Ahh here we are again, only this time some things have changed one of the things being the arrangement of the theme tune. Murray Gold I love the work you've done in the past but this is a bit too much change it back.
Luckily that's my only complaint.
Much like last year opener "Smith & Jones" this one hits the ground running as we see Donna Noble (from "The Runaway Bride" played by British Comedy Star Catherine Tate who clearly ain't bovvered) doing some freelance investigating of a new weight loss drug from Adipose Industries, presided over by Miss Foster (Played with cool, steely authority by Sarah Lancashire) who promises that after taking the pill "The fat just walks away." Unbeknownst to Donna, The Doctor (David Tennant still in top form, and in the same suit) is conducting an investigation of his own and after a series of hilarious near misses (the best of which revolving around a printer) The Doctor and Donna are reunited from across the room with a scene that is a triumph of pantomime between Tennant and Tate.
Frankly the only thing I was interested in seeing was Donna and where she's been and what she's done since we last her, but most importantly what will it be like when she finally says yes to The Doctor. and with that in mind "Partners in Crime" was mission accomplished.
Truth be told I would have disappointed if the B Story (Miss Foster and the Adipose) overshadowed the reunion between The Doctor and Donna. If then were now and all the stories were in feature length serial format then I'd have no gripes about the B-story occasionally taking center stage.
But seeing as all we get is 45 minutes I'd rather focus on what's important in the story and that is The Doctor and Donna. So I'm glad RTD downplayed the menace and ironically the creatures weren't even the menace. I liked that Miss Foster was an amoral midwife who is willing to kill millions of people to be Super Nanny and that the Adipose parents actually disapproved of her methods when it contravened the shadow proclamation.
however that wasn't the important focus. what was important was that we see that Donna actually has grown up considerably in The Doctor's absence and that she has actually become braver and more confident and ready to take on the perilous life of a companion. I was impressed how she was able to infiltrate Adipose industries with a bit more grace than The Doctor and she practically used the exact same methods he did.
Another refreshing aspect is the last scene. The script takes the time to assure the audience that we are not going to have another infatuated companion but instead just a best friend.
"I just want a mate." "You just want TO Mate!?" "I just want A mate." "You're not mating with me, sunshine!" "A MATE I want A MATE!" "Well, that's good. Cause I'm not havin' any of that!" If there's anything the script did so well was to make you feel Donna's wanting and her regrets and it's also refreshing that she has a family member (Bernard Cribbins, scene stealer from "Voyage of the Damned") who encourages her to pursue that life as opposed to the overcautious family members from before.
In any case, for me, the only way an episode could be truly bad is if it lacks repeat value. And for New Who luckily the only ep that has that problem is Daleks in Manhattan and Evolution of the Daleks, and some of the eps from Series 1 of Torchwood (Cyberwoman and Combat specifically) But I re-watched Partners In Crime shortly afterwards and wanted to watch it a few more times. The episode gave me exactly what I wanted from a Season opener and left me ravenous for what promises to be a one of a kind series largely due to the new dynamic between Doctor and Companion.
Luckily that's my only complaint.
Much like last year opener "Smith & Jones" this one hits the ground running as we see Donna Noble (from "The Runaway Bride" played by British Comedy Star Catherine Tate who clearly ain't bovvered) doing some freelance investigating of a new weight loss drug from Adipose Industries, presided over by Miss Foster (Played with cool, steely authority by Sarah Lancashire) who promises that after taking the pill "The fat just walks away." Unbeknownst to Donna, The Doctor (David Tennant still in top form, and in the same suit) is conducting an investigation of his own and after a series of hilarious near misses (the best of which revolving around a printer) The Doctor and Donna are reunited from across the room with a scene that is a triumph of pantomime between Tennant and Tate.
Frankly the only thing I was interested in seeing was Donna and where she's been and what she's done since we last her, but most importantly what will it be like when she finally says yes to The Doctor. and with that in mind "Partners in Crime" was mission accomplished.
Truth be told I would have disappointed if the B Story (Miss Foster and the Adipose) overshadowed the reunion between The Doctor and Donna. If then were now and all the stories were in feature length serial format then I'd have no gripes about the B-story occasionally taking center stage.
But seeing as all we get is 45 minutes I'd rather focus on what's important in the story and that is The Doctor and Donna. So I'm glad RTD downplayed the menace and ironically the creatures weren't even the menace. I liked that Miss Foster was an amoral midwife who is willing to kill millions of people to be Super Nanny and that the Adipose parents actually disapproved of her methods when it contravened the shadow proclamation.
however that wasn't the important focus. what was important was that we see that Donna actually has grown up considerably in The Doctor's absence and that she has actually become braver and more confident and ready to take on the perilous life of a companion. I was impressed how she was able to infiltrate Adipose industries with a bit more grace than The Doctor and she practically used the exact same methods he did.
Another refreshing aspect is the last scene. The script takes the time to assure the audience that we are not going to have another infatuated companion but instead just a best friend.
"I just want a mate." "You just want TO Mate!?" "I just want A mate." "You're not mating with me, sunshine!" "A MATE I want A MATE!" "Well, that's good. Cause I'm not havin' any of that!" If there's anything the script did so well was to make you feel Donna's wanting and her regrets and it's also refreshing that she has a family member (Bernard Cribbins, scene stealer from "Voyage of the Damned") who encourages her to pursue that life as opposed to the overcautious family members from before.
In any case, for me, the only way an episode could be truly bad is if it lacks repeat value. And for New Who luckily the only ep that has that problem is Daleks in Manhattan and Evolution of the Daleks, and some of the eps from Series 1 of Torchwood (Cyberwoman and Combat specifically) But I re-watched Partners In Crime shortly afterwards and wanted to watch it a few more times. The episode gave me exactly what I wanted from a Season opener and left me ravenous for what promises to be a one of a kind series largely due to the new dynamic between Doctor and Companion.