Season 3, Episode 3 "Gridlock" (Review)

c0y0te

For anyone interested, here is my take on the latest ep :-

http://www.avalon5.com/index.php/sci-fi/doctor-who-gridlock/

BuffyBot

Didn't think that was too bad, apart from a few obvious spots here and there.

Face of Boe's words were both as expected, and a little of a let down in the end. Martha keeps becoming a little bit more interesting, which is good.

All in all, not the worst. 7/10 for me

ixoy

I definitely liked this one, which surprised me as I groaned when I saw RTD's name attached and double-groaned when it was New Earth, scene of the rather poor S2 opener.

What worked for me this episode was a stronger Doctor - angry and righteous at the drug pushers and determined to rescue Martha. And save the day too - far too often in previous seasons, the Doctor let other people do that (namely bloody Rose). There was also more depth to his character here - lying about Gallifrey to protect his own feelings, his growing respect for Martha, and his relationship with the Face of Bo (as said, he died on their 3rd meeting).

The concept of gridlock was good as was the obvious allusion to when people emigrated to the New World in centuries past on the rumours of better opportunities. The execution made less sense - if you could go in the fast lane with 3 people, why didn't everyone team up to save themselves years of travel?!

The Macra below were an odd choice. For those who don't know, the Macra faced the Doctor before in his 2nd incarnation in an episode that's been lost and only available now in a series of still photos. Hardly someone people were clamouring to see return! The reason for them being there was also poorly handled, although it was filmed well.

The supporting cast were reasonable, although Ardal O'Hanlon sounded far too much like Dougal. Still he worked well enough and better than a farting Slitheen. Bo was well done too.

The heavily-dropped line about the Master was good enough too (it has to be the Master). Also liked the references to the Capitol on Gallifrey and it being surrounded by mountains (where the Doctor formerly visited his old mentor). Nice touches to continuity.

All-in-all one I enjoyed a lot more than I expected.

Goodshape

I agree with ixoy, although I'll have to take his word regarding any links to cannon. Eccelstone was my first Doctor; I r teh n00b.

Really enjoyed the episode anyway. And while I thought Bo's death scene and final words were fantastic (I wasn't expecting anything in particular), Tennants reaction killed the scene imo. He just brushed it off*, which didn't seem right after the emotional outbursts earlier in the episode (which I liked - it's good to get Doctor 10 out from under Rose.. so to speak).

I guess the desired effect was that he was bottling all the emotion up for a later episode, but Tennant just looked a bit confused, and then nothing.

Aside from that a surprisingly enjoyable episode.


*I'm still quite critical of the new Doctor (thought Eccelstone was great) though like I said, Tennant does seem to be getting better this season. Last year he seemed a bit like Rose's new companion, no harm to her.

ixoy

Here's a picture of the Macra from the original Troughton serial:


Ohh scary!

marie_85

I honestly don't know what to make of this episode. There were some incredible moments in it, like the description of Gallifrey and the Face of Boe's secret and I enjoyed the hymn singing. But I was so disappointed to see Ten getting all shouty again. David Tennant is an exceptional actor, but he cannot pull off righteous anger. He just looks ridiculous and not at all intimidating. I was so glad that with the Runaway Bride and the first two episodes of this series, the irrational anger hadn't appeared and had started to really like David Tennant again. But then he goes and does it again, just when I had started to relax. It ruins my enjoyment of the show, because I'm on the lookout for it all the time and can't enjoy the finer points of his acting. He was excellent in Smith and Jones and the Shakespeare Code, he managed to strike the right balance between humour and darkness and if he could stay like that, he would probably in time become my favourite doctor.

Sorry to go on about it so much, but I was just so so disappointed by it. When I think back on the episode, that's all I remember.

Oh, and Ardal O'Hanlon? Much as I love him, that was just Dougal in a cat mask. I couldn't take his character seriously. Thought the kittens were quite funny though. I was expecting some weird cat human hybrid, but no, we just get ordinary kittens. Hee.

Goodshape

I quite liked Ardal O'Hanlon's character. I can't watch him in anything after Father Ted without thinking of Dougal -- but I thought that was less of an issue here, thanks to the make-up.

It was still the same character he always plays, but at least he didn't look like Dougal.

popebenny16

i have to say there were moments, the hymn for example, that were fnatastic, i also liked the various different "homes" the Doctor went through as he went looking for Rose... oppps i mean Martha...

Yes, it seems as though David Tennant goes bug-eyed angry a little bit too often, and always over the top. Course it could be direction from RTD...

I rahter liked ardal o hanlon, hes becoming a good actor

yeah another bit of a clue about the master however....... on Dr Who Confidential Tennant says that The face of bo is right and the Doctor is also right.

So... interesting

but also lazy that RTD is simply following a formula with the season so far... yes we're back into the past next week...

oh, nice graphic Goodshape, thank you

Goodshape

popebenny16 wrote:

oh, nice graphic Goodshape, thank you

thanks, and no problem... Heroes is on a break at the moment, back in a couple of weeks - so it's Doctor Who until then