The Family of Blood

I don't comment often - check :-) This second part of the story really said it all in the last ten minutes. I've either got a really dusty house or tears came up due to the end. What started out as simple Sci-Fi fare ended as a real pause for thought. 'Light' drama can sometime be the most powerful medium and this does it all without being heavy handed or moralistic.

This should be compulsory viewing in schools.

Quite apart from which it's one of the more enjoyable episodes of Doctor Who.

We've had Tim and Daisy from "Spaced" in Doctor Who now so roll on Mike, Marsha, Brian and Tyres!

Thank you, Russell T. Davies! The idea of taking Paul Cornell's successful and acclaimed "New Adventure" and allowing him to write a screenplay based on this tale has resulted in one of the best "Doctor Who" stories ever.

"The Family of Blood" is strong on so many levels it's difficult to know where to begin. This two-part adventure ensures that Freema Agyeman's Martha Jones will be remembered as one of The Doctor's greatest companions. Agyeman is absolutely delightful here...I can't praise her acting enough. The Doctor depends 100% on Jones in this story and it's excellent to see how she meets the challenge.

This is a truly emotional episode - I don't mind admitting I cried buckets in the last 10 minutes of the show. I've not been moved by a drama like this for quite some time. The script, direction and acting are all top notch.

We also see a truly dark Doctor for an instant but I'm not going to spoil any surprises.

Magnificent. The perfect 10. This is the stuff of legend!

Well the build up episode was certainly one of the show's high points, it ended on an excellent cliffhanger, the pace and energy that had built up, continues and we delve straight in to the action.

The Human Doctor has a dilemma, to save friend or lover, but fortunately a brave Martha saves them, for the time being. Defences are held at the school, whilst young Latimer holds the key.

The family are all brilliantly portrayed, they all look the part, especially Baines, but then what else would you expect from Harry Lloyd? The stairs and the voice are insanely creepy, the others are good, but he's on another level.

Jessica Hynes is truly wonderful, her struggles to understand the concepts of who and what the Doctor actually is, are gloriously done with an innocence and truth, it's very sincere.

The scene of young sister running to infiltrate is very reminiscent of one from Remembrance of the Daleks. The skipping, music used... and the use of her raised interesting ethical questions.

The high point is the dilemma they face whether to open the watch or not, the discussions to and fro are so good, I can see why it's often considered as Tennant's finest moment. The emotional hit is a big one.

It must be said that both Freema and her character Martha have developed fantastically well. I wonder if she would be seen today in higher regard had she been better written for in the earlier episodes, too many Rose references.

I commend the story, the production, the effects, the acting, the casting, the conclusion, all in all it's a fabulous episode, a perfect fit for Tennant. 10/10

They don't make 'um like this anymore.....

This episode is unfair. the doctor can never realize how unfair is asking Joan to come with him, to live all her life waiting to see glimpses of the man she loves will be torture. Joan lashing out, asking if he didn't choose this place at random then people wouldn't have died, trying to remind herself that he wasn't human and he wasn't the man she loved? it hurt. all in all thanks David Tennant and Russell Davis for breaking our hearts. once again

The two-part episode "Human Nature/The Family of Blood" is, without a doubt, the best one created for the new Doctor Who series. This episode takes Who somewhere new, offering a fresh look at the Doctor. The cast and crew do a terrific job with this, creating an exciting and emotionally-powerful episode. Kudos should especially go to David Tennant, who gives his best performance to date not only as the Doctor, but as his human counterpart, John Smith. His performance in this piece is very powerful, and will bring almost everyone who sees it to tears. A terrific two-parter that stands not only as the best of the new series, but also among the greatest "Doctor Who" adventures ever! Grade: A+