The Family of Blood

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

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 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.

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 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.