WRITER: Russell T. Davies DIRECTOR: Charles Palmer
CAST: David Tennant (The Doctor), Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones), Reggie Yates (Leo Jones), Trevor Laird (Clive Jones), Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Tish Jones), Anne Reid (Florence), Roy Marsden (Mr Stoker), Paul Kasey (Judoon) & Nicholas Briggs (Judoon Voices)
The Royal Hope Hospital is transported to the moon and medical student Martha Jones finds herself fighting blood-sucking aliens alongside a mysterious stranger who calls himself The Doctor...The third season of Doctor Who gets off to a sprightly start with Smith And Jones, written by show-runner Russell T. Davies. The first episode mostly serves as an introduction to new companion Martha Jones, played by Freema Agyeman, a medical student in a city hospital that is transported to the surface of the moon by rhino-headed aliens called The Judoon.
Davies' script certainly crams a lot into its running time, serving as a far more interesting introduction to a new companion than "Rose". Freema Agyeman acquits herself very well and is a more naturalistic actress than Billie Piper, who was likeable but bland.
Martha Jones seems to have a streetwise appeal and a more chaotic family, who are glimpsed briefly to bookend the episode. She's also more clued-up on aliens and suchlike, which impresses The Doctor and should eliminate exposition in the weeks to come.
It's a competent episode with plenty to recommend, although the initial "wow-factor" of plonking a multi-storey hospital on the moon, is soon replaced with endless running around hospital corridors. The Judoon are effective villains, although only one reveals its rhino head (undoubtedly to save cash), meaning the rest are left to stomp about the place in oversized helmets. It's a little disappointing, particularly as alien Plasmavore (guest star Anne Reid) has similarly helmeted henchmen.
David Tennant is a joy, as always. You feel relaxed and under his spell whenever he's around and the sense of joy he exudes is infectious. The guest stars are mostly pushed into the background, but Martha's family make memorable (if brief) appearances and Anne Reid is fabulous as a sneery alien "vampire" trying to evade the Judoon hordes.
Occasionally, Murray Gold's music is overblown and badly edited (see the Judoon's marching entry), but it's otherwise used very well. There are already a number of background motifs for fans to watch (akin to BAD WOLF and Torchwood) with the mysterious Mr Saxon. A character mentions Saxon's opinion that there "we're not alone in the universe" and some political campaign posters with "VOTE SAXON" can be seen in a few scenes (as they were on spin-off show Torchwood last year; how's that for foreshadowing, folks?)
Overall, Smith And Jones is easily the best premiere the new series has had since its 2005 re-launch. The reasoning behind the Judoon's actions is maddeningly swept under the carpet, but the main concern here is to introduce Martha Jones and create a plausible relationship between her and The Doctor. It succeeds magnificently in this regard.
A great start to what will hopefully be an improved series.
