Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 5: World War Three

Director:

Keith Boak

(Holby City, The Royal, The Knock)

Screenplay:

(Bob & Rose, Casanova, Children’s Ward, Cluedo, Doctor Who, The Grand, The House of Windsor, Linda Green, Mine All Mine, Queer as Folk, Revelations, The Second Coming, Springhill, Touching Evil)

Cast:

Synopsis:The alien Slitheen unleash their plot upon the Earth, while TheDoctor and Rose try to save the world with the help of local MP HarrietJones.

After last week’s enjoyable, yet ultimately daft opener, this two-partepisode continues on a similar vein. However, the script manages to plugsome of the logic gaps presented last week (including a plausible reason forthe alien farting), and without many special-effects to distract viewersfrom the absurdity, this episode manages to improve upon the story, too.

Ultimately, the promise presented by the title World War Three nevermaterializes fully, but The Doctor’s machinations in Number 10 DowningStreet – trapped in a sealed room with Rose and MP Harriet Jones, isenjoyable. Particularly good is the way Jackie Tyler and Mickey areintegrated into the story to battle the aliens – via Roses’ “super phone”.

I have my doubts with Russell T. Davies’ abilities as a science-fictionwriter, and “World War Three” only reinforces those concerns. As acontemporary update of Doctor Who cheesiness and ridiculousness – it’s anundoubted success – but those elements of the show are perhaps not to berevered as highly as Davies obviously does…

For every genuinely effective moment, there’s a weak gag or implausiblemoment just around the corner. These moments give the show a distractingup-and-down feel between overtly ridiculous alien clowning, melodramaticperil with The Doctor, occasional moments of brilliance, and often turgidfamily soap moments at the Tyler household.

Above all, this episode (and, so far, all of Davies’ output) just lacksbite. It’s all very simple, safe, silly and family-oriented. For a Saturdayevening show at 7pm, this is perhaps to be expected, but I get the feelingI’m not the only person hankering for Doctor Who to “get serious” and giveus something meaty to grapple with.

Next Week: Two words: “EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE”.

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