Thoughts on The Lazarus Experiment

[kaliha]

After last week I has cautious hopes that this episode would be better. Thankfully it was. Much better.


The Doctor shows off his driving skillz

By actually managing to a) not concuss anyone travelling inside the good ship TARDIS and b) not crashing.

Martha discovers that they're not going on a fantastic adventure

Homes Sweet Home it's not. Poor Martha she's so crestfallen by it all. Stupid Doctor and his stupid 'one trip' rules. Note how he tells Martha that it's only 12 hours after she left – now that sounds familiar doesn't it? It's probably twelve years this time.

No wait, it is only 12 hours. Nice work there Doctor, finally got the hang of flying your ship, hmmmmm?

No idea of 'personal space'

He's still not sorted out his rudeness or putting his fingers where they don't belong issues has he?

Erm, then some plot happens. The Doctor and Martha watch a bit of telly and the Doctor buggers off.

It's no wonder Martha's so depressed

Just look at the state of that wallpaper. It probably triggers migraines and all sorts. Ooh and just imagine it if you've got a hangover. Blimey.

Luckily the Doctor comes back

"Changing What?" He thought he was missing a new episode of Changing Rooms. He wanted to see how Lawrence would transform the kitchen of a two-bed semi in Redditch. He was a bit gutted that actually he was going to need to save the world. Again.

Well, I don't really know…

It's Mavis!! This alone makes me feel very excited about the episode.

Team TARDIS got to infiltrate the party

The Doctor is feeling smug because Martha compares him to James Bond. Bet he's in his matching Converse too. Hey, it's cool to co-ordinate nowadays

Ooh, love nibbles me!

Especially when I'm not wandering around handing them out.

The Doctor enjoys not being a waiter. Although he's probably a bit miffed that he's Martha's plus one (along with some more of the passionate fangirl) but he is a pretty plus one, we'll give him that.

Meet the family

Considering the Doctor has spent hundreds of years around humans he still has no social skills when it comes to parents – more specifically, mothers. Telling a girl's mum that you spent the night doing stuff is only going to get you slapped (or kicked in the balls – do Time Lords even have balls? what with the looms and all *ahem*) Tish seems quite taken by him and even Leo thinks he looks quite dashing in his tux (although not as dashing as him, obvs)

This doesn't bode well

Any scientific equipment that explodes when you turn it on is not a good thing to be inside. Especially when it looks like one of those futuristic public toilets. Luckily they've got the Doctor there to save the day with his trust Sonic Screwdriver. However, you can't help but wonder if his meddling helped cause the problems that besets Lazarus later on in the episode.

ZOMG! I'm Mark Gatiss!

Blimey, that's ace.

It's all a trick!

Everyone seems very accepting of his transformation. Why is no one calling shenanigans? Surely there'd be a couple of sceptics in the audience?

Lookit that flirting

The Doctor and Lazarus have a bit of a love-in although the Doctor doesn't trust him. He's probably a bit jealous of Lazarus' gingery hair.

She's a clever'un, our Martha

Martha puts up with her obvious dislike of the 76-year old lothario (yet she's fine with chatting up a 900-odd year old – she must be more of a fan of the much older man.) to be sneaky and nick a DNA sample from Lazarus. He must have given her hand a very slobbery kiss. Eugh!

Mark is mean to Mavis from Corrie

And a goodly part of the audience boo and hiss at him. What an absolute meanie.

Now for the skience bit

Erm, there's something about triggering dormant genes and how we're descended from insects or something. Someone ought to point out that saying it fast doesn't make it sound any more impressive, especially when it sounds dead implausible in the first place.

BBC Wales distracts us with some pretty graphics

Ooh pretty.

Ooh, spikey!

I'm sure that isn't part of your average forty year old. In fact I'm sure someone would have noticed. In fact what bit of him is that? *worries*

Listen very carefully, I will say this only once

Mum isn't too impressed with the Doctor anyway and it's not helped when a suspicious Reece Shearsmith-lookalike sidles up to her and tells her that the Doctor is a very dangerous man.

He's probably one of Saxon's henchmen (because all evil politicians need a henceman) but what if he's an ex-Torchwood One employee, As Ianto proved some people did survive the battle of Canary Wharf…

The Doctor's been making a lot of enemies recently. So much so that he's going to have t abandon Earth for a bit until everyone forgets about him. Then he can come back and cause some more trouble.

Martha, I'm trying to pull Mark Gatiss here

Tish is a bit annoyed with Martha cramping her style. But her big sister only has her best interests at heart. Afterall she doesn't want a little sister who is a shrivelled husk.

Eugh!

Who's a pretty boy then? Not Marky boy, that's for sure.

Running down stairs is more difficult in heels

Martha should have realised there was going to be some running for her life. After all she is with the Doctor.

Stupid woman

If the doctor tells you to run then hop to it!

