Doctor Who #4-4 - "The Sontaran Stratagem"

[Randy G.]

(Original air-date Apr. 26, 2008)

Episode synopsis: Having covertly established a base at the mysterious ATMOS Factory aided by the Rattigan Academy, the Sontarans unleash a potent terror which brings the world to its knees.

The Doctor is summoned back to present-day Earth, but with the mysterious ATMOS devices spreading across the world, Donna discovers that even her own family is not safe from the alien threat. (Part 1 of a 2 part story)

This looks to be a very good episode! We get to see Martha Jones again. Looking lovelier than ever I might add. :p It's the first time we've seen the Sontarans since the 1985 Colin Baker story "The Two Doctors."

If you don't mind spoilers, you can can catch the trailer HERE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E22jzavKf6k&feature=related). ;)

[TMLS]

Speculation:

Do you think the Sontarans could have been involved in the Great Time War? After all, last time we saw them they were trying to get time-travel capabilities. Would make sense to me that they could have been involved on one side or the other.

[TheANIMAL (marcus)]

Martha is involved with UNIT, the world organisation ranked above Torchwood, so it may be a big battle orientated episode.

[TMLS]

That was FB. :D

[Lexgirl33]

can't wait to watch!

[TMLS]

You'll enjoy it. Some nice nods to Old Who, coupled with a performance from Tate that wasn't cringeworthy and best of all... UNIT!

Best episode of the series so far, so had to give it a 5. :)

[dunlopc]

Just finished watching it had a very Tom baker 70's style feel to it. But the story was an absolute load of rubbish and the most annoying part was the child genius with his smug face really wanted to slap him everytime I saw him. Hope the 2nd part next week is better.

[TMLS]

Reasonably mixed poll on SFX so far but doing well enough:

<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>5 - Excellent</td> <td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/vote_lcap.gif</td> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/voting_bar.gif</td> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/vote_rcap.gif</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="center"> 44% </td> <td align="center">[ 8 ]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>4 - Good</td> <td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/vote_lcap.gif</td> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/voting_bar.gif</td> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/vote_rcap.gif</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="center"> 27% </td> <td align="center">[ 5 ]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3 - Average</td> <td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/vote_lcap.gif</td> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/voting_bar.gif</td> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/vote_rcap.gif</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="center"> 22% </td> <td align="center">[ 4 ]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2 - Poor</td> <td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/vote_lcap.gif</td> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/voting_bar.gif</td> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/vote_rcap.gif</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="center"> 0% </td> <td align="center">[ 0 ]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1 - Awful</td> <td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/vote_lcap.gif</td> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/voting_bar.gif</td> <td>http://forum.sfx.co.uk/templates/futurenet/images/vote_rcap.gif</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td align="center"> 5% </td> <td align="center">[ 1 ]</td></tr></tbody></table>

[Lexgirl33]

Just finished watching it had a very Tom baker 70's style feel to it. But the story was an absolute load of rubbish and the most annoying part was the child genius with his smug face really wanted to slap him everytime I saw him. Hope the 2nd part next week is better.

I hated that teenager. Looked like a grown man that hasnt hit puberty yet :lol:

I really liked the episode :D I havet seen the classic who but it does have a differet feel for sure. I gave this episode 4/5 stars. Good you see you know who back though! Dang cliffhagers!!

[newbaggy]

I think that we're meant to hate the teenage genius! BTW, his living room/office at the Rattigan Academy reminded me of Lex Luthor's study/library in "Smallville".

Love the fact that UNIT are still using the old callsigns ("Greyhound" for field units, "Trap 1" for Command HQ")

Nice to see that - given that the story features Robert Holmes' best-known monsters - the evil plan is in the spirit of Holmes' blackly-comic style (if he were still alive, I could quite imagine him writing a story featuring "killer sat-navs").

Above all, how brilliant is Bernard Cribbins? He may only have a small supporting role, but every second he is on screen is magic.

[Randy G.]

I loved it! 5 stars from me. :D
The hour actually seemed to fly by this week. I didn't want it to end. Part 2 coming up, looks really good. I loved Donna's homecoming with her grandfather. Is it just me, or does her Mum seem like a real Beyotch?

I loved how Martha took charge of the UNIT mission. It'll be so good to see her full time again this coming season on Torchwood. She seemed to fit in really well. Also, clone Martha is pretty cool, being all deceitful. The soldier's line about the Sontaran looking like a baked potato, killed me. Ha ha ha! I also hated that little genius twerp. But loved the way he was played. It made you just want to smack him. :lol:
I thought it was great when the Doctor corrected his grammar and said, "It's been a really long time since someone has told you "No" hasn't it?"

Good to see the Sontarans, & a big thumbs up for this storyline!

[timelord45719]

Now that was Doctor Who. 5 Stars! Can't wait until part two

[TheANIMAL (marcus)]

Best one in a while imo.

[smallville0001]

Another brilliant episode! 5/5
Can't wait to see next weeks episode, looks good, plus i need to know what happens because of the cliffhanger!

[ginnyfan]

I enjoyed it. I was glad to see Martha again and the cloning thing was really suspenseful. This is weird to say but... nice to see a race of aliens trying to destroy the world. Nothing beats tennis ball to the head. LOL! I love the suspense and when the episode ended I thought: NO!!!!