Character: Adam Mitchell

Adam realises that if he'd read the blog he would have been able to foresee his future predicament.

Adam Mitchell is one of the shortest-running companions of the new series, so far, after only appearing in two episodes. The companion that was never meant to be, Adam joined the TARDIS only because Rose liked him, not because the Doctor wanted him! Adam was an English boy who worked with the alien artifact collector Henry van Statten in Utah, USA. After watching the Doctor and Rose confront a Dalek, Adam was curious about their other adventures and with a little help from Rose, persuaded the Doctor to accept him into the TARDIS. Adam's error however was to get a brain implant in the far future which could never be removed and so he was dropped off home again by an infuriated and unforgiving Time Lord. Adam later returns to confront the Doctor in the fiftieth anniversary comic Prisoners of Time, by the end of which he is officially named a companion!
Adam's short time on the show was always the intention of Russell T Davies and was included as part of his plan to revive the series. In the script writing phase Adam went through numerous character changes. He was originally planned to be the son of Henry van Statten but later versions of the script had him stealing medicines from the future to help his dying father so it could not be Henry van Statten. Eventually all of these ideas were scrapped in favour of the adopted story of Adam getting information about the future.

Portrayed by: Bruno Langley

Story List: Dalek (TV), The Long Game (TV) and Prisoners of Time (Comic).

Afterthought: Adam was definitely necessary to define for new watchers of the series what a companion should not be. Following his story into Prisoners of Time is rather scary if you think that it was actually the treatment that he got from the Doctor which turned him into a bad guy!

Companion Ranking: 1, He's the only one in contention so far!

Current Rankings:

1. Adam Mitchell

Elsewhere:

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Mitchell_(Doctor_Who)

Series 1 (Season 27), Episode 7: The Long Game

Knowing everything means you get to know about the blog!

Russell T Davies writes a story which leads to two endings. First, the departure of Adam from the series after only appearing in one episode previously. Secondly, the fictional location for this episode also turns out to be the same location in which this seasons finale will be set. The episode confronts the issue of journalists knowing everything about the world however these journalists don't seem to know an awful lot about themselves.

Synopsis: The Doctor takes Rose and Adam to a space station in the year 200,000. However it seems the human race race has been set back around 90 years, the same amount of time that Satellite 5 (the space station) has been broadcasting for. The station controls all the news and is full to the brim with journalists all trying to get a piece of the action. The ultimate goal is to reach floor 500 where 'the walls are made of gold'. However the boss of Satellite 5 realises that somebody is there that shouldn't be and it's not the Doctor. The last surviving member of a group for independence is 'promoted' to floor 500 where they get to meet the Editor and the 'Editor-in-Chief' who is not as human as the workers on the station seem to think...

Featuring: The Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston), Rose (Billie Piper) and Adam (Bruno Langley)

Enemies: The Editor and The Mighty Jagrafess

Afterthought: Actually creeper than I remember it and certainly 'chilling' on the floor 500 scenes. If you want a 'Guide how not to be a Doctor Who companion' just follow Adam's example in this episode!

Verdict:

Story: 3.5/5, Well paced but nothing really 'exciting' happens.

Effects: 2.5/5, Average overall.

Humor: 4/5, Actually quite funny!

Mark Campbell: 2/5, To be expected really!

TOTAL SCORE: 12/20

Elsewhere:

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Game

Official Site - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074dr5

The adventure continues with or without Adam! Next Time: Father's Day

The Editor examines his latest employee.

Series 1 (Season 27), Episode 6: Dalek

The Dalek arrives like a new addition of the blog, it's exciting and entertaining isn't it?

The Daleks are back, or at least, one of them is. A long dispute with Terry Nation's estate meant that the episode did not feature a Dalek but instead featured a child creature known as the Toclafane which would later reappear in the series 3 finale. The episode is based on a story called Jubilee originally released as a Sixth Doctor audio. At the start of this episode we see a collection of old monster parts from the shows history focusing mainly on a Slitheen arm and a Cyber head however those with a keen eye will spot a shrunken Sea Devil head and a Mechanoid. This episode sees the first appearance of the companion Adam Mitchell who only stayed for two episodes. We will review his role in more detail in a later blog.

Synopsis: The Doctor and Rose follow a distress call by an unknown source to Utah in 2012. Their destination turns out to be a giant private museum holding a collection of objects which have fallen to Earth over the years from space. Henry van Statten (Corey Johnson), the owner of this collection, is excited to find the Doctor is also an expert in alien artifacts and offers to show him his only living specimen. Van Statten's motives however are not as they seem, all he wants from the Doctor is to get the 'Metaltron' to talk. Talk it does, especially when it finds out the Doctor is the last of his kind like itself being the last Dalek. The Doctor tries to destroy the creature before it can cause further harm but is stopped and arrested by van Statten. Rose, who is being shown around by Adam, Van Statten's purchasing assistant, also decides to visit the Dalek. Her touch to the outer casing however causes the Dalek to be set loose in an attempt to conquer the planet and find the rest of it's species.

