The Sound of Drums

Arriving back on Earth, the Doctor, Martha and Jack find the Masters alter ego a.k.a. Harold Saxon occupying the top seat in the British government where...

He starts with the cabinet slain, then a journo gets to feel the pain, gathers up Martha's family, builds on his popularity, then embarks on his wicked campaign.

Meanwhile the time travelling trio are pursued and hunted before perceptively making it onto the aircraft carrier Valiant after discovering the secrets of the Master's mind games.

I have watched Doctor Who beginning in the 70's. I always loved the Master and was worried how they would bring him back. But, my apprehensions were put to rest with this episode. This Doctor Who series (all 3 of them) have been updated for a new audience. I had watched John Simm in "Life on Mars" and was a little tentative of his being cast as the Master. Stupid me - he is FANTASTIC! Finally a match for the Doctor of this series - witty, cocky ... and his opposite - totally lacking in sympathy & insane. Oh, and I got the pleasure of seeing the US President being disintegrated - just what the present incumbent, George Dubbya, deserves for what he has wrought on this earth. This is my favourite episode of the new incarnation of Doctor Who. Absolutely fabulous!!

With "The Sound of Drums", Russell T. Davies shows that despite a smörgåsbord of treats throughout the season, there's still a lot more surprises in his TARDIS-like bag.

A dark, tense and highly original episode, "The Sound of Drums" is so good it's difficult to know where to begin. Davies' teases fans with references to The Doctor's brother (a few seconds pause seemed like an eternity in this scene), jelly babies and so on, while giving long-term viewers the best Gallifrey treat they could ever wish for in this episode. The short, beautifully shot clip of The Master's back-history is informative and manages to honour the memories of anybody who has grown up with "The Deadly Assassin" and the various subsequent Time Lord tales. This is epic stuff - there's a legendary feel to "The Sound of Drums" and the show appears bigger in scale than a television programme, having an almost movie-like feel to the proceedings. After watching this series of "Doctor Who" other science fiction offerings are going to feel tired and drawn-out compared to this lean and mean, multi-faced beast. We have seen a diverse number of stories this year but the quality has remained constant throughout.

John Simm steals the show as the psychopathic Master. He has all the best lines and eats the part up like the world's most scrumptious meal. Simm is the very picture of a maniacal genius and it's hard to imagine anybody delivering a better performance in this role. His scenes with the cabinet and the President of the USA will be difficult to forget.

The Jones family are proving more entertaining and likable than the Tylers - Trevor Laird and Adjoa Andoh are excellent as Martha's parents and Gugu Mbatha-Raw is wonderful as younger sister, Tish.

The episode finishes on the ultimate cliffhanger. This is black as night "Doctor Who" and it's an absolute delight.

10 out of 10. Again, thank you Russel T. Davies and Phil Collinson for delivering such a treat to fans everywhere, young and old. This is more than anybody could have ever expected and as each season progresses, the creative envelope is pushed ever further. Genuinely jaw-dropping entertainment.

The Sound of Drums isn't a bad episode of Doctor Who, but it's just really disappointing after Utopia, which is arguably one of the best episodes the show has put out so far. The direction isn't very good, the visual effects are not good at all, (and that's saying a lot for RTD era Doctor Who) and the performances are way too hammy for my taste. It's a noticeable step down in quality when compared to the Human Nature two parter, Blink, and Utopia, which have all been consistently great episodes. 6 out of 10

First of all I'll say whoopey doo, a finale that doesn't feature the daleks, this tried to do something very different. The tenuous link from Utopia to Cardiff begins, and we learn of Saxon's rise into Blair-esque Prime Minister and the reveal of his plan to end the world. All seems lost, and all eyes are on Martha to save the world.

John Simm's performance is boundless, his energy and pizazz are phenomenal. He brings the script to life, and even at this early stage I want more of him. He steals the show.

The tapping and drumming asks a lot of questions, it's cleverly realised, the concept of the phone network is a good one too.

The brief appearance of Nicola McAuliffe was fun, and I can't answer why but I'm really drawn to Lucy Saxon.

I like that we get an insight into the Doctor's youth, finally we see some of Gallifrey, we see Time Lords, and we get to see a young Master, at last!!

I kept wondering about Utopia, were the humans left to be destroyed by the Future kind, and the resolution is a nasty one. Not too sure about the Toclafane though.

Martha's family story continues and starts to be revealed, they are still annoying and i'm still missing Jackie, but at least they're given more then just bickering.

Finally the question i'd asked about Torchwood's link from Who and from the show is answered.

It's very good, pieces of the jigsaw from the series are coming together, a few little flaws stop it from being brilliant, the Toclafane, little irritations with the script, but it's big and bold, the use of The Rogue Traders Voodoo Child is so fitting, it fits John Simm's Master so well.

8/10