30.01: Partners in Crime

[Lenny]

Donna is determined to find the Doctor again - even if it means braving the villainous Miss Foster and her hordes of sinister Adipose.

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A good episode to start the new series, with some big names.

The typical RTD humour was there, with Donna and the Doctor missing each other by seconds quite a few times, and I thought that the scene in which they're both mouthing across the office was well done.

As for Donna, I said it in the Christmas thread, and in the thread about her being the new companion - I think she'll do well. She wasn't bad in this episode... although she needs to learn how to run.

Oh, and the last person we saw... I wonder if TW Cardiff have done something to weaken the Rift in London?

EDIT: And a note about the theme music. I commented in the Voyage of the Damned thread that more drums had been added to the theme, which I didn't like. It seems that the theme has once again been added to for this series. I don't kow what it is, but it sounds a lot fuller and threatening than it did. More bass, I think, and more drums.

[The Ace]

I loved the spaceship floating past Bernard Cribbens, as he was facing the wrong way.

[the_faery_queen]

still can't take catherine tate seriously. wanted to smack her. she's not believable.
but it was entertaining enough and the fat babies were cute

[pyan]

Good start, as m'learned collegue Lenny says....with one genuine, un-telegraphed, and, as far as I was concerned, unleaked surprise.
Just a couple of crits..I thought that the first allotment scene went on a bit too long, and I was most surprised that Miss Foster didn't have more than two security guards, given the importance of what they were guarding.

So did I, Ace...and I'm sure I've seen it before, somewhere...

[Ursa major]

So this is the fourth time you've encountered this then, Py?


(Not counting Pantos, of course.)

[PTeppic]

I thought it was reasonably good: not brilliant (but there's a Stephen Moffatt double later, so I'm expecting better) but good for the season opener. As you say, whilst the reappearance later in the series may be all over the press previews, it looks like it may be drip-fed to us within the episodes. A la "Harold Saxon" and "Bad Wolf". It worked quite well having "monsters" which weren't - they were just innocent creatures wanting to get on in the world. And some fair CGI, though quirky animated features: dancing, waving etc. including some personalities starting to break through. Donna wasn't overly obnoxious for most of the episode - so she may not be too bad. As already said, she's that little bit older than Rose/Martha so can operate as an equal and not a love-struck junior, whilst still providing the face to deliver the explanations to... I liked the half-given description the Doctor realised he was giving to an empty Tardis.

So - do we think reference to the Shadow Proclamation was a nod backwards, or forwards?

PS. To the producers: an astronomer wouldn't have a great big white tube-light... the whole point he's up the hill is to avoid lights! He may have small torch, probably filtered. Though, in passing, it looks like Bernard Cribbins WAS playing his character from the Christmas show, albeit without much reference.

[chopper]

i'll give that a 7/10.

i wasn't keen on Donna Noble in the xmas special, but here she didn't grate too much & using her as the hook into the story worked well.

as for the story itself, i thought it was slight but goodfirst episode material.

i spent most of it watching out for signposts a la Bad Wold, Torchwood & Saxon, but aside from the keys/bin conversation i didn't actually spot much.

which makes me wonder if we'll see the Adipose again later...?

[Ursa major]

I'm tempted to say "fat chance", Chopper, but I won't.

[Mark Robson]

Why do I get the feeling that the 'missing bees' story is going to recur? A fun episode. I enjoyed it.

[PTeppic]

I suspect not; the listings in the various magazines seem to have pretty much spelt out who's coming out of the woodwork in which episodes. Unless they're a supplementary aspect of the final trilogy?

As for missing bees:
Episode 3 is apparently called "The Unicorn and the Wasp" though that might mean nothing

[Lenny]

That's an interesting point, Mark. Remember the second Martha episode - Shakespearean London, the Doctor and Martha get chased back to the TARDIS after a run-in with Lizzie? We never learnt what he'd done the first time to merit his chasing.

I was thinking of comments to make when I was watching the episode, and the fact that Donna is a lot older than Martha and Rose were was one I was going to make... but didn't. Both Rose and Martha were like girls. Donna is more a woman.

And something about the special effects - the Adipose looked brilliantly fatty. They were the right colour, and the light reflected off them perfectly. The second one in the big, purple woman's bathroom sink even slid around as if it were fat. I chuckled. And the scene where Miss Foster lifted one out of her drawer was good - it was believable. The graphics moved as if she really was holding it.

The Doctor Who team must have a much bigger budget than Torchwood (whilst not bad, the TW CGI aren't really believable).

[HoopyFrood]

A pretty good first episode -- I agree with Lenny that the moment they saw each other was very good, and their missing each other by seconds was funny. And the part, as PTeppic mentioned, where The Doctor started to give an explanation and then realised he was talking to himself...nice. I nearly cheered when The Doctor said to Donna that he just wanted a mate. Finally! I'm fed up of fawning glances and wistful sighs. And I like Donna. As said, she's older, I don't think she'll take any crap from the Doctor and won't be afraid to put him in his place, and I think she'll add some comedic moments when needed.

I can't say I particularly enjoyed the plot, although the first episodes usually are more about introducing the new companions, it sometimes seems. But then I'm not a fan of CGI in large amounts, so the fatty things just didn't appeal to me.

And Rose! That was unexpected indeed!

[Rane Longfox]

I did quite enjoy it, though I'm stiull unconvinced about Catherine Tate... still, she'll be the main comic character, so maybe they can explore more serious sides of the Doctor.

The Adipose were very good, although somewhat of a filler baddie I guess to just set up the meeting between the Doctor and Donna. They weren't exactly... evil. I just can't wait till we see the Ood again Are they gonna be this serie's main baddies?

[Talysia]

Not a bad episode, in fact quite enjoyable, but it will be interesting to see how Catherine Tate's character works out in future shows. Not a big fan of the Adipose, though.

[moderato]

good episode, but Donna's a little bit different from xmas, not as good as she was, i suppose.

really so surprised when i saw Rose.