DOCTOR WHO
BBC1: SATURDAY
If there’s one man I respect in this world without ever having met him, it’s Russell T. Davies. Davies is the man behind the new Doctor Who, and he wrote the season three opener ‘Smith and Jones’, another fantastic
instalment of this always superb series. He is to be credited with reviving the show and guiding the re-launch towards the levels of greatness it now so consistently achieves. So, as you may have guessed, I really like this
show.
Doctor Who makes me feel like a child again. Admittedly I’m not that old – just 17 – but still, it’s not often I get to feel as giddy and excited as I do when I’m experiencing a Who episode. Its re-launch over the last few years has gotten me into a show that I had never before known anything about (except the basics, of course). Where I couldn’t really be bothered to watch it in its first season, now I’m positively hooked. And since I know there are others out there still in the same mindset as I was back then, I’ve made it my ‘mission’ to turn those people on to this fantastic programme.
The new season sees the introduction of Martha Jones (Freema Ageyman), the Doctor’s new assistant, and on the basis of ‘Smith and Jones’ I’m liking her very much. Ageyman bridges the gap between enjoyably feisty and annoyingly arrogant, always keeping to the former side, and her casual chemistry with Tennant is immediately evident. The two should make a satisfying team-up, starting with next week’s trip to the Globe Theatre at the time of William Shakespeare. Normally I’m not as big a fan of the period instalments, but this one looks like fun. And if that doesn’t suit your fancy, perhaps the upcoming two-parter ‘Daleks in Manhattan’ will. And don’t even try and tell me that title doesn’t get you excited. Daleks! In Manhattan! Awesome.
Joey Sims
joey@c-world.co.uk
24
SKY 1: SUNDAY
As American imports go, 24 has always been the most consistently entertaining. This season has upped the ante considerably – where in the past seasons there was usually a single threat to destroy America, now there are bombs going off all over the place. It’s a bit over the top, and completely ridiculous, but that’s 24 for you. The first four episodes were good fun, but it was with the fifth and sixth that this season really got going. With Jack’s villainous brother and mysterious father now in the mix, things are getting more thrilling than ever…
Joey Sims
joey@c-world.co.uk
LOST
SKY 1: SUNDAY
24 will be forming a double-bill with Lost when it returns for the rest of its third season on Sky One Sunday 11th at 10 pm. The first six episodes of the season have been disappointing; why the writers thought sticking their main characters into cages for that long would be interesting is beyond me. The sudden onslaught of new characters has also been a bit overwhelming. Still, Lost at its worst is still pretty engaging television. If you gave up on the show because it never solved of its own mysteries then don’t bother returning now, because if you can’t live with that, this isn’t the show for you. But if you still enjoy it as much as I do, tune in. The ads for the opener look action-packed, with flashback duties given to that mysterious other Juliet, which should make for some interesting revelations.
Joey Sims
joey@c-world.co.uk
SKINS
E4: THURSDAY
It’s not all that realistic, sure, but Skins feels just true enough for it not to matter. And more importantly, it’s very, very entertaining and often hilarious. The new E4 show follows a group of British teenagers through various adolescent struggles. The only ‘star’ is Nicholas Hoult (previously of About A Boy) but his Tony is actually the least interesting character, mostly because that kind of handsome, clever and multi-tasking teen does not exist. More interesting is Sid, whose constant bad luck only makes him more endearing, and Cassie, who was the focus of the second episode and proved herself tragic yet lovable. Skins has its flaws – the plot about Chris’ obsession with his psychology teacher is a bit dull and very predictable – but I’m enjoying it a lot.
Joey Sims
joey@c-world.co.uk
