My favourite part of this episode is when the Doctor asks the old ladies who have been recording traffic sightings for 40 years if they’ve ever seen a single official vehicle. Anything to suggest that the city above is looking after them. Just the stunned silence that follows as they realize that they never have, as their entire world view is shattered in that instance as they think “what if there’s no one out there”. Just amazing.
"What, you've been driving for six months?" "Hah! Do I look like a teenager to you? We've been driving for twelve years now!" "Twelve years? How far did you come? Where did you start?" "Battery Park. It's five miles back." "You've travelled five miles in twelve years?!" "...I think he's a bit slow." - Brannigan Gets me every time.
@SpankMeSanta I like it when the companions are people, just normal down-to-earth people. That seems to be the whole point of the companion, to contrast with the Doctor's alien nature. But the more complex companions work, but I prefer the more down-to-earth ones.
I never gave this episode enough credit, because you could never show it anyone, who has never seen any WHO before, because they'll just laugh at it because of all the ridiculous costumes. Although from what I recall, the story was actually pretty solid and awesome....
The another thing about this episode you don't bring up is religion. Far more than The Satan Pit, this is "Doctor Who on Religion" and intentionally so by RTD. It is a world where paradise is promised above, horrors lie down below, and human beings live out their entire lives stuck inbetween them, wanting to go up, praying they don't go down. That's why the Macra are needed. Pirates wouldn't have the same dramatic resonance as red monsters with claws, waiting further down. RTD, an atheist, wrote it to be an intentionally pro-faith episode. The hymns and faith that bind the humans together is what has kept them from going insane, kept them from murdering each other savagely, gave them hope for a better life. In the end, a God-like immortal being gives his life to open paradise above for them. But RTD also said, after he finished it, he can also see where his atheism snuck in. It is also a world where these people never succeed, never get out of their rut, never actually get above BECAUSE of their faith in the system, and so live out stagnated lives all while hoping for a better one. It takes out an outsider skeptic, the Doctor, to question their worldview before genuine change happens. I would put this in the top 5 of New Who. RTD recently said this was his favorite episode he wrote. This back and forth within himself questioning how positively or negatively faith affects people is subtle but is what the episode is truly about.
Do you have a source for RTD's thoughts on it? Is it from the Writer's Journey or whatever the book was called? Because that's pretty fascinating. Not sure it actually makes me value the episode any more than I already do overall (I've said before that the best allegory doesn't drive the story, it deepens a narrative that would have worked just as well without it), but it's pretty dang interesting.
@@CouncilofGeeks Yes, it is from The Writer's Tale. :) In the hardback, it is on pages 35-36 and in the paperback, it is on pages 55-56. And I generally agree! I like Gridlock as a story first and foremost, with the allegory elements just being icing on the cake, but I thought it was the most interesting aspect of the episode that hadn't been brought up in the video or any other comment I saw.
Very interesting take! It's true, in this episode, the faith in the government is alike the faith in religion. I'd argue it's not a pro-faith episode, though. The hymn part was sort of sad to me, in that it was trying to be hopeful in a hopeless situation.
Gridlock holds a special place in my heart. I like it and I struggle to say why. It's just a fun, quirky adventure. Definitely the best of the future trilogy
I remember someone saying that Martha didn't challenge 10 the way Rose did but I thought she did the final scene where she gets him to tell her about Gallifrey.
Love this episode to bits. This is the one where the 10th Doctor finally gets character development and treats Martha much better from this point forwards, the atmosphere and tone is very McCoy-esque which I love, and it's a great send off to Captain Jack/Face of Boe. I don't even mind that the Macra are much different here than in the Macra Terror, because the episode mentions that these versions are the first born evolution, as opposed to the cunning manipulators in the Macra Terror. No complaints from me on this story, one of NewWho's most underrated stories.
Gridlock is one of those episodes that feels like it should be a lower-mid tier episode based on its premise and plot, but the execution is excellent for the most part. I have a real soft spot for this one. Also, the reveal that the entire planet died because of a drug gone wrong reminds me a lot of Serenity, which I love. The idea was probably inspired by that.
This episode has some great Martha moments that make you go ‘Yeah, she’s smart’ or ‘Yeah, she’s a training doctor’. A perfect example is the scene where she says to the pregnant carjacker ‘you’re idiots! You’re pregnant and you’re wearing that!?’ and yanks the mood drug patch off her neck.
I also noticed in my rewatch that this was the first use of All the Strange Strange Creatures. Such a good piece, pretty perfect for Tennant's era, especially these years.
I really like this episode without any good reason. I really love the part where the doctor borrows a scarf thingy and it's purple. He says it's not his colour. But then David Tennant later went on to play Killgrave. I really like the irony of that :)
Always liked this one ... quite a lot. It has a cool atmosphere, and Tennant has a LOT of fun with the episode. It continued the theme of the Doctor visiting future Earth in the early seasons which I always enjoyed, and at the very end we get the START of the Doctors quest to ultimately rediscover Gallifrey which pays off in Tennant's final episodes. Series 3 stepped up a notch at this point, and would only keep gathering speed as it moved forwards ...
This was a fun one. I mean, who doesn't hate traffic? One of my favorite moments is when Tennant holds a kitten. Just love it. And at the end, when Martha just sits down and refuses to budge? Priceless. And the Doctor finally acknowledging his immense sense of loss about Gallifrey is one of Tennant's finest moments.
I really like this one for how it shows The Doctor and Martha reflecting on their relationship and how little they actually know each other. The moment around the middle of the story where they separately realize just how in over their heads they both got is a nice turning point for the end where Martha forced the Doctor to open up about himself. This is also just a great example of world building. The lions share of the story is set in ONE set, just decorated differently, but each of those several cars and passengers have such distinct personality. This one really holds up, I think.
I think you underrate nako(cat person)-fans. Martha in the end really comes across stronger the rose, especially in torchwood not that rose is a a slouche.
What makes the episode an enjoyable re-watch for me are the Doctor's varied interactions with the motorists and, as you point out, the scene with Martha at the end -- possibly her best one-on-one with the Doctor. The rest is . . . ok.
