Did This Doctor Who Episode Predict 2020?

[@HarboWholmes]

haha patreon go vroom vroom: www.patreon.com/harbowholmes

[@TOX1C892]

Harbo Wholmes hello

[@thetinytimelord]

vroom vroom

[@firstylasty9959]

Patreon go support support

[@Lucas-wt4oq]

I really don’t care for this episode. Just makes my laugh when you see the incest crab rave

[@Digitalhunny]

'Gridlock' is my second favourite, right behind the 'Silence at the Library'. These 2 episode carry the best subplots of the entire series. The Doctor & River Song's beginning & The face of Boe aka Jack Harkness, his ending? Bestest story, character & plot writer that ever was.🤗🇨🇦

[@intergalactic92]

The part that I often think is overlooked is that the monster does not matter at all, it just serves to create a sense of danger for cars in the fast lane. It could easily have just been some faulty cleaning robot destroying everything, or a completely new monster, it would have made no difference. But RTD chose to use monster from the classic era, not a Zygon or a Dalek, a really obscure one that even many classic who fans may not remember, but a classic monster nonetheless which pays homage to the classic era, reminding us of the shows history. It’s such a simple action but it should not be overlooked for the extra depth it gives to the story. Nothing makes a classic fan more excited than when a classic monster reveals itself.

[@ahumanbeingfromtheearth1502]

Except that the macra in this story are nothing like the old macra at all. I like the callback, i just wish hed gone with a a different thing from clasic who.

[@jacobgame2757]

It's very unlikely the Marca would have returned anyway so while I understand people may be disappointed that they didn't get a full story, it's not like it was squandered. Also, it's interesting as it shows the evolution of a species over time (which actually highlights how static the Dr Who universe is as when travelling hundreds of thousands of years in time, whole planets of animals should have evolved and become extinct).

[@The_Eyes_Have_It]

@@jacobgame2757 *ETA* regarding your point about extinction/evolution: Most of that gets explained away with future tech/science like cloning or genetic manipulation, if it's explained at all. That might just be my headcanon but it's a reasonable one for the Who-niverse, I think.

[@alicec1533]

It's interesting. Thinking about it now, "The End of the World", "New Earth" and "Gridlock" kind of form a very loose trilogy.

[@mickys8065]

How does the end of the world tie in?

[@CobraShadowz]

Micky S Set 5 billion years into the future and has the Face of Boe and Cassandra

[@alicec1533]

@@mickys8065 Introduces the end of the world, Cassandra and the Face of Boe

[@RamLaska]

Yes, you’re right

[@mickys8065]

@@CobraShadowz ah gotcha

[@frazzlesreviews5379]

This was actually Davies’ favourite script that he wrote. I was surprised at this but tbf there isn’t an underdeveloped idea in this episode, everything is fully fleshed out and satisfying within a 45 minute episode which has got to be something anyone should be proud of.

[@alim.9801]

I do wish they had brought back those drug patch things and done more with them tho

[@pastlife960]

2:44 Great bit of continuity with the arrow still stuck in the TARDIS from the end of Shakespeare Code. Crazy to think that an arrow from 1599 is now just sitting in an alleyway in the year 5 billion.

[@fusionfury4437]

I thought he threw it in the TARDIS

[@bmvthemoviefanatic7282]

OMG, I've been watching this show for YEARS and never noticed that! Man RTD's era was PHENOMENAL!

[@darrensmith8730]

How have I NEVER caught that?! Great catch!

[@gracelord6476]

Wow, I never noticed that either.

[@dylanreid4371]

I've seen this episode so many times and I've never noticed that

[@fridabradbrook5577]

this story has a special place in my heart as it was the first doctor who episode I ever watched. I watched like half of it at a friends house, I had no idea what was going on but was so intrigued. That week I went home and watched the whole first season on Netflix. And then didn't stop watching.

