(S03E11 / S03E12) I've decided to combine the first two episodes of this three-part finale in to one review, partly because it's only a few days until the finale itself, but mostly because I really don't know where to start with this totally explosive storyline.When Doctor Who returned to our screens a few years ago, everyone was anticipating the return of old favourites, like the Autons, the Daleks and the Cybermen -- and, sure, those guys notched up the fear factor and excitement when The Doctor faced them down -- but there's one guy we've all been waiting for, and he finally turned up in the strangest of places.
Well, make that two guys...
WARNING: Spoilers after the jump.
Apart from a few flaws in design and setting, this story kicked off with the return of Captain Jack Harkness from both Torchwood, and the first series.
With the first series of Torchwood ending when Jack vanished to the familiar sound of the TARDIS materialising, this story picked up with the Doctor and Martha stopping off in Cardiff at the spacetime rift to refuel -- except, Captain Jack decided to hitch a lift by clinging on to the exterior of The Doctor's ship which ended up being catapulted into the future where it came to a stop at the edge of time.
It wasn't quite clear exactly what caused the TARDIS to make such a leap -- possibly Jack's presence, or perhaps some other as-yet-unknown plot device, but the place where the trio eventually arrived was inhospitable, dark, lonely and dangerous -- housing the remnants of a human society, being hunted by strange throwback creatures of the night.
Deep in the bowels of the planet, inside a massive spaceship, the elderly Professor Yana and his insectoid assistant Chantho were attempting to jump-start the refugee ship which would hopefully transport thousands of humans to Utopia.
But the old professor had a more complex agenda at hand, and when Martha uncovered a watch very like The Doctor's from "The Family of Blood", it soon became evident that the name "Yana" represented something quite different indeed: You Are Not Alone.
However, before The Doctor, Martha and Jack could do anything about it, the prof had tried to kill his assistant and locked himself in the TARDIS, before being mortally wounded -- whereupon he transformed in to none other than The Master, The Doctor's mortal enemy -- portrayed by the brilliant John Simm (Life on Mars).
If you don't know who The Master is, well, he's sort-of The Doctor's half-brother -- a renegade, insane Time Lord from Gallifrey, intent on wiping out humanity (and just about everything else, for that matter).
And just as the episode reached an ending, The Master stole the TARDIS, leaving The Doctor, Martha and Jack stranded at the end of time.
Now, before I go on and describe some of the events in "The Sound of Drums", I should point out that the story arc has not yet concluded -- but I will say one thing about this new story development; John Simm is as inspired a choice to portray The Master, as Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant were to play The Dcotor. He has the right balance of maniacal, power-mad craziness, combined with a sense of wicked fun and over-the-top antics as he set about taking over the planet in the guise of Harold Saxon, the Prime Minister elect of Great Britain.
And the story itself is as nail-biting and captivating as any major science-fiction movie or novel.
But what about our trio of heroes?
Well, you didn't think they would be stranded in the future, did you?
No chance -- not with The Doctor's sonic screwdriver, and Jack's time-jump wristwatch.
Having locked the TARDIS' co-ordinates in the 21st century, The Doctor worked his technical wizardry and the trio managed to make a jump back in time to try and prevent a global disaster. Unfortunately, they found a world where The Master/Saxon was well and truly in in power and thoroughly established in a plot to unleash millions of floating robotic aliens (called the Toclafane) via a paradox machine (a modified version of the TARDIS).
And, well, he did it.
I honestly couldn't believe what I was seeing at the cliffhanger, when literally billions of the Toclafane descended from space and began decimating the population of Earth as The Doctor watched on in his newfound state of advanced age, brought on by The Master's manipulation of his DNA (thanks to technology from an earlier episode this season, "The Lazarus Experiment").
On that very subject, I found it quite refreshing to see plot elements from earlier in the series filtering through -- much in the way a more complex ongoing series such as Lost would do -- such as The Master's watch, the de-evolving/re-evolving technology , and of course, Captain Jack.
As I sit here patiently waiting on the final episode of the series to air on Saturday night, I find myself poring furiously over the details of these previous two episodes, trying to figure out how on earth The Doctor can manage to save the day without causing more harm than good.
