Discussion of Episode 4.04 "The Sontaran Stratagem" - Aired 04/26/08 (BBC1-UK)

[Mr Pointy]

From radiotimes.com -
Episode 4/13 The Sontaran Stratagem
Just as the Doctor's getting to know his new companion, Donna, old friend Martha summons him to Earth. Following her adventures with Torchwood, she's back with UNIT, who are facing a threat from one of the Doctor's old enemies. What exactly are the devices being manufactured at the mysterious ATMOS factory? Can Donna save her family from the danger they face? And how will she get on with Martha…?

http://www.radiotimes.com/shows/doctor-who/episode-guide/

[N4H]

I just read the teaser for Planet of the Ood, and thought, "Man, I want to see that". Then I read this one, and thought "No, no, I want to see this".

Wouldn't it be great if a person had the patience to wait for the DVD, and had a Doctor Who day where he could just sit down and watch them all for the first time?

Unfortunately it's something I'll never get to experience. Not so big on the patience thing.

[Mr Pointy]

Wouldn't it be great if a person had the patience to wait for the DVD, and had a Doctor Who day where he could just sit down and watch them all for the first time?

Unfortunately it's something I'll never get to experience. Not so big on the patience thing.

It's something that I always wanted to try with a set of "24" DVDs...I'm not sure I have the stamina for that these days, plus I'm sure Mrs P would probably have something to say :)

[Bored of the Dead]

Haha - I have managed to do it BUT it was kinda forced on me.

Last year, if you remember, I was cast pon a foreign Island without access to TV:(

I tell you something, the weekend I got Season 3 and Season 6 were the two greatest weekends ever.

Though now I am back in the swing, I don't think I could wait again.

Edit:

Haha - I have managed to do it BUT it was kinda forced on me.

Last year, if you remember, I was cast pon a foreign Island without access to TV:(

I tell you something, the weekend I got Season 3 and Season 6 were the two greatest weekends ever.

Though now I am back in the swing, I don't think I could wait again.

[N4H]

Season 6? I sit, I ponder, and I go "Huh?"

Do you mean the old Who? I get mixed up sometimes. Weren't you the one who wasn't into the old Doctor Who eps? I know there was Pry, and somebody else I thought.

[Bored of the Dead]

Season 6? I sit, I ponder, and I go "Huh?"

Do you mean the old Who? I get mixed up sometimes. Weren't you the one who wasn't into the old Doctor Who eps? I know there was Pry, and somebody else I thought.

Sorry I meant season 6 24.

I wasn't the biggest fan of Old Who, but it is growing on me as I am watching it now.

I bought the 5 Doctors, which was actually three plus a stand in and one wasn't even really in it, which was alot of fun.

[Mr Pointy]

My fault - I went slightly off topic with the mention of a 24-athon :)

[Angel's vision]

Ahh good stuff! Now I wanna see the next eppy! I hope Ten tells Martha what he should of told her in the first place!

[N4H]

I hope Ten tells Martha what he should of told her in the first place!

What would that be?

[Angel's vision]

N4H that would be that he apprieciates her and she was an excellent companion, instead of the Rose comparisons and overlooking she got. He basically didn't appreciate her enough or never told her enough either way he owes her big time! Sorry I didn't make it plain.

[Bored of the Dead]

The Doctor doesn't owe Martha anything of the like Angels Vision.

Rose was his Companion but he had alot of respect and time for Martha. It isn't the Doctors fault that Martha was in love with him and he didn't want her and it CERTAINLY wasn't his fault that Martha felt inferior to Rose.

The Doctor only ever promises adventure and exploration to his companions and he delivers 100 fold.

Now onto the Sontaran Stratagem.

My lord was I bored and frustrated.
I don't know if it was because I built it up so much or if it has been lacking in the show itself, but this and the last episode seriously feel like they've missed something.

Does anyone remember the days of Season 2 (new run) when we were coming on here, particularly N4H, each week saying this was my favourite episode of the season. The first 2 were brilliant, Donna has been magical but I can't help but feel let down by the other parts of the recent 2.

I hope that next weeks episode gets us back to exactly 2 years ago for great stories.

By now in 06 we'd just had Tooth and Claw, School Reunion and Girl in the Fireplace and we were moving to the great Cybermen double.

This time last year we'd just had the abismal Daleks in Manhatten but at least we'd had Gridlocked and Shakespeare Code.

This season started off with two greats and in my opinion is on a decent into mediocrity. RTD better pull something out of his ass.

Ohhh though the Medusa Cascade was mentioned again.

