Vox Nova At the Tele: Doctor Who, Partners In Crime

Doctor Who is back – and after this season, the show will be given a rest; no, the show is not being exterminated (yet), but it will be put on hiatus. To keep its fans occupied, there will be a few specials shown in 2009 before its fifth season is shown in 2010.

As has become routine, the first episode is a light morality tale, written more to bring the audience back into the mood for Doctor Who and to accept his new companion, Donna, than anything else. It is not one of the most sophisticated stories written for the series. If one is looking for an hour of fun and adventure, with cute little villains, the Adipose, and you are willing to accept the fact that many questions you could raise as to the logic of how and why the Adipose were created, the show fulfills its task. If you have missed the adventures of the good Doctor, and you have felt a Doctor-shaped void in your life, once again, this story fulfills its task. There are moments of tender drama, there are surprises, and the Doctor finds himself once again with a companion who will make sure he is not the lonely adventurer looking to right wrongs all by himself. 

(Warning: do not watch if you do not want to be spoiled)

Now the morality tale is a simple one and written as one would expect from RTD. Miss Foster has made a new diet pill which literally melts fat away. Of course, it does not go down as easy as advertised; one does lose weight, but it is because one’s own fat and flesh is being used to give birth to the Adipose; and what is more, your whole body could be used to produce them. Although this was not the original plan, Miss Foster their “nanny” will try to do so once she finds her company, which is the one making those pills, is in jeopardy from the interference of the Doctor. The moral of the story would be this: don’t expect an easy solution to your problems, and if someone promises one, be afraid – it might end up killing you.

Now the story is not the greatest nor the worst that one has seen under RTD’s leadership; it does what is needed. Except for two scenes, it is not exceptional. Nonetheless, if you let your inner child out, you will be entertained. 7/10 stars.

Monster File, The Adispose: