A fun story which actually had the vibes of a Sarah Jane Adventures story.  Mickey is lured to an alien spaceship whilst searching for information about the Doctor and uses his wits to escape.  Mickey is well depicted and it's fun to see what he was getting up to after Rose left with the Doctor.

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

“TAKING MICKEY: A GAME OF WITS AND CONSEQUENCES”

This story gives Mickey a rare solo adventure, as he finds himself lured onto an alien spaceship by a vengeful alien mother seeking the Doctor. While it’s always great to see Mickey getting his own moment in the limelight, the story doesn’t quite capture his voice as well as it should. That said, it does allow him to be resourceful and clever, which is a welcome change from his usual comic relief role.

A TWIST ON THE DOCTOR’S AFTERMATH

The most intriguing aspect of Taking Mickey is its focus on the unintended consequences of the Doctor’s actions. The alien woman isn’t an outright villain—she’s a grieving widow, blaming the Doctor for her husband’s death. But the real twist comes in the form of her two children, who, despite their mother’s vendetta, just want to live normal lives. This moral complexity adds some depth to an otherwise straightforward tale.

MICKEY OUTSMARTS HIS CAPTORS

Mickey’s escape plan—tricking the alien children into playing a game to outwit their mother—feels fitting for his character and makes for a satisfying resolution. It’s also refreshing to see an alien threat leave Earth without ever encountering the Doctor or causing any real damage.

VERDICT: MICKEY IN THE SPOTLIGHT

While Taking Mickey doesn’t fully capture its protagonist’s voice, it does offer a solid character moment for him, showcasing his intelligence and quick thinking. The exploration of the Doctor’s ripple effect is a compelling angle, even if the story itself doesn’t fully capitalise on its potential. A decent but not particularly standout adventure.

📝6/10

A fun look into the kinds of things Mickey's getting up to post-Aliens of London, Pre-School Reunion. Keeping an eye on alien things, meeting up with people who might have news about The Doctor or UNIT, etc. There's some fun characterization for him too with the offhand mention that he likes to play football with the kids on the estate.

The alien threat here also just works for this kind of story, someone looking for The Doctor, knows he goes to earth, and realises Mickey has a connection with him to tries to use that. The alien kids are also pretty charming and Mickey's able to use that connection to trick them into letting him out which works for his character.

Nothing special or standout, but fun.