World War Three

I didn't find World War 3 as satisfying as Aliens of London, possibly the first slightly below par episode of the series so far. We learn the Slitheen are a family, not a species, we learn they plan to sell the Earth. There are merits, Penelope Wilton continues to be a delight as Harriet Jones and the Doctor has heard of her (nice link to the future,) we get a cameo from Andrew Marr, lots of Welsh guards, Mickey and Jackie make a great double act. There are a few flaws, The Slitheen look very CGI in parts, they feel a little CBBC at times especially after the very grown up Unquiet Dead. The Pickled eggs moment is not a good one, it seems a little immature. Annette Badland is a great actress, I found her a little flat in this one, I don't think she was brilliantly written for. It seems now quite disappointing that 2 precious episodes were dedicated to this story rather then just 1. Some good bits but too many negatives, overall a 6.

As I wrote for the previous episode in that review, a lot of that also stands for this one. I think honestly Rose's mum had great involvement in this episode, and had a lot more depth in character than previously which I like. I think I previously found it quite strange how certain things would happen, like the plastic people, and then everything went back to normal and none of it was ever really mentioned again. But in this episode everything became more open, less swept under the rug and I enjoy that a lot. It makes it feel more realistic to what would actually happen, it gives not just the contents of the show actual meaning, but it gives the characters depth, the show some life and relatability to our own personal human nature and immersion because of all those things. I think the doctor a lot of times goes between the very human essence and then his alien essence more reveled, he can sometimes go a bit cold, but I guess the ways he goes cold is also things a human is also capable of, so. Even at the end of the episode, sort of not giving Rose much of a choice, I guess she can choose to do what she wants, as he can too, but I think he lacks empathy in a lot of senses also, he has a general empathy for the whole human, or species race, but when it comes down to specific beings, he struggles with empathy a little, if not a lot.

Again, this has its moments, but if you found the first part a bit silly and confused about its tone, you won't find your opinion changed here.

This episode concludes its predecessor brilliantly. It is rated almost exactly the same as the first and together these two make a satisfactory double episode.

The family Slitheen, sadly not a soul band from the 1970s but psychotic naturists from Raxacoricofallapatorius, seek nuclear launch codes as they masquerade as the heads of the UK government (as most ministers of UK governments do) while emitting pungent-like sounds (another similar governmental characteristic). When the invader's plans for the annihilation of the planet are finally revealed the Doctor, entombed with Rose and Harriet Jones (MP for Flydale North) in a Downing Street bunker, must find a way to curtail the fraud by creating an almighty rupture. Meanwhile Roses mum Jackie has two predatory pests to contend with, although one of them does turn out to be a bit more useful on this occasion.