Honestly this is one of my favorite RTD era episodes. It's not as impressive a story as, say, Dalek, or Midnight, or Turn Left, but to me it embodies the fun and adventure of the RTD era. It's stupid, and silly, and bombastic, and I love it to pieces. I love Brannigan, the kittens, the Cassini "sisters," even the unnecessary fanservicy Macra! It's just so much fun to watch!
Have massive nostalgia for this episode and love it to bits. It wasn’t my first episode by a long shot (that goes to Father’s Day )but I remember having it saved on my PSP before I had any doctor who dvds and watching it on repeat. Now I have all of the modern series and am collecting the classics on bluray as they get released.
One other reason for the mood drugs, and a smart one at that, was the truth one on her kidnapper. I like it because Martha has almost no one else to talk to and, without it, we would wonder why she trusts them. I mean the whole idea of kidnapping someone just so you can use the fast lane is so ridiculous that she would never believe it otherwise.
I really, really like Gridlock. It's always been one of my favorites; and an episode I find to be underrated. I do think they could have done more with the mood patches, that part of it felt so real and immediate. His journey through all the other cars is SO much fun too. It wasn't earth shattering, but it all just worked.
One of my favorite episodes! I LOVE the different interiors of the various cars and the varieties of peoples encountered. One of the best efforts of Nu Who to show a kind of cosmopolitanism in the future. The hymns are also quite nice, in part because they follow a scene where the Doctor confronts the car counting ladies (and others) about what they haven't seen, what they aren't acknowledging. There is this odd combination of joy and desperation on the motorway--and where they intersect in "faith." The DW universe (especially the future) often flirts with the whimsy of Adams's "Hitchhiker's Guide" universe; here they seem to collide head on. I also think this episode offers a kind of definitional feel to DW as SF. DW very often isn't concerned with realism or plausibility. It is willing to go large to the point of ridiculousness for the sake of allegorical force and/or just the pleasure of whimsy. DW stories are often a kind of "fairy tale" or "tall tale" in SF drag (for example, see particularly the ending of the next couple of episodes concerning "The Family of Blood"). I mean come on! The Doctor is being hunted by a cat nun with a ray gun, fer cryin' out loud! Love! It! :-D Plus, oh my, aren't there some wonderful cameos in those cars? Look! The ghost from "Being Human"!
i like the monsters and the emotion patches. it gives the sense that there's a lot more to this world they've dropped into and we're only learning about a small part of it. those other parts could be addressed later or never. either way would be fine by me.
I know this is an old video but I wanted to mention that Boe's "old friend" line was added to the script later (I think the line even had to be re-recorded?) after Russel T Davies decided to put that Face of Boe joke in Last of the Time Lords. It's intended as soft confirmation that Captain Jack is indeed The Face of Boe.
Gridlock is one of my favorite episodes. I just rewatched after several years and I've come to the conclusion that 21st Century Thrivers with their skin patches are the precursor to the Pharmtown vendors. 😂 Also, love the music, especially "Abide With Me" at the end because the lyrics mirror the Doctor's interaction with Martha, from the line about the skies, to the plea not to be left all alone. It's quite beautiful. And there's the Face of Boe, overhearing that Martha is caught in the gridlock, and David Tennant with kittens (including a mobile made of fish hanging over their basket). It's just a perfectly wonderful episode. One complaint: the impact of the kidnappers was minimized too much for my liking. If the Doctor and the Face if Boe hadn't intervened, best case scenario Martha loses 6years of her life and they acted like it was no big deal. I really wanted The Doctor to give them a little comeuppance for that. At the very least a stern talking-to.
Good to see I'm not the only one who likes this episode! I think it's my favorite from Russell's scripts after Left and Donna's finale episodes. I have it in such high standards because I think it was the first of Russel's episodes that I truly enjoyed. I didn't know about the aliens being from the old era, so their inclusion didn't bother me - in fact, I think it works for the plot in the big reveal of the end, even though you are right, it doesn't serve much of a purpose. I never had a catpeople problem so it didn't bother me particularly (the babies, though. eeek...) and I will agree the part about the drugs was such as wasted opportunity. All the themes are great, though. And I wished we had more politically oriented pieces like this. I am not even saying I agree with the political stance, but it was bold and fun to watch. In fact, Martha's and the Doctor's drama was the thing I least liked, even if it's true that Martha feels a bit less of a doormat and that's always a plus. So, yeah. I enjoyed everything. Good episode.
This is by far one of my favorite episodes, although I still can't figure out how a cat & human had kittens. I also like that Martha called him on his bs and made him talk. I still like her better than Rose and is a much better companion. It's also interesting that Twelve still had some mood patches left in the Dark Water episode.
This is still one of my favorites. I liked the idea that these people were stuck believing a promise for something better and it was an utter grind if you wanted to achieve it. That felt like life to me. And it also felt like the solution was to fix something broken with the system and break through the “ceiling” to get there. I think the mood makers would have fit in more if he ever contemplated forgetting rose and gave us the sense that he was trapped by his own emotions (his own broken system) . Then we could have said the grind is the work, and you have to reach your lowest point to bounce back. Everyone goes through the gridlock even if they fake their emotions or forget. So may as well go in with clarity. At least I wish the episode was supporting that
For a long time as an adolescent I wanted to get a tattoo of the “Bliss” patch on my neck. This was never my favorite story, but that layer of it and the social commentary therein affected me.
The whole explanation for why everyone is trapped on the motorway is very convoluted. I get the feeling that Davies really struggled to come up with one.
One thing I liked is that unlike Love and Monsters where they made it really obvious Victor Kennedy was played by guest comedian Peter Kay in Gridlock Brannigan is mostly designed around the character instead of just the guest Comedian Ardal O'Hanlon (in the UK he is most recognisable as Father Dougal in the hit show Father Ted). One of Martha's kidnappers went on to play a ghost in the BBC version of Being Human. The only thing I didn't like is Martha's already going on about The Doctor being on the rebound, and the way she lusts after him for most of the series just because of one kiss in her first episode.
yeah he said that. he was just saying that for someone watching it a first time (not knowing that jack is the face of boe) they think that the doctor and the face of Boe have only seen each other twice before that so you'd feel like they weren't really OLD friends, but when you rewatch it after knowing that jack is the face of boe it fits
Why couldn't the "monster" be the toxic fumes realised by the vehicle? Like have the vehicles more likely to break down in the fast lane and when they do, they shut off and the toxic fumes choke out all the people in the vehicles.
