"Doctor Who" Partners in Crime (2008)

Director:

James Strong

Writer:

Russell T. Davies (written by)

TV Series:

"Doctor Who" (2005)

Original Air Date:

5 April 2008 (Season 4, Episode 1)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

With a new weight-loss pill tested in London by Adipose Industries, The Doctor goes to investigate the sinister truth behind the product, only to find out that his old friend Donna Noble is investigating as well. |

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Time Lord | Tardis | Companion | Doctor Who

Cast

David Tennant	...	The Doctor
Catherine Tate	...	Donna Noble
Billie Piper	...	Rose Tyler
Sarah Lancashire	...	Miss Foster
Bernard Cribbins	...	Wilfred Mott
Jacqueline King	...	Sylvia Noble
Verona Joseph	...	Penny Carter
Jessica Gunning	...	Stacey Harris
Martin Ball	...	Roger Davey
Rachid Sabitri	...	Craig Staniland
Chandra Ruegg	...	Clare Pope
Sue Kelvin	...	Suzette Chambers
Jonathan Stratt	...	Taxi Driver

Runtime:

48 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

UK:PG (DVD rating)

Company:

BBC Wales

Trivia:

Howard Attfield did film some scenes as Donna's father, but became too unwell to continue and died during Season four filming. This episode was dedicated to him. Bernard Cribbins, who starred in the previous episode as Wilfred Mott, was brought back to re-film Attfield's scenes, now establishing Wilfred as Donna's grandfather.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Miss Foster uses her sonic device on the window-washer's crane, she points it at the right-side cable, but it's the left-side cable that breaks.

Quotes:

Sylvia Noble: [Donna just walked in; from the other room] And what time's this?
Donna Noble: [rolls her eyes] How old am I?
Sylvia Noble: [pokes her head around the corner] Not old enough to use a phone.

Movie Connections:

References Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

The surprisingly pleasing return of Donna Noble

Despite serious misgivings concerning the return of Catherine Tate's Donna Noble to the Tardis, I found myself eating humble pie as this episode gained momentum.

"Partners in Crime" brings a whole new dynamism to the series, demonstrating what fans have always known...that "Doctor Who" is capable of changing every few years. From the pleasingly re-energised starting sequence which harks back to the time-tunnel of earlier Doctors to the climax, every scene in this episode was a delight.

Providing welcome comic relief to the series after the doom-and-gloom of the last few tales, this opening to "Series 4" has fantastic chemistry between Tennant and Tate, another appearance from the television legend that is Bernard Cribbins, and a wonderfully comic turn from Sarah Lancashire.

Tennant reminds me a little of Bruce Campbell, with his energetic, enthusiastic and wide-eyed portrayal of the Time Lord. He's clearly extremely comfortable in the role and I dearly hope he decides to stay around for quite some time, no pun intended.

The effects in "Partners in Crime" are largely first class and the latest alien creation, the Andipose, are the cutest beings yet to appear in the long history of the series.

9 out of 10. I haven't had so much fun watching an episode of "Doctor Who" for quite some time. Marvellous family entertainment.