42

42 comes with the headline that it's a radical story in that it's produced as an episode set in real time but carefully watching the story it becomes obvious that it's not actually set in real time at all . In many ways 42 is one of the most traditional stories the show has produced

The plot revolves around a bunch of humans in the far future who are under attack from an unknown force and of possession . This type of adventure is very similar to what we - fans of the classic show - are used to and something we'd seen as far back as the Troughton era in the mid 1960s , a time when the parents of NU-Who fans weren't probably born . There's also a plot device of the humans using a new type of fuel which instantly reminds classic fans of the 1975 tale Planet Of Evil . A radical episode ? Don't think so !

There is one or two elements where the episode differs from the classic series . One is the heavy use of character interaction of a husband and wife , another is a somewhat nasty method of the villain dispatching its victims . When I say " nasty " I tend to mean in that in a cynical way . Compare this to The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit which isn't all that different but that was a very memorable story where as 42 isn't , though it is a relatively entertaining runaround

It's also an episode which is supposedly intriguing as to who is Mr Saxon ? this seasons running theme . Unfortunately after the Bad Wolf running theme from season one and the Torchwood theme from season two I'm starting to get fed up with running theme seasons since they usually end up as a damp squib . This season's finale had better be something special !