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Series 2 Episode 3: “School Reunion”Broadcast on BBC1, Saturday April 29th, 2006
Series 1 Boxset:
Series 2 Part 2:
Director:
- James Hawes
(The Bill, Holby City, Sea Of Souls)
Screenplay:
- Toby Whitmore
(Hotel Babylon, No Angels)
Cast:
- The Doctor: David Tennant
Rose Tyler: Billie Piper
Mickey Smith: Noel Clarke
Sarah Jane Smith: Elisabeth Sladen
Mr Finch: Anthony Stewart Head
K-9’s Voice: John Leeson
Synopsis: Shape-shifting aliens called Krillitanes have infiltrated a High School, andit’s up to The Doctor and Rose to save the day, with the help of twofamiliar friends…
The third episode of the new season begins in a strange fashion, withAnthony Stewart Head (stuffy Giles from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, right) stalkingthe corridors of a school before apparently devouring a child. This sceneimmediately sets the tone for School Reunion it’s Goosebumps does TheFaculty, everyone!
The Doctor and Rose are undercover at an inner-city High School, where agroup of replacement teachers under the leadership of Head’s Mr Finch, areactually bat-like shape-shifters called Krillitanes. Writer Toby Whitmore’sdebut on the series is very uninspiring, with a frivolous plot that wasprobably developed with an eye on the show’s young demographic. While I’msure the episode provoked plenty of Monday morning chatter for schoolchildren everywhere, it was a missed opportunity to not have the kids takecenter stage in the episode itself.
This is very much another adventure for The Doctor and Rose, with Mickeymaking another unwanted return — although this is by far his most palatableappearance. So, while Whitmore’s alien teachers plot is very derivative, thereal emphasis in for the episode is the titular reunion of The Doctor andhis ex-companion Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen). One of the joys ofDoctor Who’s return has been its ability to answer some of the questionsthat have plagued the series, or tap into ideas that the show has bizarrelynever touched. Here, we finally discover what happens to The Doctors’companions once they part company with the Time Lord, and why The Doctorchooses to circulate his fellow travelers anyway.
Elisabeth Sladen (right, with Billie Piper) reprises her role as if she’s never been away. She may be30 years older, but she’s lost none of the spark and vitality her characterhad with Jon Pertwee or Tom Baker in the TARDIS. Her character’s initiallyfrosty relationship with Rose is also very well played by both actresses.Also returning to the series is K-9, the robot dog created by Tom Baker’sDoctor in the 70’s, who gets a few enjoyable scenes and is instrumental inthe climactic sequence with rampaging Krillitanes and Anthony Stewart Headgurning maniacally.
School Reunion is undoubtedly a mediocre episode elevated by some greatcharacter moments (Mickey’s realization he’s the current “tin dog” isexcellent), but this has very little meat to its bones. Anthony Stewart Headactually disappoints as Mr Finch, for while he’s perfected villainouselocution and body language, he can’t improve on what is basically aterribly clichéd role that eventually spirals into grimaces to camera.
David Tennant has yet to prove his worth as the new Doctor, still stuck in arut since New Earth and unable to move beyond genial and overly excitablegeek. There are moments here that again scratch at a darker surface, butTennant too often deflates the drama with misplaced cockney glee. But, ittook Christopher Eccleston awhile to settle into the role, so Tennant hastime yet to strike the right balance.
The Krillitane CGI effects throughout the episode veer wildly in quality.Shots with a Krillitane perched on the school roof with Anthony Stewart Headare laughably bad and a real low-point for the new series. The Krillitanecreatures themselves tend to look fake close-up, but are quite effectivelyrendered and animated during the climactic school chase sequence.
Overall, School Reunion is undemanding fun for pre-teens, but holds specialsignificance to those who remember the days of Sarah Jane Smith and K-9. Butthe premise is clichéd tosh and ultimately offers nothing particularlymemorable outside of its special guest stars. The fact an episode featuringchildren (the target audience for the show) forgets to include kids in theadventure is also a travesty. There is a final throwaway moment when a boyis exalted for “blowing up the school” by his friends, but why wasn’t hischaracter more integral to the plot?
Thankfully, the episode’s saving grace is the excellent characterinteraction and intriguing old-meets-new conceit between Rose and SarahJane. Whether this is enough to rescue a generally weak episode is up toyou.
NEW WEEK: The Doctor and Rose investigate spooky masked aliens in GeorgianEngland.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.