[@Ani-pl2dv]

Haha it's the same for me ! It was a while ago though, I was like 8. I was in holidays with nothing to do, so I turned on the TV and put a random channel, and this episode was being diffused. It got my attention so much

[@bekah10213]

Same here! I was in high-school at the time, but I was wrapping presents late on Christmas eve and needed something to watch. Some kid at school wouldn't shut up about the show so the name was fresh in my mind. Of course the doctor who Christmas marathon was on so I watched that and Gridlock was the first episode I saw. The really funny bit is that because of this, I wound up seeing most of the 90 minutes specials before I had properly watch the show. Very confusing lol.

[@jamesmowrey8854]

So no one's going to mention how the couple that died in the cold open was literally the couple from American Gothic for no reason?

[@thatbloodypanda6989]

@Grimsby Reapers American Gothic is the name of the painting my dude

[@mgthestrange9098]

The painting is called American Gothic but there was a TV show called that and that’s what I thought of before I realised what you meant. I know what you mean about the picture, it’s creepy and unnerving somehow.

[@thatbloodypanda6989]

@Grimsby Reapers you didn't ask that, but it's all about taste. Why is this relevant anyway?

[@thatbloodypanda6989]

@Grimsby Reapers A. No it's not B. I'm guessing you hate Forrest Gump too

[@thatbloodypanda6989]

@Grimsby Reapers A. No one asked that question B. It is art just like the paintings you don't like which are incredible C. You just proved my point, you don't want to watch it again.

[@Lalerato]

Are we not gonna talk about all those passengers have more character than fam

[@obiwankenobi687]

Phoenix St the one woman who dies in her car at the beginning of Sontaran stratagem has more character than the fam. Certainly better acting ability

[@darrensmith8730]

The woman who dies at the beginning of "The Sontaran Stratagem" now plays a big character in The Walking Dead.

[@Lalerato]

Bring Me The Pizza Fam is companions of season 11 and 12 when I first saw them after a few episodes I thought they would have a story arch but they kinda started to feel like just there especially Yasmin, I mean they got better treated in season 12 but still very low characterisation

[@Lalerato]

ObiWan Kenobi yes but let’s be honest actors didn’t have much to work with

[@Lalerato]

Bring Me The Pizza ohhh... I am so sorry, I hate spoilers

[@nathandompke4654]

I literally just rewatched Gridlock, and they kept talking about how the air was poisionous and how a deadly plague kill all of New New York, I was like: this sounds familiar. Lol. Glad I wasn’t the only one.

[@nathandompke4654]

Bring Me The Pizza I think it was just because everyone that had it was killed off.

[@trappedinroom1014]

That’s interesting....did you know that there was recently some sort of army training/practise event in New York, and they called it “Operation Gotham”? There was something really ‘off’ about it all too. And when details about it leaked online, they started covering up the cards on their lanyards! What’s interesting is that the bad guy in one of the Batman films, where he wears a bizarre mask, and says to the people in the American football stadium (paraphrased) “we’re taking the country’s power, and giving it back to you, the people”....well President Trump repeated what was said by that villain in a speech almost word for word! There’s some really peculiar stuff going on...and it’s not really a pandemic with a survival rate of over 99.98%!!! And all the regular deaths are being fraudulently declared Covid-19 to bump up the figures...and now, with deserted hospitals...they’ve switched to ‘cases’....but they’re not actual infections....even Dominic Rab (British politician) admitted that 90% of the tests were giving a false positive!!! So even those numbers are false!!! It’s so deadly...you need a test to know if you’ve got the sniffles!!! Whatever the real event is, whether it’s a concealed cyclical cataclysmic event, the nano DNA altering vaccine (and staggering corporate big pharma profits) or maybe even a bio weapon...they definitely ‘know’ what it is that’s coming...and all this is simply setting the stage for the false narrative they’ll put in the futures history books. There is no real pandemic...and therefore the vaccine is not to fight the COVID ‘common cold’! Although as we entire the normal flu season...no doubt they’ll call all those COVID too! Please...don’t take the vaccine! But I’d better not start on about that...or I’ll descend into a huge rant lol! I simply can’t understand how so many people are buying it!!! 😩😖 I’ll shut up now! Lol! Take care hon 😁💕👍🏻

[@nathandompke4654]

trappedinroom 101 STFU THE PANDEMIC IS A REAL THING AND WE DON’T NEED IDIOTS LIKE YOU TELLING US OTHER WISE.