I do like the design of the monstrous Lazarus. Especially the way his mouth opens – but like the Predator *does a rubbish Predator impression that you can't see* Although Gatiss' face doesn't look much like him even when his mouth is closed. He moves well too, really creepy.

Leo gets brained by a flying table

Ouchie!

Martha uses her mad doctoring skillz

Brother + hit by table + on head = concussion.

Hide and Seek

In that pipe room I'm positive they used in The End of the World. I did chuckle at the visual reference to Spider-man though – although the Doctor didn't give Spidey a kiss – and he wasn't wet t-shirty either – but you can't have everything.

Dun go with him! He's dangerous

Surely as a mum, Francine should realise that if you tell your daughter not to do anything then she is going to go and do it anyway. Plus Martha has this need to help people, that now includes 900 year old aliens and 76-year old Spider creaturea.

How many Time Lords does it take to change a lightbulb?

Well, technically he didn't change it, just rewired it. DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME KIDS not unless you want your house burning down. He was lucky not to get electrocuted.

Don't try this at school kids

Science teachers across the country are suddenly glad that Science labs tend to come with a master gas cut-off. Two weeks with gas taps, it's a science lab geek's dream come true because gas taps are made of win.

As you didn't listen very carefully then I'll tell you again

So what did the henchman tell Francine? That it was the Doctor who killed Adeole? Or it was the Doctor who caused the destruction of Canary Wharf (making him Adeole's murderer by association)?

You and me in an enclosed space with my reputation?

The Doctor will use any excuse. It's all that time spent with Casanova, the man's a bad influence on him :D And judging by Martha's surprised exclamation when the Doctor was rooting around for his screwdriver he didn't just elbow her in the ribs.

Quick, reverse the polarity!

The most famous of all old skool references for the win! Also loved his appraisal of Martha's footwear. Those Tron-style light up wires are very cool. Lucky the Doctor saved them just in time else they could have been a smushed-up hybrid and Francine would have been most annoyed by that.

Suffering for his art

Poor Mark Gatiss. Spending so much f his time lying on a cold floor naked. (Note how he kept saying in the Confidential that the floor was very cold ;))

Remember that symbol that was all over Lazarus' labs

Just remember it, it'll become clear later.

Ouch!

Poor Doctor, he's always getting beat up by his assistant's mothers. Francine packs a bit of a punch too.

I get the feeling the henchman went down the 'he killed Adeole' route.

Martha won't leave him though

And they go off monster hunting, because it's all part of a days work now. Tish comes along too, after all, he big sister did just save her life.

It's only bloody well Wells Cathedral!

Wells is becoming the movie making capital of Somerset, bless. Oh God, what if it was Doctor Who they were filming when I visited Wells and not Hot Fuzz? That would be even more gutting. Woes.

I love the way these few scenes are lit

it really does make the Doctor look rather otherworldly.

Using your companion as bait?

Naughty Doctor. You need to stop doing that. Meanwhile admire how nice Wells cathedral looks.

Let's turn this op to eleven!

Spinal Tap references for the win!

is this where the phrase 'pulling out all the stops' comes from?



How funny would it have been

if he played chopsticks or Twinkle, twinkle little star? Or even the theme to EastEnders. *laughs*

While the Doctor's been playing with his big Organ *snigger*

Martha's in a bit of a bind. Lucky Tish was there to save her from plummeting to the ground. Makes them even. Not that either of them are keeping score, probably.

The Doctor belatedly checks that they're okay

Oh well, if they weren't he'd be able to pick up another travelling companion.

Awwww!

See, the Doctor is quite fond of her. No chemistry? Pifft!

The Doctor takes Martha home and goes to pick his his TARDIS

Well, he goes, that's your one trip over, been fun. See you later then?

Martha's not impressed that she's being dumped and had a go (quite rightly) at the Doctor.

I don't get these human emotions

Suitable cowed the Doctor relents and offers her a place on the ship. There's much squee and huggage and off they go.

Vworp vworp!


Sadly they disappear off into the sunset before Martha can pack. So she'll probably spend her next few episodes in her cocktail dress and those shoes the Doctor likes so much.

In Conclusion
A much improved episode compared to last weeks. The fleshing out of Martha's family didn't feel forced (although Francine's eyebrows really scare me in their severity). There's been some seeds sown ready for the last few episodes (Saxon's henchman, Francine's phone message). And some development in the Doctor and Martha's relationship. (which is all good)

The monster looked suitably monstrous which was also very good.

8/10

Comments

[lm-jillybean.livejournal.com]

I've said it before. I'll say it again. Tish should become a companion too. I want sisters in the TARDIS damnnitt

[tabula-x-rasa.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I was thinking the exact same thing! I'd love to see Tish as a companion, too.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Altogether a very satisfying episode - thanks for the revisit!