[N4H]

I think the writer who wrote this Sontaran 2 parter is the same one who wrote Daleks in Manhattan, isn't she?

I had to do a quick check to see if anything perkier is coming up. Looks good.

http://www.denofgeek.com/television/22723/doctor_who_series_four_preview.html

We have to wait 4 weeks for the Steven Moffat 2 parter though. Damn.

[Bored of the Dead]

Yes, its a woman called Helen something or other and honestly, I don't know why she was brought back for a 2 parter again.

I am looking forward to ALL the episodes post Sontarans but next weeks - blah

NOTE:

Read something interesting in the Radio Times today.

Apparently at the end of next weeks episode The Doctor leaves both companions behind AND Donna pulls a Martha, ala LotTL and saves the world

[Angel's vision]

The Doctor doesn't owe Martha anything of the like Angels Vision.

Rose was his Companion but he had alot of respect and time for Martha. It isn't the Doctors fault that Martha was in love with him and he didn't want her and it CERTAINLY wasn't his fault that Martha felt inferior to Rose.

The Doctor only ever promises adventure and exploration to his companions and he delivers 100 fold.

Erm yes he does, and even David himself said he treated her badly at times( LoTTLs commentary) I know It wasn't intensional but he did like FoB and TSC, he says "Rose would know what to say" Making Martha feel second best.That comment was insensistive.
I know it wasn't his fault Martha was in love with him, I just dissagree with the last statement, it was his remarks that left her feeling inferior.
I think on this we will agree to dissagree.

Oh and I rather enjoyed this eppy, at least it was not as bad as "Fear her".
The woman's full name is Helen Raynor btw.

[Bored of the Dead]

Erm yes he does, and even David himself said he treated her badly at times( LoTTLs commentary) I know It wasn't intensional but he did like FoB and TSC, he says "Rose would know what to say" Making Martha feel second best.That comment was insensistive.
I know it wasn't his fault Martha was in love with him, I just dissagree with the last statement, it was his remarks that left her feeling inferior.
I think on this we will agree to dissagree.

Oh and I rather enjoyed this eppy, at least it was not as bad as "Fear her".
The woman's full name is Helen Raynor btw.

Ummm no, he doesn't.

David PLAYS the Doctor, fair game, but that still doesn't mean he is correct saying that The Doctor owes Martha anything.

Martha was an adult, could have said anything and the simple truth is, Rose would have known what to say, she proved that by asking the correct questions.

She was the one who was jealous and wanted to be something JUST after The Doctor lost Rose.
She was childish, annoying and rather immature. Look at how upset she got when Jack was relieved that Rose was alive.

Donna proves that when she stands up to him. Martha needed to grow a spine.

Also, the womans full name is irrelevent. of the episodes I have seen of hers, she's not delivered. I lay blame at RTD's feet 100%.
She was untested in this field and to give her the two parters in 2 seasons is wholly unfair.

And I absolutely disagree it was better than 'Fear Her' that episode is great. Definitely one that gets better with every viewing - Sontaran Strategem, watched twice, even worse the second time.

[N4H]

I don't know if Martha deserves an apology, but the Doctor does seem to feel some sort guilt, so it wouldn't be surprising if the two hash it out at some point. It kind of reminds me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer though, where Xander was crushing on Buffy, and she just wasn't feeling it. There was the guilt, but they just kind of worked it out over time.

The scene I want to see is all the companions - Martha, Rose, Donna, Sarah Jane, Captain Jack - sitting down at coffee, and discussing the Doctor/Companion relationship. Maybe throw in K-9. I'd watch a whole ep of that. It will be interesting if Martha meets Rose. Sarah Jane could put things into perspective for Martha I think.

The only thing I'm kind of liking about this current 2 parter is the Sontarans. They're not quite as cute as an apidose, or whatever those little pillow things were called, but they do have their charm. It would be fun to see what a writer who could handle humor would do with them. Somebody like the British equivalent of Jane Espenson, or Ben Edlund if there is such a thing. Whoever wrote Tooth and Claw would work. Does Catharine Tate write?

Everybody has their own personal list of least favorite eps, I think. I'm not a fan of the New, New York ones, but apparently there are others who love them.

[Angel's vision]

Well I feel that he needs to express that guilt somehow and not poorly communicate it like he was doing with his Rose issues in S3.

I also want Sarah-Jane, Rose, Donna and Martha having a disscussion aswell!
Maybe an ep in which they reminesque about how they first met him and what made em leave?

I so want to see Clone Martha kick his butt but for comedic reasons....I swear honest!