[@henryg4377]

I wouldn't say that if I were you trappedinaroom 101...

[@henryg4377]

NO I'M SERIOUS ROOM, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FOR THE SAKE OF THE EARTH AND HUMANITY DON'T SPEAK AGAINST THE PANDEMIC OR THE VACCINE!!! PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU!!!! I'M BEGGING YOU!!!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@jonathanskinner7647]

Always had a soft spot for this episode with no actual reason. Definitely the best of the new earth trilogy with the correct way to do "humans were at fault" story line (cough cough series 11 cough cough). The singing in the middle and at the end is this close to making my mum cry. The little stand off and explanation the doctor and Martha have at the end is really good and its so nice to see Ten be sad over something that isn't Rose. Also not sure if this is true but the doctor keeps sleep patches and they turn up again in dark water when Clara tries to use them against him. Not sure if it's true but they seem similar

[@Myne1001]

I looked at the TARDIS Fandom Wiki and they seem to be the same thing: tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Mood_drug

[@k.stewart007]

"Yes, I'm absolutely disgusted in this set up, of people selling mood patches out of burger bars and I'm going to shut the whole street down, but I'll take a couple sleep patches and a dream patch and some forget patches too, oh do you have any narsasistic timelord victorious patches in the back?"

[@mrlego611]

New Earth trilogy? Aren’t there only 2 episodes that take place on New Earth?

[@EshfulCookie]

Yeah but The End of the World was set only a couple of decades earlier, has Face of Boe and Cassandra, and the destruction of Earth is why they decided to inhabit New Earth.

[@IGSA101]

@@k.stewart007 The Doctor holds onto a lot of things he deems dangerous, like the crystal ball with the Carrionites trapped in it. He may have just swiped all the mood drugs to prevent them from being replicated again.

[@nightowl8477]

2:53 very interesting phrasing there! Russell's talked about "turning" characters before; how you can't keep writing them 'in-character', you have to make then do something they wouldn't usually do, developing them. He cites this episode as an example, as the Doctor _lies_ about Gallifrey. Completely new angle on the Doctor!

[@nicktroisi6347]

When the Face of Boe said to the Doctor "You are not alone" I thought he was talking about his companions but a couple of episodes later it was revealed that Boe was spelling out an acronym YANA which implied that professor Yana is a Time Lord and the master and my mind was instantly blown.

[@Thechaosmaster1997]

This and Captain Jack Harkness being the Face Of Boe were two plit twists that I didn't see coming and had my jaw on the floor during the next episodes. And I am new to being a Whovian.

[@jdg9825]

I attended a talk by RTD a few years back and he named this his favourite ep of his tenure :)

[@rainbowgrden]

Jdg 98 I thought it said “I attacked” not “I attended” loool also loving your profile picture

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

A talk by Russell? Where at?

[@jdg9825]

@@TheSmart-CasualGamer it was at my uni, DMU leicester :)

[@BlueBotBlues]

@@jdg9825 fr?? I applied at DMU but didn't get in, I cannot believe I missed out on this X)

[@standardgrapes]

I love gridlock, one of my favourites.

[@Lia-uf1ir]

9:36 The Doctor is a great role model, people! He's wearing a mask. :)

[@americansaxon2101]

that's a bandana.

[@slytheringingerwitch]

@@americansaxon2101 It works as a face covering lol.

[@Alpha121198]

Slytherin Ginger Witch it’s better than nothing at all.

[@Lia-uf1ir]

@@Alpha121198 For me, it is better than the regular masks because the straps of those masks get tangled with my hearing aids.

[@Alpha121198]

Luca Schlichte yeah that’s fair. Just have to be more careful. Hope you’re holding up well! :D

[@nightowl8477]

Honestly, I think the plot does hit a lull in the second act. The Under City with a ceiling so high it has it's own atmosphere is awesome, and so visually striking to begin and end the story, particularly paired with tales and descriptions of Gallifrey. But for the most part, the action's just in the cars. I know Russell has talked about playing with visual dynamics; instead of running back and forth in corridors as usual, the Doctor moves up and downwards. Complete shift in axis, making it more interesting. Having said that...it is essentially a ten minute corridor chase all the same.

