The Shakespeare Code

Martha's first real adventure takes the Tardis back to Elizabethan London, for a fun and expensive looking episode that's chock full of in-jokes.

The Doctor (David Tennant) takes Martha (Freema Agyeman) to the Globe theatre for a performance of Shakespeare's Love's Labours Lost. They are surprised when the man himself (Dean Lennox Kelly) appears on stage and announces that tomorrow night, they will put on the sequel, the now missing Love's Labours Won. Further investigations reveal that three 'witches' are influencing the writer and trying to bring a conquering army to our realm.

In an interesting parallel to his time with Rose, The Doctor again takes his companion on her first trip into history back to meet a famous author, indeed, there is lots of talk about Rose, particularly some blunt scenes when an oblivious Doctor tells Martha that Rose would have spotted the problem straight away. Gareth Roberts would become a regular writer for the show throughout the Davies and Moffatt era's and you can see why, based on a well written episode that ties in some real life historical situations, with some clever dialogue using lots of literary quotes and playing in the Doctors continuing grief over the loss of Rose and not quite being able to see Martha as anything other than a temporary replacement.

The visual effects for the witches was really well done, and there's some nice "Evil Dead" like movements in their reveals at the beginning, there's quite a large dressed set for the episode which is decent too, as well as interiors for Bedlam and some shooting inside the actual recreated Globe theatre in Southwark. The CGI work, with the witches flying and the cataclysmic portal over the Globe are nicely done too.

Overall it was a solid, amusing addition, even if the villains are a little underwhelming.

I love this episode, whichcraft and wizardry along side Shakespeare works really well. The set designs were really good here, and the setting gave an eerie vibe to this story. Shakespeare play in a theater full of whiches around is bonkers and crazy, but it works so well. It works so well because of good performances by everyone. Who had chemistry and charisma. Shakespeare was certainly charismatic and gave me a few chuckles!. This episode is one of my favourites from Siries 3 because the characters and the story is all great. David Tennant puts on a show, as per usual, great actor.

Music,

The Music inside this story was uplifting and the best in Siries 3's run. It was so powerful, so meaningful and I think that's what makes it good.

The Directing is some of the best in this siries too. More long shots this time, and closer shots is a breath of fresh air.

Conclusion,

I personally love this episode, can't fault it really!

hey, i thought the episode was really good. funny. upbeat and generally very well acted. the witches were very well costumed. visual effect were very well done. we can still see that the doctor is still in love with rose as he still thinks about her and her name keeps him going. shake-sphere is played by dean Lennox Kelly Also known as Kev from shameless. very very good indeed. David Tennant still puts a lot of energy into the work and plays hes character brilliantly . Freema is doing very well as a person shes settled in extremely well and has been welcomed into the family of doctor who!

Martha impressed in the hit and miss opener Smith and Jones, now she gets her first outing in the TARDIS, and it's back to London in 1599 for a visit to the Globe Theatre.

The first thing to point out is the stunning imagining of London back in 1599, it looks truly impressive, Smith and Jones special effects were really dodgy, but the Shakespeare Code looks as good as any blockbuster film, great production values.

A truly scary start, with the young musician entering the Witches lair, pretty nasty for the young children. The plot is a clever one, wonderfully imaginative, Lilith and her mothers are great, I love the story of Love's Labours lost and Love's Labours won. The finale is truly a goody, the Globe setting and play are gorgeously realised. I love how the audience applaud at the end.

There's quite a good looking cast, we have the very beautiful Christina Cole and the very hunky Dean Lennox Kelly. This episode is very good on the eyes for lots of reasons.

Here we go again with the companion falling in love with the Doctor, and there are more mentions of Rose :-(

Overall The Shakespeare code is a brilliant episode, the Carrionites are a great creation, it looks stunning. 9/10

Was Queen Bes a Zygon??

We haven't really gotten to see witches on Doctor Who, which is strange considering it's big following and being a fan favourite for many individuals. Especially when Buffy The Vampire Slayer decided to go down that route. But with all of that said, the Witches are just as fun as they usually appear on TV. And they do pose a real threat to the Doctor and Shakespeare himself, I like the high stakes of this episode, that does raise tension. Which is what Series 3 is very good at, every single episode feels like an action-packed and thrilling adventure. The Witches are trying to take down Love Labour's one, which must go on. And seeing the set designs of Queen victorian London is stunning to look at. The episode for 2007 has definitely aged exceptionally well. And Queen the first was accurately portrayed. A very Good episode, that shows us the high stakes of the episode and how it can be used effectively. Long lasting results create a deeper impact. Only nit pick is Martha's mistreatment from the Doctor.