42

42 was written in response to the popular TV series 24, in which the action takes place in real time over 24 hours divided into 24 one hour episodes. Chris Chibnall took this concept and applied it to an episode of Doctor Who, having the entire episode taking place over 42 minutes in real time.

To me, this really benefits the episode. It makes it feel 'real', as though we're watching events take place as they actually unfold. It's a clever concept and one that I applaud Chris Chibnall taking from 24. Kudos to him also for making a Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy reference by having it 42 minutes as opposed to 45 (although this episode isn't quite the answer to life, the universe and everything).

The story follows the Doctor and Martha arriving on the spaceship S.S. Pentallian after receiving a distress call and find that it is out of control hurtling towards the sun.The sun starts possessing the crew angry at them for illegally using it as fuel and the Doctor and Martha have 42 minutes to save them and the ship.

This is a fun and lively action-orientated episode of the show but it also has a few very creepy moments such as when the Doctor also finds himself possessed. It features one of the greatest moments you can have in Doctor Who that has been done a few times in the new series, where the Doctor himself is no longer in control and is scared of the situation. If the Doctor is scared, you know they are in deep trouble and Chris Chibnall plays this brilliantly.

It's not all good; it isn't the best episode by a long mile. It can feel a little generic and the scene at the end with Francine's call being monitored by a group of people working for Mr Saxon feels a little shoehorned in. It doesn't get the recognition it deserves though as a great episode of series 3. It is definitely among the strongest Chris Chibnall has written for the show.

One of the greatest soap actors Michelle Collins features too. Michelle Collins is known for playing Cindy in EastEnders (a show that I personally hate) and Stella in Coronation Street. Here, she plays Kath McDonnell and provides one of the best supporting character performances of the show. She is very believable and whilst not good enough to be recurring character status, provides a very strong portrayal of a character who is desperate in the circumstances of the ship's crashing.

David Tennant and Freema Ageyman are on top form, especially David Tennant who is unbelievably scary when he is possessed by the sun. I think this is one of David Tennant's finest performances as the Doctor; it's just chilling when he utters 'Burn With Me, Martha'. Those four words have a powerful effect on the audience in not only showing the lead character possessed but also in David Tennant's performance that there is still a bit of the Doctor there who's scared and doesn't quite know what to do. This is why David Tennnant is the best Doctor; he gave such a layered performance in the role.

Overall, 42 is a great episode told in real time with strong action scenes and some scary moments. Some may find it generic and the end scene is a bit forced to suit the Mr Saxon arc of series 3 but Michelle Collins is great as Kath McDonnell and David Tennant is terrifying as the possessed Doctor.

I don't think 42 is terrible, but it is awfully average. This story is just okay. The sun monster gimmick really feels like it doesn't have enough energy to carry an entire episode, so things feel a little strained. Martha is pretty straightforward here in her story role and it's nothing special but Freeman Agyeman and David Tennant are both just kind of doing the best with the material at hand and it leads to a very watchable experience, to the credit of this episode.

In hindsight, there are a lot of traits to this episode that would ultimately represent the Chibnall era of Who, just like how Moffat's early writing credits were predictive of his time as show runner. We have an idea that probably could work with the right script, the characters feel like they should be more memorable as we spend a lot of time with them, but everything is kind of bogged down by empty dialogue, running from one plot point to the next, and little to no feelings of consequence or focus.

So it's fine, easy to get through, and not an unpleasant experience - I just sort of like Martha and the Doctor in any context, but I'm not going to pretend this isn't one of their more boring outings.

This is the third thoroughly underwhelming story in a row delivered by a brand new writer to the show. This time it is Chris Chibnall’s turn to disappoint (he becomes important later…!)

My wife hated this story. She initially thought she’d already seen it due to the uncanny and frustratingly close resemblance to the excellent The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit. It smacks of the Doctor Who team saying “that worked - let’s try it again.” Whilst visually it is a copy / paste job, the paper thin levels of peril and personality free, motivation-less characters make it almost impossible to be able to invest in the story. It makes you really appreciate the craft Matt Jones and RTD put into these character’s fully fleshed out series two counterparts.

It’s a shame because the basic plot Chibnall is given to work with us rather good - a living sun which wants back something that has been taken from it - a similar idea to a classic Who story which escapes my mind at the moment (I’m sure someone can tell me). I also like the slowly lifting sun visors and the “burn with me!”

Their take on the real time TV show 24 doesn’t really do anything. If they had gone all in on the countdown concept it could have done - but the supposed timings never match up with what we’re experiencing onscreen to any degree - so there’s a massive disconnect in the pacing.

The pod sequence with Martha floating into space is well handled on an emotional level, they had a good idea, but the Doctor and Martha’s friend messing with the pod’s interface trying to resolve the situation is in practice, quite boring.

Freema and David knock out some excellent performances though. They save the day and save the episode, feeling liked they’d really clicked as actors, even if Martha hasn’t quite had enough to do at this point in the series.

The mid series slump has been horrendous which is frustrating as the first four episodes without Billie Piper had been so promising. There is definitely better to come!