Turn left (2008)

Review
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Review

This episode was first broadcast on June 21, 2008. A brief and somewhat spoiler-ish summary of the plot: what if Donna had never met the Doctor?

'Turn left' is Doctor Who's 'alternate history' episode. Think 'It's a wonderful life' or, to take just one of the many science-fiction examples, the 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' episode where Cordelia wishes that Buffy had never come to Sunnydale and has her wish granted. It's not bad, saved in particular by good performances from the Noble family.

The bad news about this episode:

Donna's back. The idea of a parasite attaching itself to its host and only being visible under specific circumstances is a science-fiction cliché, and the way it's done here fails to convince.
Rose is back - and unfortunately her return isn't handled well. Billie Piper's performance isn't great but the biggest problem is the script, which gives her nothing to do apart from spouting exposition and being portentous.
Bad Wolf. Still Stupid.

And one other thing:

Donna's grandfather apparently believes that his Italian roommates are being carted off to a death camp, and the only thing he does is salute them as they are taken away? WTF?!

My verdict:

Quite good, actually.

Meh.

More about Doctor Who

An introduction:
Doctor Who reviews: introduction

More "quite good, actually" Doctor Who:
Doctor Who reviews: quite good, actually

More Doctor Who with David Tennant:
Doctor Who reviews: 2005 - now

Similar stories:
Doctor Who reviews: time travel

More about this episode

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Episode reviews:
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