The Sontaran Stratagem

General Staal is a Sontaran clone, quite short, although he is fully grown, bash his probic vent, to annoy and torment, making combative turtlehead groan.

Summoned back to Earth by Martha Jones after a spate of simultaneous deaths around the world in cars fitted with Atmos, the Doctor and Donna investigate a juvenile entrepreneur and the supposed genius behind the technology, while locking horns with a familiar enemy with plans to wipe out the human race.

This isn't my favorite episode of season 4 so far. The Sontaran, though being a classic monster of Dr.Who, don't really do much for me. Though being creatures of war and not really having much mercy they don't deliver the same umph that the Daleks and Cybermen do. But the episode wasn't a complete failure! Having two companions in this episode was very interesting and funny at times. It also helped to keep the story along because the Sontarans could not hold my attention for two whole episodes. It's also really suspenseful when you know something that none of the other characters know, but you can't warn them. I won't spoil what it is but it keeps the story moving along. Also this story would've been much better if it woudn't have neen for the American teenager who constantly whined over everything under the sun. Maybe if they would've cut him out and crammed it in to one episode it would've been better!

I remember these guys from the days of classic Who, however I have noticed they are a fair bit different to the Sontarans of those days. Anyway it is worth watching the whole episode for the cliffhanger, they defiantly did a good job there

There's something missing from "The Sontaran Stratagem". While the use of sat-nav devices to evil effect is inspired and reminiscent of something like "Terror of the Autons", the episode somehow fails to inspire.

There's something very un-Sontaran about the whole affair. The menace here is Sontaran-lite, just as I was bitterly disappointed with the return of The Doctor's silver nemesis in Season 2. Perhaps it's me but while the make-up is wonderful (the early close-up of the Sontaran is excellent), the costume looks like something from a '90s Action Man.

Donna remains the strongest companion to-date, making Martha look rather lightweight in comparison.

7 out of 10. Only the first part of this double-header so things may improve but this is a very average tale so far. At the end of the day, Helen Raynor just doesn't deliver the quality of scripts that you expect from this series. It's missing fizz and pop and, overall, disappoints.

Sontarens are back, and boy do they pose a real threat. They seem to be strong and forcefull and even disarm any sort of Weapon with ease, even if it's a Sniper Gun or just a regular Gun. They bring back a sort of scare factor to the Show, Which Siries 4 at the Start doesn't have scare Factor type episodes as of Such. Luke Rattigan is annoying as the genius scientist but he's an okay protagonist. It's really the return of Martha that deserves high praise, as that was brilliant. She is a much different and much stronger character. This works to her advantage as she's not having to rely on the Doctor so much, and this concept works. Seeing Sylvia and Wilf for a bit is always a delight. As the Episode ends on a high with Donna being stuck in her Car, and the Gas all poors out all over the street, which is what the Sontarens did. The Episode leades excitingly to the next one.