Writer: Russell T. Davies
Director: Graeme HarperCast: David Tennant (The Doctor), Catherine Tate (Donna), Billie Piper (Rose), Freema Agyeman (Martha), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah-Jane Smith), John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness), Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), Gareth David-Lloyd (Ianto Jones), Thomas Knight (Luke Smith), Bernard Cribbins (Gramps), Jacqueline King (Sylvia Noble), Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones), Julian Bleach (Davros), Michael Brandon (General Sanchez), Penelope Wilton (Harriet Jones), Andrea Harris (Suzanne), Lachele Carl (Trinity Wells), Richard Dawkins (Himself), Paul O'Grady (Himself), Marcus Cunningham (Drunk Man), Jason Mohammad (Newsreader), Paul Kasey (Judoon), Kelly Hunter (Shadow Architect), Amy Beth Hayes (Albino Servant), Gary Milner (Scared Man), Nicholas Briggs (Dalek, voices) & Alexander Armstrong (Mr. Smith, voice)
When the Earth is transported to a mysterious celestial location, The Doctor and Donna travel to the Shadow Proclamation for help, as earthbound former-companions try to defeat the Doctor's greatest nemesis...In typical Russell T. Davies fashion, "The Stolen Earth" is about as subtle as a kick to the face; riddled with illogical moments, grating comedy and a handful of performances that beggar belief. It's also a stupendous amount of fun, once it manoeuvres around the silly reactions of people as another alien disaster rocks their world. If there's one thing Who's had problems with since it returned, it's how it fails to make these earth-shattering events plausible during, and after, they happen. Next season we'll meet a contemporary human who doesn't believe in aliens, trust me!
"The Stolen Earth" finds The Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna (Catherine Tate) returning to Earth fresh from their BAD WOLF scare from Rose (Billie Piper), bemused to find no danger whatsoever. However, seconds later, the entire planet is whisked to a secret celestial location, leaving the TARDIS hanging in empty space with them still aboard...
As the perplexed Doctor travels to the oft-mentioned Shadow Proclamation for help (revealed to be a rather disappointing asteroid-base, populated by an elderly lady and some Judoon), the episode spends most of its time showing us the fallout from four terrestrial perspectives: New York-based UNIT employee Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman); the Cardiff-based Captain Jack (John Barrowman), Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd) and Gwen (Eve Myles) of Torchwood; Ealing-based Sarah-Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) and her son Luke (Thomas Knight); and the inter-dimensional Rose, who rather conveniently stumbles upon Donna's mother Sylvia (Jacqueline King) and her Gramps (Bernard Cribbins).
Of course, it's no secret that the culprits who've plucked the Earth from orbit, and deposited it amongst 25 other planets, are the notorious Daleks. Arriving in waves of B-movie flying saucers, the Daleks ravage the planet in a few impressive CGI sequences, before proclaiming a total victory – their dynasty restored thanks to rogue Dalek Caan (last seen teleporting to safety in season 3's "Evolution Of The Daleks" cliffhanger). It transpires that Caan meddled with the timeline and, at the price of going totally insane, resurrected the creator of the Dalek race, Davros (Julian Bleach).
It takes awhile for "The Stolen Earth" to settle into itself -- afflicted by RTD's predilection for unsubtle excess, cheesy dialogue, clunking comedy, and ridiculous cameos. Shoehorning chat-show host Paul O'Grady into proceedings was eye-rolling stuff that took you out of the reality presented – as if the TV schedules would trundle on as usual when the night sky fills up with alien worlds!
The crossover appeal was generally good fun, but only effective regarding the Torchwood team's involvement – who you can believe they exist alongside Doctor Who, because crossovers for Captain Jack and Martha Jones have laid some foundations. Less successful is Sarah-Jane's presence; her kid-friendly spin-off sitting awkwardly in the context of its parent series.
Martha Jones, having been re-branded as a UNIT super-soldier this season, is better utilized -- but it's amazing how much affection for Martha has dissipated since she left Who as a regular. Her scenes alongside UNIT superior General Sanchez (Michael Brandon) are written very broadly ("gentlemen, we are at war!"), and require suspension of disbelief when she acquires top-secret access to "Project Indigo" and is given a secret "key" that will likely come in handy for next week's conclusion. Meanwhile, Rose marches around London with a Men In Black-style gun, intentionally kept out of the loop until the last 10-minutes, an explanation for her inter-dimensional travel still unforthcoming.
The long-awaited return of Davros is curiously matter-of-fact, after some shadowy teasing. His arrival isn't a disappointment, it's just exactly what you'd expect -- and nothing more. It's a testament to Classic Who that Davros' design and prosthetics haven't been updated much (like Terry Nation's pepperpots), and actor Julian Bleach (also the villain in Torchwood's "From Out Of The Rain") does a marvellous job of complimenting the three previous Davros actors; Michael Wisher, David Gooderson and Terry Molloy. His synthesized voice is quietly malicious, spine-tingling stuff to give kids the creeps.
With so many superficial treats for the fans in this whirlwind of an episode, the spectacle of Davros' return doesn't stand apart as anything truly special. Still, season 4's foreshadowing of missing planets and bees got a decent pay-off, and the sense of expectation for the "God"-like Doctor to find the missing Earth and swoop in to save the day (after receiving mobile phone "prayers" en masse) worked very well, and built some genuine excitement into the last 15 minutes.
And then, there was the unexpected emotional gut-punch of the cliffhanger. I'm not going to spoil things here, but suffice to say the Doctor and Rose's eventual "reunion" was perfectly handled, with a shocking sting in its tail that will leave fans gobsmacked and speculating madly 'till next week. The cliffhanger is one of Who's finest, and my jaw was on the floor as the credits rolled.
Have the producers managed the impossible, and kept you-know-what a secret all these months? Or will there will be a cop-out solution to the frankly stunning last shot -– probably involving Donna (are we still in a parallel universe?), or the Doctor's hand in a jar? "Journey's End" can't come soon enough for the answers to be revealed.
Overall, if you're being critical and evaluating everything separately with a level-head, this is a solid but unremarkable episode. It's enthusiastic, everything-and-the-kitchen-sink plot will have fans and especially children salivating, while the final 10 minutes are admittedly perfect big-scale, big-stakes storytelling.
It's too cluttered and crazy to be truly affecting, but I certainly enjoyed the ride after the initial bumps and can't wait for next week's conclusion. For sheer indulgent joy, "The Stolen Earth" is heartily recommended – but I wish RTD would craft stories that are logical, consistent and not riddled with plot-holes. Still, he clearly adores unashamedly huge, broad, kid-friendly, emotional, dumb, silly, extravagant, excessive stories – and on that level, this is a pinnacle.
28 June 2008
BBC1, 7.10 pm
