After last week's "Smith and Jones" I was left with the impression that things not only appeared to be better in the third series of Doctor Who, but that they were better. There seemed to be more fun, more confidence and more stability in the stories so far told. This tradition continues with Gareth Roberts' contribution with "The Shakespeare Code", which not only revisits a time long past but raises new questions not often answered in science fiction.

The story is easy enough to follow. The Doctor (David Tennant) and his new companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) land the TARDIS in 1599 London somewhere near the Globe Theater. At this time, this was the home of many performances by the legendary scribe William Shakespeare (Dean Lennox Kelly). Unfortunately, his behavior and manners are very unlike the deep and thoughtful plays he produced as they witness after the performance of Love's Labour's Lost.

Just then, a mysterious inn-maid named Lilith (Christina Cole) fiddles with a doll which suddenly makes William spurt out that he would produce a sequel — Love's Labour's Won. In addition, he would have it set to be performed the very next night. This does not please Lynley (Chris Larkin), who approves or disapproves all plays presented at the theater. He promises to put a ban on him for not consulting him on his sequel script. Strangely enough, the same woman decides to put the same touch on Lynley and kills him with the same doll.

Something is amiss in ye old England.

As it turns out the woman is part of a group of witches who are searching for a new home for their kind. The only way to do that is through the power of two forces — the Globe Theater itself and the words of William Shakespeare himself. If and when he puts on his Love Labour's Won play, it would be a conduit to open a gateway allowing the rest of the witches to invade earth.

After putting together the pieces of the puzzle of the witches' plan, The Doctor and Martha managed to seal the gateway the witches come through using simply the power of words which saves London and the world once again. Thanks to their heroics the Love's Labour's Won play caught the attention of Queen Elizabeth the First, who in seeing the Doctor orders his death for an incident unknown.