Featuring: The Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston), Rose (Billie Piper) and Adam (Bruno Langley)

Enemies: A Dalek

Afterthought: Certainly a very dark episode for the Doctor although of course this is Christopher Eccleston at his best. It's a shame Van Statten didn't get a chance to redeem himself and was simply 'thrown away' at the end. Also, if Van Statten's gone, who's running the internet?

Verdict:

Story: 3.5/5, The plot was completely successful but the characters keeping the same feelings towards the Dalek throughout is exhausting.

Effects: 4/5, The new Daleks are very impressive however the CGI moving parts of the Dalek as the inner being is revealed are not so clever.

Humor: 4/5, There are some light moments to occasionally release tension however this is not what the story is about.

Mark Campbell: 4.5/5, For once I have to agree.

TOTAL SCORE: 16/20

Elsewhere:

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalek_(Doctor_Who_episode)

Official Site - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074dq8

Exterminate! Next Time: The Long Game

The Doctor meets a Dalek for the first time since the Time War!

Series 1 (Season 27), Episodes 4 + 5: Aliens of London & World War Three

Trouble with the Slitheen? Call the Doctor or visit the blog!

Doctor Who returns to London for its first multi-part story of the century. Following the example of its predecessor this serial introduces a new semi-regular in the form of Harriet Jones (Penelope Winton) and another soon-to-be Torchwood employee Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori). The Slitheen, who have now wormed their way into Doctor Who folklore, also debut as the serials' enemy. The episode also looks at how families (particularly Rose's) cope when their loved ones disappear off with the Doctor.

Synopsis: Rose and the Doctor return to earth '12 hours' after they left. It soon becomes clear however that Rose has actually been missing for 12 months and this sparks arguments between the Doctor and Jackie! Then, a spaceship crashes into the Thames, destroying the top of Big Ben on the way down. When the non-terrestrial craft is proved to be a fraud by another type of alien the mystery deepens into why extra-terrestrials would set the world on high alert. It soon becomes clear that the diversion of the UFO has allowed the alien family 'The Slitheen' to rise to high power in government! The question is, what do the enemy want, if not to take over the planet?

Featuring: The Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston), Rose (Billie Piper), Jackie (Camille Coudri) and Mickey (Noel Clarke)

Enemies: The Slitheen (with a cameo appearance from what has been dubbed 'a space pig')

Afterthought: Designed to scare them but also to make them laugh, smaller children must relish this episode. The only subjects keeping the attention span of the older watchers are the political remarks although Harriet Jones is definitely over the top in her first appearance.

Verdict:

Story: 2/5, The idea is promising, except for the Slitheen.

Effects: 0.5/5, The costumes were well designed...

Humor: 2/5, Slitheen aren't funny, so it's a good job the Doctor and Mickey are.

Mark Campbell: 3.5/5, Is he purposefully trying to annoy me?

TOTAL SCORE: 8/20

Elsewhere:

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliens_of_London and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Three_(Doctor_Who)

Official Site - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074dp9 and http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074dpv

You win some, you lose some. Next Time: Dalek

As the Slitheen wait for the nuclear codes they find themselves being bombed!

Series 1 (Season 27), Episode 3: The Unquiet Dead

What? A blog about us?

Mark Gatiss debuts his writing skills in Doctor Who in this episode. It also marks the first new series episode not to be penned by Russell T Davies. Recurring character Charles Dickens shows up for the first time in this episode and the actor soon to play Gwen in Torchwood (Eve Myles) makes her Doctor Who debut. This is the first time that a new series episode is set at Christmas which has traditionally been followed ever since by the Christmas specials.

Synopsis: A corpse, in the care of a small undertakers shop, rises from it's coffin before it's burial and terrified a packed theatre showing a reading from Charles Dickens by the author. However the people of Cardiff in 1869 aren't used to dead people visiting famous author's performances and the theatre becomes panic ridden! This is when the Doctor and Rose show up. It soon becomes clear that these ghosts are materialising using available gas and the spirits which to get through the rift to save their souls. Luckily, servant girl Gwyneth is here to help!

Featuring: The Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and Rose (Billie Piper)

Enemies: The Gelth (the spirits)

Afterthought: I really like the Gelth. In my mind they definitely deserve a return to Doctor Who. This episode starts very much like a classic episode during the Victorian Cardiff scenes but I love how there is a chance for Rose to come to terms with time travel for the first time. It also reveals that this is Rose's first trip to the past so spin-off writers won't be able to take her back 'for the first time' again!