The pic of the Doctor being slapped by Francine didn't appear on my screen. Why is that a favourite moment? Maybe because I liked it so much when Jackie Tyler slapped him, and I love the continuity there.

[staceyuk.livejournal.com]

Ooooooh I love your reviews.

[doylefan22.livejournal.com]

I think someone must have been watching Spider-man films before writing this episode because the scene with Lazarus' machine nearly blowing up was rather reminiscent of Doc Ock in the second film...

[llembas.livejournal.com]

Love the recaps!

This episode and the one about the neverending traffic jam, are the two I've liked the most this series.

Though I think I squeed more at the trailer for the Jack episode than I have about anything.

:-)

Also, meant to comment on this when you mentioned it in your last recap about how you can't stand it...but...I <3 Love and Monsters. *giggles*

[taperoo2k.livejournal.com]

I loved the hide and seek game the Doctor played with Lazarus.
Anyway the evil bloke talking to Martha's mother might return later on in the series, so best keep an eye out for him.

9/10 because of the horror movie rip offs they used i.e. The Fly - man gets trapped in machine with a house fly. Turns into a great big bloody human sized fly with a taste for human flesh.

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

* inflicts the indignity of Editor's Choiceness on you *

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

* also steals your cap and makes an icon of it because it tickled her so much *

[--kali--.livejournal.com]

Why thank you. Twice over.

[elen-ancalima.livejournal.com]

Oh my - I'd completly forgotten about Adeola *headdesk*. No wonder Martha's Mum whacked him like that (if that's in fact what Mysterious Man told her about).

[sushigal007.livejournal.com]

Haha, love screencap posts. ^^ Although the slap isn't showing for me and you have a broken html tag at the end. ^^ Also, I'm pretty sure Tish is the big sister.

[altorogue.livejournal.com]

I was really hoping that he'd start playing the Phantom of the Opera, or Bach's Toccata and Fugue, or something that just reeks of great big pipe organ. Though I will admit, the doctor's got some mad keyboard skillz.

[circe-tigana.livejournal.com]

I saw Saxon's henchman (Bertie Carvel) in a recent National Theatre production, so he's already a crush ;)

[gryffinclaw.livejournal.com]

Oh this was great! Very funny!

I shall be linking a few people here.

One quick thing. Martha is the middle child, not the oldest. There was a copy of the 'Smith and Jones' script and it said so in the script.

[webeh.livejournal.com]

Middle child, really? That would have to make Tish the oldest then, wouldn't it? The brother just turned 21 and there's no way Martha is younger than that because she's in medical school. Also, Tish is presumably older than 21 because of the type of job she's holding.

[gryffinclaw.livejournal.com]

According to the script.

Tish - 24

Matha - 23

Leo - 21.

Here is a link to the script for ‘Smith and Jones’ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/doctor_who_3_ep_1.pdf)

[cheesygirl.livejournal.com]

I too am terrified of Mrs. Jones' eyebrows. I don't blame the Doctor for being tongue-tied in the presence of those fierce creatures!

(Francine, honey, step away from the eyebrow pencil. Less is more, m'kay?)

[--kali--.livejournal.com]

Maybe the make-up artists made her look more scary to reflect how the Doctor feels about other people's mums in general? Hmm.

[missscarlett.livejournal.com]

I thought the plot was rather rubbish, actually, but there were lots of great character moments for the Doctor, Martha and Martha's family to make up for it. I enjoyed it, even so. Much, much better than last weeks.

[shadowsyra.livejournal.com]

Martha's wallpaper really got me too. It was so loud that I was distracted for another two or three minutes of the episode.

I do actually think that's where the pulling out the stops phrase came from. I mean, from organs, not from the Doctor. Well, maybe it did come from the Doctor. He can travel in time, you know.

The reference to Three made me squee in joy. <3

Lawlz at the ZOMG I'm Mark Gatiss bit.

[--kali--.livejournal.com]

ZOMG! I do fangirl him so. :D

[tabula-x-rasa.livejournal.com]

Your screencap review FTW! Highly entertaining, as usual!

[luthien-black.livejournal.com]

I did spend much of the organ scene thinking to myself: He's pulling out all the stops! He's pulling out all the stops! *snigger* Personally, I was hoping for Bach's Toccata in D Minor, but no :(

I also was hoping Tish would join them. But I suppose that she'd just be seen as this season's Mickey...

I'm looking forward to *not next* week's. Damn Eurovision. And what was with the table tapping? That's the one thing I really want to find out!

[majicke.livejournal.com]

I assumed he was tapping out "SOS" in case anyone was listening at the door.

[luthien-black.livejournal.com]

Maybe, although it sounded to me like it was just groups of three short taps. At least we know the man has rhythm :)

[--kali--.livejournal.com]

Maybe he's using it to count down a period of time (because it really does look like he gasses his cabinet)

[luthien-black.livejournal.com]

Oh, that works well for me. Wow, maybe he's a baddie... ;)