I was pleasantly surprised by the penultimate episode of Doctor Who. It's nice to see that the cash saved on the cheapo, non-creepy statue episode has been spent well here, on car chases, swish sets, some half-decent effects and a few star turns. Even Barrowman was less irksome than usual, confined to a bit part despite his now star billing. (Though still able to put in a plug for his derisory Torchwood series.)
The whole episode felt like a high-budget version of The Demon Headmaster, which is no bad thing. Finding out more about the oft-mentioned Time War - and the Doctor's early days - was also a boon, and it's really high time that Freema Agyeman was given a chance to be the kick-ass hero of the piece - let's hope she does it make it through to the next series, though there is something very strange going on with all those tabloid stories...
John Simm's not doing too bad a job as the Master - not as sinister as I remember from my childhood, but equally coming into his own against David Tennant in the sub-Timothy Claypole-acting-style stakes. Sharing the same infatuation with humankind as the Doctor, it seems the Master may not prove to be the outright villain of the piece and some Silver Surfer-esque alien race may be pulling the strings.
And besides, all faults are forgiven on any show that climaxes with Voodoo Child by Rogue Traders blasting out. Roll on next week.
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