That would make sense. Maybe have a mention of the fact there are supposed to be machines down there pumping the fumes out, but at some point they've shut down because nobody up top is keeping them working.
@@wendyheatherwood oh yeah! Good point I forgot at that part! Then you could have people being all full of hope that the pumps will come on eventually as they slowly choke to death.
Love this one, it reminds me of a classic who story as the plot is a bit outlandish but makes you think. The conversation at the end was fantastic and is one of the reasons I think Martha is way underrated. Branigan was enjoyable and the humor was on point. I know I’m in the minority but borderline top ten NuWho for me.
I think part of the problem with this episode is that, as an America used to a 22 prolonged season, this episode felt like it could have been at least 5 episodes, as it dealt with so many plot threads that, in American TV, would normally been picked up and drawn out: An episode dealing with the mood drugs, an episode in traffic, an episode with the Macra... maybe even a trip to earlier in the Marca's development. I guess what I am saying, going from Star Trek and Buffy and all the TV shows that stretched out stories and even added filler to make up episodes, this one episode left me wanting to have less in it so that there could be more return trips and dealing with the dangling plot threads. And that's what I thought they were doing, leaving threads to return to.
I like this episode. fun and different and as you said relatable premise but obviously just more sci fi version. but clunky in places but pleasant and enjoyable to watch. o fun fact time how you said that a traffic jam scenario is a very relatable concept in media and is a good premise for a lot of content. one of the most famous Christmas Songs was written or at least thought up during a traffic jam Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea. just a fun little fact for you but no i likes Martha confronting the doctor on his actions and making him talk. and i dunno why i feel especially in today's current climate and stuff that one small moment is more relatable in the fact that guys naturally don't open up about their emotions and stuff and that rates of suicide are higher in men than in women. i dunno why i just thought of that but it just popped into my head. but overall enjoyable episode.
Gridlock to me (at the time at least) felt like an episode the classic series might have done had it continued. Agreed the Macra were needless, plus in the classic series they could do a lot more. Either bring them back properly or not at all. BTW Brannigan is played by Ardal O'Hanlan who played Doogle in Father Ted, a sitcom you might want to give a go if you haven't already.
I do think thematically the mood drugs do fit somewhat. However I feel it could have been explored better. But the Doctor does draw attention to the fact that everyone in the traffic jam is refusing to acknowledge the reality of their situation. And that does seem to be reflected in most conversations that are had with the other characters. E.g. the bizarre lengths of journeys seeming normal and the acceptance of a situation that shouldn't be accepted. I think the idea is A. The drugs have aided with that and B. People will do anything to not accept a dire situation their in (e.g. use drugs) to avoid pain. Like I say, this could be better explored and and it's not the strongest analogy but it is there.
Enjoy this on first viewing back in the day and liked the ending on rewatches it's better and even though can see faults still have fun with and the ending still gets me one of my favorite Tennant scenes Ahead of the next two parter. Did you hear about the reactions to the writer back in the day. Worth quick look into if haven't. RTD wasn't best pleased.
Love this episode.it's not perfect, but I love it anyway.it's nice to see the Doctor open up, have more development & begin to treat Martha well (Admittedly it doesn't last very long.)her quick feelings for him never bothered me, bc she gave her life to save him & he was the last thing that she saw b4 she almost died in 'Smith and Jones'.when u give ur life to save someone,& they are the last thing u see, ur emotions can speed up & become attached quickly.fun story: I did write a Dr. Who novel where Martha & 10 were forced to go back in time to this story, and their biggest problem to deal with WERE the pirates.they also had to keep out of sight so that their younger selves didn't see them, bc they arrived at the same time that their younger selves were there on this story.it was like Doctor Who met Harry Potter POA. it was fun as hell to write, tho I don't know how it was to a reader. it sold well enough... until the BBC forced me to unpublish it. I make no apologies!
I honestly like the idea of the Doctor opening up more to a character that isn't the one who started warming him up. It feels different from the norm, and I kind of want to write a romance like that. And thinking it over, this is probably the best atheist metaphor Doctor Who did (at least, that I can think of off the top of my head). It's subtle, for one, and it's much less acrimonious to the 'religious' side.
I adore this episode, mostly from nostalgia. When I first watched this episode as a 12 year old it captured my imagination so well that even now I’m inspired by it. Although I can admit that it does have several flaws.
The thing I find is that, if a story is engaging enough, I don't notice the things wrong with it. I just enjoy the episode. And that's what I did with Gridlock - I just enjoyed the episode. I didn't think I was going to, because the first scenes aren't that engaging, but once Martha is grabbed it catches me and I'm absorbed into the episode. It's a problem I had with a lot of later NuWho, especially with Capaldi's run - I found myself either confused, or bored, or both, either because the story concepts were overly ridiculous (even for Doctor Who), or overly convoluted. Gridlock is a very simple premise, done very well, and I think it's a great episode.
This takes place pretty far in the future. His species may indeed be extinct at this point. The bigger problem is that he dies--unless he pops back to life after the Doctor leaves.
How do you feel about about a human man married to a deer woman on Bojack or Hana and her wolfman husband in the Japanese animated fantasy drama wolf children?
It would also help if they revealed one way or the other if Captain Jack Harkness is the face of Boe. Jack being Boe makes the “old friend “ comment make more sense
If nobody EVER comes back from the Motorway....why would you GO there in the first place? And if there is no place to go in the first place...why do you need to get there fast? Once you start to overthink it....
Well they don't know there's no place to get to. As for why do they go? The implied answer is that life in the undercity is so bleak and static that eventually the dim hope that the motorway eventually leads somewhere lures folks to it. Hope is a powerful thing, especially if you don't have any in the life you're living.
I just rewatched Father's Day yesterday. They never say the word "Reaper" for the monster, or do they? At least in the German dub I saw, there was no name for them...
It's actually really hard to find a version of 10's screwdriver that isn't the UV light with the invisible ink pen on the other end. The ones that aren't are all Britain made and expensive if you want to get them shipped to the Americas. I have two versions of 10's that aren't which my sister had to get from England when she visited because I couldn't find them online for a decent price.
