When the world was first introduced to writer Paul Cornell by way of the new Doctor Who, the immediate reaction by some of the fandom was a mere "WTF?"
"Father's Day" which aired back during Series 1 and the era of Christopher Eccleston was quite a different story. It didn't require the Doctor be an obnoxious know-it-all, nor did it make the companion a complete idiot. Instead, it made the relationship between the much older Doctor and the very young Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) plausible: both of them lost family and they needed each other to fill that void.
A series later when David Tennant took over the role of the Doctor, I felt that this relationship never reached that kind of level. It makes sense though. The Doctor had regenerated and that attachment that Rose felt for him wasn't quite what it used to be. It seemed to find its way back by force in the last of the Series 2 episodes ("The Impossible Planet"/"The Satan Pit", "Love and Monsters" and "Fear Her"), but I felt it didn't work.
"Human Nature", based on the Doctor Who book of the same name (which Cornell also wrote), contains that same magic that "Father's Day" had. Here, David Tennant's Doctor and his new companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) find themsleves in 1913 England on the run from The Family Of Blood. For this escape to work, The Doctor essentially turns off his Time Lord configuration (to hide his scent from them) and stores it inside a pocket watch. Now a mere human, he becomes a school teacher named John Smith (his usual alias) and works at a private school.
Meanwhile as a mere maid, Martha keeps an eye out for The Doctor and awaits the time in which the Family Of Blood will arrive. At that point it's really simple: she'll open the watch and The Doctor will return. Unfortunately for Martha, an unusual boy named Tim Latimer (Thomas Sangster) took the watch and opened it up. Now he has the Time Lord configuration of The Doctor and his memories.
Elsewhere The Family Of Blood begins to inhabit various members of the surrounding area of the school and one student, Jeremy Baines (Harry Lloyd), who possibly is the most frighteningly possessed character in science fiction history. Tell me that his eyes didn't make you feel chills. He was probably much more effective in making kids run behind the couch than the Scarecrow men. That's good, because the monsters were never the point of the show in the first place.
Article comments
1 - David Wilding
I hope that is only idle gossip about Russell T.D Davies going. It will be like the Ravens Leaving The Tower Of London and there is little chance Dr Who could survive without him and his brilliant storylines. And sorry, I definitely do NOT agree on your opinion that, "'The Shakespeare Code', 'The Girl In The Fireplace', and 'Father's Day' are some of the greatest episodes ever written". I might well agree that 'Human Nature' is good, but, for me, 'The Shaakespeare Code' has been the worst so far in Series 3, 'Father's Day' was the low moment of Series 1, and although, 'The Girl In The Fireplace' had some very good moments, it has to rank as one of the most ridiculous endings of a Doctor Who episode ever - David Tennant on a horse?? And sorry again, but I thought 'Impossible Planet / Satan Pit' was one of THE BEST of Series 2.
2 - Ian Woolstencroft
Paul Cornell would indeed be an excellent choice to replace Davies.
As for the Sun's reports of Tennent and Agyeman departing...well as an Englishman I can tell you that the paper is hardly the pinnacle of journalism with only page 3 of any interest and that's not because of the writing.
3 - Clara (moogle301)
WOW - u think identically to me!!! seriously. Paul Cornell is the best and Moffat is right behind!!! Russel T can be rubbish and good depeneding, the first few were so good (Rose + End of World) and both finales have been amazing but otherwise i dont like his episodes much.
in fact the only disagreement i have is i didnt like shakespere code much at all, but everyone else did so maybe i shall re-watch it sometime..
I'm glad they did a storyline where the doctor forgot his companion cus i said about 2 years ago that would be the saddest storyline and im not surrpised it was Cornell to do this, since he writes and clearly thinks more similarly to what i think and what is a great storyline HOWEVER the episode is clearly much more focused on the family of blood and the watch being taken and the docot falling in love (a good storyline) - but just THINK and IMAGINE how beaufiful it would have been if the doctor had forgotten who Rose was for an episode or two after nearky 2 series', of course the episode would focus much more on this, the fact all their adventures still hapenend but are forgotten so is this any better han if she had imagined them? etc etc etc it wudda been heartbreaking and wonderful.. ah well, it just seems wasted on a companion we + Doccy don't really care for much yet
4 - SJ
Harry Lloyd made a total fool out of David Tennant. The younger actor showed up the overrated Tennant by a mile.
5 - DWO
I was wondering if anyone could tell me where i could get my hands on the dream journal!?
6 - Kenneth Udut
I just finished watching Episode 2 of Human Nature. WOW - I mean WOW. Full circle. It's so -rare- in any story - and especially a science fiction story - where everything comes full circle and you get.... satisfaction.
That's the sense coming over me. Satisfaction. Martha has become a true companion now.