"Smith and Jones"-review

[written after having watched smith and jones, then edited one week later for profesional reasons. and liabilities.]

"What did you say your name was?"

Here we go - again. After waving bye-bye to Catherine Tate's Donna Noble on Christmas Eve last year, after a companionship that lasted for just one day, The Doctor finds himself alone once more - not really looking for a new friend, but rather attempting to save the planteary systems on his own. So much for sappy thoughts. Into the Whoniverse storms young, aspiring medical student Martha Jones, and she's not willing to let him go that soon, nor leave him to half-rot in his grief and land of Rose-sorrow. In other words, David Tennant's Time Lord is somewhat reluctantly teaming up with a fellow academic, a fellow Doctor as it were, who's perhaps more of a judge when it comes to his skills than Rose had ever dreamed of being. She questions not only his intentions, but his qualifications, and that after 10 minutes in his presence.

The story of Chapter One, "Smith and Jones", start of a new era blah blah blah, is about an entire hospital being transported, meaning literally, meaning relocated, to the moon of all places, and also about a blood-sucking old lady trying to escape from a bunch of rhino-alien-policemen who are more brutal than you'd expect, equipped with a highly senisitive killer-instinct towards non-humans. Armed with a black marker, plus the old lady's got a straw. Patient John Smith, who naturally isn't a John Smith but The Doc in Disguise, must find the source of the problems and get them all back down to earth. Literally, again. And what doesn't help is a hospital staff acting more hysterically than what should be allowed; the only sensible, clear-headed person is a student named Martha who "asks all the right questions". Repeatedly. And she can sprint! Yeah, it's got a touch of big-budget disaster-movie; screaming people, running people, crying relatives. Pretty ruthless thugs, non-considerate all over, no second chances and little sweetness. Who's got a new look; Who is a new and darker soul who wanders the earth with bitter curiosity and doesn't really know what he's searching for. A tie, perhaps. Sounds like fun to me! And it was! Not RTD's best episode, but surreal on a level equalling the better parts of Season 1 premiere "Rose". I, personally, prefer the latter - but "Smith and Jones" had its moments. The cinematography, locations and special effects were cool but it had a bit too much of "Grey's Anatomy" meets "Law and Order" to it. Why so serious? Why so...professional? It got rather repetitive, after a while, though I wish I could clearly define what was missing. But I think that mostly, it was the creativity and originality of the former seasons (even though the episode might sound pretty invenitve...!) since the whole of Series 1 and 2 didn't have a single episode this colourless. Then again, I am one of these totally non-objective, nagging articles who just can't help themselves from moping over Roe Tyler. Still!

But alright, first and foremost: Freema Agyeman doesn't disappoint. Of course Martha Jones is not "the new Rose Tyler". Of course she has enormous, lest to say immeasurable shoes to step into. But all that being said, I think Freema did a fine job. Though as a long-time-loyal fan who's quite familiar with and really into the show, I must say that Billie's Rose had a sense of wonder and excitement about her, a genuine bewilderment at anything extraterrestrial and extraordinary, anything new and unknown, which Martha doesn't fully match up to. In a way, she is instead more like The Doctor himself, with her scientific approach to events; and I think we'll find, in a while from now, that if the relationship isn't improved, meaning jazzed up a bit, the two of them are actually too similar. That may be a good thing, the chemistry worked excellently at times, but it may also prove to be very, very unfortunate. The show might become boring!

Rose was more of a challenge to The Doc, emotionally and belief-wise. She had less experience and education - yet what she lacked in such, she made up for in guts and love of adventure. Personally, I also liked her humour better - not to forget her ironic curiosity. Maybe the point I'm trying to make is that in fact, Martha Jones is kind of...dull. Rose had a true, wild spirit and was very passionate; despite her minor, annoying details. We could ignore them more easily than with Martha, who uses her bloody study books as an excuse not to travel with the Doctor, because Rose was entertaining and exciting. Martha might be theoretically smarter, but she's a bit too cocky. But she did have some wonderful shots, she has a cool style, and with a better script and some further growing into the role, she can probably do a brilliant job. I'll definitely give her a new chance and be happy to see her return in the upcoming episodes. Come on, this was episode numero uno and I am overly critical - but as a reviewer, one needs to account for both the pro's and the con's, and it's only natural one will focus mainly on the last ones due to own expectations and engagement. I mean, as a reviewer-FAN. Dangerous combo. Apropos, and consequently; Freema's nervousness was quite predictable and understandable - considering that she's so fresh to the whole acting-job, I think she was pretty impressive at times. She just needs to cut down on the edgy-parts and start working on the smiling-humourous-witty-silly-but-amusing parts.

Conclusions, conclusions. All in all, a satisfying start - with an extra point fof the nicey nods to frequently-above-mentioned Rose Tyler at the end. "NOT that you're replacing her!" Some may find that a bit irritating, I think it's the least they can do. I know I am in no position to be making requests, like someone have Chris & Billie forcibly returned and re-signed to the show, so let me instead sum up the actual and realistic assets. Thank Goodness for David Tennant's smiles and winks, the old gags; Doctor what? Doctor WHO? Doctor - "...you called me Doctor!", and the beloved screwdriver, the Converse Shoes and the pyjamas, the digital thingies and the motorcycle-outfit-wearing henchmen - nicey helmets! - and did I mention David Tennant's smile? Please don't involve the Jones-family any further - enough as it is, with the Tylers - give RTD a colour palette, bring back Captain Jack as soon as possible, and let's hope we'll never see a Plasmavore again. *PUH!* Looking forward to Shakespeare. The End!