Idk, probably uses similar tech as the other moods, and after that one was developed, it was just simpler to call it a "mood" since it was pretty much identical to the others.
I never gave this episode enough credit, because you could never show it anyone, who has never seen any WHO before, because they'll just laugh at it because of all the ridiculous costumes. Although from what I recall, the story was actually pretty solid and awesome....
I agree - it has its problems, but it's a lot of fun. I'm particularly fond of Brannigan too, but a significant portion of that is due to the fact that I'm a huge fan of Ardal O'Hanlon, the actor/comedian playing him. I also quite like the older lesbian couple. The Macra, while a nice callback, were pretty unnecessary. I rather like your pirate idea, it'd mesh well with the whole "kidnapping to get to the fast lane" theme that's already there. It was good to see the Face of Boe again, but I agree hindsight adds an extra layer of meaning to the whole thing that didn't exist on original broadcast. I definitely prefer take-no-BS Martha to lovesick Martha. Pity we couldn't have had more of the former and less of the latter.
Not to make a stupid analogy, but personally, the whole thing of the Doctor trying to recapture his adventures with Rose through Martha seems a little bit similar to Michael Jackson and why the supposed child abuse allegations were made. He didn't have a proper childhood, so he thought that he could relive it by being around lots of kids.
For the United States. Macra Terror will not be released until October 8th 2019... 7 months after the UK release.. Lame! At least that’s when Amazon has the first ship date for it.
harrietamidala1691 I hope I am wrong! The 2nd Doctor is my favorite, and I would love to have this missing story ASAP! But all the google searching and on amazon. I am seeing the USA release isn’t until October 8th 2019.
am I the only one that thinks the face of Bo should return? the character has barely been explored, and the stories that feature him are set in the year 5 billion, there's plenty of wiggle room. Also they've probably still got the prop, just a massive face cluttering up some cupboard at the BBC, they could put it to use again, it's a very nice practical effect.
They can't really as one told the doc they'd meet only 3 times total and with the later reveal its captain Jack kind of makes any actuall stories with the big face pointless
@@HouseholdWheel I'm not saying they cant. The whole boe thing is pointless unless they do some retcon like they've done before. I just don't see chibnall as up to that challenge yet.
Honestly, the only problem I had was this. If this is supposed to be a new representation of an American city, why are people driving on the left? Americans drive on the right! Also, just for laughs, guess what Old York in England would now be called on New Earth? New York.
The cat people are kind of cheesy and lazy, but in a billion years when we have genetic manipulation and crazy science, you just know the furries are going to go for it.
Agree about the maccra. They either should have ditched them or used them more. Think the car journeys was just too long. 5 miles on 6 years! I don't know. I just wouldn't. They know this when hit the road. I could understand if when they started they didn't know just how long it could take. I can understand the journey taking years, but 5 miles! Surly they could just walk! I just think it would have been better if the needed to get to new, new Jersey or something and that took a couple of years. I also didn't like the way branigan refers to the two ladies who are married as being "modern" like being in a same sex marriage is still not the norm. All those billions of years in the future! He's married to woman that's not even the same species! 2 women 'modern' I would have much preferd it if it wasn't even acknowledged. I also don't understand why if so many people wanted to to fast lane why there wasn't more people willing to car share? I know some people thought it dangerous, but many didn't. Why the need to kidnap people? Not even ask them 1st If wanted to car share. I thought Martha came across a bit petulant when she sat on that chair. It's one of the few moments of hers I dislike. Believe it or not though I do still like this eppisode
Why would anyone spend years in a traffic jam? This is the part of the story that lost me. It seems ridiculous. People just wouldn't bother surely? Perhaps I'm missing something?
I could never figure out why they wouldn't just walk. I get it would be dangerous, but if they can get mood patches surely they can get protection? I feel like too much of this planet was glossed over to fully make sense of it.
My favourite part of this episode is when the Doctor asks the old ladies who have been recording traffic sightings for 40 years if they’ve ever seen a single official vehicle. Anything to suggest that the city above is looking after them. Just the stunned silence that follows as they realize that they never have, as their entire world view is shattered in that instance as they think “what if there’s no one out there”. Just amazing.
Quinn Sinclair omg yes
Quinn Sinclair I love you for pointing that out❤️ glad to see I’m not the only one who appreciates the little things of the RTD era
Would had been so funny if you came into the video late and then said "Sorry I'm late. The traffic was horrid!" haha
"What, you've been driving for six months?"
"Hah! Do I look like a teenager to you? We've been driving for twelve years now!"
"Twelve years? How far did you come? Where did you start?"
"Battery Park. It's five miles back."
"You've travelled five miles in twelve years?!"
"...I think he's a bit slow." - Brannigan
Gets me every time.
The great thing about Brannigan is that Ardal O'Hanlon plays him in such a likeable, natural way that I don't actually notice he's a talking cat!
Ardal is awesome. He's so good at making audiences like him!!!
Gridlock is very underrated, the CGI looks a bit dated (it was 12 years ago) but the story's quite nice.
@SpankMeSanta Series 3 is probably the most underrated NuWho series, then Series 10 imo.
@SpankMeSanta I like it when the companions are people, just normal down-to-earth people. That seems to be the whole point of the companion, to contrast with the Doctor's alien nature. But the more complex companions work, but I prefer the more down-to-earth ones.
That CGI looked dated THEN
I never gave this episode enough credit, because you could never show it anyone, who has never seen any WHO before, because they'll just laugh at it because of all the ridiculous costumes. Although from what I recall, the story was actually pretty solid and awesome....
But practical effects still look great
The another thing about this episode you don't bring up is religion. Far more than The Satan Pit, this is "Doctor Who on Religion" and intentionally so by RTD. It is a world where paradise is promised above, horrors lie down below, and human beings live out their entire lives stuck inbetween them, wanting to go up, praying they don't go down. That's why the Macra are needed. Pirates wouldn't have the same dramatic resonance as red monsters with claws, waiting further down.
RTD, an atheist, wrote it to be an intentionally pro-faith episode. The hymns and faith that bind the humans together is what has kept them from going insane, kept them from murdering each other savagely, gave them hope for a better life. In the end, a God-like immortal being gives his life to open paradise above for them.
