Turn Left

The following review was written just after the first broadcast, on UK television, of the Doctor Who episode, Turn Left

******** Spoiler Warning********

We’ve all wondered “What if?” at some point in our life. We may even be able to isolate specific moments when a decision has changed our lives, for better or worse, over long periods of time. I know I can think of more than a couple of moments like that in my life.

This episode of Dr Who, Turn Left, explores what would have happened to Donna, or not happened to her but around her, if she had taken one small decision slightly differently. As Marvel Comics would have titled the comic (if they were still running the title);

“What if Donna Noble had turned right?”

Like dominoes, turning right at this specific point had a cumulative effect on the world surrounding Donna, and affected the fate of the whole planet. As Rose points out to Donna, she is “the most important person in all creation!” This episode goes some way to proving that point, but I imagine that the next two will prove it even more, though I don’t know how.

Donna sets about this change in events when she encounters a sinister fortune teller on an alien planet, which she is visiting with the Doctor, of course. While interrogating Donna, the fortune teller distracts her long enough for an alien creature, one of the Trickster’s brigade, to attach itself to her and influence her, and allow her to alter her long past decision. (The Trickster was previously seen in “Whatever Happened To Sarah-Jane?” episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures.) What difference could turning right instead of left make anyway? Ho-Boy!!

Because of the change of direction, and subsequent change of employer, she never worked at H.C. Clements, she never met Lance Bennett and he probably proposed to some other “silly” temp to make her the victim of the Empress of Racnoss. When Donna wasn’t with the Doctor to tell him to stop when he was defeating the Empress he stayed until the end, which in this case was his end. The Doctor died in this battle, leaving the Earth almost defenceless. In the Doctor’s absence, his once and future allies try to defend Earth, but all are killed or taken in battles that, in the real time line, the Doctor would have won. Martha Jones dies saving a colleague when her hospital is transported to the Moon in the adventure that took place in “Smith & Jones.” The hospital returned, but at the cost of Sarah-Jane Smith and her young companions, Maria Jackson and Clyde Langer. Luke wasn’t mentioned strangely, or they may just have talked over the point where his name was said.

Buckingham Palace and subsequently London and most of South-East England were destroyed when the Doctor wasn’t present to prevent the replica of the Titanic from crashing there.

This devastation results in massive relocation in WWII-like evacuations and the expected millions of US dollars in aid never materializes as the US and much of the world is devastated when the Adipose children are born from the fat of their citizens. Another event prevented by the intervention of the Doctor (and Donna) in real time [Partners in Crime].

When the Sontarrans attack Earth with their Atmos car systems, intending to poison the Earth, the UK is saved only because of its previous ill-fortune, as there is a serious lack of petrol after the oceans were “closed” following the previous attacks. The remaining members of Torchwood Cardiff, Gwen Cooper [Williams?] and Ianto Jones, are killed defeating the Sontarrans, and Cap’n Jack is transported to the Sontarran home world. With the UK in dire straits, the emergency government initiate measures the world never thought it would see again and sends the non-British to “labour camps,” which the ever on-the-ball Wilf sees for what they truly are, concentration camps. By this point Donna’s mum has given up all hope, not just with Donna but with life. And when Donna and Wilf witness the stars “going out,” she finally realises that she is ready to help the mysterious blond who she has met on various occasions but who will not reveal her name.

Donna is truly terrified when the blond, Rose Tyler [as if you hadn't guessed], shows her the “thing” on her back which so many other people have almost seen. She is also told by Rose that she will die. She mistakenly believes that by agreeing to Rose’s time-travel plan she can prevent this, it isn’t until she has made her journey that she realises that only by dying will she make the changes necessary to restore her true reality. Her false decision rectified by her self-sacrifice means that time is restored and Donna is returned to the room with the fortune teller on the alien planet and the “time beetle” dies. The fortune teller is now terrified of Donna, stating: “You are so strong? What are you? What will you become?” almost certainly a portent of things to come (over the next two weeks?).

I took my time when coming to review this episode because I was so overwhelmed by it. For an episode without the Doctor (much), it was an incredibly action-filled, thought-provoking and incredibly well performed piece. Catherine Tate showed almost every emotion possible throughout this episode, an amazing performance that should win her a BAFTA. One should also go to Russell T Davis for writing this incredibly difficult episode. So much happened in this episode, or didn’t as the case may be, that I had to watch it a second time to get my thoughts sorted and my brain around all the information. I may even watch it a third time as I’m bound to have missed stuff.

I had forgotten how strangely Billie Piper talks, like she has a mouthful of something [teeth?] all the time! And, isn’t it amazing how switched on Wilf is for an old geezer. When the news report mentions “rhinos” he immediately realises that they must be aliens. What has happened in his past to make him so insightful to what the universe is really like? I hope that can be explored at some point in the future. We are all now waiting in desperate anticipation of the end-of season finale double bill to beat all end-of-season shows.

Almost everyone is in the next two episodes apparently: The Doctor, Donna, Rose, Martha, Cap’n Jack, Ianto, Gwen, Sarah-Jane, Luke, Jackie Tyler, Mickey, Wilf, Sylvia Noble, Francine Jones, the Daleks, the Judoon, and . . . wait for it . . . as if you didn’t know already, . . . guess who’s back? . . . (I can tell you as Confidential gave it away, right at the end), . . . . Davros!

And, just what, or who, is the red Dalek? There have been many rumours going around about this series, especially about what is coming up for the finale, but I have yet to hear any rumours that could be true, now that certain possible stories have been proven wrong by stories that we have seen. For example, I had heard that Donna was going to “hatch” spiders out of her back, which had been laid there by the Empress of Raknoss. That was obviously an off-the-mark assumption about the time beetle in this week’s episode. But, is the red Dalek really a transformed Harriet Jones? Or. could “she” be someone else who is strong and has been destined for something since she was born? Just my own personal theory.

As I’ve just mentioned Confidential gave away the mystery guest character for next week’s episode, but it also cleared up some other things and made me aware of some things I just hadn’t connected. Such as, the planets that are being destroyed. Two have been mentioned that I have spotted, and were both mentioned individually, in separate episodes so it would take someone more obsessive than me to have linked them. But, in Partners in Crime, it was mentioned that the Adiposian hatching planet had been “lost.” In The Fires of Pompeii, it is revealed that the home planet of the Pyroviles has been destroyed. Obviously, if the stars are “going out” then their planets would not be able to survive. RTD also pointed out, in Confidential, that it has been said that death follows the Doctor around. If he didn’t go certain places would so many die? This episode, as was RTD’s intention, shows that if the Doctor isn’t around then see how many more millions would die!

And finally, I hope that they resolve the bee thing! It is really beginning to buzz, I mean bug me now. I’ve heard that Davros is using bees to make Daleks, but that seems preposterous as Daleks made out of honey would not be very scary, just very tasty! Oh, and I was just slightly freaked out when I found a dead bee at work the other day!! Had one escaped Davros’ work hive? We’ll find out within a fortnight!