"Doctor Who"
Turn Left (2008)

Director:

Graeme Harper

Writer:

Russell T. Davies (written by)

TV Series:

"Doctor Who" (2005)

Original Air Date:

21 June 2008 (Season 4, Episode 11)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

What would happen if Donna never met the Doctor? How would Earth handle the Racnoss, the falling Titanic or the Sontarans? Aided by a familiar blonde time traveler, Donna corrects the alternate time line from happening. |

Plot Keywords:

What If | Parallel Time | Alternative Reality | Telephone Box | Man With No Name

Cast

David Tennant	...	The Doctor
Catherine Tate	...	Donna Noble
Billie Piper	...	Rose Tyler
Bernard Cribbins	...	Wilfred Mott
Jacqueline King	...	Sylvia Noble
Chipo Chung	...	Fortune Teller
Joseph Long	...	Rocco Colasanto
Noma Dumezweni	...	Capt. Magambo
Bhasker Patel	...	Jival Chowdry
Clive Standen	...	Private Harris
Suzann McLean	...	Veena Brady
Alice Coltrane	...	Natalie Walter
Natalie Walter	...	Alice Coltrane
Neil Clench	...	Man in Pub
Marcia Lecky	...	Mooky Kahari

Runtime:

49 min | 45 min (50 episodes)

Company:

BBC Wales

Trivia:

David Tennant was only required for a day.

Quotes:

[to Wilfred, who is wearing a headband with reindeer antlers]
Sylvia Noble: Dad, take that thing off!
Wilfred Mott: I shan't, it's Christmas.

Movie Connections:

References "Coronation Street" (1960)

The return of Rose?

In this "Doctor-lite" episode, Donna experiences life as if she'd never met our intrepid Time Lord. Instead, her path crosses with that of one Rose Tyler, ex-companion and resident of an alternative universe.

Billie Piper's performance in this episode is somewhat distracting. I'm not sure if it's down to too much time on the alternative Earth but her lines are delivered in a less than Rose-like manner. This is definitely a more serious Rose than we've seen in the past but I question Piper's delivery in this tale.

Russell T. Davies' script is as clever as always and displays his usual imaginative touches, tying in episodes from the previous years and this season. This is a dark tale and the final reference to the past accompanied by the sound of the cloister bell may well have viewers' hairs standing on the back of their collective necks...

While Russell can't help give away elements of the season's finale wherever possible, the next tale is guaranteed to be full of elements that will echo through future episodes. It's going to be the biggest, busiest end to a season that we've seen so far and the return of some very familiar faces should make it unmissable.

8 out of 10 for this one. The best is yet to come....