All that came before had been fairly well advertised. Daleks in asylums, spaceships full of Dinosaurs, Wild West Cyborgs. Hell, even the next episode was shouting it's major details well in advance, what will all the angels and melodrama promised. But The Power Of Three never really gave anything away about what one might expect from the episode. Aside from the whole Doctor stuck in a domestic situation AGAIN thing anyway. What's good about this is that it means you have both some interesting mystery and less baggage in the way of preconceptions. I wasn't really sure what to expect.
So I REALLY didn't expect The Sontaran Experiment.
"Beep Beep."
An evil alien plot to probe mankind's weaknesses and limitations, only updated for the 21st century. By which I of coarse mean one that people can engage with from the comfort of their own homes without all that mucking around on Dartmoor in the freezing cold.
As plots go I've got to say this is one of my all time favourites. It's clever, unique, and perhaps most strangely, believable. You can totally see that things would probably actually pan out more or less as they did onscreen, without the need for any of the usual bureaucratic incompetence normally required to jolly the plot along.
Sounds like a job for the Minister Of Asshattery!
Though it should be pointed out that the episode has more to it's classic credentials than just a tenuous link to The Sontaran Experiment. There's also a tenuous link to The Caves Of Androzani as well.
Don't believe me? Well, remember these guys?
Remember how awesome and creepy they were, but how they didn't ACTUALLY serve any purpose in the plot? Kinda like somebody felt the story just needed a monster in there somewhere to up the excitement and pad things out a little?
Say hello to my little friend.
Her name is Doris.
Yeah, that's right. The orderlies are basically the Magma Monster from Caves Of Androzani. Well, actually, they're not even that. I mean, at least the Magma Monster actually managed to get some sort of closure by being killed off. It didn't just kinda wander out back for a fag break at the worst possible moment. Seriously, just think about the look on their faces when they come back and find the ship blown to smithereens.
"OH SHIIIIIII....."
Okay, I admit it's probably the same look as they have the rest of the time, but I guarantee the trousers will be a lot browner once they realize they have to explain to the Shakri just what it was they were doing whilst the plan was being foiled.
And hope there are no lie detectors in space.
Anyway, that was, overall a really good solid slice of proper Doctor Who. I'm sure I'm not the only one hoping that Kate Stewart will make a comeback appearance or two. She certainly made a fine addition to U.N.I.T. And would be nice to see a bit more consistency with whoever the lead character in the organisation is supposed to be.
One other thing I'd like to mention is how well all the foreshadowing was being handled. We know that the Ponds are leaving soon after all. But it wasn't as heavy handed or pretentious as the sort of shit we had to put with towards the end of series 2. Which can only be a good thing. Although maybe it's helped by having characters you DON'T want to beat in the face with a shovel. Anyway, it keeps the whole things coming to end vibe rolling, but in a natural way. Of course, how things will work out in the end remains to be seen.
In the meantime things are going quite well in this series. Let's hope it keeps it up.
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