Series 3, Episode 9 | 2 parts | First broadcast: 2 June 2007 | Writer: Paul Cornell | Director: Charles Palmer
Cast
- David Tennant as the Doctor / John Smith
- Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones
- Jessica Hynes as Joan Redfern
- Harry Lloyd as Jeremy Baines / Son of Mine
Summary
As the Family of Blood’s assault on the school escalates and John Smith is finally forced to confront the truth of his hidden identity, he must choose whether to sacrifice his newfound human life and love for Joan in order to become the Doctor once more and stop the Family’s rampage. Reclaiming his true self, the Doctor delivers a uniquely harsh, lasting punishment to each member of the Family, while Joan is left to grapple with the loss of the man she loved.
Interesting Facts
- The Doctor’s punishments for the Family of Blood, dooming each member to an eternal, inescapable fate, are notably darker and more vengeful than his usual approach to enemies.
- Joan Redfern’s final rejection of the Doctor’s offer to travel with him, choosing instead to grieve John Smith in her own life, is considered one of the era’s most mature emotional beats.
- The story’s use of a framing device involving Martha and John Smith’s journal recurs as a visual motif throughout both parts.
- This two-parter is frequently ranked among the highest-rated stories of the David Tennant era by fans and critics alike.
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