Eighty Percent Density

This article may contain MAJOR SPOILERS from all episodes of Doctor Who up to and including the most recently broadcast episode: "The Poison Sky"

Man that new theme is energizing! But listen, did you hear the Doctor say "are you my mummy?" when he put on his gas mask? That had to be an ad lib, but either way it was a nice nod to an earlier (better) set of episodes from the first series. I do miss Chris Eccleston; he'll always be the Doctor to me. Before the 2005 resurgence, Doctor Who was just something my older cousin used to try and get me to watch on PBS. I hated PBS, which was unfortunate.

Recently I found an old Tom Baker three-parter on NetFlix Instant Downloads called The Horror of Fang Rock. I watched it over the course of three nights and really enjoyed it... a tad frumpy for current standards, but I loved the way everybody died except the Doctor and Leela. The body count may be high in this new incarnation, but seeing the entire supporting cast get killed by the (gross) monster was wonderful... morbidly so, I suppose, but wonderful nonetheless. Why don't they do three-parters anymore?

But back in today's Who we must lament! Poor Luke Rattigan -- at least he survived my prediction that the Sontarans would kill him, but only just! I've never been a fan of characters finding redemption through blowing themselves up and whatnot, and with that teleporter right there next to him, did Luke or the Doctor really have to die? It was a cheap way to resolve Rattigan's guilt, and I certainly don't think it was a "clever" thing to do. Interesting how neither the Doctor, Martha, nor Donna said a word about him afterward... like he never existed. Luke's storyline was, after a promising start, wholly disappointing.

Likewise the Sontarans. They were so magnificent last week, and there are certainly some juicy bits in this week's conclusion, but it turns out they're just like every other recent Who villain. When faced with the choice to either leave or be destroyed, even the most stalwart warrior must have some hesitation. Then again, I'm reminded of numerous examples from actual history where soldiers have done silly things in the name of honor (seppuku, anyone?), so who am I to judge? Still, I can imagine a couple really wonderful storylines that could result from a shamed General Staal coming back for his revenge.

Short aside: I've got the episode playing in the background as I write, and I just heard the Wilhelm Scream during the Sontaran attack. Word of caution, if you click that link and watch the video, you'll be forever changed.

Donna was amazing this week. As predicted her grandfather survived, and all three were given some excellent character moments. I especially liked their interactions when Donna called from the TARDIS -- there's no reason mature, adult interactions shouldn't be the norm, even on a kids show. I'm not talking sexy sex or anything, but there's merit to the idea that we learn how to behave based on what we see (nature vs. nuture and all that), and what do we see more of than television?

Moving on, a short word for the conclusion. Are you serious? Burning up the entire atmosphere without killing anybody, even as they choke on that very air? I don't want to quibble, but this is a glaring and unforgivable cheat. God isn't in the machine, guys, and when we rely on contrivances like this we're demeaning the entirety of popular fiction.

Doctor Who airs Saturday nights in the UK on BBC1.