3.11 - Utopia

Here lies the most perfect part 1 to the most perfect doctor who story of all time.

Tennant, Agyeman, Barrowman and Jacobi are on fire here.

Tennant's Doctor goes from cheeky, cocky genius to scared, paranoid and hopeless in a matter of minutes during the climax.

Agyeman portrays a woman at the end of the universe, confused, scared, but fighting on.

Barrowman's snarky Captain Jack has the most electric chemistry with Tennant and the two are brilliant on screen together.

Derek Jacobi is wonderfully adorable as the sweet Professor Yana and magnificently evil as the Master.

The guest cast of the futurekind, the skies are made of diamonds kid, and Chan Tho are one of the most memorable guest casts of the new series.

The episode is heartfelt, funny and facepaced. Almost inspiring.

Until the end.

Then it's hopeless. Terrifying. Sad. Tense.

The cliffhanger leaves the audience nervous and scared for the Doctor and his friends.

A classic story that, in my books, will go down as one of the best episodes ever

This continues a run of tremendous top quality stories. The majority of the episode is subtle in its qualities but is unquestionably excellent throughout before reaching an electrifyingly exciting last 10 minutes as at the end it re-introduces one of the Doctor's greatest enemies in the most thrilling way.

The writing of the whole episode is brilliant with an engaging script which has humour, intrigue, touching drama and dystopian futuristic ideas. Derek Jacobi, one of the great actors of our time, puts in one of the best guest starring performances in the show's history. The full range shown by Jacobi as he portrays different sides of the character is sensational. He is beautifully endearing before building towards very moving moments as he struggles with memories hidden deep inside and then a dazzling different side is shown in the heart thumping final scenes.

David Tennant shows yet another awesome display in his top standard performance as the Doctor, Freema Agyeman yet again proves to be a perfect companion, John Barrowman makes a very welcome and impressive return as Captain Jack Harkness and all other acting, direction and production values are great. Graeme Harper the director also directed 42 earlier in this series as well as the top 10 classic The Caves of Androzani from the 5th Doctor's era. He shows his quality yet again.

There is a nice link in to themes interwoven through the series involving the Doctor's watch in the wonderful Human Nature/The Family of Blood and The Face of Boe from Gridlock as well as leading on with the cliffhanger into the final two parter that finishes Series 3.

The whole story, especially with the terrific ending makes this a 10/10 cracker.

A pedestrian story greatly enhanced by a captivating and brilliant final ten minutes. If only it could have continued as good to the next two parts.

Derek Jacobi in DW! Super last 10 mins in this one as an old foe returns...