I genuinely believe there could be a grim ending on the way, perhaps with a major character's death on the cards, and possibly a heartbreaking development for The Doctor when he discovers the true origin of the Toclafane...
Stay tuned for the finale.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
7-06-2007 @ 12:21PM
Green Arrow said...
Spoiler Before the Jump.. That Picture is a give away
Reply
6-28-2007 @ 3:07AM
Akbar Fazil said...
I was quite impressed how they managed to make a plausible explanation for the Masters return from previous continuity.
Reply
6-27-2007 @ 8:56PM
robb said...
Loved those 2 episodes. Only thing on my mind ... was that journalist at the beginning of Drums Harriet Jones in disguise? it sure seemed like it to me. I hope that really was not the end for her (if it was her) i would like for her character to have somewhat of redemption over the ramifications of the Christmas Invasion.
Reply
6-27-2007 @ 9:04PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Robb,
In no way was the reporter Harriet Jones.
I am just wondering what specifically happened to the timeline (other than the rise of Saxon) to go from:
Harriet Jones: PM for three consecutive terms and ushered in the Golden Age of Britain
to
Harriet Jones: one term with nothing else
Reply
6-27-2007 @ 10:30PM
chadthebad said...
Akbar: My theory about Harriet Jones: The doctor interfered with those 6 words. He said he was a whole new man...
Reply
6-28-2007 @ 3:07AM
chadthebad said...
to clarify - I mean to say he interfered with the timeline...
Reply
6-27-2007 @ 10:47PM
Eric said...
Sorry. I need some clarification. Is this going to be the end of the series from now on or is it just the last episode of the season? The article says "series" and the poll at the bottom of the article says "season".
Reply
6-27-2007 @ 10:51PM
Johari said...
I can only think of one thing that would break the Doctor's hearts regarding the origin of the Toclafane. And that thing would be the involvement of Rose somehow. With an 18 month window before the Doctor, Martha, and Jack would arrive, it would be enough time to capture Rose and do something to her since she would have been around then.
Reply
6-28-2007 @ 3:08AM
Johari said...
@Eric,
In the UK, TV seasons are typically called TV series. Even US TV shows aired there are subject to that change.
Reply
6-27-2007 @ 11:06PM
Nigel said...
I wouldn't say that The Master has been trying to destroy the world, he just wants to rule it (and the rest of the Universe too). Just a minor quibble compared to another mistake.
The Master didn't have a more complex agenda when he was trying to get the ship started. He had gone through the same process the Doctor used in an earlier episode, which removed all memory of his life as a Timelord. Until he opened the pocket watch (any idea if BBC is going to sell replica's of those?) he was, and had the memories of a human (Professor Yana).
But, oh yes, what an episode, and John Simm is, as you said, an inspired choice to play The Master. And I let a huge cheer when he offered his wife a jelly baby (Yes, I'm a Tom Baker fan)
Reply
6-28-2007 @ 3:08AM
Akbar Fazil said...
chadthebad, I had felt that the Doctors "six words" to Harriet was just a warning.
Johari, I dont think the Toclafane have anything to do with Rose. Time and time again the Doctor has mentioned his great fondness for humans and their will to survive. The Master knows this (and in a way he feels the same, he just wants to control them) so my theory is the Toclafane are human.
In "Utopia" the Doctor wonders what Utopia could be. It was the end of the universe, how was humanity going to survive. My guess is the Master set up Utopia and any humans sent there got mutated (just like early Daleks on Skaro) into Toclafane.
We will know for sure in 3 days. Can't wait, Saturday is my birthday too.
Reply
6-28-2007 @ 3:09AM
Discosis said...
The trip to the end of time was explained - The Doctor told Jack that he's just wrong, even the Tardis sensed it and it travelled that far into the future just to try to get rid of him.
Not to nitpick, but The Professor became The Master when he looked at the watch, not when he locked himself in the Tardis to regenerate.
I agree completely about Simm's Master - he's delightfully manic and over the top in just the right way for the new Dr Who episodes, while still being suitably cold and evil ("Run for your lives!").
