The Doctor's Daughter

"He saves planets, rescues civilisations, defeats terrible creatures. And runs a lot."

Writer: Stephen Greenhorn

Format: TV

Broadcast: 10th May 2008

Series: 4.06

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Donna, Martha

Synopsis 

On the planet Messaline, in the middle of an endless war, the Doctor meets someone very special who could become the most important woman in his life. 

Verdict 

The Doctor's Daughter was an excellent episode of Doctor Who in this fantastic fourth series since the revival. Just look at the title! We've seen the Doctor's granddaughter plenty of times in his early days travelling but for Susan to exist that obviously must mean that the Doctor has a child. Jenny was far from turning out to be anywhere close to being Susan's mother but she was absolutely the Doctor's daughter. The following on immediately from The Poison Sky with Martha getting stuck on board the TARDIS was great and although she gave her travelling up she still admitted she absolutely loved the bit where they exited the TARDIS and into the unknown. They could be anywhere in time and space. I do love a story where a companion that shouldn't really be there is on the adventure. It doesn't happen on television often, if at all, but in audios and novels it is more common. It's lovely that we get to see Donna and Martha be companions together. They're obviously acquainted plenty after battling the Sontarans but it's just nice to have the last companion join with the current. I thought David Tennant was once again outstanding as the Tenth Doctor. He rarely gives an average performance. Catherine Tate was also once again tremendous as Donna and I just loved the GI Jane and Rambo comments. Martha's venturing with Hath Peck was good but the way it ended was extremely sad. That's where Martha knew she just couldn't stay travelling. But that left a door open which Jenny would fill. After her being created by asexual reproduction from the Doctor, so he was technically her father and mother, at first she was everything the Doctor would most definitely not raise. A soldier. All she knew was war. Her goal was to defeat the Hath and all she knew was war and death. Gradually though the Doctor came to accept and then embrace her as his daughter. She had two hearts and she was quite the acrobat! The way she seduced the guard into letting them out of the cell was brilliant. Who could blame him? Georgia Moffet is absolutely beautiful. Speaking of beauty, Freema Agyeman looked stunning in this episode as well. Donna's comments about wanting to see the Doctor try seduction to escape a cell was astounding. The revelation that the war had only been going on for seven days was a shock upon first broadcast but now watching again, for the I'm not sure how many time, a smile was on my face as Donna was deducing the code. General Cobb killing Jenny at the climax was a shock, though he was aiming for the Doctor. After the Source was found simultaneously by both human and Hath, the Doctor emphatically declared the war over. The planet would be terraformed and the species could coexist. For Cobb that wasn't good enough. He didn't want the war over. He wanted it won. It's quite sad really. The Doctor pointing the gun at Cobb was a shock moment but of course he never would. What a fantastic motto to build a new society from. Martha saying goodbye was again was sad because she's definitely my favourite Tenth Doctor companion. However, it won't be long before she's back again. The end scene with Jenny technically regenerating, not quite like the Doctor, was lovely. The Doctor's daughter lives! I'm just baffled why, 7 years later and a reference in Death in Heaven, why hasn't the Doctor found her? There was a nice reference to The Christmas Invasion but my only qualm was the fact what the Hath were saying wasn't translated. But overall, an excellent episode. 

Rating: 9/10