But RTD also said, after he finished it, he can also see where his atheism snuck in. It is also a world where these people never succeed, never get out of their rut, never actually get above BECAUSE of their faith in the system, and so live out stagnated lives all while hoping for a better one. It takes out an outsider skeptic, the Doctor, to question their worldview before genuine change happens.
I would put this in the top 5 of New Who. RTD recently said this was his favorite episode he wrote. This back and forth within himself questioning how positively or negatively faith affects people is subtle but is what the episode is truly about.
Do you have a source for RTD's thoughts on it? Is it from the Writer's Journey or whatever the book was called? Because that's pretty fascinating. Not sure it actually makes me value the episode any more than I already do overall (I've said before that the best allegory doesn't drive the story, it deepens a narrative that would have worked just as well without it), but it's pretty dang interesting.
@@CouncilofGeeks Yes, it is from The Writer's Tale. :) In the hardback, it is on pages 35-36 and in the paperback, it is on pages 55-56. And I generally agree! I like Gridlock as a story first and foremost, with the allegory elements just being icing on the cake, but I thought it was the most interesting aspect of the episode that hadn't been brought up in the video or any other comment I saw.
Very interesting take! It's true, in this episode, the faith in the government is alike the faith in religion. I'd argue it's not a pro-faith episode, though. The hymn part was sort of sad to me, in that it was trying to be hopeful in a hopeless situation.
This is amazing, now I love the episode even more
Gridlock holds a special place in my heart. I like it and I struggle to say why. It's just a fun, quirky adventure. Definitely the best of the future trilogy
I remember someone saying that Martha didn't challenge 10 the way Rose did but I thought she did the final scene where she gets him to tell her about Gallifrey.
Love this episode to bits. This is the one where the 10th Doctor finally gets character development and treats Martha much better from this point forwards, the atmosphere and tone is very McCoy-esque which I love, and it's a great send off to Captain Jack/Face of Boe. I don't even mind that the Macra are much different here than in the Macra Terror, because the episode mentions that these versions are the first born evolution, as opposed to the cunning manipulators in the Macra Terror. No complaints from me on this story, one of NewWho's most underrated stories.
I totally agree!
Gridlock is one of those episodes that feels like it should be a lower-mid tier episode based on its premise and plot, but the execution is excellent for the most part. I have a real soft spot for this one. Also, the reveal that the entire planet died because of a drug gone wrong reminds me a lot of Serenity, which I love. The idea was probably inspired by that.
This episode has some great Martha moments that make you go ‘Yeah, she’s smart’ or ‘Yeah, she’s a training doctor’.
A perfect example is the scene where she says to the pregnant carjacker ‘you’re idiots! You’re pregnant and you’re wearing that!?’ and yanks the mood drug patch off her neck.
I also noticed in my rewatch that this was the first use of All the Strange Strange Creatures. Such a good piece, pretty perfect for Tennant's era, especially these years.
I really like this episode without any good reason. I really love the part where the doctor borrows a scarf thingy and it's purple. He says it's not his colour. But then David Tennant later went on to play Killgrave. I really like the irony of that :)
Always liked this one ... quite a lot.
It has a cool atmosphere, and Tennant has a LOT of fun with the episode. It continued the theme of the Doctor visiting future Earth in the early seasons which I always enjoyed, and at the very end we get the START of the Doctors quest to ultimately rediscover Gallifrey which pays off in Tennant's final episodes.
Series 3 stepped up a notch at this point, and would only keep gathering speed as it moved forwards ...
This was a fun one. I mean, who doesn't hate traffic? One of my favorite moments is when Tennant holds a kitten. Just love it. And at the end, when Martha just sits down and refuses to budge? Priceless. And the Doctor finally acknowledging his immense sense of loss about Gallifrey is one of Tennant's finest moments.
I really like this one for how it shows The Doctor and Martha reflecting on their relationship and how little they actually know each other. The moment around the middle of the story where they separately realize just how in over their heads they both got is a nice turning point for the end where Martha forced the Doctor to open up about himself.
This is also just a great example of world building. The lions share of the story is set in ONE set, just decorated differently, but each of those several cars and passengers have such distinct personality.
This one really holds up, I think.
I’ve always had a soft spot for this one too.
I don't know why but this episode has really stuck in my mind from my childhood.
The ending is amazing with Tennants monologue about Galifrey... So gripping and beautifully done. Love how well he delivers it...
I think you underrate nako(cat person)-fans.
Martha in the end really comes across stronger the rose, especially in torchwood not that rose is a a slouche.
I really, really love some of the shot composition of this episode.
Love Brannigan. An episode with him and Capaldi would be hilarious. The face of Bao was a good character
Oh I absolutely love this episode, the settings, the characters, all of it
I love as I get older i wonder why there was no aliens swearing from anger in their own language so the BBC could cover it up.
What makes the episode an enjoyable re-watch for me are the Doctor's varied interactions with the motorists and, as you point out, the scene with Martha at the end -- possibly her best one-on-one with the Doctor. The rest is . . . ok.
Honestly this is one of my favorite RTD era episodes. It's not as impressive a story as, say, Dalek, or Midnight, or Turn Left, but to me it embodies the fun and adventure of the RTD era. It's stupid, and silly, and bombastic, and I love it to pieces. I love Brannigan, the kittens, the Cassini "sisters," even the unnecessary fanservicy Macra! It's just so much fun to watch!
Ardal O'Hanlon, who plays Brannigan, was in a great comedy a number of years ago called My Hero. I'd recommend checking it out.
Was he also in father ted?
@@harrietamidala1691 Yes he was, as the excellently funny Father Dougal.
Have massive nostalgia for this episode and love it to bits. It wasn’t my first episode by a long shot (that goes to Father’s Day )but I remember having it saved on my PSP before I had any doctor who dvds and watching it on repeat.
Now I have all of the modern series and am collecting the classics on bluray as they get released.
Are you gonna review the forthcoming animated recreation of 'The Macra Terror'?
