Intro

Doctor Who is a BBC Science Fiction show created in the 1960s, cancelled in the late '80s and relaunched in 2005.

Doctor Who focuses on a main character known as "The Doctor" an alien with a human appearance who has the ability to travel through time and space in a spaceship called a TARDIS.

The Doctor has the ability to create a new body, often with a new personality (known as "regenerating") in order to cheat death. Christopher Eccleston played the Ninth Doctor in the 2005 relaunch, and has now been replaced by the Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant (Casanova, Blackpool).

New New Doctor

The Tenth Doctor is just as engaging as the previous Doctor. He reveals a friendly, extrovert personality in the first volume of the second series, topped a manic grin and just as much energy for adventure as the Ninth Doctor before him.

The Doctor seems recovered from his guilt for surviving the Time War which killed the rest of his race, the Time Lords, and is now a happy and positive individual, until provoked. When angered, the Tenth Doctor is icy and has a firm belief in justice and "No second chances", unlike the pacifistic Ninth doctor.

Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), a 19 year old shop assistant from 21st century London continues to travel with the Doctor in the second series. Though Rose was wary at first of the Doctor's regeneration, she has now come to terms with it and continues to face their adventures with bravery and enthusiasm.

Mickey, Rose's supposed mechanic boyfriend, who she left behind in order to travel with the Doctor, also joins Rose aboard the TARDIS during this volume. Awkward but well meaning, Mickey seems uncertain of where his and Rose's relationship stands, but is determined to see more of the universe and has begun to research possible alien activities in the UK, to help the Doctor.

Episode 2 - Tooth and Claw

The Doctor decides to take Rose to see Ian Drury and the Blockheads live in concert in 1979, but, due to a slight miscalculation, the TARDIS lands in Scotland,1879. Here, the Doctor and Rose meet Queen Victoria, and travel together with the monarch to a troubled country Estate. The household is under attack from a werewolf, and the Doctor steps in to save the Queen from being bitten.

Tooth and Claw recalls the Dalek episodes of the previous series. The pace is fast as the Doctor and Rose race away from the werewolf, and there are just as many corridor chase scenes and characters sacrificing their lives to the werewolf in order to buy the Doctor time as he formulates a plan.

The episode has a plot that keeps your attention, but it's the pace and threat created by the convincing computer generated werewolf that makes the episode engaging.

However, neither Rose nor the Doctor ever facing any real "peril", and there are no desperate bids to save each other, which destroys any lasting suspense. The duo even have time to hug and giggle over meeting a real life werewolf, and Rose is hell bent on getting the Queen to say "We are not amused".

Humour ultimately saves the episode, and gives Tooth and Claw the feeling that it's just another day at the office for the Doctor.

Episode 3 - School Reunion

After a tip from Mickey, The Doctor and Rose infiltrate a school to discover the connection between the new staff members and headmaster and the dramatically improved test results and bouts of sickness amongst pupils.

School Reunion cleverly reintroduces the 4th Doctor (Tom Baker)'s companion, journalist Sarah Jane Smith, and K9, the talking robot dog the Doctor gifted her with. Sarah Jane Smith is also investigating at the school and is reunited with the Doctor, and meets his new assistant Rose.

School Reunion's plot is weak: the episode is based on mystery rather than suspense. The aliens involved try to sway the Doctor with promises of a better universe, but it doesn't take much inner conflict before the Doctor goes ahead and blows them up.

The episode relies on the spanner that Sarah Jane's reintroduction adds to the works. For the first time, the Doctor is forced to realise that he leaves a lasting mark on those he travels with, and has to deal with Rose's jealousy at finding out that other women have travelled with him.

One episode does not give enough time to adequately portray the Doctor's emotional turmoil upon meeting Sarah Jane again, but School Reunion includes some amusingly catty scenes between Sarah Jane and Rose, and Mickey too provides some comic relief, as he tries to prove his worth on the mission. Best of all though, it's good old K9 who saves the day.

Episode 4 - Girl in the Fireplace

The most enjoyable episode on this volume, Girl in the Fireplace charts Mickey's first adventure in space with Rose and the Doctor, to a mysterious deserted spaceship 3000 years into the future. Within the ship, the Doctor finds Time Windows to different years in the life of Madame de Pompadour, the famed mistress of King Louis XV of France. The spaceship's repair robots seem to be using these windows in order to stalk Madame de Pompadour, and are intent on using her in some way to help mend their broken vessel.

The Doctor's use of Time Windows to track down the repair robots, and also to form a relationship with the well cast 'Pompadour over the course over her life is an effective device, creating a feel of time passed over the period of a single episode.

Girl in the Fireplace is another emotional episode, centered once more around the Doctor's relationships with others, particularly his apparent love for Madame de Pompadour, which will disappoint those looking for action.

The real shame here is that, since this episode is right after School Reunion, in which Sarah Jane's affection for the Doctor was revealed, Girl in the Fireplace's romance is cheapened and the episode gives the impression that the Doctor is a time travelling heart throb.

DVD Packaging and Extras

The DVD packaging features a photo of The Doctor, Rose, Sarah Jane Smith and K9 against a blue background, with the new Doctor Who logo at the top of the case. As with the other cases used so far for the new series, it is bright and appealing. The same picture is printed on the disc itself.

Sadly, the series 2 volumes also lack any DVD extras.

Overview

2005 saw Doctor Who relaunch with an impressive first series, and Series 2, Volume 1 provided a solid start to the 10th Doctor's reign, but the same can't be said for Volume 2, where the show has slowed down to an awkward halt.

Series 2 still contains the successful elements of the first series: the dialogue is still the best aspect of the show and makes Doctor Who very watchable and entertaining TV, there is great camera work and special effects, the actors are all well cast and work exceptionally well together, but in spite of this, the second series just doesn't pack the same punch.

The previous Doctor had a strong purpose: his loss in the Time War and his hatred of the Daleks served as a connecting theme that was built upon through the series until it exploded in the climatic final episode.

In contrast, the 10th Doctor seems aimless and as a result the episodes of the Second series have the effect of being singular, disjointed events. As the series progresses, the Doctor seems unchanged and unaffected.

David Tennant too does not seem quite right as the Doctor. Whilst he's a good actor and makes a great partner for Piper, as Eccleston did, he has an air of trying too hard to be a good Doctor Who, including facets of the previous Doctors but not adding enough of his own take on the Doctor to the table, unlike Eccleston who created an excitingly modern and unique Doctor.

Series 2, Volume 2 lacks any interesting aliens or plots, partly due to new series' dislike of using 2-or-more part stories, unlike the story arcs in the "classic series". It's clear that this is done so it's easy for viewers to step in and out of the show without losing track of the plot, but for those following the series, the episodes are somewhat dull, with the knowledge that each story will have to wrap up its plot threads and action by the end of 40 minutes.

Doctor Who Series 2, Volume 2 is worth renting, but there are more interesting Doctor Who DVDs by far. I suggest the casual viewer give the first new series a try, or if you want a 10th Doctor volume, try Series 2, Volume 1 for the enjoyable Christmas Invasion episode. Series 2, Volume 2 is relatively lack lustre, and is only worth watching if you're a fan, especially if you like K9 or Sarah-Jane Smith.

Buy It From

Amazon.co.uk - £14.39 + £1.24 P&P or with free P&P when placed in an order over £15
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