What did you think to Doctor Who - The Sontaran Stratagem?

Since it was the first of a two parter, it's kind of difficult to judge this one on it's own, but on the whole I thought it was a good start. It set up all the elements of a good story, who's conclusion I'm very much looking forward to next week.

I thought the updated Sontarans were well realised, and had all the recognisable elements that we're familiar with from the classic series. The dome shaped heads, stilted militaristic dialogue, the probic vent, wand shaped guns, three fingers, their signature spherical space ships (although this was the first time we've seen the mother ship), and a hypnotised workforce (as in "The Time Warrior"). Also nice to see them using their knowledge of cloning practically - previously only referred to in dialogue.

I think the fact that the Sontarans are considerably shorter than in the classic series makes sense. In the old series they were referred to quite a few times as being "short and stalky" due to their natural high gravity environment, but they never really were. So I think it's a case of that discontinuity having been corrected in this latest episode.

The one thing that annoyed me a bit was that the actor playing Commander Skorr didn't sound like a Sontaran at all and didn't play the part particularly convincingly. I suppose at a stretch we could explain that as a nod towards the Doctor Who tradition of actors playing second string Sontarans giving rubbish performances (like the one in "The Invasion of Time" that had a cockney accent).

I thought Christopher Ryan was perfect as General Staal though. Since the Sontarans are a cloned species, I don't see any reason why they couldn't have had him playing all the Sontaran speaking parts. With today's technology I would have thought that would have been relatively easy to do.

Also great to see UNIT back in force in this episode, and equally good to see the return of Martha Jones. There was some great dialogue between Martha, Donna and the Doctor, and from what I hear, Martha will be travelling with the Doctor after the Sontaran story as well. Donna continues to get better and better. I loved the fact that it was her who provided the clue that the work force had been hypnotised, by noticing the lack of absences in the personnel files.

Some other interesting points were General Staal's mention of the Time War, and that the Sontarans were not allowed to take part, and the Doctor's mention of "The Medusa Cascade" - the second mention in this series and the third overall. This is likely to become very important later in the series.

So, on the whole, a good episode, despite a couple of dodgy lines of dialogue here and there. Considering this was written by Helen Raynor (much criticised for last years Dalek 2 parter), it was a good solid start to what could be a great 2 parter.

In terms of story quality, I would put "The Sontaran Stratagem" on about a par with the first episode of the Cyberman 2 parter in series 2 so far, but as I said at the beginning, a proper judgement on the story will have to wait until after next week's episode.

I wasn't expecting the cloning bit, but it was a good episode. The Sontarans look like baked potatoes. I think for the Polish workers they must have hired Alistair Darling to hypnotise them with his eyebrows. All the colour in his body is collected in his eyebrows, you know. They're so... hypnotic... a bit like that dancing dog off Britain's Got Talent. Now that was good.

I think it was a great episode - the Sontarans were just like the classic series can't wait for the next episode 9/10

I thought it was brilliant the best of this series can't wait for next weeks episode. It was nice to see how much Martha Jones have changed since series 3 and to find out who her boyfriend is. I liked how the Doctor keeps saying he don't like guns because they kill.

Cant wait for next's weeks episode to see whats happens to Donna's Grandad.

I will give you a detailed review after part 2.

Edit: Here is a review of the two parter so click on the links,

http://en.wikiedia.org/wiki/The_Sontaran_Stratagem

and

http://en.wikiedia.org/wiki/The_Poison_Sky

i didnt realise its a two parter. that is rather annoying seeing as i missed the last episode and the repeat. i've heard that its quite good but of course everyone is waiting for the second episode.

captivating

and knowing how it all ends ....well lol

but sorry i knew the ending b4 it was filmed

i agree with spacephantom until part two