Going by memories from when I saw this as a kid....I enjoyed this episode! My first introduction to the Macra and a criminally underrated episode
One other reason for the mood drugs, and a smart one at that, was the truth one on her kidnapper. I like it because Martha has almost no one else to talk to and, without it, we would wonder why she trusts them. I mean the whole idea of kidnapping someone just so you can use the fast lane is so ridiculous that she would never believe it otherwise.
I really, really like Gridlock. It's always been one of my favorites; and an episode I find to be underrated. I do think they could have done more with the mood patches, that part of it felt so real and immediate. His journey through all the other cars is SO much fun too. It wasn't earth shattering, but it all just worked.
One of my favorite episodes! I LOVE the different interiors of the various cars and the varieties of peoples encountered. One of the best efforts of Nu Who to show a kind of cosmopolitanism in the future. The hymns are also quite nice, in part because they follow a scene where the Doctor confronts the car counting ladies (and others) about what they haven't seen, what they aren't acknowledging. There is this odd combination of joy and desperation on the motorway--and where they intersect in "faith." The DW universe (especially the future) often flirts with the whimsy of Adams's "Hitchhiker's Guide" universe; here they seem to collide head on.
I also think this episode offers a kind of definitional feel to DW as SF. DW very often isn't concerned with realism or plausibility. It is willing to go large to the point of ridiculousness for the sake of allegorical force and/or just the pleasure of whimsy. DW stories are often a kind of "fairy tale" or "tall tale" in SF drag (for example, see particularly the ending of the next couple of episodes concerning "The Family of Blood"). I mean come on! The Doctor is being hunted by a cat nun with a ray gun, fer cryin' out loud! Love! It! :-D
Plus, oh my, aren't there some wonderful cameos in those cars? Look! The ghost from "Being Human"!
This is truly a weirdly good episode. I dont know why I like it but I really do
i like the monsters and the emotion patches. it gives the sense that there's a lot more to this world they've dropped into and we're only learning about a small part of it. those other parts could be addressed later or never. either way would be fine by me.
i haven't seen many episodes with rose so i could be missing relevant context.
I know this is an old video but I wanted to mention that Boe's "old friend" line was added to the script later (I think the line even had to be re-recorded?) after Russel T Davies decided to put that Face of Boe joke in Last of the Time Lords. It's intended as soft confirmation that Captain Jack is indeed The Face of Boe.
Gridlock is one of my favorite episodes. I just rewatched after several years and I've come to the conclusion that 21st Century Thrivers with their skin patches are the precursor to the Pharmtown vendors. 😂
Also, love the music, especially "Abide With Me" at the end because the lyrics mirror the Doctor's interaction with Martha, from the line about the skies, to the plea not to be left all alone. It's quite beautiful.
And there's the Face of Boe, overhearing that Martha is caught in the gridlock, and David Tennant with kittens (including a mobile made of fish hanging over their basket). It's just a perfectly wonderful episode.
One complaint: the impact of the kidnappers was minimized too much for my liking. If the Doctor and the Face if Boe hadn't intervened, best case scenario Martha loses 6years of her life and they acted like it was no big deal. I really wanted The Doctor to give them a little comeuppance for that. At the very least a stern talking-to.
Good to see I'm not the only one who likes this episode! I think it's my favorite from Russell's scripts after Left and Donna's finale episodes. I have it in such high standards because I think it was the first of Russel's episodes that I truly enjoyed. I didn't know about the aliens being from the old era, so their inclusion didn't bother me - in fact, I think it works for the plot in the big reveal of the end, even though you are right, it doesn't serve much of a purpose. I never had a catpeople problem so it didn't bother me particularly (the babies, though. eeek...) and I will agree the part about the drugs was such as wasted opportunity. All the themes are great, though. And I wished we had more politically oriented pieces like this. I am not even saying I agree with the political stance, but it was bold and fun to watch. In fact, Martha's and the Doctor's drama was the thing I least liked, even if it's true that Martha feels a bit less of a doormat and that's always a plus. So, yeah. I enjoyed everything. Good episode.
This is by far one of my favorite episodes, although I still can't figure out how a cat & human had kittens. I also like that Martha called him on his bs and made him talk. I still like her better than Rose and is a much better companion. It's also interesting that Twelve still had some mood patches left in the Dark Water episode.
This is still one of my favorites. I liked the idea that these people were stuck believing a promise for something better and it was an utter grind if you wanted to achieve it. That felt like life to me. And it also felt like the solution was to fix something broken with the system and break through the “ceiling” to get there. I think the mood makers would have fit in more if he ever contemplated forgetting rose and gave us the sense that he was trapped by his own emotions (his own broken system) . Then we could have said the grind is the work, and you have to reach your lowest point to bounce back. Everyone goes through the gridlock even if they fake their emotions or forget. So may as well go in with clarity. At least I wish the episode was supporting that
For a long time as an adolescent I wanted to get a tattoo of the “Bliss” patch on my neck. This was never my favorite story, but that layer of it and the social commentary therein affected me.
The whole explanation for why everyone is trapped on the motorway is very convoluted. I get the feeling that Davies really struggled to come up with one.
One thing I liked is that unlike Love and Monsters where they made it really obvious Victor Kennedy was played by guest comedian Peter Kay in Gridlock Brannigan is mostly designed around the character instead of just the guest Comedian Ardal O'Hanlon (in the UK he is most recognisable as Father Dougal in the hit show Father Ted). One of Martha's kidnappers went on to play a ghost in the BBC version of Being Human. The only thing I didn't like is Martha's already going on about The Doctor being on the rebound, and the way she lusts after him for most of the series just because of one kiss in her first episode.
Considering that the animated reconstruction of the Macra Terror is coming soon this month, this was the perfect time to revisit gridlock.
I think the old friend line is a reference to the face of boe being jack.
yeah he said that. he was just saying that for someone watching it a first time (not knowing that jack is the face of boe) they think that the doctor and the face of Boe have only seen each other twice before that so you'd feel like they weren't really OLD friends, but when you rewatch it after knowing that jack is the face of boe it fits
I honestly remember seeing this episode the same way... I wouldn't fault someone for disliking it but I remember really enjoying it anyway.
Why couldn't the "monster" be the toxic fumes realised by the vehicle? Like have the vehicles more likely to break down in the fast lane and when they do, they shut off and the toxic fumes choke out all the people in the vehicles.
