This (finally) aired on Sci-Fi last night and having just finished watching it, I was mighty impressed. I expected the Doctor Who equivalent to a "clip show" but what I got instead was a wonderful sort of "what if?" story.
Russell T. Davies has managed to take elements from Series 3 & 4 and weave them into an alternate story that doesn't feel pushed or forced. From the events of the Runaway Bride onwards we get a glimpse into a world without our favorite Time Lord. It's a world where everything goes downhill to say the least.
This episode also gives Catherine Tate her best chance yet to show off her acting chops and she does beautifully in this episode. This Donna makes a journey from unassuming and unbelieving temp to a person willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the world. In a single episode, Tate and Russell T. Davies show the journey that Donna Noble has taken over the last series. Together with Billie Piper's Rose Tyler who also seems to be changed and to see these two characters in a scene together adds a lot more depth to it all.
Then there's the twist at the end. The moment Rose reappears one knows that something is up but it isn't until the last dew minutes that what it is becomes obvious. When it comes, be prepared. What might have seemed at first to have been a fascinating little one off has bigger implications to come.
To sum up: Turn Left is one of this series better episodes. While it might be Doctor-lite that's no reason to hate it. In fact by being Doctor-lite we get a chance to see two things we don't normally see: a chance to see a world without the Doctor and a companion's making an amazing emotional journey. Bravo Catherine Tate and Russell T. Davies...Well Done.
Russell T. Davies has managed to take elements from Series 3 & 4 and weave them into an alternate story that doesn't feel pushed or forced. From the events of the Runaway Bride onwards we get a glimpse into a world without our favorite Time Lord. It's a world where everything goes downhill to say the least.
This episode also gives Catherine Tate her best chance yet to show off her acting chops and she does beautifully in this episode. This Donna makes a journey from unassuming and unbelieving temp to a person willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the world. In a single episode, Tate and Russell T. Davies show the journey that Donna Noble has taken over the last series. Together with Billie Piper's Rose Tyler who also seems to be changed and to see these two characters in a scene together adds a lot more depth to it all.
Then there's the twist at the end. The moment Rose reappears one knows that something is up but it isn't until the last dew minutes that what it is becomes obvious. When it comes, be prepared. What might have seemed at first to have been a fascinating little one off has bigger implications to come.
To sum up: Turn Left is one of this series better episodes. While it might be Doctor-lite that's no reason to hate it. In fact by being Doctor-lite we get a chance to see two things we don't normally see: a chance to see a world without the Doctor and a companion's making an amazing emotional journey. Bravo Catherine Tate and Russell T. Davies...Well Done.