[@redsquirrel724]

Literally binged the entirety of Series 3 on Netflix these past two days. I honestly appreciate the whole series and Martha far more now than I did when I was younger. Martha was incredibly underrated. A very satisfying series indeed.

[@CineScarborough]

The 2020 parallels never even crossed my mind until you pointed them out. That's a very clever take on it.

[@fadikhoory5350]

Gridlock is such an RTD episode: there's religion, a gay couple and sci-fi elements. Ironic how a lost and forgotten monster appeared but on the sea devils or the axons, the Rani, the Mara, the Rutans and the abominable snowmen.

[@J.Jonah.Jameson.]

1) religion, yeah but-... not exactly a big theme in the story. 2) a gay couple, not exactly groundbreaking. 3) Sci-fi elements in a Sci-fi show, were you expecting there wouldn't be any?

[@emilyhughes4297]

@@J.Jonah.Jameson. I mean they never said any of the elements were ground braking

[@rileychan5380]

A gay couple portrayed positively is actually ground breaking and doesn't happen that often tbh. Doctor who is one of the few shows where it's actually like that.

[@user-jn1wm3tb8v]

Don't try to think how a human can give birth to kittens. Please don't.

[@jacobbastin802]

Why not? Maybe the cat man gets pregnant with cats instead of her. You never really know with DW.

[@kerrysmith7598]

well I wasn't......

[@TheAstip]

Its the one element that makes me uncomfortable with this epsiode

[@atomicknight63]

Super Science.

[@rileychan5380]

The hair of the kittens tickles the kitten.

[@toti6217]

I’ve grown up with doctor who and I love your reviews on it

[@tehcookievanilla1323]

The concept sounds pretty scary especially when the 10th Doctor says "Round and round, never ending motor way" or something along those lines

[@jcksparrowfan]

The sad thing about Martha is when the Doctor starts to finally appreciate her for who she is and not a rebound, its toward the season's end and too late. She's already decided to move on.

[@kurtwagner350]

Upon rewatch I really noticed how much the doctor did her dirty, poor Martha man...

[@kieran69]

Back when i was in Reception this was actually my first Doctor Who episode, which got me hooked into it from the action of The Doctor jumping from car to car, then the next time trailer officially sealed my interest, 13 years later i still love it!

[@teabags8844]

Brannigan is only 2nd to Wilf as a supporting character, plus hes played by Fr. Dougel Maguire

[@lp-xl9ld]

Not to mention George Sunday/Thermo Man from MY HERO

[@thehorrorcounselors4747]

Gridlock was the first time since rose that we genuinely saw the doctor open up and expose his feelings I Thought it was great! The only problem is that in the Lazarus experiment in the first few mins the doctor was totally gonna leave Martha to her normal life until he came back only for the whole Lazarus thing and not for her “sorry but did he just say he was gonna change what it means to be human?” but then at the end he said “you were never just a passenger”. I feel it would have been cool that if In the beginning of that ep as he was leaving in the tardis that we got a ten second scene of the Doctor battling himself in the tardis as he was leaving cos he realised how much he needed Martha and realised that he can’t just leave her like that, instead of coming back for Lazarus only.

[@JoshSweetvale]

The Doctor lies.

[@thehorrorcounselors4747]

Joshua Sweetvale the writing sucks.

[@PwnZombie]

Ten could have lied about only coming back for Lazarus

[@capricorn878]

No hate on 10th he was amazingly great, but honestly :] Martha deserved a better Doctor, an more mature one, like 12th. And not just an Doctor acting like a 14 years old emo sadboy who lost his crush, and couldn't stop crying about this all the freakin time .. This woman walk throw earth in one entire year, constantly being chased, seeing her family being hostages, but she never give up, she builds her way to be a very important person on U.N.I.T and she had to balls to stop her run in the Tardis by herself. Martha deserved better.

[@georgeedwards1763]

I never noticed the drug patches had the same symbol as the hospital in new earth

[@SocksFCGameArchives]

I like how one regular episode of pre-Chibnal doctor who is better than the entirety of series 11 and 12 combined

[@mahkimahkila6396]

The Chibnail episode 42 is better than 11 and 12 combined.....

