The Family of Blood

This is the second part of the 'Human Nature' storyline, and it's perhaps one of the best modern 'Doctor Who' episodes I've seen.

Wonderfully written and performed, this is an episode of lots of great moments.

David Tennant again reminding us (if a reminder was ever needed) why for some he is THE Doctor.

This is how good the show can be. What a shame that the people making it in 2021 can't seem to hit such standards anymore.

This episode's plot starts out with some of the usual sci-fi "fluff" but ends in some of the most powerful writing I believe I've ever seen.

Do yourself a favor and watch this episode. Excellent doesn't begin to describe it. It is remarkable in the same vein as "The Lion King"'s final moments. Marvelous.

DVD_Connoisseur writes that this is the stuff of legends and he/she is absolutely right.

The episode cuts to the heart of exactly how lonely, and thoroughly *dangerous* the Doctor can be. The kind of danger that presents itself to a human being swimming next to a whale. If the whale turns, the human being can be destroyed without having been noticed.

Very dark, extremely serious, but thoroughly entertaining, and thought-provoking. What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be a Time Lord?

Well well, Paul Cornell has cooked up another stonker here. This two-parter, and this episode in particular, is probably one of the best yet, second only, in my opinion, to the previous two season finales, and on a par with The Impossible Planet/Satan Pit. Of this series, only 42 has engrossed me more.

The main point of this episode is, of course, the Doctor becoming a slightly idiotic human to avoid the eponymous Family of Blood, Martha's struggle to make him realise who he really is again, and the importance of the watch that the Doctor stored himself inside. I won't say any more than that for the sake of spoiling what is truly a fantastic story. Every part of it is brilliantly executed - the script, the direction, the effects, and the aftermath.

Special mentions in this episode though, go to two people. Firstly, David Tennant, whose portrayal of the ordinary man struggling to come to terms with who he might be and what he has to do with everything is fantastic. Secondly, to Harry Lloyd, who plays Jeremy Baines, the ringleader of the Family. While he is relatively unknown as an actor - his only major role to date has been as Will Scarlet in the BBC's retake of Robin Hood - I can't think of any world-famous actor who would've fitted the part better than him. His performance is absolutely astonishing, he plays the mad eyes, frightening smile, and all round scariness of his character to utter perfection. He's probably been the scariest and most believable human-looking villain since the show was resurrected, with the possible exception of Roger Lloyd-Pack's John Lumic from last year. Maybe it's in the surname.

This is, without doubt, one of the best story lines seen in Doctor Who so far. And next week's 'Blink' looks like a cracker as well. Series 3 is storming towards being the best series yet, if it isn't already.

The Bloods (now in stolen human form) have found what they came for and are in hot pursuit with their army of scarecrow soldiers. Cornered at the school, John Smith and his band of budding boy foot soldiers face the alien relations in a standoff where...

The sheaves of wheat start an attack, they are bound by rope and cloth and sack, but their endeavours are repelled, and the line of boys has firmly held, then sister of mine starts to fire back, and the staunch defence begins to crack

All the time an increasingly frantic Martha is desperately searching for the missing timepiece, but will she find it in time to save our paradoxical pacifist, and what will become of his pursuers if she does?

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!