Doctor Who Social Club

I have mixed feelings about this episode. From a nostalgia bait front, it hits just right. Especially the reveals of SJ and K9. Though again, would have been better without the "next time" spoilers. Anthony Head is absolutely perfect for the role - from the downright evil treatment of the kid in care at the start right down to the tempting offer he gives at the final confrontation. There's also a lot of humour sprinkled throughout - Teachers living in the school, "I'm the tin dog ". A really nice moment from the doctor as he reveals how he feels about travelling and being around humans.

However, there's lots that also doesn't really live up to expectations. After the pretty good werewolf creature last episode, the bat gargoyle creatures look lacking in comparison. The bickering throughout just feels awkward and annoying, whether it's between Rose / SJ or Mickey. The climactic school lockdown feels over the top, with music too loud and lots of directorial adrenaline without anything much happening. Other than the teachers being eaten, which almost feels played for laughs, it does not feel like there is enough threat. The God maker feels like it comes out of nowhere and I'm still not really sure what it's about.

There's so many plot holes and annoyances here it almost seems like cheating to list them off, but I'm going to do some anyway. Why is headmaster recommending visitors try the chips, why have a dramatic K9 sacrifice only to resurrect him minutes later, why does the projector screen explode in the classroom, how has only one journalist spotted whats going on, why does a match-the-symbols puzzle game rewrite the kids brains (that's all it was, you could play a flash version of this on the bbc website), why does the whole school explode at the end - wish fulfilment for the episode writer maybe?

All that being said, I still enjoyed this episode for the cross-over of characters and the acting from everyone involved. At the end I am glad that SJ got to keep a K9 (of theseus), and in a way I am also glad that mickey finally joins them in a trio.

Another week, another fairly average episode of Doctor Who...at least, in terms of plot.

The story shows up, ticks the boxes it needs to tick, and keeps out of the way. The Krillitane plot doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but does anybody care?

And then there's the big guest star of the episode - it's Anthony Stewart Head! As a longtime BTVS fan, it was fun to see him, but he's not exactly used to his full potential here. That said, he plays the uptight Krillitane headmaster pretty well.

And that's it! See you next week!

Okay, obviously the main event is Sarah Jane showing up (with K9 in tow). Even as a non-fan, I had an awareness of Sarah Jane and her prominence in the show's history, and the show does a good job exploring the conflicted emotions of both her and the Doctor once the reunion happens. I'm sure there are loads of opinions on her pissing match with Rose, but it ends in the only way it really could - with them uniting in mockery of the Doctor. Elisabeth Sladen has a great presence.

I've never seen The Sarah Jane Adventures, so I don't know whether this was intended to set up that show in a meaningful way - from what little I know of the series, I suspect not.