[@LateNightHalo]

What a great idea for a setting: A traffic jam that lasts for so long that your fellow drivers basically become your neighbors

[@alfiethomas5632]

I like to think that the characters reactions to seeing the sunlight is how we will all feel when we eventually reach the end of this pandemic in however many months/years

[@timothyfibbler6496]

I named my cat after Brannigan.

[@jvblhc]

Gridlock is one I watch often when I don't know what to watch. The Doctor, Martha, Cat People, The Face of Boe... what's not to love?

[@griff7340]

Another great vid thanks for saving me from utter boredom during my online classes

[@kittyfreya9141]

I was living in Italy during the lockdown and myself and my neibours sang songs on our roofs. It was beautiful but also sad as it seemed it would never end but we knew we were not alone.

[@nightowl8477]

_I'm glad you brought up the importance of Doctor Who's frivolous continuity!_ I think all these bloody reboots in the last few years have alienated casual fans slightly. It's nice that from 2005 to 2010, there's a coherent timeline of events. I have a guide to Doctor Who's history which came out in 2008, citing every century and era of the universe explored in Modern Who. Couldn't do that these days, I think it is a loss, albeit a trivial one.

[@astra3310]

That Tardis changes its interior when the Doctor changes his exterior so even though it’s stuck as a Blue Box due to the broken Chameleon Circuit it’d make some sense it could modify its exterior somewhat. Especially over time as it’s a living thing and not a machine so while it’s stuck in its shape and colour it could still have the potential to modify itself, as the Chameleon Circuit is that but turned up to 11.

[@masterjedi343]

The weirdest part of the episode for me is when Branigan says the kittens are their children. Not half cat and half human like their parents but just...full on kittens 😆 other than that this is a great episode

[@sonicfan3230]

Maybe the half human aspect comes in later?

[@DarkKnightshows12]

Gridlock was my first full episode that I watched. The more I watch and think about this episode the more I realise how amazing and underrated it is. This episode has definitely shot much further up within my favourite episodes lately.

[@erinella]

The end of this episode is forever one of my favourite NuWho scenes. With the Doctor having to finally admit Gallifrey is gone and the scene pans away as he reminisces about his planet with the music playing its just 👌🏻 It makes me sad considering how Gallifrey is treated in future series'. Its unfortunate.

[@JoshSweetvale]

"Halfway through the horror movie, a wizard kicks the monster in the teeth."

[@rpmc537]

Never thought i would see Father Douglas McGuire as a cat man on doctor who.

[@atomicknight63]

I was thinking Thermo Man

[@rpmc537]

Only realising I’ve spelt the name wrong... Dougal McGuire.

[@annafisk5192]

@@rpmc537 oh dougal

[@KnightsRealm98]

