"Doctor Who" The Shakespeare Code (2007)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Charles Palmer

Writer:

Gareth Roberts (written by)

TV Series:

"Doctor Who" (2005)

Original Air Date:

7 April 2007 (Season 3, Episode 2)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The Doctor takes Martha to 1599, to meet none other than William Shakespeare in the Globe Theatre...but can he stop the curse of the three witches?

Plot Keywords:

Shakespeare | Spell | Coven | Witch | Queen Elizabeth I

Cast

David Tennant	...	The Doctor
Freema Agyeman	...	Martha Jones
Dean Lennox Kelly	...	Shakespeare
Christina Cole	...	Lilith
Sam Marks	...	Wiggins
Amanda Lawrence	...	Doomfinger
Linda Clark	...	Bloodtide
Jalaal Hartley	...	Dick
David Westhead	...	Kempe
Andrée Bernard	...	Dolly Bailey
Chris Larkin	...	Lynley
Stephen Marcus	...	Jailer
Matt King	...	Peter Streete
Robert Demeger	...	Preacher
Angela Pleasence	...	Queen Elizabeth

Runtime:

45 min | 45 min (50 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:PG (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Globe Theatre, Bankside, Southwark, London, England, UK

Trivia:

William Shakespeare, then played by Hugh Walters, had previously appeared in the first part of the six part serial 'Doctor Who: The Chase' ('Doctor Who: The Executioners (1965)' ).

Quotes:

[after trying to explain psychic paper to Martha, and she doesn't understand]
The Doctor: I hate starting from scratch...

Movie Connections:

References "Doctor Who: The Wheel of Fortune (#2.24)" (1965)

A visually stunning episode of the series

"The Shakespeare Code" marks the lovely Martha Jones' first trip in the TARDIS. Rather than a trip to a space station or a faraway planet, the Doctor and his companion go back to Shakesperean England where they meet the bard himself. Dean Lennox Kelly plays Shakespeare like a Tudor rock star, including high-kicks and Noel Gallagher-like comments to the audience. Kelly's performance is excellent and his Shakespeare is a very likable fellow.

The beautiful Christina ("Hex") Cole plays the youngest of three "witches" who set out to destroy earth. Cole is always watchable and she does a great job here. The pre-titles intro will have many older male viewers grinning at the suggestion of naughty goings-on with Ms. Cole. Meanwhile, kids will run for cover behind their nearest settee as the considerable "fright factor" is introduced.

This episode is truly impressive in the visual effects department. Filmed partly in the re-built Globe theatre and on location, there's a real sense of scale. Everything is lit beautifully and the effects are gorgeous to look at. The CGI-produced Carrionites are a great design, reminding me a little of the terrifying Reapers from Eccleston's "Father's Day".

The script is superb and will have schoolchildren throughout the land rummaging through Shakespeare plays for a reference to a Sycorax. Here's a clue...they should start with "The Tempest". Thankfully, the episode doesn't try sticking to continuity with previous stories where the Doctor's meetings with Shakespeare have been mentioned. This would have simply made things messy and unnecessarily confusing.

Despite its strengths, there are one or two areas where the episode didn't gel as well as it could have done. Perhaps I'm being unsympathetic but I'm growing a little tired of the Doctor's references to Rose. Hopefully, these will soon become a thing of the past. Also, Tennant can be just a tad annoying at times. Having said this, he's a great Doctor and every incarnation of the Time Lord has had the ability to be a little annoying in certain situations.

Overall, an enjoyable episode and a strong 8 out of 10. This is big-budget television and proper family entertainment.