NuWho Review: Series 3 Episode 2 "The Shakespeare Code"

By: Gareth Roberts

**Spoilers**

If you have not yet watched this episode, please go and do so before proceeding.

               Shakespeare! Magic! Time Travel! Potter References! SQUEE!

         Sorry, sorry - I'm just completely in love with and extremely excited about this episode. I wasn't entirely certain about it whenever I was initially going in (this is one of those episodes that it seems everybody complains about) but it was easily one of the most entertaining 45 odd minutes of television that I have ever wasted my life on. Normally I sort of rail against Who-By-The-Book episodes (such as The Idiot's Lantern) simply because they are boring and rather predictable, but this one somehow manages to be predictable while also being enjoyable. My money is on the fact that it is charming (no pun intended) and explores a famous literary figure in a fun new way. The Unquiet Dead was a similar episode in that it played out pretty much like I had predicted, with a few minor twists, but was still enjoyable because it focused more on being tongue-in-cheek and building up characters than just advancing the plot. 

Favorite Moments & Random Thoughts:

- That opening...loving parody of Romeo & Juliet, much? 

- I'm not certain if The Doctor's comment that he failed his TARDIS Driving Test is true or just a witty quip, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was how it happened. He did have to steal her, after all.

- Martha is clearly a smart one, quizzing The Doctor about the Butterfly Effect and the Grandfather Conundrum.

- Love the bits where The Doctor is expounding on how London never changes. 

- Also love how Martha isn't disgusted by the refuse and filth of Elizabethan London. As she puts it, "I've seen worse, working late nights at the A&E." Doctor, open your eyes and look around. She's smart, resourceful, and not easily disturbed or disgusted: she's a keeper!

- Shakespeare's (I'm going to call him 'Billy') introduction is such a nice bit of irony that it never fails to make me laugh!

- Love's Labours Won is an actual 'lost' play. I love it whenever the show sinks their teeth into one of history's mysteries and 'solves' it for us.

- The Doctor's psychic paper didn't work on Billy. I'm not quite sure if I buy that the genius was that much of a genius (although, in all fairness, he didn't try that trick on Charles Dickens) but it goes by so fast that it's hardly a detriment.

- It is also rather funny the way The Doctor keeps dropping famous quotes around Billy and the writer shamelessly tries to plagiarize them. Isn't that what we all do? There's nothing new under the sun, after all.

- The Doctor carries alternative toothbrushes in his suit now. I guess alternative toothbrushes are cool? No, wait, sorry...wrong regeneration!

- Martha's reaction to The Doctor's rather naive (if you can relate such a word to him) assertion that they can just share the bed is priceless...and probably the only moment of the whole 'unrequited love affair' she has with him that I find believable or palatable. 

- And then The Doctor has to kill the comfortable mood by being incredibly insensitive. Look, Doctor,  I get that you're missing Rose and I appreciate the writers not just blowing off a companion's leave-taking, but that was just rude.

- I enjoyed his admission that he cried during Harry Potter book 7, though. Seeing as how this episode aired before the release date of The Deathly Hallows, I must wonder if Ms. Rowling herself gave them a tip-off or if they're just that good at predicting things...

- The death of King Henry VIII (sorry - the magistrate) was disturbing and reminded me of something from a Supernatural episode.

- The trip to the insane asylum was disturbing.

- One thing that makes this episode work so much is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. Some stories (like The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit or The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances) can get away with being serious. But usually where Doctor Who excels is with the slightly more tongue-in-cheek stories (School Reunion, The Christmas Invasion, The Unquiet Dead, etc.) where things are campy, they know it's campy, and they just enjoy the heck out of the campiness. The witches from this episode are a prime example of this - over the top, sporting fake noses made of rubber, and cackling out every cliché in the book with such glee that you just have to join in. This is almost a parody and that is why it is so much fun to watch.

- I'm not entirely certain if I buy the whole 'words vs. numbers' science spiel The Doctor rambles out. We used numbers to split the atom, true, but not by screaming them at a test tube of material. The comparison might work a bit better if we were talking about the 'power of the written word'. Points to them for trying to explain away magic, but it falls just a bit short of logic.

- Then again...so does most of Doctor Who, so maybe I can forgive them.

- Martha helped Billy Shakespeare save the world through the invoking of Expelliarmus. The geek in me nearly died when that happened!

- The 'neck-brace' The Doctor rigs up for Billy got another chuckle out of me. Now he doesn't look all that different to his portraits!

- And of course I squealed whenever it is revealed that Billy's 'dark lady' was Martha Jones. That was a nice nod.

- This gem of an episode also sees the start of the Elizabeth I/Doctor running gag that will continue right up to the 50th Anniversary episode. To be fair, I don't blame her for being a bit ticked off at him. He did chicken out on their honeymoon, after all.

             The Shakespeare Code is a fun, funny romp through the past. It is full of Easter Eggs for the geeky treasure hunter and presents some wonderful jokes for the casual viewer. The episode is campy and knows it, fully exploiting the rather absurd premise and never taking itself too seriously. I can think of easily a dozen other episodes from Who alone that could have benefited from a bit of that spirit. This is a rewatchable adventure, though it is predictable, and only gets better with repeated viewings. I give The Shakespeare Code a 5/5.

What did you think? Do you agree with my rating? If not - what would you say differently?