I've got to say, I love the direct contrast between the Doctor and the people of the motorway in the Daily Contemplation scene. The interesting thing is that both parties are wrong in their own way. The Doctor, who is used to being alone, is convinced that these people are helpless. However, Bran and the others are all convinced that their faith is all they need. As a man of faith, I completely understand that. However, I also abide by James's words, "Faith without works is dead, being alone." Believing in God or a higher power can bring us strength, and there are times when we just need to trust that all will work out. However, I find that we often need to take a step or leap of faith before the relief is manifest. That's why I love the whole bit where the Doctor takes matters into his own hands. The intensity in his eyes is stunning, something that Tennant blows me away with every time. This episode also continues the series 3 trend of shining a light on the Doctor's flaws, flaws which eventually lead to the brilliantly terrifying Time Lord Victorious scene in Waters of Mars. The Doctor has always had a God complex, especially with Pertwee, McCoy, C. Baker, and Eccleston through Capaldi. Of them all, though, I feel Tennant and Smith captured this flaw of the Doctor best. With Pertwee , McCoy, and Baker, it felt more like arrogance, and annoying arrogance at that. However, with Ten and Eleven, the consequences of being a nigh immortal being are made very prevalent. The Doctor was better with Rose because she was the first person to care since the Time War. Letting her go closed him off, much in the way Pertwee was closed of towards Jo Grant at first. Jo thought the world of the Doctor (in a very grandfatherly way) much like Martha did. Both times he was so wrapped up in other things (Rose and the War for Ten, and fixing the TARDIS for Three) that these women who cared about him were pushed aside. Yet figures from their past (Jack and the Brigadier) were treated with much more respect. However, I feel this arc is important for both Doctors. Yes, Jo and Martha deserve much more respect, but the fact is that the Doctor is flawed and he made a mistake both times. However, Martha and Jo helped him in many ways, and both went on to live great lives. They both needed to "get out," because he couldn't give them what they needed. Thus, the way was paved for Sarah Jane and Donna, times when the Doctor was much more respectful and accommodating. The fact is that the plotline of series 3 is not poorly written. It was written to show the Doctor's flaws. However, we can't ignore Martha's part in this. Here's the simple truth: he could never love her in the way she wanted, and he shouldn't be expected to. Respect, yes. He needed to show her much more of that. But love? Why blame him for her falling in love. He didn't flirt, he didn't lead her on, he just needed a friend. Was he the greatest friend, no. But he was hurt. So, I say, cut the guy some slack. Yeah, he messed up. But he realized it and ultimately was the best thing for Martha. She became a UNIT agent, married Mickey, helped save the world, and in many ways saved her family from self destruction. It was a long road, much like with Jo, but letting a character be flawed is storytelling 101. The Doctor isn't perfect, he never has been. But he's always been allowed to grow, to change, to become better. Something the most recent denizen of the TARDIS could stand to learn. 13 is flawed, but her flaws are never called out. Ten always had his flaws called out. Nine, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, War, all the same. But they were heroes nonetheless.

[@50ap5ud5]

This is a really interesting and insightful analysis!

[@KnightsRealm98]

@@50ap5ud5 Thank you.

[@declansargent7813]

I'm soo glad you took time to look carefully at the episode and the small details, many reviews I've seen over look certain aspects like the Macra and the Community aspects of the people driving in the Motorway, this is my fav episode of all Doctor Who that I've seen, I have mentioned my thoughts about this episode on The Doctor Who Forume Website but generally the thrill of the car dodging the Marca, the enclosed feeling that is expressed very well of traveling on the Motorway for years and years, the Doctor's determination to safe Martha, the upsetting sacrifice of The Face of Boe and the music ect ect makes this such a brilliant episode, I've re watched it a few times recently and as I've got older the feelings of loss and comfort from being with those you love has grown and really made this episode an emotion journey for me with joy and sadness all mixed up all of which boosts my love and appreciation for this often forgotten episode, thanks everyone for listening, and this was an amazing review, take care everyone hugs 😘☺️💜

[@juskahusk2247]

This episode predicted smart motorways, a real life deathtrap where no emergency services can help you because they can't reach you. At least the crabs had the decency not to taunt people with that annoying 'Go Left' song.

[@mathieuleader8601]

the couple killed in the cold open are based off the classic painting American Gothic

[@longtoney]

holy shit i forgot there were real cats in this episode i actually gasped when the clips of 10 with the little kittens came on

[@SheevyBoi]

Doctor Who is the only show that can make you feel sad for a giant head

[@danm3882]

I wasn’t so sure about Gridlock when I was younger. When rewatching it in lockdown I was so surprised how good it was!

[@joeduffy4547]

I've been binging the Classic Series and it's cool to actually get references like "there's no such thing as Macra"!! Another thing!! In a recent Doctor Who magazine issue, Russell said this was his favourite episode he wrote.

[@matromc20]

I always laugh at the bees are dispersing reference from series 4 then a few years later a story came out that the bees were disappearing. I’m still waiting for 27 planets to appear in the sky.

[@joshfoster7420]

"But what really makes Gridlock one of the best Doctor Who episode of the modern era?" *Giant crab monsters* There's your answer

[@her0880]

This has nothing to do with the video, but I just had a thought that what if wilfred was replaced by the brigadier to be donna's father. Then the whole "waiting for me this whole time" thing would be so fitting. Idk that's just a random thought.

