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Doctor Who: Turn Left (2008)
Companions take center stage ***** contains spoilers *********
Despite being largely Doctor-less, "Turn Left" is one of my all-time favourite episodes. This comes down, for one, to the excellent script, the "what-if" scenario combined with an emotional build-up to the season's finale.
The other greatest factor(as is is indeed in most of the "New Doctor" episodes) is the quality of the acting. Now, David Tennant acting has been easily one of the greatest things about season 2-4, but it is nice, for a change, to see his two companions take center stage in this episode, and they both do an excellent job acting off each other.
Catherine Tate hardly needs further praise, but I wonder how come so few people seem to have spotted the brilliant acting choices Billie Piper makes. She does, in fact, do a perfect impersonation of David Tennant being the Doctor - copying his delivery, and some of his mannerisms. Some of this is built into the script - like when she asks the UNIT Major not to salute her, or when she goes off into scientific babble, then mentions that "This is something the Doctor would say". She even winds up stroking the TARDIS!
This is perfectly appropriate to the plot. Rose is the one who steps up to being the Doctor, when there is no Doctor around. She obviously has some experience doing this from her parallel universe, where she clearly is someone who's in charge. Indeed, a far more grown up Rose than we have seen previously - and a far sadder one. In fact we have seen her take this journey all through season 2 - by the end of which (In "The Satan Pit") the Doctor completely trusts her to take care of herself, and whatever situation might arise.
I tend to think of both Rose's and Martha's journeys with the Doctor as something of an apprenticeship in saving worlds, and Rose truly has graduated with honours. Personally, I find the idea that Rose expresses her continuing love for the Doctor by emulating him and, in a way, becoming him, emotionally far more satisfying than the eventual denouement in "Journey's End", which left me with a stale taste in the mouth - sending her off like that somehow cheapens her character, which up to then, has been shown time and again, as a true equal to the Doctor, in a way that none of the other companions quite achieve.
It's a shame Billie Piper does not seem get the same recognition as Tennant and Tate for being the talented and smart actress she is - I suppose too many people are being blinded by certain misogynic preconceptions they have about young blonde women with talent.
Like many episodes in the new Doctor Who, this episode derives much of its impact from things that have been going on in other parts of the series, so someone watching it as a stand-alone, would probably miss a lot of the logic, and the underlying emotions.