Utopia

At the known end of the universe, far FAR in the future where no Time Lord has traveled before, Martha and the Doctor meet up with Captain Jack Harkness whom hitched a ride on the outside of the TARDIS. It's not long before they're on the run from cannibalistic, Futurer-kind, and trying to help an enigmatic professor shuttle the last vestige of the Human race off to Utopia.

What a great opener to the three-part 29th series finale, it has long-running simmering plot-lines coming to a head in the most delightful of ways. The cliff-hanger which, sadly, in the internet age, one had to have his head firmly in the ground to not have been spoiled to, was great none the less and had me breathlessly awaiting the next two installments.

My Grade: A+

UTOPIA is the first in the SEASON 3 finale trilogy. Jack Barrowman returns as CAPTAIN JACK HARKNESS after being resurrected from death and settling in with his revamped version of TORCHWOOD. Freema Agyman is marvelous as Martha Jones, which in this episode proves she is a definite companion-in-time-traveling with the Doctor.

The story is very intriguing which involves the Doctor, Martha, and Captain Jack strolling along at the End of the Universe (in the year 100 TRILLION AD). They encounter many goings-on with a local cannibalistic horde known as THE FUTURE-KIND and stumbling into an underground refugee base where the residents of humans are awaiting to be transported to the fantastical-mythological place known as UTOPIA. Although, the local scientist, THE PROFESSOR, has some trouble with the rocket and its engines. But the light of hope shines with the arrival of the Doctor and his friends. Though, by the end of this episode, things get from hopeful...to apocalyptic as this episode marks the return of an 'old enemy' from the Doctor's past. And this sets the stage for the next two episodes.

GRAEME HARPER is definitely becoming a grand master of delivering excellent DOCTOR WHO episodes. He has so much energy put into this episode along with RUSSELL T. DAVIES' script that makes me jump for joy for more. The sets, the effects, and the revelation at the end as definitely marked UTOPIA as an instant classic. David TENNANT as the TENTH DOCTOR truly shines here. But the real star of this episode goes to SIR DEREK JACOBI, best known in GLADIATOR and UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION, as he plays "THE PROFESSOR" in top-form, charismatic, and class. His scenes are the best directed stuff I've ever watched. His chemistry with Tennant is absolutely amazing. Especially near the end.

As for the next episodes...keep'em coming.

From the exciting beginning on modern-day Earth (Cardiff to be exact) to the exhilaratingly dark scenes at the very end of the universe itself, this is a cracking ride that grips the viewer from the onset and doesn't let go.

Jack's back and it's a genuine pleasure to see John Barrowman's character weave his sexual magnetism on man, woman and bug-person alike. The chemistry between Barrowman and Tennant is marvellous and the conversation between the two men as Jack works in the radiation chamber is one of my favourites of the season.

The legendary Derek Jacobi is perfect as the lovely Professor, striving to save mankind from extinction by launching the rocket to a mysterious far-off Utopia, and Chipo Chung is a delight as his blue-skinned, insectoid companion.

No spoilers here but this episode ties up plot points in a beautiful fashion. While I've been critical of some of Russel T. Davies' scripts in the past, this one is faultless. It's just a shame that the big surprise was leaked / speculated over even before this series began - always the danger thesedays, I guess. Still, "Utopia" remains a very clever piece of television and one that will have the forums buzzing for some time.

As always in recent weeks, as the end credits roll, I'm left genuinely gob-smacked. It's great to know you're watching something that will one day be regarded as a classic. The series has matured over the last three years and it's entered a zone where the team are pushing everything as far as they can and leaving no creative opportunities unexplored. This is thoroughly exciting, innovative television that will be influencing future generations of writers, producers and directors. Television today really doesn't get any better than this.

Full marks, 10 out of 10.

The Doctor and Martha head to the end of the Universe, with Captain Jack strapped to the TARDIS. Professor Yana is helping to save the last humans in the universe, by offering them 'Utopia'

I really like Utopia, it's a very good episode. It certainly is a game changer for the show, it gives us a welcome return for Captain Jack and of course something much bigger, but I've always thought that something's missing, what I don't know but will try to go deeper.

It's a bit Mad Max meets the Doctor. The tattooed, pierced, spiky toothed future kind are good and have the usual apocalypse feel to them, I'm reaching for the ink when the end of the world comes!

Sir Derek Jacobi is magical throughout, I can't decide if it was a wasted opportunity for him to be in just the one, or if he was the ultimate set up for John Simm. His change was glorious, from sweet to villain, an that scene with the excellent Chipo Chung was one of the best in nu Who.

I found the story a little bit thin, with the whole Utopia concept is a little hard to buy into. The premise, script and cast all feel a bit too big for the episode, like putting a glorious tropical fish in a small tank, that's Utopia.

Huge amounts of energy, which we must credit John Barrowman and Murray Gold for, it's alive, and has somewhat been missing in some segments.

You just knew something was brewing, the time piece creation back in Human Nature was such a good one, and the joy of seeing it again, we remember a comment from the face of Boe, 'you are not alone,' but who?? There is a tremendous shift in gears when Martha glances the pocket watch and informs the Doctor of her discovery. It's a fabulous moment.

From the instant we see him, John Simm's enthusiasm is infectious, finally an energy to match Tennant's.

I've reviewed this whilst re watching it for the first time in a few years, and my opinion has changed, I've thoroughly enjoyed, and it's switched from a previous good to excellent, it's 9/10

The TARDIS tries to escape the frantic clutches of Captain Jack and in doing so we are taken to the end of the universe for an encounter with the last of humankind who have their eyes firmly cast toward Utopia, alas...

Futurekind have ideas of their own, they've infiltrated, and one's in the zone, there's sabotage, disruption, interference and destruction but the main danger comes from a ticking timed eruption, that goes off unchecked with Shakespearean glare, and not too soon after, a body does flare.

Establishing an almighty build up to the final two episodes of the season.