Gridlock

"Everyone goes to the motorway in the end."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 14 April 2007

Series: 3.03

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Martha

Synopsis

The Tenth Doctor takes Martha to New Earth, where she is quickly kidnapped by two carjackers and taken to an underground motorway, where the remainder of humanity on the planet live in a perpetual gridlock...

Verdict

Gridlock was a superb episode to continue our rewatch through the third series of the modern era of Doctor Who! I'm intrigued to see if there will be an episode within Martha Jones' run as companion where Gemma doesn't make a disparaging comment about her given her love for Rose, and there hasn't been one yet! Still, ten episodes to go. I'm a big fan of this episode and have been ever since the first time I watched some fourteen years ago or so, but I think this viewing was where I had the bigger appreciation of the Macra's magnificent return. When I last watched the episode, I had only watched the Loose Canon reconstruction of The Macra Terror and whilst that was much appreciated at the time for filling in the gap left by the missing serial, the animation that came out recently was fantastic and having a full serial with moving parts and in colour really made that scene where the Macra are revealed one of pure nostalgic brilliance. It's such a fun idea to have them return after so long since their first appearance and it's a good decision to have them devolved into creatures purely feeding on gas. The base at the bottom of the gridlocked motorway was perfect for them and the use of their crab-like claws was terrific. It was really good stuff. I liked the continuation from The Shakespeare Code with Martha getting an extended trip in the TARDIS, this time for a trip into the future and an alien planet. I think there could have been better planets to visit than New Earth, but it was worth it for the rebound comment. That was very powerful. The city dwellers selling moods was an intriguing concept and I liked the sudden shift in the episode when Martha was kidnapped. That sparked quite the revelation about the motorway and finding out that people had travelled on it for decades was startling. Even more so by the fact that they had only gone a distance of a few miles! The Doctor's determination to find Martha after lying to her about his position and his people was great, and his description of Gallifrey's sky and landscape was wonderful. He really sparked emotion. The references to New Earth were great and I loved that Novice Hame and the Face of Boe returned, as prophesied. The Face of Boe's role in saving the people of the under city is a fitting testament of his character and giving his last breath to restore power to New New York and save the population was excellent. I really enjoyed the Doctor's meeting with Brannigan and the idea of him and his wife having a cat litter put Gemma off in a big way as we have our own little cat (named after Polly!). The Doctor's descent through the motor carts was terrific and some of the sights he saw were amusing! His reaction to the length of time people had spent on the motorway was brilliant and he wasn't taking it as a given. The simple question he posed of having ever seen a police car or anything official was sublime because it was so simple. His aiding the Face of Boe to save the city was excellent, and I liked how Martha wanted some proper answers from the Doctor before leaving again. Overall, an excellent episode!

Rating: 10/10