That would make sense. Maybe have a mention of the fact there are supposed to be machines down there pumping the fumes out, but at some point they've shut down because nobody up top is keeping them working.
@@wendyheatherwood oh yeah! Good point I forgot at that part! Then you could have people being all full of hope that the pumps will come on eventually as they slowly choke to death.
One of my favorite episodes
Love this one, it reminds me of a classic who story as the plot is a bit outlandish but makes you think. The conversation at the end was fantastic and is one of the reasons I think Martha is way underrated.
Branigan was enjoyable and the humor was on point.
I know I’m in the minority but borderline top ten NuWho for me.
I think part of the problem with this episode is that, as an America used to a 22 prolonged season, this episode felt like it could have been at least 5 episodes, as it dealt with so many plot threads that, in American TV, would normally been picked up and drawn out: An episode dealing with the mood drugs, an episode in traffic, an episode with the Macra... maybe even a trip to earlier in the Marca's development.
I guess what I am saying, going from Star Trek and Buffy and all the TV shows that stretched out stories and even added filler to make up episodes, this one episode left me wanting to have less in it so that there could be more return trips and dealing with the dangling plot threads. And that's what I thought they were doing, leaving threads to return to.
I like this episode. fun and different and as you said relatable premise but obviously just more sci fi version. but clunky in places but pleasant and enjoyable to watch. o fun fact time how you said that a traffic jam scenario is a very relatable concept in media and is a good premise for a lot of content. one of the most famous Christmas Songs was written or at least thought up during a traffic jam Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea. just a fun little fact for you but no i likes Martha confronting the doctor on his actions and making him talk. and i dunno why i feel especially in today's current climate and stuff that one small moment is more relatable in the fact that guys naturally don't open up about their emotions and stuff and that rates of suicide are higher in men than in women. i dunno why i just thought of that but it just popped into my head. but overall enjoyable episode.
Gridlock to me (at the time at least) felt like an episode the classic series might have done had it continued. Agreed the Macra were needless, plus in the classic series they could do a lot more. Either bring them back properly or not at all.
BTW Brannigan is played by Ardal O'Hanlan who played Doogle in Father Ted, a sitcom you might want to give a go if you haven't already.
I do think thematically the mood drugs do fit somewhat. However I feel it could have been explored better. But the Doctor does draw attention to the fact that everyone in the traffic jam is refusing to acknowledge the reality of their situation. And that does seem to be reflected in most conversations that are had with the other characters. E.g. the bizarre lengths of journeys seeming normal and the acceptance of a situation that shouldn't be accepted. I think the idea is A. The drugs have aided with that and B. People will do anything to not accept a dire situation their in (e.g. use drugs) to avoid pain.
Like I say, this could be better explored and and it's not the strongest analogy but it is there.
This was my first episode of Doctor Who
Enjoy this on first viewing back in the day and liked the ending on rewatches it's better and even though can see faults still have fun with and the ending still gets me one of my favorite Tennant scenes
Ahead of the next two parter. Did you hear about the reactions to the writer back in the day. Worth quick look into if haven't. RTD wasn't best pleased.
Love this episode.it's not perfect, but I love it anyway.it's nice to see the Doctor open up, have more development & begin to treat Martha well (Admittedly it doesn't last very long.)her quick feelings for him never bothered me, bc she gave her life to save him & he was the last thing that she saw b4 she almost died in 'Smith and Jones'.when u give ur life to save someone,& they are the last thing u see, ur emotions can speed up & become attached quickly.fun story: I did write a Dr. Who novel where Martha & 10 were forced to go back in time to this story, and their biggest problem to deal with WERE the pirates.they also had to keep out of sight so that their younger selves didn't see them, bc they arrived at the same time that their younger selves were there on this story.it was like Doctor Who met Harry Potter POA. it was fun as hell to write, tho I don't know how it was to a reader. it sold well enough... until the BBC forced me to unpublish it. I make no apologies!
I always thought how do the vehicles keep going wouldn't they run out of fuel eventually
I honestly like the idea of the Doctor opening up more to a character that isn't the one who started warming him up. It feels different from the norm, and I kind of want to write a romance like that.
And thinking it over, this is probably the best atheist metaphor Doctor Who did (at least, that I can think of off the top of my head). It's subtle, for one, and it's much less acrimonious to the 'religious' side.
I adore this episode, mostly from nostalgia. When I first watched this episode as a 12 year old it captured my imagination so well that even now I’m inspired by it. Although I can admit that it does have several flaws.
mood
...sorry
Love this episode btw
Great video!
Where did the people trapped in the highway get their food from?
They recycle their waste. They say so in the episode.
I really enjoy gridlock
The thing I find is that, if a story is engaging enough, I don't notice the things wrong with it. I just enjoy the episode. And that's what I did with Gridlock - I just enjoyed the episode. I didn't think I was going to, because the first scenes aren't that engaging, but once Martha is grabbed it catches me and I'm absorbed into the episode. It's a problem I had with a lot of later NuWho, especially with Capaldi's run - I found myself either confused, or bored, or both, either because the story concepts were overly ridiculous (even for Doctor Who), or overly convoluted. Gridlock is a very simple premise, done very well, and I think it's a great episode.
As for history between the Doctor and the Face of Bo, isn't that meant to be Captain Jack in his final form?
It's implied, but left vague if he really becomes the Face of Boe.
Yes but neither the Doctor nor the audience knows that yet.
@@CouncilofGeeks A brilliant piece of ret-conning, that added some emotion depth it was lacking.
This takes place pretty far in the future. His species may indeed be extinct at this point.
The bigger problem is that he dies--unless he pops back to life after the Doctor leaves.
@numpteez I mean, at that point Captain Jack really isn't human. He's been immortal for so long, I doubt he considers himself human anymore.
No mention of the human/cat person babies???
I agree that this episode is great in its simplicity but there are a few parts that make me go "huh?"
The Doctor met a furry.
the cat babies. i exploded the first time i saw them.
@@Silverwind87 This.
How do you feel about about a human man married to a deer woman on Bojack or Hana and her wolfman husband in the Japanese animated fantasy drama wolf children?
