Creators and Cast:
- Written by Paul Cornell
- Directed by Charles Palmer
- Episode Cast:
- David Tennant ... The Doctor
- Freema Agyeman ... Martha Jones
- Jessica Hynes ... Joan Redfern
- Rebekah Staton ... Jenny
- Thomas Sangster ... Tim Latimer
- Harry Lloyd ... Baines
- Tom Palmer ... Hutchinson
- Gerard Horan ... Clark
- Lauren Wilson ... Lucy Cartwright
- Pip Torrens ... Rocastle
- Matthew White ... Phillips
Official Summary:
It's 1913 in England, and an ordinary schoolteacher named John Smith dreams of adventures in time and space and a mysterious blue box. But when lights in the sky herald the arrival of something strange and terrible, Smith's maid, Martha, has to convince him that he alone can save the world.
Key Moments:
Watching the introverted John Smith ease into human life and stumblingly fall in love is delightful; Martha watches wistfully, as concerned for the Doctor's future and for Joan's heart being broken as she is for her own feelings for the Doctor. Joan is beautifully balanced and has a couple scenes where she goads Smith into expressing his feelings for her without (amazingly) seeming pushy. Martha has a great moment when, sensing one of her fellow maids is now possessed by their pursuers, brightly offers her tea with sardines and gravy, which the clueless alien says sounds lovely.
Doctor Backstory Revelation:
One wonders about the original purpose of the Chameleon Arch, which changes you into another race and gives you the appropriate memories. The Doctor says he never thought he'd have to use it, so it seems like an emergency expedient; but in the book, the Doctor employs it deliberately as a research device, and that would seem to be a better reason for its having been created in the first place. John Smith knows that he's from Gallifrey, but assumes (reprising a joke from the classic series) that it must be in Ireland.
Fun Guest Alien Factoid:
The Family can trace a Time Lord anywhere in the universe -- that's impressive. Good thing the Daleks and the Cybermen haven't come across them.
Season 3 Mister Saxon Reference:
None, but this episode introduces the Chameleon Arch, which will become important later.
Bottom Line: Worth Watching?:
Hands down, one of the best episodes of the new series. For more, see my
full review of this episode.
