The Shakespeare Code

"Made me question everything, the futility of this fleeting existence, to be or not to be."

Writer: Gareth Roberts

Format: TV

Broadcast: 7th April 2007

Series: 3.02

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Martha

Synopsis 

As a reward for her help in tackling the Judoon, Martha Jones gets a trip in the TARDIS and the Doctor takes her to 1599 England. After viewing a performance of Shakespeare's latest play, the time travellers are beset by apparent sorcery. Under threat of annihilation from a species from the Dark Times, the TARDIS team have to establish whether there is a connection between a witch they've met and Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Won - a play that was legendarily lost to time. 

Verdict 

The Shakespeare Code is a brilliant episode and has continued the magnificent start to the third series of the revived Doctor Who. With the big casting change that occurred in Doomsday with the departure of popular companion Rose, this series needed to begin strong for Martha's introduction, and with this episode following the fantastic Smith and Jones, I haven't been disappointed as of yet. The 1599 setting was superb with the Globe Theatre having just opened and after a glimpse of the genius playwright in The Chase, Shakespeare finally had a full television story appearance. I thought he was portrayed terrifically and you could just tell he oozed literary intelligence. His affection of Martha backed up by his racist comments were a highlight. Martha's first trip into the past in the TARDIS and she gets hit on by William Shakespeare! Not a shabby start. However, I felt so sorry for the new companion in this episode! The Doctor was still obviously mourning the departure of Rose in a strong way and the scene where the Doctor and Martha were lying on the bed and the Doctor just said Rose would know what to do and called Martha a novice, I felt so sorry for her! The attire of Martha was somewhat questionable I thought, she needs something more recognisable than jeans, a vest top and a leather jacket! The way the Doctor derived the Carrionite's 'witchcraft' into simple science was marvellous. So utterly Doctor. I loved how he dismissed the existence of magic! The fact that he compared the human race to using mathematics to split the atom as our methods of advancement to the way the Carrionites used words was wonderful. What a uniquely superb concept! Words certainly do have power. I liked the idea that the Carrionites influenced the architecture of the Globe Theatre to suit their energy converter, which the Doctor worked out after a delay. The fact that this story depicted the Whoniverse's take on the disappearance of Love's Labour's Won, the historically missing play of Shakespeare was fantastic! I liked how all the scripts of the play were trapped with the Carrionites in the crystal ball which the Doctor would keep handy. Lilith was a beautiful witch (when in her human form) and it's clear why anyone would be seduced by her! Mother Doomfinger and Bloodtide were very intriguing witches and with the power the Carrionites had, despite being trapped by the Eternals, a species I'd like the Doctor to meet, I do wonder whether they had an influence on the word and myth of witches. The plot itself was superb and the way it was resolved by the words of Shakespeare (and a little from J.K. Rowling!) was extremely fitting. I also liked how Shakespeare worked out that Freedonia was basically the future. Shakespeare had worked out the Doctor. The constant throw ins of quotes from Shakespeare's plays was brilliant and added great comedic value to a tremendous episode! The Doctor failed his TARDIS flying lesson, no surprise there! The climax with Elizabeth I was excellent and I liked how all isn't revealed until the Matt Smith era with The Day of the Doctor. Very good! 

Rating: 9/10