We finally get payoff for the hints dropped throughout the season of trouble on Earth, as the Master is prime minister and has essentially brainwashed humanity and is bringing in "alien" visitors. What carries this episode is just seeing Simm's Master at work, acting generally kind of insane and diabolical.

New Who Review #40

The Sound of Drums

This story wasn't as good as Utopia. We Are back on earth and the master has taken control of everything. The doctor has been turned so old and we have no chance of winning. This episode does a really good job at making me feel so powerless against the threat. Like there is literally nothing we can do. Seeing Martha's family be imprisoned and tortured for something they haven't done is so sad to see. The toclafane are a ehh villain only serving as the masters henchman which is fine. Overall not as good as Utopia but it does have its moments. 7/10

The Sound of Drums is a pretty excellent follow-up to the events of Series Three and Utopia specifically. It is great pay-off to the Saxon plot threads. John Simm is pretty strong as the Master, too. The stuff with the "aliens" and such was pretty good set-up even if Last of the Time Lords didn't totally manage a great follow through.

There's some really great elements of production, too. The use of the song The Sound of Drums was great, the Paradox Machine looked awesome, and some of the other CGI stuff is pretty well done given the age of this episode. Some of the acting leaves a bit to be desired in the form of Barrowman and a couple of the guest stars, but overall this is a very strong episode on the whole.