It would also help if they revealed one way or the other if Captain Jack Harkness is the face of Boe. Jack being Boe makes the “old friend “ comment make more sense
They did reveal it in another one. The look on Martha and doc's face was worth the wait
i like it too!
It’s a very good episode, but I still love all the episodes in the second half of Series 3 more.
I've always thought this episode was as dumb as a box of rocks. It's also a shame that the Macra Crabs only appeared in passing.
Watch Father Ted. Brannigan plays Father Dougal, classic
It's gonna be a rough next few episodes. Thankfully, we're nearly at my favourite two-parter of New Who.
Daleks in Manhattan?
If nobody EVER comes back from the Motorway....why would you GO there in the first place? And if there is no place to go in the first place...why do you need to get there fast? Once you start to overthink it....
Well they don't know there's no place to get to. As for why do they go? The implied answer is that life in the undercity is so bleak and static that eventually the dim hope that the motorway eventually leads somewhere lures folks to it. Hope is a powerful thing, especially if you don't have any in the life you're living.
@@CouncilofGeeks True.
I just rewatched Father's Day yesterday. They never say the word "Reaper" for the monster, or do they? At least in the German dub I saw, there was no name for them...
It's the name in official supporting media, but they are not named in the episode.
@@CouncilofGeeks OK, I get it! Thanks. So similar to like the Veil in Heaven Sent, right?
I just noticed, you're using the UV light sonic. Interesting.
It's actually really hard to find a version of 10's screwdriver that isn't the UV light with the invisible ink pen on the other end. The ones that aren't are all Britain made and expensive if you want to get them shipped to the Americas. I have two versions of 10's that aren't which my sister had to get from England when she visited because I couldn't find them online for a decent price.
I don't understand how "forget" would be classed as a mood?
Amber Jackson it’s doctor who, plot holes are everywhere. You’ll get used to it 😂 tbh that mood sticker thing would’ve been a great story by itself.
You know timey wimey...plot got plot even if it doesn't make sense.
Idk, probably uses similar tech as the other moods, and after that one was developed, it was just simpler to call it a "mood" since it was pretty much identical to the others.
I never gave this episode enough credit, because you could never show it anyone, who has never seen any WHO before, because they'll just laugh at it because of all the ridiculous costumes. Although from what I recall, the story was actually pretty solid and awesome....
I agree - it has its problems, but it's a lot of fun. I'm particularly fond of Brannigan too, but a significant portion of that is due to the fact that I'm a huge fan of Ardal O'Hanlon, the actor/comedian playing him. I also quite like the older lesbian couple.
The Macra, while a nice callback, were pretty unnecessary. I rather like your pirate idea, it'd mesh well with the whole "kidnapping to get to the fast lane" theme that's already there.
It was good to see the Face of Boe again, but I agree hindsight adds an extra layer of meaning to the whole thing that didn't exist on original broadcast.
I definitely prefer take-no-BS Martha to lovesick Martha. Pity we couldn't have had more of the former and less of the latter.
Not to make a stupid analogy, but personally, the whole thing of the Doctor trying to recapture his adventures with Rose through Martha seems a little bit similar to Michael Jackson and why the supposed child abuse allegations were made. He didn't have a proper childhood, so he thought that he could relive it by being around lots of kids.
For the United States. Macra Terror will not be released until October 8th 2019... 7 months after the UK release.. Lame! At least that’s when Amazon has the first ship date for it.
The one time our European friends are ahead of us on something. Well, I'm still not sure how Brexit works.
What? Really? Back to the old days where the US gets something Doctor Who related months after the UK release.
harrietamidala1691 I hope I am wrong! The 2nd Doctor is my favorite, and I would love to have this missing story ASAP!
But all the google searching and on amazon. I am seeing the USA release isn’t until October 8th 2019.
am I the only one that thinks the face of Bo should return?
the character has barely been explored, and the stories that feature him are set in the year 5 billion, there's plenty of wiggle room. Also they've probably still got the prop, just a massive face cluttering up some cupboard at the BBC, they could put it to use again, it's a very nice practical effect.
They can't really as one told the doc they'd meet only 3 times total and with the later reveal its captain Jack kind of makes any actuall stories with the big face pointless
@@wcoleman99 they could bring Jack back at least.
@@HouseholdWheel I'm not saying they cant. The whole boe thing is pointless unless they do some retcon like they've done before. I just don't see chibnall as up to that challenge yet.
Honestly, the only problem I had was this. If this is supposed to be a new representation of an American city, why are people driving on the left? Americans drive on the right! Also, just for laughs, guess what Old York in England would now be called on New Earth? New York.
The cat people are kind of cheesy and lazy, but in a billion years when we have genetic manipulation and crazy science, you just know the furries are going to go for it.
It’s ok to be furry
Agree about the maccra. They either should have ditched them or used them more.
Think the car journeys was just too long. 5 miles on 6 years! I don't know. I just wouldn't. They know this when hit the road. I could understand if when they started they didn't know just how long it could take. I can understand the journey taking years, but 5 miles! Surly they could just walk! I just think it would have been better if the needed to get to new, new Jersey or something and that took a couple of years.
I also didn't like the way branigan refers to the two ladies who are married as being "modern" like being in a same sex marriage is still not the norm. All those billions of years in the future! He's married to woman that's not even the same species! 2 women 'modern' I would have much preferd it if it wasn't even acknowledged.
I also don't understand why if so many people wanted to to fast lane why there wasn't more people willing to car share? I know some people thought it dangerous, but many didn't. Why the need to kidnap people? Not even ask them 1st If wanted to car share.
I thought Martha came across a bit petulant when she sat on that chair. It's one of the few moments of hers I dislike.
Believe it or not though I do still like this eppisode
Birthday month eh? Who do you think you are, the Queen of England? ;-)
Well, my burlesque tagline is Queen of the Northeast Kingdom.
Good enough!
Why would anyone spend years in a traffic jam? This is the part of the story that lost me. It seems ridiculous. People just wouldn't bother surely? Perhaps I'm missing something?
I could never figure out why they wouldn't just walk. I get it would be dangerous, but if they can get mood patches surely they can get protection? I feel like too much of this planet was glossed over to fully make sense of it.
I’ve never really liked it. I just think it’s really dull and boring. The idea is great but the execution was poor.