[@Lia-uf1ir]

Along with Series 7, Series 3 introduced me to Doctor Who and Gridlock is one of my earliest moments of watching the show. Although I found it a bit ridiculous that, after millions of years, we not only still have cars, but they're also still polluting the air!

[@jacobcurle8964]

Illness: *exists in fiction* Clickbait channels: DID THIS SHOW P R E D I C T 2020?????

[@Piggly8w8]

It’s not so much about the illness as it is the families and groups being isolated in their cars, having no access to the outside world.

[@grandmasteryoda3187]

@@Piggly8w8 that's called clutching straws doesn't change the click bait title

[@mujiescomedy279]

@kiekebe it’s not a click bait channel but this was a click bait video

[@eminemfan50098]

@@grandmasteryoda3187 except it wasn't.

[@eminemfan50098]

@@mujiescomedy279 not really.

[@sidneylemon1951]

Despite the thumbnail I still clicked on this video expecting it to be about Turn Left lmaooo

[@astra3310]

Personally I question the arrow staying stuck in the Tardis. It flew through the time vortex wouldn’t it have disintegrated? Yes the tree people did in The Doctor, The Widow, and the Wardrobe but that was in their special capsule tower tree thing. And jack survived because of what Rose did to him when she fulfilled her earlier part in the Bad Wolf fiasco.

[@fusionfury4437]

I don't think the time vortex works like that, in Torchwood we see that Jack's immortality doesn't mean he can't look injured. When he is just laying there, he looks perfectly untouched and in the time vortex he didn't seem to be getting injured. Its most likely some form of radiation or cell damage from the Time Vortex instead of just extreme heat.

[@RealCryptoTest]

How come the arrow sticks but the graffiti of Clara flakes away in later seasons?

[@The_Blue_Otaku]

Didn't the grate salamander get disinterested in the time vortex at the ending of the 60s episode The Enemy of the Worlds

[@theredsky1439]

This episode will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the first episode of Doctor Who I ever watched. In 2014, my two best friends got me to join a Doctor Who club at my school. I vaguely knew about the show but I had never watched an episode before. They showed this episode at the first meeting and I was hooked. Without this episode, I would never have sat down and watched this show.

[@assassinscreed8597]

For those who may not know, the character Branagan is Father Doogle in Father Ted

[@alim.9801]

Deadlock is my comfort food Doctor Who episode, this episode and The Sound of Drums. I've rewatched them a million times I swear, pure gold, loooove Brannigan

[@senorgooba7360]

* Looks at thumbnail * Me: *David, YOUR LEGS!!!*

[@dylanhughes4221]

Gridlock was such a pleasant surprise! I remember it being good, but didn't think it would end up being one of my favourite episodes of NuWho

[@QuokkaCore]

I actually don’t see the high praise for this episode I always feel like I’m missing something when people call it a masterpiece.

[@johnloverman]

gridlock is a special episode for me because it's the first episode of doctor who i ever watched! I was five when it came out and I watched it with my parents. I then revisited doctor who in middle school and fell in love with it.

[@terrificprodctions5226]

YAY! a new video for my birthday... I turned 19 today (I crave attention)

[@katybechnikova2821]

This is my third favourite episode after Midnight and Heaven Sent. I might have a thing for closed spaces.

[@attackmanatee02]

1. This episode reminded me of the "Aerials" scp. A beautifully written one that has been voice acted by the Volgun. 2. When i watched this and heard the computer lady say "we're sorry", i thought at first it was more sinister, like maybe these people were prisoners used by the city for fuel or something. Pleasantly surprised when i learned it was actually that the city saved them, but were apologizing because there was no better way.

[@crazypomp927]

This is another episode that has grown hugely on me over time. Something that I initially found pretty good and revealed greater depth and quality with every repeat viewing, and I now see how tremendous it is as an episode of television.

[@Jedi_Spartan]

It would be interesting to see the main part of New New York.

[@jasonpratt5126]

Now go forth, and find the behind-the-scenes kitten wrangling short for more of the David Tennant and the kittens! {g}

[@Tulf42]

There are so many parallels with Gridlock and the 2020 pandemic, but I wander our equivalent of the Macra is in our lifetime...

