If you haven’t seen it, I’ll put it behind the wall, but I have to say, if this is Russell T. Davies swan song, he’s going out with a bang.

Spoilers behind the jump.

I won’t get into the semantics of the episode because I realize that not a lot of people have seen it, but I’m sure you heard the companions are all back in this episode. Sarah Jane, Martha Jones, Captain Jack and Rose, although she is the biggest surprise for the Doctor although we’ve been watching her pop up from time to time all season. From last week’s episode called Turn Left, we know that some major things are fixing (my Southernisms are coming out here) with Donna, who has been a fabulous companion. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, it’s nice to see that she has no romantic interest in the Doctor, which continues with the canon of Rose being one of the loves of Doctor Who’s long and lonely life. Donna is a companion who has grown during her travel with Doctor Who, and she’s just better than good. If Turn Left was any indication of Catherine Tate’s dramatic chops, she earns all kudos for being a fine actress. And there was some funky foreshadowing from a member of The Shadow Proclamation. I fear that Donna won’t be on the show much longer.

The companions return was fun for Doctor Who junkies, but some of it, I’m sad to say, seemed a bit forced. I feel though that the payoff will be pretty good in Journey’s End. I have heard that Tennant has signed on for two more series, but the end of Stolen Earth will break your heart and if he does regenerate into someone else after becoming injured, it will be one of the best smoke screens ever for the entire 40+ years of Doctor Who. If he is coming back, then it was an amazing cliffhanger nonetheless. I will say that they focused just a little too long in the opening sequence on his hand he lost that Captain Jack kept for all those years which might make a difference.

One never know though, do they?

It’s melodrama at it’s best.There is also a theme that comes from Russell T. Davies of how mass communication fascinates him and how it has been intertwined into many of the Doctor Who episodes he has written. He seems to utilize that theme quite often.
The most fabulous part of the episode, for me at least, was Penelope Wilton returning as former prime minister Harriet Jones, who although she had been denounced by the good Doctor, turns out to be a hero when push came to shove. And it does come to shove.

The earth is whisked away by those lethal and pesky Dialeks, led by former supervillan Davros, who are on the “Exterminate” trail again freaking out the world and being quite nasty.

Shout outs to good acting goes to Bernard Cribbins, who plays Donna’s grandfather, and is just absolutely wonderful and it was nice to see Michael Brandon in a cameo.

Next week will be the last regular episode until 2010 although there will be a couple of specials.

And, if you want to know why I adore Doctor Who, go here.