Smith and Jones

Dear Gary—

Smith and Jones is a good old fashioned Doctor Who adventure. It is the introductory story for a new companion, but Martha fits so seamlessly in that it doesn’t feel like a ‘Ta Da! Presenting Ms. Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones’ episode. We first meet Martha through her family and quickly discern that she is the rock at the center of this dysfunctional unit. Unlike Jackie and Mickey who were developed as characters of interest, Martha’s family members are strictly utilitarian in nature, serving to define Martha and to incidentally move along the narrative.

Martha is a medical student at the hospital where the Doctor has checked himself in as a patient. It is curious that Martha listens to his two heartbeats, makes no comment, and then later has a hard time believing he is an alien. However that is the only false note in her character.

The Doctor singles Martha out immediately, and as he observes and appraises, so too do we. Martha is intelligent, resourceful, curious, brave, and adventurous—all desirous qualities in a good companion. And she is instantly and eminently likeable.

The story itself is likeable as well. Simply put: “Judoon platoon upon the moon.” The Judoon are a decent new entry in the Doctor Who list of aliens; a bit derivative of the Sontarans, but that’s OK, I like the Sontarans. They are also similar in nature to the Megara from The Stones of Blood; these two races could team up for a spinoff— Law and Order: UFO.

In pursuit of their fugitive, the Judoon transport the hospital to the moon, which is neutral territory, since they have no jurisdiction over the Earth. This results in some impressive special effects. (I especially like the Judoon space craft.) It also makes for some considerable panic. Martha remains the calm at the center of this storm, and the Doctor naturally gravitates to her.

The felon the Judoon are after is a Plasmavore in disguise as Florence Finnegan, a patient at the hospital. We only get the sketchiest of details concerning her background, race, and crime, but that is all that is required for the story. Similar to Martha’s family, she merely serves a functional role, in her case as villain; someone for the Doctor and Martha to uncover and outwit. Smith and Jones is a case of less is more. We don’t need the details of the Judoon or the Plasmavore or Miss Finnegan’s minions the Slabs. They appear before us fully realized, no explanations required, and serve their purpose for the narrative, leaving room for the true heart of the adventure—a skillful blend of action, humor, and character development.

This is the type of story in which the Doctor shines. Unencumbered by the baggage of Rose and rid of onerous story arcs (with only hints of future themes that thankfully can be ignored) the Doctor is free to simply be the Doctor; and David Tennant takes full advantage.

It starts with Martha. This is the first chance in New Who that we get to see the Doctor sizing up a new companion. Back in Rose we didn’t yet know the latest incarnation, and much of the audience was not even familiar with the older ones. Rose was therefore the focal point, and we got to know the Doctor along with her. By Smith and Jones, however, we are completely indoctrinated with the lead character, and while much of the emphasis is on Martha evaluating this strange man, we have the advantage on her and can watch the process objectively. We therefore get to know her along with the Doctor and we get to observe how the Doctor reacts sans Rose.

The two click from the start. “As far as I’m concerned, you’ve got to earn that title,” Martha tells the Doctor regarding his name, but it doesn’t take long before she is calling him Doctor, much to the Doctor’s delight. They work well together solving the moon mystery; Martha makes an excellent Watson to the Doctor’s Sherlock. Then when action is required, she steps in as an able Robin to his Batman. Except that I have to say she is far more intelligent and capable than either of those two sidekicks.

Martha really shows her merit when the Doctor risks his life by allowing the Plasmavore to drink his blood. By all rights he should be dead and the show ended. However Martha quickly realizes the sacrifice he has made and she is not about to let this remarkable man die. She is a doctor (once she passes her exams) and she works swiftly to revive him, utilizing her knowledge of his two hearts which she previously had refused to believe, and in the end selflessly giving him her last breath in order to save him. Martha has truly proven her worth.

I love the doses of humor in this episode as well. I do cringe a little when the Doctor literally shakes off the massive amount of radiation he absorbs, however the “barefoot on the moon” scene is sufficiently amusing and I can buy his “It’s only roentgen radiation; we used to play with roentgen bricks in the nursery” explanation. I’m dubious but forgiving. Even better is his postman act to throw the Plasmavore off the scent. It is a brilliant bit of maintained mania on his part and something I could easily see the Fourth Doctor doing.

The resolution is both simplistic and contrived, but again for this one serial it serves its purpose. I’m not sure why the Plasmavore needs to increase the settings on the MRI to reach all the way to Earth when she is merely trying to take out the Judoon who are right there with her on the moon, but it makes for an exciting climax as the Doctor races to stop the destruction; in the end he does the only logical thing—he pulls the plug. After that it is simply a matter of waiting for the Judoon to reverse the process and all is well. (I’m not even going to worry about all those intensive care patients who were never shown but surely were in that hospital and who must have died along the way.)

Martha has been to the moon; she has helped save the Earth; she has met an alien with two hearts. She also has exams to pass, rent to pay, and a family to appease; she has a life to live. She can’t go traipsing off across the universe, no matter how attractive the offer. Except: “If it helps, I can travel in time as well.” Now I do love the tie scene; the humor of it mixes well with this story. However: “Crossing into established events is strictly forbidden; except for cheap tricks.” This is dangerous territory, Gary.  Already New Who has had one too many impossibilities made possible; now it is blurring the lines on those immutable laws once held so dear to the Time Lords and to the Doctor. New Who is starting to go in for “cheap tricks” and while I will forgive this one, I will not forget. The cheap trick works and Martha is the new companion.

Martha: “You’re spaceship’s made of wood.”

Welcome aboard, Martha Jones.

“It’s bigger on the inside.” I never get tired of seeing the first reactions to the TARDIS; no matter how retread it is, it still always manages to be refreshing. There is the obligatory reference to Rose, and inexplicably the Doctor is reluctant to commit to Martha as full time companion, promising only one thank you trip and then home, but we know how that goes, don’t we Gary . . .