The Long Game

As a Follow up it isn't the best, or superb. But the action and the story to set up the Finale works wonders. The new human race was an Entertaining introduction and it was amazing to see how it had advanced and progressed in a creative way. The story was progression for Series 4's Finale too in my mind as they used the Daleks, but also the time so they had gotten out of time, this was the episodes biggest strength. And it's a good one.

The characters feel better as side kicks as they atleast have more to do, and work with. They aren't great, but their still interesting and have a decent dynamic.

However the episode is mostly just okay, the pacing was good, but the story did just feel like set up and filler. But it was good at it, and the time elements being taken out and taking it to the future is the exact same as Series 4'S Finale.

Exploration of the manipulation of media in the modern world through 'fake news' controlled by Aliens on a gigantic space station in the year 200,000? Brilliant. Execution is filled with pointless characters. Was Adam wrote for the sake of having his life ruined? Bright moments steady the episode into a decent outing at the mid-point of the season.

Although this episode has an interesting premise and Simon Pegg steals the show, it is ruined for me by the sheer stupidity and annoying nature of Adam Mitchell. I'm glad they got rid of him. It's a good episode that's could have been better.

Cameos a plenty in the seventh episode of the Doctor Who reboot, which I felt was the most enjoyable episode of the run so far.

Arriving in the year 200,000 with Adam (Bruno Langley) still on board, The Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and Rose (Billie Piper) are on a news broadcasting space station at the heart of the fourth great Human Empire. But things are wrong. The Empire is not progressing as The Doctor knows it should have, it has been stunted. Two workers on the platform, ambitious Cathica (Christine Adams) and her friend Suki (Anna Maxwell Martin) explain how the station works, and Rose and The Doctor investigate just what is happening on the 500th floor. But Adam has a plan of his own.

So, yes. Plot wise I think this was the best episode I've seen so far. I only have the one question, in that I didn't really understand what the endgame was for the Mighty Jagrafess of the Holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe. But beyond that, everything else rang true. I like that rather than fixing the problem himself, the Doctor inspired Cathica to investigate properly and save the day. I also liked that we got rid of Adam as there wasn't much in Bruno Langley's performance to get attached to. I actually thought he died, but actually being dumped home and needing to keep quiet was much more fitting. One funny aspect is that the theme of the show, bias within news media, is probably is more relevant now that it was in 2005

What's most striking about this episode is the number of recognisable actors in it. Simon Pegg and Tamsin Grieg would have been notable cameos at the time, with "Spaced", "Black Books" and "Shaun Of The Dead" all having been made by this point. Christine Adams has worked consistently on both sides of the Atlantic for years now most recently (at time of review) in "Black Lightning". Anna Maxwell Martin is probably the biggest star though, looking particularly young here, she's gone on to star in virtually every Dickins adaptation made since.

I enjoyed this one, it's was an amusing knockabout adventure elevated by its guest stars.

Two very good episodes in a row. A difficult one to follow after last episodes performance but they managed to do so with flying colours. An unexpected villain and also the darkness of human nature. The plot in this one will keep you on the edge of your seat, very good use of suspense.

I loved it _ 8-8.5