09 April 2007

Doctor Who: The Shakespeare Code (SS03.02)


The Doctor takes Martha on her first trip in the TARDIS, arriving in Elizabethan England, circa 1599. There they meet Willaim Shakespeare who is writing his play, Love's Labours Won. However, evil, witch-like Carrionites plot to end the world by placing a code in the new play's closing dialogue.

The second episode of season three is another trip into the England's past, giving the BBC -once again - the proof that they will always do the best in costume drama. The episode itself is fairly predictable, and the pacing fine, but once again the cast shines.

New companion Martha is quickly leaving thoughts of Rose behind. One of the biggest problems with the series over its first 26 year run, was that most of the Doctor's companions needed him to explain it all, but Martha seems very much aware of herself, and what is happening to her, especially when citing the terrible implications of time travel that she has seen in films. She wonders whether something as small as stepping on a butterfly really can drastically change the future, going on the potential consequences of killing he own grandfather. Smarty girl, Martha is.

There is also a quick racial question pointed out by her -she being black -she might be seized and taken into slavery.

The Doctor scoffs at the notion, but he advises her to walk around like she owns the place - that it usually worked for him -and he is not even human.

Pop refreneces abound in this episode, with Martha making refrences to the three witches as be "Harry Potter" like, and the Doctor trying to explain to Martha how Earth could cease to exists in 1599 if the witches continue there plan to open a portal -by mentioning Back to the Future.

And, along with Queen Victoria, The Doctor has made an enemy of Queen Elizabeth I -even though he has yet to meet her.

A charming episode -with very impressive CGI effects -but I wonder why the series has yet to go beyond the original series and attempt to really be what it once was.

next week the Doctor returns to New Earth, and another encounter with the Face of Boa.

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