Sontaran Stratagem is solid. The companion stuff was great. I liked Martha and Donna's dynamic, their conversation about the consequences of traveling with the Doctor and the mutual respect they estabished with eachother was good stuff. Wilf was as charming as always, Bernie Cribbins is just such a delight. Sylvia was annoying as hell but served her function as the weight holding Donna down as she was intended to.
I likes the Sontarans as villians. As much as we've seen so many aliens invading earth in this series their vibes are specific and they differentiate themselves from aillians like Daleks and Cybermen well. Their drive for war especially felt rooted and palpable. I will say Rattigan wasn't that interesting to me. There was potential for an interesting dynamic with the doctor as they are both lone genius archetypes but ultimately the character didn't have much presence.
This episode was also our first big UNIT centric story and I feel I never quite understood the vibe The Doctor sees them as brash military types who barge into stuff guns blazing but we never actually see them do that so his hostility never quite felt justified. Maybe the organization will be given a bit more character in the second part.
Very good episode but, as usual, they chose the most stupid ways to build up the suspense. Somebody is trapped in a car, suffocating with gas. Oh, the door won't open!!! It's locked!!! Dude, just break the window........
8/10
Great episode and I thought it had a great pacing especially for a
Part one of two.
I even managed to get through it with annoying
Martha being apart of it.
Who does she think she is
Chatting shit behind
The
Doctors back to Donna,
She's still pissed that
She'll never be as
Awesome are as Loved
As Rose is.
I'm so glad
The Doctors moved on
From her and her Boring
Family.
Donna is way better,
Her grandfather is frickin awesome
What a Legend.
Don's family is
So much more likable
And connectable.
Hopefully after part 2
We never have to see
Chuffing Martha again.
God I miss Rose
So very very much,
She's the GOAT.
Shout by ryan.sBlockedParent2021-12-13T17:29:53Z
Martha is way better than Donna. This is the one thing I hate about British shows. They change characters so often like it’s a regular business.