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World War Three Format Reviewed: TV/DVD Review With the cliffhanger from Aliens of London ruined by the preview in the closing credits, can the content of this episode recscue the story? Well, to a certain degree yes. The tone changes somewhat to more moody when the Doctor, Rose and Harriet Jones are trapped in their 'box', and Mickey is more dynamic which is more fitting for a young chap living on a London estate. He does appear to be a little too adept at using UNIT's systems though, such as when the Doctor tells him to stop the missile being intercepted, but I'll forgive that. The guest cast put in generally strong performances with the usual exception of ham from Camille Coduri. Penelope Wilton is particularly impressive in her portrayal of Harriet Jones and the character grows in confidence as the episode progresses, culminating in her unwittingly laying the foundations for her ascent to prime minister of Great Britain. What comes out again very well is the interplay in the situation of Mickey and Jackies concern for Rose as a travelling companion for the Doctor. The stark truth is that nobody who travels with the Doctor will ever be safe, as several previous companions have indeed died. A mothers concern for her daughter in the context of the present day is portrayed spot on, but realistically can anyone guarantee the safety on anyone else, especially when facing unknown alien peril? Statistically, the Doctors companions have a good mortality rate in the series bearing in mind the menaces they have faced, so Jackie shouldn't be too badly concerned. What is also nice to see is that someone is prepared to refuse the Doctors invitation to become a member of the Tardis crew. Mickey refuses the Doctors request and stays behind. Another great aspect to the new series is that in the episodes set on modern day Earth, they include a lot of nods to current culture. This episode is no exception, and the virus that the Doctor gives to Mickey to erase all references to him on the internet is a nice touch. It is beyond reasonable doubt that conspiracy theory websites and SETI type sites would seriously investigate the Doctor and his activities. I can see why the Doctor would want to keep these to himself though. Overall, this episode goes some way to recovering the story from the somewhat ignominious start given to it by Aliens of London. There are good touches here that shouldn't be overlooked, but I think that the story overall is one of the weaker ones in the series. Rating:  |