Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!

"DOCTOR JONES – MARTHA’S FUTURE, BUGS IN THE PAST, AND A TEMPORAL IDENTITY CRISIS"

Doctor Jones by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé offers a well-meaning if somewhat uneven origin tale for Martha Jones—clever, capable, and on the cusp of becoming the extraordinary woman who'll walk the Earth. Set just before she takes her A-levels, this is a story of identity, pressure, and choices wrapped in a sci-fi package that plays with Doctor Who motifs but never quite lands the emotional or narrative punch of its inspirations.

A BRIGHT YOUNG MIND IN A STRANGE LITTLE SHOP

Àbíké-Íyímídé presents Martha at a crossroads: she’s bright, observant, and already thinks like a doctor, but remains uncertain whether to pursue medicine. The story grounds her in a strong, believable family dynamic—especially her relationship with her mother, Francine. Their interactions crackle with realism, capturing both affection and frustration. It’s a good foundation for exploring how Martha becomes the woman we meet in Smith and Jones.

The story’s sci-fi kicks in when Martha stumbles into a strange little shop with a shopkeeper who looks both ancient and youthful—and who coughs up insects. It's creepy and compelling, with unsettling imagery that lingers. The parallels to Smith and Jones are deliberate and effective: the isolated, displaced location, the feeling of being cut off from the world, the slow realisation that time and space are being tampered with. There’s also a touch of The Shakespeare Code, as Martha ends up in 1692 Salem and is promptly accused of witchcraft. It’s a clever echo of her future adventures, albeit one that’s not fully explored.

BUGS, BRANCHES, AND THE DOCTOR

The alien threat, a time termite that shifts timelines and takes on human forms, is a functional if familiar concept. It provides the excuse for time travel and the crisis at hand, but it’s not the most memorable antagonist. The stakes never feel especially high, and the resolution—surprise, it’s a memory wipe and a timeline reset—is too neat and too familiar, especially in a collection that’s already seen multiple stories end this way.

The Ninth Doctor makes an appearance here, but it’s a fleeting one and not entirely successful. His dialogue doesn’t quite capture Eccleston’s sharp, manic intensity, and his presence feels more functional than dramatic. He’s here to deliver exposition and pull Martha out of danger, but we’re left wondering whether this cameo really adds anything to the tale beyond ticking a continuity box.

SALEM AS WINDOW DRESSING

The biggest missed opportunity is the Salem setting. The infamous 1692 witch trials are fertile ground for tension, fear, and historical commentary—but the story doesn’t do much with it. The girl Martha meets in the prison cell is barely developed, and Salem itself is little more than a backdrop for a short escape scene. It’s a fascinating period, reduced here to a single beat in an already overstuffed narrative.

Still, there's something satisfying in seeing Martha’s moral clarity and compassion shine through. She doesn't need a sonic screwdriver or time travel knowledge to make a difference—she helps people, questions what’s wrong, and finds the courage to confront things others would run from. That, more than the time termites or witch trials, is what sells her future as the Doctor’s companion.

📝THE BOTTOM LINE:

Doctor Jones is a passable but unremarkable piece in the Origin Stories anthology. While it successfully captures Martha’s intelligence and compassion, the sci-fi elements feel underbaked, the Salem setting is squandered, and the Ninth Doctor’s cameo doesn’t quite land. It’s a story with a strong emotional core but a wobbly sci-fi frame, ultimately worth reading for its character insights rather than its plot mechanics.

6/10