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Reviews
Doctor Who: Turn Left (2008)
Stunning and heartbreaking every time
I watched this episode again today. I can't recall how many times I've rewatched it but it gets the tears going every time.
I love a good alternate universe or what if story and this tops them all. It draws on major moments in the Who universe directly affected by Donna Noble's seemingly simple (but heavily influenced) decision to turn right. As a result a number of show leaders in Who shows give their all because Donna wasn't where she was needed.
Now I must confess I initially thought Catherine Tate was not a great choice as companion as were a lot of people. She, and the writers, proved us wrong throughout the season but never more so than here. She is outstanding, still the same old gobby Donna but her fragility under her hardened exterior on show. And yet, it is her strength in the most important of decisions that shows she is, probably, the most rounded of all companions. The most human.
It is not just Catherine Tate that shines; Jacqueline Kkng as Sylvia gets to show not only the harpy that browbeat Donna but then the woman at a loss after so much is taken from her. That said the heartbreaker for me is the looks between Rocco (the incredibly upbeat Alfred Long putting a positive spin and face on everything for everyone) and Wilf (Bernard Cribbins). Two men knowing exactly what is going on. Wilf cannot hold back the tears. "It's happening again."
This is not a positive or upbeat episode. It is dark. Probably the darkest Who ever. Still it has a message for today. A nation that looks inwards "England for the English" is a grim place.