Written by Caballero Oscuro
In Season 3, the new Doctor Who series has emerged as perhaps the strongest and best sci-fi series currently in production. Just to get the inevitable comparison of each season out of the way: while Season 1 suffered slightly from finding its footing and Season 2 stumbled initially with a new Doctor (David Tennant) finding his way, Season 3 hits the ground running with a fully optimized production team and Doctor, leaving only the addition of new companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) as the big question mark.
Sadly, as the replacement for popular companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), the Martha Jones character is saddled with an unrequited love story that never fully endears her to the audience. While the chemistry between Tennant and Piper was palpable and their story lines showed that their characters were in love with each other, the stated purpose of Agyeman’s arc was to show her character’s unrequited affection for the Doctor, leaving her pining for him throughout the series like a lovesick schoolgirl while he barely registers her interest, instead reminiscing about the departed Rose Tyler. Sure, she’s shown to have smarts and determination thanks to her medical school training, but when the single most memorable thing about the character is her infatuation, there’s not much reason for audiences to care when she appears to check out at the end of the series.
As for the stories, the show continues its satisfying trend of overarching plot threads that come into play in seemingly standalone episodes, most significantly the dying Face of Boe advising the Doctor early in the season that “you are not alone.” This leads up to the dazzling three-part season finale arc that reveals a second Time Lord played by Derek Jacobi and then John Simm. The arc also brings Torchwood star John Barrowman back into the mix, reprising his role as the dashing Captain Jack Harkness. By the time the arc reaches its transcendent coda, you’ll likely be viewing this Doctor just like the rest of the world in the series: as an absolutely godlike figure.
Article comments
1 - Nevin
Er, Simon Pegg as the Time Lord? I think you mean Sir Derek Jacobi and John Simm.
2 - Lynn - US
"This leads up to the dazzling three-part season finale arc that reveals a second Time Lord played by Simon Pegg in a surprisingly and gleefully evil turn."
Please check the credits and correct accordingly, as this roll was performed by Derek Jacobi for most of Utopia, and John Simm for the remaining two episodes.
Simon Pegg has not appeared in Doctor Who since season 1, when he was in The Long Game as The Editor.
3 - El Bicho
Lynn, please check the comments accordingly. This mistake has already been pointed out and your repeating to point it serves no one.
4 - Lucy
Her name is Freema Agyeman, not Ageyman. Hard to take a review seriously when a name is consistently misspelt.
5 - El Bicho
I see, so the author transposes two letters and his whole opinion is void? Hard to take a commentor seriously when their view is so ignorant and narrow-minded.
6 - RJ
Yo go El Bicho ! I appreciate your review! Don't let the cyber douches get you down!
7 - El Bicho
Thanks, RJ, although what are you doing in the TV/Film section?
I do appreciate people pointing out errors. I am trusting the authors, and I don't always know the material. What is not appreciated is the condescending attitude. Hey, good for you that you know this trivia, but get over yourself. You are a "Dr. Who" fan. Trekkies look down on you.
8 - Matthew
Need a comma?
9 - El Bicho
Need a life?
10 - Xena Peel
Martha Jones rocks!!! She is the only one, beside Time Lady Romana, that is the Doctor's equal. The Doctor need to have someone who has his back and not have to be told what needs to be done, like Rose Tyler. Dr. Martha Jones is a woman, not a woman/child like Rose who has not had a post high school education. Dr. Jones reminds me of Mrs. Emma Peel mixed with a little Xena, Warrior Princess.
I cannot wait until Dr. Jones calls the Doctor and have him come back to her. Dr. Jones is more than eye-candy, she is a fellow scientist which is what the good Doctor needs, he need someone who he can talk to, not someone who he has to talk down to.