plain annoyed.

I'm getting a little lot fed up with every alien invasion having worldwide repercussions. There's something to be said for understatement.

Still not sure about the remade Sontarans, although I'm glad that they're still as vicious as they always were. That's the main thing, I guess.

Evil!Martha should be fun next week.

Wilf is one of the most adorable things ever. I think it's a first for a grandparent to fall in love with the Doctor? 

Looking forward to seeing how it ties up next week. But, exams to get through first. Darn.

 

Comments

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

First time we've had a grandparent (other than One) in the show, actually...

Wilf is fantastic. Loved the Donna&Martha interaction...

Very cranky about "You saved my life in so many ways" - the fact that Ten's making an idiot of himself doesn't excuse the fact that so far we haven't actually seen Donna save the Doctor's life - yet Martha had already done it twice by now...

[tromana.livejournal.com]

Very cranky about "You saved my life in so many ways" - the fact that Ten's making an idiot of himself doesn't excuse the fact that so far we haven't actually seen Donna save the Doctor's life - yet Martha had already done it twice by now...

True... unless something has happened offscreen that we don't know about? I don't think they've actually been in peril besides TFOP, which they escaped by sheer fluke. I'm choosing to interpret that line as saving him 'emotionally' from himself so to speak, that's the only way I can get my head around it.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Yes but we haven't even really seen her save him emotionally either ! I mean, when PiC started, he didn't seem at all down or unhappy or depressed, so HOW has she saved his life?

And "in so many ways" is implying a hell of a lot of off-screen adventures...

[tromana.livejournal.com]

Going all the way back to TRB maybe? And making him get that family in TFOP.

"in so many ways" also implies more than just one way (eg. emotionally) though...

It was a rather strange line.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

It was the line he SHOULD have said to Martha and since Digital Spy had already revealed it in their "Tube Talk" I was convinced it WOULD be said to Martha ! I nearly fell off the chair when he said it to Donna instead !

[tromana.livejournal.com]

I agree... although I didn't have the knowledge it was going to be said.

(icon love btw.)

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Ha, thanks ! That's one of several I snagged from queen_lothiriel (as is this one) !

[sneakyangel.livejournal.com]

Wilf is one of the most adorable things ever. I think it's a first for a grandparent to fall in love with the Doctor?
I adore Wilf! I would love it if he joined Donna and the Doctor! I think hes the first relative ever to fall in love with the Doctor! hehe.

I don't like the new Sontarans. The look and sound to human. I have a certain fondness for the old Sontarans (Time Warriors was the first old Who episode I watched).

I was convinced that the science would bug you again this week. I got it wrong :)

Where was The Brig? A UNIT episode without the Brig? Its just not right! hehe.

[tromana.livejournal.com]

I don't like the new Sontarans. The look and sound to human. I have a certain fondness for the old Sontarans (Time Warriors was the first old Who episode I watched).

The look is HORRIBLE. I love their old look (ok, for clones in the 2 Doctors it's slightly dodgy, but still). The attitude was right... I think a lot of NewWho aliens sound very human though.

I was convinced that the science would bug you again this week. I got it wrong :)

Hee! I think it will next week. (Sped up global warming possibly?)

Where was The Brig? A UNIT episode without the Brig? Its just not right! hehe.

Too right!

[sneakyangel.livejournal.com]

The attitude is right, and I liked that they kept the Sontarans weakness the same (the air hole), but everything else was wrong. And I don't remember them being that short...but having said that, Sarah Jane was standing next to them, and she is short.

I think a lot of NewWho aliens sound very human though.

You're totally right. It had never really bothered me that much, mainly because they were all new aliens. When I see DW aliens, I see the alien, but when I looked at these Sontarans, I just saw a bloke in makeup. It made me very sad.

They could at least mention that the Brig is retired or something.

[tromana.livejournal.com]

And I don't remember them being that short...but having said that, Sarah Jane was standing next to them, and she is short

Apparently the 'shortness' is something to do with the concept of what planet they come from and high gravity etc. I appredciate the sentiment - but I swear The Sontaran Experiment Sontaran was nearly as tall as Tom Baker!

I just saw a bloke in makeup. It made me very sad.

I've always thought that since I saw the promo pictures. The only one that looked any good was the RT front cover... the rest, just no. I think the kids who have no earlier fondness for how they were will love them though.

They could at least mention that the Brig is retired or something.

Next week please? Please? Pleeeeeeeease? (Or even better, have him come in and complain about EVERYTHING.)

[sneakyangel.livejournal.com]

I swear The Sontaran Experiment Sontaran was nearly as tall as Tom Baker!
I know! I haven't watched that story for a while, I should refresh my memory. I'm positive the Doctor never towered over the Sontarans as much as David Tennant did.

Next week please? Please? Pleeeeeeeease? (Or even better, have him come in and complain about EVERYTHING.)
Ahh man I would die happy if that happened!

[teenytinyghosty.livejournal.com]

I agree.

:D