Sleepin_Dragon

Arthur has a new idea: funeral photographers. Michael, of course, immediately quashes it. Meanwhile, Sinem has booked an event for her and Michael that requires audience participation - something he definitely doesn't want to attend. Arthur, ever the innovator, suggests a Soupover with the boys.

This is definitely one of the most surreal episodes yet - weird, wonderful, funny, and utterly bonkers. Arthur's imagination shines through: the magic adventure he creates quietly makes him a bit of a genius. And the Soupover? Who wouldn't want to attend an epic adventure like that?

Michael proves once again that he's a terrible boyfriend. Sinem seems to lead the relationship at every turn, while Michael clearly prefers spending time with Arthur.

Arthur's story about the soup cannon and the Germans is gloriously absurd - you can almost imagine a war being paused for such an experience.

I genuinely enjoyed the zaniness.

8/10.

Cinderella learns that her father is dead, murdered on the orders of her cruel stepmother, leaving her reduced to life as a servant. On the night of the King's Ball, she wishes for help and a Fairy Godmother duly obliges, but her love for the prince has several barriers.

For what it's worth, I actually found this quite fun. Surprisingly, some recognisable elements of the original story are retained, even though most of it is gleefully over the top. You'll always know exactly what this is meant to be, and it never pretends otherwise.

The revenge scenes are spectacularly excessive, but for a low-budget horror they're far better than you'd expect. If only they'd managed to convince the actual Elon Musk to appear, now that really would have elevated the film's notoriety. Cinderella arriving at the ball in a Tesla gives the whole thing a surreal edge, and I loved it.

The acting is a mixed bag, with most performances hovering around average, but the real star of the show is Natasha Henstridge. She's brilliant as the Fairy Godmother, completely outrageous and clearly having a great time. The ugly sisters work well as a grotesque comedy double act, veering into full-on panto territory, but somehow it works. The idea of one of them having to cut off a toe to make the glass slipper fit is exactly the sort of tasteless humour this film thrives on.

Outrageous, ridiculous, and oddly entertaining. In a very strange way, I didn't mind it at all.

6/10.

John Frobisher finally decides he can fight no longer, forcing Prime Minister Brian Green to step up and take responsibility. With no alternatives left, the government agrees to meet the extreme demands of the 456.

Once again, the stakes couldn't be higher, with Jack forced into an unthinkable decision - one child or millions. Russell T Davies really didn't hold back here, pushing the boundaries further than Doctor Who ever dared.

Praise is due across the board: the regular cast are excellent, Nicholas Farrell is strong as ever, but I must single out the glorious Lucy Cohu. What an actress. The scorn her character holds for her father is devastating, her performance utterly gut-wrenching and unforgettable.

Russell T Davies penned a superb script - a great plot, razor-sharp character work, and total confidence in the material. This is why I'd deem Children of Earth the ultimate Doctor Who spin-off; it goes far beyond simply being an extension of the parent show.

The episode leaves you breathless, exhausted, shocked, and - dare I say it - deeply sad. If only they'd continued at this level, instead of waiting years to follow it up. This really was peak television.

That ending, though. From a moment of near ecstasy to torment and pain of the most excruciating kind. It lands like a hammer blow - and it's impossible to forget.

This is what happens when the sole aim is to tell a powerful story and truly entertain.

10/10.