That this is a reintroduction gives this story, and her relationship with the Doctor, a crucial balance. They meet here as equals, in need of each other. We see the Doctor's loneliness in a gorgeous wide shot of the empty TARDIS, while Donna, able to reference the events of The Runaway Bride, gets to tell us that she knows exactly what is missing from her life. With this so easily established, the joy of the first half of the episode is that they don't meet up, constantly just missing each other in a long series of near farcical sight gags, whilst unwittingly mirroring each other's investigations.
We're kept waiting, but when the reunion finally comes it is wonderful. Not only is that first mouthed conversation priceless and easily one of the funniest scenes in Doctor Who, but the mere fact that they are together again is simply joyous. Almost everything they say to each other, every interaction, is delightful: "Don't you ever change?", "Hold on!" - "I AM!", "I was right. It is always like this with you isn't it?" - "Oh yes!", all the way through to "PLANET OF THE HATS!" And by the end the there can't be many people who aren't excited by the prospect of a full series of these two in the TARDIS.
In that sense alone, this must be the strongest first episode we've had, although it's not quite perfect. The Adipose are a brilliant design and a great idea, and it makes a lovely change to have aliens that aren't evil, even if they do, through no fault of their own, pose a very real threat to human life. Although undeniably adorable, they embody an utterly horrible concept - a very satisfying combination. Miss Foster is the real antagonist, lusciously played by Sarah Lancashire who really seems to be enjoying herself. She's a great baddy, ice-cool, in control and magnificently unflappable, but she does seem isolated and spends a lot of her time (rather like the Editor in The Long Game) just talking out loud to nobody in particular. Her battle of wits with the Doctor is very enjoyable when they are face to face, but the technological duel through which he gains the upper hand is little more than unconvincing (and very bland) technobabble and some flashing lights.
Penny Carter is an unusually unsympathetic character: a snarky figure of fun who seemingly gets her just desserts. These desserts are not very severe, but it is very odd for Doctor Who to hold up anyone to ridicule, let alone someone so unimportant. If it wasn't for Donna, she would clearly be the candidate for new companion in this episode (and indeed Donna's involvement grew out of plans for a new companion called Penny). She has Sarah Jane's 'investigative reporter' thing going on and, just like Donna, she sneaks into the building and hides in the toilets. So why is she given such a hard time? It's not as if we need to see a useless might-be companion (like Adam) in order to realise Donna's suitability. Is it just a dig at reporters then? (The Doctor, when she asks him to explain what's going on, shrugs and tells her to "just make something up".) Either way, she does cause a small tear in the plot: Penny is discovered in the loos instead of Donna, but she must just have heard Donna's hurried and hushed phone conversation in the next cubicle. She doesn't give Donna away, so she can't be all bad, can she?
Having Rose turn up out of the blue - and keeping it a secret until transmission - was a real coup for the production team, and it certainly added some sting to this episode's closing moments. I enjoyed the reveal at the time, but I wasn't excited about the idea of Rose returning. Now, knowing where this will end up in Journey's End, I'm actively irritated by the prospect.
For me, the genuinely marvellous bit is the proper ending, with Donna waving at Wilf. I've mentioned before about how lovely it is to have Bernard Cribbins in the show but his little dance here and the vicarious joy of a grandfather is really very moving. It's taken a long time but the Doctor and Donna are finally off in the TARDIS together - hooray for Series Four!
William still refuses to comment, but I can tell that he's just as glad as me to have her aboard. Chris gave this an eight out of ten: he very much enjoyed the moments when the Doctor and Donna kept missing each other. He also gave a six out of ten for scariness, which I think is a little high - it can't be the Adipose, but I wouldn't be surprised if Miss Foster's dark maternalism disturbed children whilst zooming right under the grown ups' heads.
NEXT TIME...
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