I wanna know whats up with his wife, too... is her head on the chopping block, or is something more sinister aftoot?
Can't wait!
Reply
6-28-2007 @ 3:09AM
Joe Siegler said...
Uh, spoilers after the link? YOUR CHOICE OF PICTURE IS A SPOILER!
Reply
6-28-2007 @ 1:45AM
Darkholmme said...
I have to think that the Toclefane have something to do with those future humans going to "Utopia." An unanswered question is who was Professor Yana answering to in the beginning of the ep? Who was the guy asking about the progress of the shuttle?
Reply
6-28-2007 @ 1:46AM
Joe Siegler said...
Some problems with your review. Here's the three outright errors I noticed:
>> It wasn't quite clear exactly what caused the TARDIS to make such a leap > whereupon he transformed in to none other than The Master, The Doctor's mortal enemy > If you don't know who The Master is, well, he's sort-of The Doctor's half-brother
Reply
6-28-2007 @ 5:48AM
Joe Siegler said...
My formatting blew up my post, have to repost it. Sorry for the double comment here.
1) It wasn't quite clear exactly what caused the TARDIS to make such a leap
Yes it was. The Doctor said why during the conversation with Jack through the door.
2) whereupon he transformed in to none other than The Master, The Doctor's mortal enemy
That happened outside the tardis before he was shot when he opened the watch.
3) If you don't know who The Master is, well, he's sort-of The Doctor's half-brother
Wrong. It's not a "half brother". He's just another Time Lord. In fact, there was specific dialog addressing this issue in the "Sound of Drums" episode.
Reply
6-28-2007 @ 7:30AM
Thomas said...
Ok,
Let's see, hmmm... first things first:
**** SPOILIER ALERT!!!****
If you haven't seen the episode, skip this post!
And if you didn't watch the trailer for the next episode, skip as well, for I intend to speculate...God save us all!
*** YA' BEEN WARNED!!!****
Now that's out of the way, well, I've been thinking about a few things that have come up over the last two months regarding Doctor Who, and yes, PTB, I'll keep this on-topic (well, mostly), so here we go:
First, as I listen to "The Sound of Drums" in the background, I keep hearing the same motif over and over again: "The Master" is the "Anti-Doctor":
1) The Master's jokes are a twisted version of the Doctor's own - and even contain a twisted version of the Doctor's morality, i.e. the speech accusing the Cabinet members (? I don't know much about English politics, is this right?) of disloyalty to their parties...
2) The Master has a "companion" who is female, but whom he has married, and is implied to have a physical relationship with, as opposed to the Doctor's almost monk-like willful ignorance of his companions... and why do I keep flashing on Sam Beckett from Quantum Leap? Is it monk-like devotion, or prior commitment?...
3) The Doctor runs from title and power, the Master arranges things so he has total power and the title of Master of All: "The power to destroy a thing is control over a thing."
4) The Master uses the diversity of others as a weapon against them, as opposed to them the Doctor's celebration of diversity...
5) Laser Screwdriver?!? The #$((?
6) To the outside observer, the Doctor brings chaos and distruction, the Master brings order and renewal; in reality, the Doctor brings the necessary clearing of the diseased tissues so that new life can grow, the Master brings the uncontrollable, smothering growth of a cancerous tumor.
But, look closer, under this layer, is another layer...
... the tapping...
...the jokes...
...the Jelly Babies...
...the violation of the TARDIS...
...the Laser Screwdriver...
...my theory is the Master wants to be the Doctor, but doesn't know how to do it.
And there's another layer yet: when the Doctor looks into the "Heart of Time" it makes him run, and the Master hear the "drums of war"; yet it's the Doctor who stays and fights and the Master who runs, runs to the end of Time and into the utter powerlessness of humanity and old age... if the Doctor laments over being responsible for the death of the Time Lord "species" (and really, can't we all see the "end" of the Time War as one of the Doctor's brilliant plans to snatch victory from the jaws of hopeless defeat gone horribly, horribly wrong...) to save his "patients", if you will, then wouldn't the Master despair over not being able to rule over his own people? And what solace would ruling over lesser beings be to him?
... and speaking of lesser beings, what of the "Toclafane"?
