Doctor Who (4x05): The Poison Sky...

[fajrdrako]

I enjoyed this so very much. Everything better than I expected and feared... and the Doctor was at his best. Or better.

1. The best: loved the climax. The Doctor feeling it necessary to risk death to give the Sontarans a chance. Of course they don't take it; but it was just as wonderful to see betrayed genius Rattigan switch places with him. Sowing and reaping and paying debts and all that.
   
   
2. I had hoped from last week that the Doctor could tell the real Martha from a clone Martha at once - possibly though telepathic flavour, though smell is just as good. And he let her carry one because stopping the nuclear launch was what he wanted, and what the Sontarans wanted.
   
   
3. One of the little touches that this show does at its best is details like the moments when Captain Price kissed Colonel Mace - so irrelevant, but such a human touch.
   
   
4. And the Doctor actually mentioned Captain Jack! Has he ever done that before, in an episode where Captain Jack did not appear? I think not. Not that I understood the reference: why should Martha not wear a 'clone' T-shirt in front of Jack?
   
   
5. We saw the Valiant again! I love that, if only for the sake of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. (And yes, I still hold a grudge about "The Last of the Time Lords", but it's fading a little.)
   
   
6. The trailer for next week. Eeeeeeee! "Where did she come from?" "Me." ...?
   
   
7. Loved Gramps, and Sylvia was nicer this time round.
   
   
8. I had slightly hoped Donna would not kill the Sontaran sentry, but she did, and that was rather satisfying - even if I'd preferred she'd found another way.
   
   
9. Loved the cleansing of the Earth from the toxins.
   
   
10. I like it that Donna hit the Doctor at the end, while Martha was hugging his arm.
    
    
11. Is Martha afraid to get drawn into the spell of the Time Lord again?
    
    
12. I didn't notice any mention of the Medusa Cascade, though there was (sort of by inference) a reference to the Shadow Proclamation or its implications. Perhaps the ongoing theme is (again) breeding planets, nurseries, birth and rebirth? - And as leaps of imagination go, does that mean that the Time Lords could be reborn?
    
    
13. Glimpse of Rose. Hey.
    
    
14. Loved the scene where Luke Rattigan's students abandoned him. Rejected the world he would lead them to. Had they no idea what was going on, until that point? Or what a nut case he was?
    
    
15. Surely Ross isn't dead. He's too good to lose. And the Doctor liked him.
    
    
16. They didn't get into the subject of the dark side of UNIT (as seen in Thorchwood's "Fragments"), just the stupid side. They did mention the Brigadier, which means precious little to me, but I gather he's someone fans care about. Darkest Peru?
    
    
17. "Are you my Mummy?" Hee.
    
    
18. Nice moment:

    [The Doctor, Donna and Martha have arrived at the Rattigan Academy, and see Luke Rattigan with a gun pointing at them.]
    Luke: Don't tell anyone what I did. It wasn't my fault. The Sontarans lied to me.
    The Doctor: [Takes the gun out of his hands, and throws it away] If I see one more gun...

    
    
    
19. Looks as if Martha will be around next episode. Good.