my 10 favorite Tenth Doctor episodes: Smith and Jones

[dbskyler]

As my countdown to Eleven continues, number five in my favorites list for the Tenth Doctor (going by broadcast order) is Smith and Jones!



This is, by far, my favorite of the introduce-the-companion episodes for New Who. Martha was a character I cared about right from the get-go, and I loved watching her and the Doctor running around in the hospital-on-the-moon. Things that especially stood out:

-- The Doctor "auditioning" Martha for the role of companion.
-- Pretty much every interaction the Doctor and Martha have together, all the way through: when she says he has to earn the title "Doctor" and he says "better make a start then"; when he says "very bad news for me" and raises his eyebrow at her, and she realizes he's saying he's not human; the scene in the x-ray room; their conversation about humans, followed by her getting Judoon confirmation that he really isn't human; when she sees him lying dead on the floor . . . oh, it's all just wonderful.
-- The Doctor pretending to be a postal worker who's come in for his bunions in order to get the plasmavore to do exactly what he wants . . .
-- . . . and then exactly what he wants is for her to kill him! Ack! I think I've mentioned elsewhere that I'm a bit partial to hurt/comfort, and I've been known to sit and replay this scene for that moment when the Doctor keels over. And okay, it is stretching the bounds of credulity that he's dead for that long and then brought back with a little CPR, most of which was only going to be halfway effective; and it stretches the bounds of credulity even more that Martha spends so much of that Doctor-lying-dead-on-the-floor time not trying to revive him (Judoon or no); but I like everything else that happens so I will happily stretch those bounds.
-- The bit in the alleyway where the Doctor gets Martha to follow him, followed by what I think is the best companion-gets-introduced-to-the-TARDIS scene in the history of the show. I honestly cannot think of an introduction that I like better than that scene. The whole "I'm a Time Lord," and then proving to her that it travels in time, and then "your spaceship's made of wood" and the Doctor's "take a look" and then Martha's reaction -- all wonderful, marvelous stuff. Okay, maybe a better introduction scene will occur to me once I post this, but right now I truly, honestly can't think of one.

Next up: it's Moffat time! Well, Moffat timey-wimey, shall we say?

Comments

[avarill.livejournal.com]

I agree with you - there's something about Smith & Jones that makes it a good solid romp; one of the best solid romps in Doctor Who. And I loved Martha from the get-go; always related to her better than I related to Rose. Excellent choice!

Another of my favorites -- and I feel a bit guilty about it being my fave -- is 42. I never hear anyone praise 42 but I just loved it.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Oh I love 42 - the storyline's a bit lame in places (for a start, if the spaceship's 42 minutes away from falling into the sun, EVERYONE WOULD BE DEAD ALREADY!) - but the Doctor/Martha interaction is just awesome - his "I'll save you", and then the quiet "I'm scared", and Martha's calm and resolution, despite not really having a clue what's she doing when she tries to freeze him, and the ecstatic, mildly hysterical laughter as they hug, once the fuel's been averted. And then the moment when he gives her the key to the TARDIS.

[avarill.livejournal.com]

Re: 42 - I always assumed it meant they were 42 minutes away from the point of no return -- not exactly falling into the sun, but so close they couldn't get out again. Don't you love retcon?

Another thing I love about Martha is her innate ability to pull the Doctor's fat out of the fryer again and again and again. And 42 is good solid h/c. Yay!

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Well, the script doesn't make that clear - I always got the impression it was 42 minutes from total destruction, otherwise the countdown should be longer...

Another thing I love about Martha is her innate ability to pull the Doctor's fat out of the fryer again and again and again. And 42 is good solid h/c. Yay!

Yes!

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

there's something about Smith & Jones that makes it a good solid romp

Yes, absolutely!

As for "42," I found it very boring when I first saw it. I like it better now, but it's still not one of my favorites. You shouldn't feel guilty about it being a favorite of yours, though! That's the "personal" part of personal taste. : )

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I observed yesterday, that Ten spends the whole of Smith and Jones simultaneously auditioning Martha and seducing her into going with him - all those flirty grins and winks and raised eyebrows, the holding her hand while running, the kiss, carrying her to the window, and then the expression on his face when she sees him from across the square after Leo's party breaks up.

[avarill.livejournal.com]

Oh he was SO performing some Time Lord mating ritual LOL. Never before or since have we seen such 'come hither' looks from Ten.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Yes! Yes he was !!

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Yep, I saw some "hithering" too . . . ; )

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

*snickers* Definitely!

[pitry.livejournal.com]

Judoon Platoon Upon The Moon!

I love this episode. For all the reasons you mentioned. And that quote. And and and the Doctor mouthing "it's bigger on the inside" bit. That was brilliant :)

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I *love* the "it's bigger on the inside" mouthing! IIRC, that was David Tennant's idea, too. : )

[pitry.livejournal.com]

:)

Why can't all lead actors in all shows I like be fanboys? :D

[thisbluespirit]

I agree - I love this episode, too! It was such fun, and I could immediately identify with Martha. :-)

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Yes, and I did not immediately identify with either Rose or Donna. Of course, Rose suffered from my personal "OMG Doctor Who is back" feelings, because I really wanted to watch the Doctor, and so I got annoyed by all the time that episode spent with Rose and her family instead.

As for Donna, well, she was a little scary in her first scene!

Both of them did later grow on me, though. : )