PREVIEWS: The Shakespeare Code - SPOILERS AHEAD

Preview #1 Written by Piggy Fizz

The TARDIS lands in a scenic chunk of the past just as some alien threat in an appropriately contemporary guise makes life hell for the locals. Yep, it could be ‘The Idiot’s Lantern’ or indeed several other more enjoyable WHO stories. It certainly describes ‘The Shakespeare Code’, though Gareth Robert’s script has manners enough to provide its villains with some motive and plan beyond merely being ‘hungry’ and thankfully the resolution doesn’t boil down to the Doctor lashing together an anti-alien device.

As a character, Shakespeare is here crucial to the plot rather than being just a random cameo from some historical figure, but that’s enough Mark Gattis-baiting for one review. The central theme of the potency of words and literacy is extremely welcome even if the episode still can’t bear to end without a shed-load of CGI visuals to keep modern telly viewers happy, though admittedly ‘The Mind Robber’ could have benefited from such sound and fury.

On the downside, the witches’ make-up design is extremely traditional, deliberately so I’m sure, but it jars weirdly with the rest of this rich-looking tale, as if they ran out time and bunged in Zelda from ‘Terrahawks’.

And okay, so the script can’t resist the obvious trick of throwing in the famous and not so famous Bard quotes, but any story with a running gag referencing ‘Duck Soup’ is okay by me.

Martha Jones is already emerging as a very likeable character, nicely played by Freema Agyeman as bright and somewhat less bolshy than her predecessor, whom I won’t name here since the Doctor himself seems more than happy to carry on gabbing about his old chum. I can appreciate that the show’s makers might want to portray the Doctor as a more human character, treating the departure of travelling pals with more than a curt, "I’ll miss you too, savage", but this is the third episode running where the Doctor bleats on about someone who has now been more than adequately replaced. Any more, and the name Rose Tyler is in danger of becoming the new Cloister Bell.

A fun if unambitious story then, though it can’t be faulted on its visually impressive execution. Watch out for some nice cameos from Matt King (Super Hans from ‘Peep Show’) and Donald Pleasance’s now not-so-little girl in a cracking final scene.

Preview #2 Written by me

From the moment The Shakespeare Code begins you realise that you're in for some very good quality drama and some stunning visuals. The recreation of 16th century Bankside looks great and you realise that the rumours about the CGI stepping up a gear is undoubtedly true.

There are some truly edgy moments in this episode: From some scary jumps for the kids, some gruesome deaths such as the chap that drowns and an intimate scene for our two main characters this isn't an episode that lets you relax for a second but with each twist and turn the plot moves forward and it keeps you hooked.

The witches are indeed archetypal stereotype 16th century hags but they still look great and they are led by one hell of a foxy witch in disguise. Worth drowning for anyway. If there's any character that feels like a let down it's the Bard himself. He's a boring genius, I'll give him that but he is central to the plot itself rather than being overwhelmed by it like Charles Dickens a couple of years back.

The plot is great and the message is a useful one, especially for kids to get their heads around. The only problem is that it's resolved loudly and it hurts the eyes. I haven't a clue how it was sorted in the end but it looked achingly great!

This is a good solid episode allowing Martha as a character to settle in and I have to say that with each passing moment I wanted to see more of her. She's a good replacement and Freema is doing extremely well. With episodes like this I expect the show to continue to do very well in the ratings.