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Utopia Format Reviewed: TV Review It is theorised that from the original plan, there were two series of overall ideas. When the third series was commissioned, it is rumoured that the plan for series two was split into both series two and three. Leading up to this story you definitely get the feeling that there is a finality about the overall plot lines and that everything is coming to a head. With this, Utopia really then marks the beginning of the end as far as the first three series of the new television adventures of Doctor Who is concerned. Refueling on the Cardiff rift in time and space, The Doctor sees Captain Jack running towards the TARDIS. Not wanting to deal with the consequences of Rose's prior actions with Jack, he takes off, but with Jack clinging to the outside of the TARDIS. Because of this, the TARDIS is drawn off course to the end of the universe, at a frontier camp of Humans waiting for a rocket to take them to Utopia. The natives are saw toothed Futurekind, and who feast on Human flesh. Inside the camp, The Doctor and Martha meet the mysterious Professor Yana and his assistant Chantho who have constructed a brilliant method of getting the rocket to work. Jack reaquaints himself with the Doctor, revealing that he has brought with him his hand. When Jack and the Doctor go off to solve a crisis in a radiation room, Martha finds that Yana has an identical fob watch to the Doctors when he changed into a Human. He eventually uses it and changes back into a Time Lord, The Master no less. The Master then tries to kill Chantho, who shoots him and as he retreats into the Doctors TARDIS, locking the doors he regenerates into a new body. He then takes off leaving the Doctor, Martha and Jack stranded at the end of the universe. Looking objectively at this episode, you will notice that there is very little actual story throughout. The time is taken by the continuity largely, tying up loose ends and story threads from the previous 3 series and introducing the plans to come in the series three finale. From that perspective then it is not a story you could take out of context and watch on its oen, it is certainly not stand-alone. Having said that, this isn't what the story is for at all. What they do however is manage to create a lot of real intreague, and this episode really does get the mind going as to what has gone before and what is to come. One thing that will really stand out in this episode in times to come is the casting. Firstly, the reintroduction of John Barrowman is wonderful, as he is a superb actor. In some ways though it shows that he should perhaps have been cast as the Doctor instead of David Tennant as he overshadows The Doctor generally. Freema Agyeman is relatively underused here, but does fine in the scenes she appears in. The best performances though here are that of John Simm as The Master and especially Derek Jacobi as Professor Yana. Jacobi is truly magnificent throughout, and you really do hang on his every word. Also, his transformation from Professor to Master is pitched just right, magical stuff. In essence, what is really important when watching a science-fiction or fantasy TV show is whether the viewer can be absorbed in the action. This is where Utopia delivers in spades, and is matched by the atmosphere created throughout. Therer is real tension and all the characters are nervous throughout, as if they are expecting apocalyptic events to unfold. This I believe is largely brilliant, but I believe that the brilliance is possibly confined to fans, both old and those of the new series. This is because the fans will be aware of and into the continuity, whereas casual observers will likely be confused rather than engrossed. Nevertheless, the atmosphere really does build thoughout and keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat. Overall, Utopia is a story light episode, that is chock full of continuity. Due to this, the episode is not likely to be enjoyed out of context by casual observers. Fans though will love it, and remember this episode for a long time to come. The continuity shown here, has really started to nail down the loose ends from the last three series, and set up the series finale wonderfully well. Rating:  |