What, exactly, are they? And why do they have to have the "paradox machine" to come to Earth "en masse"? And why would the Doctor's hearts break "if he knew who they really were?"
My theories?
1) The essences of all the beings who made it to Utopia, encased in metal exoskeletons, a la the Daleks. This would also explain why they keep obscessing about the neverending cold and terrible darkness, and how they have to "run and run and run" - from the death of the Universe...
2) since the gadget that allowed them into our "ficton" is a paradox generator, and the hoariest paradox of them all is the "Grandfather Paradox", then they are our decendants, from WAY in the future, perverted by the Master into a flying, encased version of the Daleks, and the Doctor's heartbreak of seeing his favorite species twisted into mirror images of his hated enemies...
3) the Time Lords, fearing the Doctor wouldn't be able to save them - and rightly so, I must regretfully add - made a last ditch effort to ensure the survival of the race by encasing the next generation in mobile armored platforms and sending them into the heart of the paradox of time, which of course is the scary "Untempered Schism" that the Master and the Doctor had to look into as part of their Time Lord Academy initiation. That would explain their fear, childlike behavior, willingness to obey the Master - a grownup Time Lord - and the Master referring to them as "kids"
[aside: "Coming Soon to BBC3: Time Lord Academy! Thrill to the adventures of the young Harry Po- er, um, Doctor Who as he struggles against his adversary, Lord V- er, The Master!"]
Ok, I could speculate all night, but really, don't let me hog the ideas: what's your theories, folks? Am I a nutter? Got any better ones? Speak up now...
TTFN,
P.S. Don't get me wrong, I loved this episode, there was so much to love:
the bad guy tune being the first notes of the "Doctor Who" theme...
grits, Uncle Sam, and the bit about "Since Britan elected an ass, yes." "I will accept mastery over you if that is God's Will." and playing to his vanity... What's with all the Yank bashing, hmmm? Funny, sure,
"And look, it's the girlie and the freak. Although, I'm not sure which one's which. " And we worry about gays in the military (bollocks!!!)... a few like Jack and we'd win 'em all!
"Laser screwdriver! Who'd have sonic? And the good thing is, he's not dead for long; I get to kill him again!"
Poor Jack!
Lucy Saxon dancing...
...and last but not least: Martha Jones: Graduation Day!
Hope she was paying attention to her "How to Save the World" lessons from the Doctor... it's all in her hands now! Cowboy up and bring it, Martha! Or in the words of John McClain, "Yippee-ki-yay, mo
Reply
6-28-2007 @ 3:10AM
Thomas said...
Ok,
Let's see, hmmm... first things first:
**** SPOILIER ALERT!!!****
If you haven't seen the episode, skip this post!
And if you didn't watch the trailer for the next episode, skip as well, for I intend to speculate...God save us all!
*** YA' BEEN WARNED!!!****
Now that's out of the way, well, I've been thinking about a few things that have come up over the last two months regarding Doctor Who, and yes, PTB, I'll keep this on-topic (well, mostly), so here we go:
First, as I listen to "The Sound of Drums" in the background, I keep hearing the same motif over and over again: "The Master" is the "Anti-Doctor":
1) The Master's jokes are a twisted version of the Doctor's own - and even contain a twisted version of the Doctor's morality, i.e. the speech accusing the Cabinet members (? I don't know much about English politics, is this right?) of disloyalty to their parties...
2) The Master has a "companion" who is female, but whom he has married, and is implied to have a physical relationship with, as opposed to the Doctor's almost monk-like willful ignorance of his companions... and why do I keep flashing on Sam Beckett from Quantum Leap? Is it monk-like devotion, or prior commitment?...
3) The Doctor runs from title and power, the Master arranges things so he has total power and the title of Master of All: "The power to destroy a thing is control over a thing."
4) The Master uses the diversity of others as a weapon against them, as opposed to them the Doctor's celebration of diversity...
5) Laser Screwdriver?!? The #$((?
6) To the outside observer, the Doctor brings chaos and distruction, the Master brings order and renewal; in reality, the Doctor brings the necessary clearing of the diseased tissues so that new life can grow, the Master brings the uncontrollable, smothering growth of a cancerous tumor.
