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Doctor Who: The Sontaran Stratagem

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

The Doctor's taken Donna to the past and the future, and now it's time to return home. Well, the Doctor's actually called home by former companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman). She's working for UNIT now, and they're investigating a dangerous new SatNav device being installed in vehicles.

As the Doctor, Donna and Martha poke around, they discover sinister goings-on in a basement (naturally), mind-controlled soldiers, clones and an old enemy of the Doctor's - the Sontarans!

Long-term fans of Doctor Who will be familiar with these potato-headed aliens, who made their debut back in 1973; and they'll also recognise UNIT, the secret military organisation set up to combat alien menaces. Its heyday was also during the 1970s, and it's had a few mentions and appearances in this new series, but this is its first full story.

With so many returns, this should be a Who-lover's delight and there is something quite old-fashioned about this first part of a two-part story. It's the closest this new series gets to traditional Doctor Who, and while that all sounds very nice, it doesn't exactly work. If anything, it shows how far this new version of the show has evolved from its origins.

There's still plenty to enjoy though. Once again, the show uses new technology as a threat, and Catherine Tate gets some great lines, at the Doctor's expense. About time too, just when he was getting too big for his Converse boots!

Doctor Who: The Sontaran Stratagem airs on ABC1 on Sunday, 27 July, at 7.30pm.

Tim Hunter, Citysearch, July 2008

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