Watching Doctor Who

Utopia is the first part of the first three-parter of the New Doctor Who. Yes, that does mean two episodes with cliff-hangers in a row. In this episode we see the reappearance of Captain Jack Harkness on Doctor Who, the TARDIS crew has to deal with some unexpected developments, and a very famous actor plays a pivotal role. So, come on past the spoiler barrier to join the discussion.

Episode: Utopia by Russell T. Davies
Rating (1 to 5): 4.5
Time: Now and the year 100 trillion
Place: Cardiff and The End of the Universe
Baddie: The Futurekind and The Master
The Doctor’s Death Wish: None for him, but he does keep putting Jack in danger.
The Doctor enjoys: Professor Yana’s skill.
The Doctor dislikes: Losing the TARDIS to The Master.
The Doctor apologizes to: Jack when he is found dead outside of the TARDIS. Chantho for the loss of her people (after being reminded by Jack.) The Master.
Saxon? Not as such.
Rose? She is discussed everywhere in this episode. Especially when Jack first encounters The Doctor and in the radiation room scene.
Who fancies Martha? Jack.
Doctor-y Strangeness: He left Jack behind at the Game Station on purpose because of what Rose turned him into.
Scary Stuff: The Futurekind. Professor Yana becoming The Master. The TARDIS leaving without The Doctor and company.
Does someone local help out? Professor Yana and Chantho
What we learn: The TARDIS can use the energy from The Rift as fuel. The fueling takes less time if The Rift has been active. The end of the universe is approximately in the year 100 trillion. Jack used his Vortex Manipulator to escape from the Game Station and ended up in 1869. Humans spend a million years evolved as gas. The hand that The Doctor lost in a sword fight on Christmas Day became part of Jack’s Doctor detector. Chantho has been with Professor Yana for 17 years. Jack first realized that he couldn’t die in 1892 when he was shot on Ellis Island. Professor Yana was found as a naked child on the coast of the Silver Devastation. Professor Yana is The Master.
My Favorite Bits: Jack’s Back! “Not if you’re blond.” Chantho. Sir Derek Jacobi as Professor Yana. Martha’s reaction to the hand in the jar. “I forgot to tell you. I’m brilliant.” Jack and The Doctor’s interaction in the lab. “Chan that would be rude tho.” “Was someone kissing me?” The whole Doctor/Jack conversation in and just outside the radiation filled room.

Observations and musings:

Even after traveling with The Doctor for as long as she has, Martha still encounters several surprising things in this episode. First, there’s Jack who doesn’t stay dead. Then, she learns that Jack was left behind and begins to ponder her possible future fate. There’s the discovery that The Doctor regrew a lost hand, The Doctor’s conversation with Jack, and Professor Yana’s watch. So much to take in. And then to be stuck there trying to help Jack hold the door closed against the Futurekind at the end. Well, it’s a bit of a roller coaster ride for her, and no mistake.

Interesting how The Doctor reacts to Jack and Martha talking about Rose. The minute they start on about her being blond, he interrupts them. Another interesting thing is the interaction between Jack and The Doctor. It’s like they immediately fall back into old habits. They react to each other like part of some well oiled machine. The Doctor can’t get the door open and screams for Jack to do it. So, Jack does. Oh, the look on The Doctor’s face when he realizes that there is another Time Lord near. Worse yet, when he know for sure who it is. The Master, The Doctor’s arch nemesis, steals the his TARDIS and leaves our three heroes trapped at the end of time with baddies trying to get in the door. Oh yeah…and The Doctor’s old hand disappears, too. Poor Doctor. Oh! You’re not the last of your race. Oops. The other person is your worst enemy.

How are they going to get out of this one, eh? Well, come back next week and we’ll talk about it then.

Image Source: http://www.time-and-space.co.uk/

Utopia, Captain Jack Harkness, Doctor Who, Russell T. Davies