But, look closer, under this layer, is another layer...
... the tapping...
...the jokes...
...the Jelly Babies...
...the violation of the TARDIS...
...the Laser Screwdriver...
...my theory is the Master wants to be the Doctor, but doesn't know how to do it.
And there's another layer yet: when the Doctor looks into the "Heart of Time" it makes him run, and the Master hear the "drums of war"; yet it's the Doctor who stays and fights and the Master who runs, runs to the end of Time and into the utter powerlessness of humanity and old age... if the Doctor laments over being responsible for the death of the Time Lord "species" (and really, can't we all see the "end" of the Time War as one of the Doctor's brilliant plans to snatch victory from the jaws of hopeless defeat gone horribly, horribly wrong...) to save his "patients", if you will, then wouldn't the Master despair over not being able to rule over his own people? And what solace would ruling over lesser beings be to him?
... and speaking of lesser beings, what of the "Toclafane"?
What, exactly, are they? And why do they have to have the "paradox machine" to come to Earth "en masse"? And why would the Doctor's hearts break "if he knew who they really were?"
My theories?
1) The essences of all the beings who made it to Utopia, encased in metal exoskeletons, a la the Daleks. This would also explain why they keep obscessing about the neverending cold and terrible darkness, and how they have to "run and run and run" - from the death of the Universe...
2) since the gadget that allowed them into our "ficton" is a paradox generator, and the hoariest paradox of them all is the "Grandfather Paradox", then they are our decendants, from WAY in the future, perverted by the Master into a flying, encased version of the Daleks, and the Doctor's heartbreak of seeing his favorite species twisted into mirror images of his hated enemies...
3) the Time Lords, fearing the Doctor wouldn't be able to save them - and rightly so, I must regretfully add - made a last ditch effort to ensure the survival of the race by encasing the next generation in mobile armored platforms and sending them into the heart of the paradox of time, which of course is the scary "Untempered Schism" that the Master and the Doctor had to look into as part of their Time Lord Academy initiation. That would explain their fear, childlike behavior, willingness to obey the Master - a grownup Time Lord - and the Master referring to them as "kids"
[aside: "Coming Soon to BBC3: Time Lord Academy! Thrill to the adventures of the young Harry Po- er, um, Doctor Who as he struggles against his adversary, Lord V- er, The Master!"]
Ok, I could speculate all night, but really, don't let me hog the ideas: what's your theories, folks? Am I a nutter? Got any better ones? Speak up now...
TTFN,
P.S. Don't get me wrong, I loved this episode, there was so much to love:
the bad guy tune being the first notes of the "Doctor Who" theme...
grits, Uncle Sam, and the bit about "Since Britan elected an ass, yes." "I will accept mastery over you if that is God's Will." and playing to his vanity... What's with all the Yank bashing, hmmm? Funny, sure,
"And look, it's the girlie and the freak. Although, I'm not sure which one's which. " And we worry about gays in the military (bollocks!!!)... a few like Jack and we'd win 'em all!
"Laser screwdriver! Who'd have sonic? And the good thing is, he's not dead for long; I get to kill him again!"
Poor Jack!
Lucy Saxon dancing...
...and last but not least: Martha Jones: Graduation Day!
Hope she was paying attention to her "How to Save the World" lessons from the Doctor... it's all in her hands now! Cowboy up and bring it, Martha! Or in the words of John McClain, "Yippee-ki-yay, mo
Reply
6-28-2007 @ 4:28AM
Kurifurisan said...
@ 16 Thomas...dear sir, I feel like I have just gotten schooled in Doctor Who! Very insightful and one of the most intelligent posts I have ever read. Now that the dissertation is done when can we expect the book? Seriously...I will buy a copy if there is one.
Reply
6-28-2007 @ 8:57AM
Doc 8 Fan said...
Didn't The Master use up his last regeneration in Doctor Who the movie? Or do they not count the 8th Doctor's encounter? Do they explain that in the episode? I don't get to see these but sporatically because I don't have cable so forgive my ignorance on these episodes.
Oh and bring back Davros!
Reply