Doctor Who: Season Two on SCI-FI

The second season of Doctor Who on SCI-FI has ended with the broadcast of the last two episodes-"Army of Ghosts" and "Doomsday." This season, we've seen the introduction of a new Doctor in David Tennant, the return of old enemies (Daleks and Cybermen) as well as old friends (Sarah Jane Smith and K9). The Doctor and Rose met Queen Victoria, and the Doctor got to light the Olympic Flame at the 2012 London Olympiad.

Christopher Eccleston made a great Doctor during Season One. I really enjoyed watching him take the role and make it his own. I would have loved to have seen him stick around for more than one season. But now, David Tennant has stepped into the part, and he has been fantastic! Tennant has also developed excellent chemistry with Billie Piper, who returns as Rose Tyler. Also returning from Season One are Noel Clarke as Rose's boyfriend Mickey, and Camille Coduri as Jackie Tyler, Rose's mom.

Here is a run-down of Season Two:

"The Christmas Invasion" This story originally aired in December of 2005 as a Christmas special, and it introduces David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor as he and Rose return to London following the Doctor's regeneration at the end of "The Parting of the Ways." The TARDIS crash lands and the Doctor spends most of the story unconscious as Earth comes under attack by aliens called the Sycorax. Tennant's performance is what really makes this story worth watching.

"New Earth" This episode is the official season opener. The Doctor brings Rose to a world called New Earth, where they run into a familiar face. Zoe Wanamaker reprises her Season One role as Lady Cassandra.

"Tooth and Claw" The TARDIS arrives in Scotland where Rose and the Doctor meet Queen Victoria, a group of evil, kung fu monks and a werewolf! T&C is one of the best stories of the season.

"School Reunion" This story is heavy with DW nostalgia as classic series favorites Sarah Jane Smith (played by Elisabeth Sladen) and K9 (voiced by John Leeson) return. Anthony Stewart Head makes a great villain as Mr. Finch.

"The Girl in the Fireplace" This episode was scripted by Steven Moffat, who is best known as the creator of the BBC comedy Coupling. The Doctor, Rose and Mickey arrive aboard a derelict spacecraft in the fifty-first century. The ship contains a fireplace, which is the opening of a time disturbance leading back to eighteenth century France, where the Doctor meets a little girl named Reinette--the future Madame de Pompadour-mistress to King Louis XV. But who are the clockwork androids, and what is their interest in Reinette? This is one of my favorite stories of the season.

"Rise of the Cybermen" (Part One of two) The Doctor, Rose and Mickey arrive on Earth in a parallel universe where Rose's father Pete (Shaun Dingwall) is still alive. They also discover a new breed of Cybermen being created in this universe by John Lumic, head of Cybus Industries. Roger Lloyd-Pack, who plays Lumic, also played David Tennant's father in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."

"The Age of Steel" (Part Two of two) On the parallel Earth, London comes under siege as Lumic tries to convert the population into Cybermen. The Doctor, Rose and Mickey join with the Preachers to try and stop them. This two-parter is one of the strongest stories of the season.

"The Idiot's Lantern" The Doctor and Rose set course to 1950's New York to see Elvis perform, but they arrive in London just days from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. A being called the Wire is living inside television sets and turning people into faceless zombies. This episode provides an interesting metaphor for the effects television can have on people when not used properly or in moderation.

"The Impossible Planet" (Part One of two) On a Sanctuary Base located in deep space, the Doctor and Rose discover some strange ancient symbols which are beyond the TARDIS' ability to translate. They find a crew of humans drilling on a planet in orbit around a black hole. The impossible has happened, and the Doctor must find out why as something deep within the planet is beginning to awaken.

"The Satan Pit" (Part Two of two) The Doctor journeys into the bowels of the planet to come face-to-face with the Beast while Rose and the explorers try to escape the Ood.

"Love and Monsters" This episode parodies DW fans. A young man who met the Doctor as a young boy, and has long been obsessed with the Time Lord narrates the story. He meets others who are interested in the Doctor, and they begin meeting together as a group. Actor/comedian Peter Kay plays the villain Arthur Kennedy (a.k.a. the Abzorbaloff), who tries to use Elton and his friends to get to the Doctor. Not the best story of the season, but it is better than some people make it out to be. Shirley Henderson (Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films) plays Ursula.

"Fear Her" A little girl in 2012 London is able to manipulate reality through her drawings. This is one of the creepier stories of the season with some interesting character bits.

"Army of Ghosts" (Part One of Two) The season finale begins as Torchwood is finally revealed after hints have been dropped all season. Ghosts start turning up all around the world. As the Doctor sets out to discover what they really are, he finds that Torchwood has recovered a void ship, which is capable of traveling between universes. This could very well be the best story so far in the new DW series.

"Doomsday" (Part Two of Two) Season Two concludes as Cybermen and Daleks, who are also fighting each other, overrun Earth. This story builds up to a heartbreaking climax and provides a strong finish to the season. The ending provides a cliffhanger to carry over into the next Christmas special, "The Runaway Bride," which aired in the U.K. last month, and will be shown here in the U.S.A. later this year.

Overall, I think Season Two started off very strong, and then began to lose some of its intensity during the second half before coming back for a strong finish in the finale. The writing was a little weak in comparison to Season One, but great performances from David Tennant, Billie Piper, Noel Clarke and several supporting actors kept viewers interested.

With Piper's departure from DW at the end of "Doomsday," Freema Agyeman will join the Doctor next season as his new traveling companion Martha Jones. Agyeman had a supporting role in "Army of Ghosts" It should be interesting to see what direction the program takes in the third season. Season Three of Doctor Who will begin airing in the spring in the U.K., and then will run here in the U.S. on SCI-FI later this year.