3.2 - The Eternity Cage

Coming off of a somewhat tacked on cliffhanger from the previous episode, The Eternity Cage features a rescue operation and race against the Daleks as both sides try to reach Cardinal Ollistra who is held by the Sontarans. The characterization of the Sontarans here is excellent and falls somewhere between classic and new Who. They are playing out multiple tactics in an overall strategem to enter the Time War and are quite intelligent, practical, and well prepared for their gambit. In a way this story supersedes the 8th Doctor tale The Sontaran Ordeal in that the concept of the Sontarans entering the war seems to take the current participants by surprise. The plots are dissimilar, though, so it's far from a retread. The action is tight and the plot well paced. I loved the core concept of the Eternity Cage and how the Sontarans misused it to their advantage. Easily the highlight of the 3rd set for me.

The War Doctor is summoned back by the Timelords, Cardinal Olestra has been held on the planet Rovidia, the war minded Sontaran's want to have a crack at a the time war, they are after all a warring society, that is born, created and cloned just for one purpose, it is just that the Sontaran Frisk is playing a deadly game of high risks because he has also invited the Dalek Time Strategist as well. Playing one off the other is a high risk game, but what makes this more intriguing is how have the Sontaran's been able to hold off the Daleks attempts at trying to recover their exiled leader. It turns out to be a much more dire set of circumstances that have given the Sontaran the ability to fend off the Dalek's, and when the Doctor and the party of elite timelord soldiers discover what they have actually been able to do. What is more there is a mole in the ranks of the Timelord elite and it comes again down to the Doctor to try and put right the wrongs. Well a predictable second instalment here with a slight twist, and for me some newly acquired timelord anthology. The story for what it lacks is made all the better by the actors, with both John Hurt and the wonderful Jacqueline Pearce lift what without them I fear would quite mediocre. That aside I also get the feeling that this story was the one out of all the War Doctor so far that felt like it needed the least amount of effort.

Better than 3.1, a slow build up to the series finally. Some great stuff and really broadens the role of the Sontarans in the Time War; as idiots.

From the TV Series, we learned that the Sontarans wanted in on the Time War. Here, we learn of their most audacious gambit to enter as they kidnap Cardinal Ollistra and hold her for ransom to which ever side will form an alliance with them. The strangest part is that they seem able to hold both Daleks and Time Lords at bay.

Overall, it's a very intriguing story that manages to create a sense of mystery about what's going on and whether there's a traitor in the midst. The character of Kalen is a nice addition and the story ends on a great cliffhanger for the final episode.