Verdict:
Story: 3/5, The beginning isn't 21st century Doctor Who enough for me, even though it is set in 1869 :) .
Effects: 4.5/5, I really do like the Gelth... until they start flying around the morgue.
Humor: 1/5, Hardly any and the Doctor's jumper does not make a funny gag.
Mark Campbell: 5/5, Wow, we are being controversial!
TOTAL SCORE: 13.5/20

Elsewhere:
Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unquiet_Dead
Official Site - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074dng
I suppose this episode was just a way of proving that everything, including Doctor Who, can rise from the dead. Next Time: Aliens of London & World War Three

The Gelth have taken Gwyneth!

Series 1 (Season 27), Episode 2: The End of the World

Cassandra and Rose watch as the earth burns... so it's a good job I transferred the blog to New Earth!

Doctor Who had begun and everyone loved it! This episode saw the first time there was a pre-credit title sequence in Doctor Who. This episode also introduces us to the psychic paper, a whole host of new aliens and more detailed information in what is soon to be known as 'The Time War.'

Synopsis: Following straight on from the end of Rose, The End of the World takes us 5 billion years into the future where a selection of the richest aliens in the universe have come together on 'Platform One' to watch the Earth burn. However, metal spiders invade the corridors of the ship and start a killing spree! With Rose caught up having conversations with 'the last human', Cassandra, it's up to the Doctor to save the guests on the viewing platform.

Featuring: The Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston), Rose (Billie Piper) and Jackie (Camille Coudri)

Enemies: Robot Spiders, Adherents of the Repeated Meme and Cassandra.

Afterthought: People made a big fuss about the Moxx of Balhoon which I don't quite understand. Russell T Davies evasion of the word 'Gallifrey' surprises me as old fans would welcome it and new fans would be intrigued! Apart from the Face of Boe and Cassandra no other aliens featured in this episode have ever been seen again, which is, to be honest, a shame.

Verdict:
Story: 2.5/5, While a nice way to introduce Rose to aliens the climax with the Doctor and the fans could have moved much faster and a death could have been avoided.
Effects: 3/5, Exploding Cassandra is gruesome but the damage in the walls as the heat rises? The Robot Spiders are obviously CGI.
Humor: 3/5, Funny moments placed when needed.
Mark Campbell: 1.5/5, Apparently the aliens are 'unconvincing' and the interiors are 'obviously terrestrial'!
TOTAL SCORE: 10/20

Elsewhere:
Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_the_World_(Doctor_Who)
Official Site - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074dmp
The world ends but Doctor Who does not. Next Time: The Unquiet Dead


Platform One watches as the Earth prepares to burn...

Series 1 (Season 27), Episode 1: Rose

Mickey enjoys the new blog!

On the 26th of March 2005, 9 years since any 'proper' Doctor Who had been on the telly, this episode called 'Rose' arrived on our screens in stunning style. A whole new era of fans got introduced to the Doctor and some old fans had the pleasure of getting to meet him again. We also get to meet new companion Rose who will stay with us for this series and the next along with making multiple cameos in following series. So here it is, a new blog and the beginning of a new era for British television!

Synopsis: Rose works in Hendricks the department store, she has a boyfriend called Mickey and leads an average life. Then one day she gets locked in the store basement and the window dummies, in storage, start to come alive and attack her. Then the Doctor shows up, rescuing Rose but leaving no clues as to who he really is. When Rose decides to research the mysterious Doctor, everything she thought she knew gets turned on its head...

Featuring: The Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston), Rose (Billie Piper), Mickey (Noel Clarke) and Jackie (Camille Coduri).

Enemies: Autons and the Nestene Consciousness.

Afterthought: The episode was definitely an excellent way to kick start the revival of the show and it's a good job Russel T Davies missed out the regeneration from Paul McGann to Christopher Eccleston because
a) It would have alienated new viewers and
b) It would have messed up Steven Moffat's future plot points.
The only other thing which would have been nice might have been if Clive (the Doctor obsessed, internet theorist) hadn't died. He could have had a little back story where he keeps bumping into the Doctor (and it could have got especially funny after the regeneration)!

Verdict:
Story: 4/5, A successful way to restart a much loved series.
Effects: 2/5, The Nestene and the 'shop window dummies' are good but the bin and plastic Mickey are just ridiculous.
Humor: 3/5, Some moments that make you 'giggle'!
Mark Campbell: 4.5/5, Surprisingly, Mark seemed to enjoy seeing the series being revived (although he didn't like the autons)!
TOTAL SCORE: 13.5/20

Elsewhere:
Wikipedia  - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_(Doctor_Who)
Official Site - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074dlv
Doctor Who has truly been revived! Next Time: The End of the World

Rose joins the brand new Doctor in the TARDIS.