[@megaporch583]

I for one would like to welcome our crab overlords

[@DoctorWhoAdventures]

You know what (especially after Years and Years), I would not be surprised if Russell T Davies is a time traveller :O Awesome review! :D

[@chelsea1062]

I knew it! I absolutely knew it! I took one look at the title of this episode and thought, OMG! This is about gridlock.

[@DDYTEDDY]

Just noticed the doctor pulls out a arrow from the previous episode, great attention to detail

[@barnabasgordon1199]

This was my favourite episode when I was small

[@Astro_Thvnder]

Are we just gonna glance over the fact Pezzhead just popped up in one of the clips

[@blobfish5730]

I'm very much looking forward to watching this

[@AcessDBpro]

Another tidbit: The Doctor didn't know Bo was Captain Jack Harkness at this point from his (the Doctor's) own perspective.

[@HuffleRyan]

When I think of Doctor Who, this is one of the first episode that comes to my mind. Is's such a good story, and the first piece of media I can remember that made me cry. I can't wait for the new RTD era!

[@jamesstewart7736]

It’s a bit of a call back to “Paradise Towers” too with the two old ladies in their car.

[@bentrueblood6516]

When I was little, my dad had a box set of series 3, and aside from the weekly episodes that was my Dr Who source from age 5 to like 14. Gridlock and Human Nature we're almost all I watched cause my da djist love them so much.

[@gussyt1761]

We have a cat named Brannigan after this episode

[@logo-gj6nq]

This was always one of my favorite episodes and I remember whenever I mentioned that people would say like no it's like one of the worst at the time which one I kind of shows how the air was when gridlock could easily be considered one of the worst now it's still in one of my favorites I mean there's heaven sent but this is the close second

[@bryonarchuleta6103]

I always wondered about the Black Cat driver, in the studs & leather, & the Twins in their nightgowns.

[@kilveccirtep4906]

Gridlock has always been one of my favourites. Only outdone by Midnight and Turn Left

[@raptorprimal1077]

Also in retrospect hurts realising the face of boe is jack and despite wanting to say anything, he doesn't say outright who he is to the doctor as he knows the events must happen when the master arrives

[@ryanhasproblems]

Gridlock was the first Series 3 episode I saw.

[@emmatorode6704]

What I dint get about the episode of how sort the distances are, the kidnappers I swear only had to go a few miles like a distance you could WALK

[@fusionfury4437]

I thought the Sontaran two parter from Series 4 was a better parrell of 2020, but this works too.

[@astra3310]

Your description...... you forgot the giant mudcrabs!

[@HarboWholmes]

What crabs? There's no such thing as a Macra...

[@SlackerET]

One of my fav episodes I feel like it's very underrated

[@richardmorris8902]

I dunno. I like this episode (and most of Ten's run). However, for me, "The Girl in the Fireplace" will always be one of my favorite episodes. Interestingly enough, for many of the same reasons you praise this episode. In any case, excellent video. Really interesting points.👍

[@tombrennan7333]

Damn this is one of the first reviews I have very strongly disagreed with. Always liked the ending of this episode but overall it just felt somewhat... meh? Like not bad by any stretch but S tier?? (Assumingly putting it on the same level as Blink and Human Nature/Family of Blood) Definitely a solid B tier IMO. Solid video as always anyway

[@FTZPLTC]

The hymn in this episode always gets me.

[@matthewpham341]

Gridlock is amazing, one of my favorites, but I heard people don't regard it that highly?

[@thatbloodypanda6989]

I absolutely adore Gridlock

[@lummy15th]

Its Implied That 10 And Rose Went On Adventures Before New Earth

[@jC-kc4si]

Quite a few elements from the Judge Dredd comic in 2000 AD 'inspired' this episode.

[@youraveragepersonwalkingth6850]

Chris chinnail, this is how you make a good episode. Now take notes.

[@ATADSP]

This was my third-ever Doctor Who episode after the Daleks Take Manhatten and Victory of the Daleks.

[@Rpartin93]

I just noticed this but the suit ten wears in gridlock is the same one he wore in the first new earth episode...