SEASON 2. 29 Apr 06. BBC 1, 7:20 p.m.
WRITER: Toby Whitmore DIRECTOR: James Hawes
CAST: David Tennant (The Doctor), Billie Piper (Rose Tyler), Noel Clarke (Mickey Smith), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Anthony Stewart Head (Mr Finch) & John Leeson (K-9's Voice)
Shape-shifting aliens called Krillitanes have infiltrated a High School, and it's up to The Doctor and Rose to save the day, with the help of two familiar friends…The third episode of the new season begins in a strange fashion, with Anthony Stewart Head (stuffy Giles from Buffy The Vampire Slayer) stalking the corridors of a school before apparently devouring a child. This scene immediately sets the tone for School Reunion – it's Goosebumps does The Faculty, everyone!
The Doctor and Rose are undercover at an inner-city High School, where a group of replacement teachers under the leadership of Head's Mr Finch, are actually bat-like shape-shifters called Krillitanes. Writer Toby Whitmore's debut on the series is very uninspiring, with a frivolous plot that was probably developed with an eye on the show's young demographic. While I'm sure the episode provoked plenty of Monday morning chatter for school children everywhere, it was a missed opportunity to not have the kids take center stage in the episode itself.
This is very much another adventure for The Doctor and Rose, with Mickey making another unwanted return -- although this is by far his most palatable appearance. So, while Whitmore's alien teachers plot is very derivative, the real emphasis in for the episode is the titular reunion of The Doctor and his ex-companion Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen). One of the joys of Doctor Who's return has been its ability to answer some of the questions that have plagued the series, or tap into ideas that the show has bizarrely never touched. Here, we finally discover what happens to The Doctors' companions once they part company with the Time Lord, and why The Doctor chooses to circulate his fellow travelers anyway.
Elisabeth Sladen reprises her role as if she's never been away. She may be 30 years older, but she's lost none of the spark and vitality her character had with Jon Pertwee or Tom Baker in the TARDIS. Her character's initially frosty 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's Doctor in the 70's, who gets a few enjoyable scenes and is instrumental in the climactic sequence with rampaging Krillitanes and Anthony Stewart Head gurning maniacally.
School Reunion is undoubtedly a mediocre episode elevated by some great character moments (Mickey's realization he's the current "tin dog" is excellent), but this has very little meat to its bones. Anthony Stewart Head actually disappoints as Mr Finch, for while he's perfected villainous elocution and body language, he can't improve on what is basically a terribly clichéd role that eventually spirals into grimaces to camera.
David Tennant had yet to prove his worth as the new Doctor, still stuck in a rut since New Earth and unable to move beyond genial and overly excitable geek. There are moments here that again scratch at a darker surface, but Tennant too often deflates the drama with misplaced cockney glee. But, it took Christopher Ecclestone awhile to settle into the role, so Tennant has time 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 Head are laughably bad and a real low-point for the new series. The Krillitane creatures themselves tend to look fake close-up, but are quite effectively rendered and animated during the climactic school chase sequence.
Overall, School Reunion is undemanding fun for pre-teens, but holds special significance to those who remember the days of Sarah Jane Smith and K-9. But the premise is clichéd tosh and ultimately offers nothing particularly memorable outside of its special guest stars. The fact an episode featuring children (the target audience for the show) forgets to include kids in the adventure is also a travesty. There is a final throwaway moment when a boy is exalted for "blowing up the school" by his friends, but why wasn't his character more integral to the plot?
Thankfully, the episode's saving grace is the excellent character interaction and intriguing old-meets-new conceit between Rose and Sarah Jane. Whether this is enough to rescue a generally weak episode is up to you…
NEW WEEK: The Doctor and Rose investigate spooky masked aliens in Georgian England…