MARTHA'S BACK! | Doctor Who Season 4 Episode 4 "The Sontaran Strategem" Reaction!

[@TotallyNottJackWinchester]

So Emme UNIT is a Taskforce first introduced in the 60s with the second Doctor and the Third Doctor spent his entire tenure working for them as their scientific adviser. I LOVE UNIT so much.

[@TheNovaBridger]

Also I'd like to add that UNIT first appearance in New Who in Aliens of London/Wold War Three from Series 1, as well as Last of the Time Lords/Sound of Drums from Series 3 :)

[@obiwankenobi687]

This is also UNITS fourth appearance in new who now. Aliens of London/WW3, Christmas invasion, sound of drums,

[@MarkMonforti]

I love that quote "i wonder ever see that." Well there are 10 years of these episodes about 400.

[@space1999]

Yes, the unit family was a special special time.... wonderful and warm fuzzy feelings all round... I just about recall the end of that magical era...

[@TheOnlyGazzLam]

It's name changed though

[@happyslapsgiving5421]

Martha: "You used to work for them?" Doctor: "Yeah... tell me about it! In the '70s." Emme: "I wonder if we'll ever see that." Me: "We have...... in the '70s."

[@thepandorica1660]

Or was it the 80s?

[@dwilborn1257]

70s... Jon Pertwee.

[@donsample1002]

@@dwilborn1257 Its origins go back to the second Doctor, they were a constant presence through much of the Tom Baker years, and they made occasional appearances all the way up to Sylvester McCoy’s run as the Doctor.

[@StarkRG]

@@donsample1002 Yes, but Pertwee was the Doctor who worked with them the most because he was stuck on Earth for most of his era. He had a car. Still hoping they bring Bessie back.

[@somerandomguy2073]

​@dwilborn1257 UNIT Dating Controversy. In the 70s it was supposed to be the 80s (because in the 60s it was supposed to be the 70s) until the 80s retconned it to be the 70s. It's both and neither.

[@Look_Over_There]

Fun fact in the first series UNIT stood for United Nations iIntelligence Taskforce. The show runner Russel T Davies got a cease and desist letter from the actual UN because of the similarities in the name. He thought it was a joke at first but it really wasn't, so UNIT was shortened to UNited Intelligence Taskforce

[@MuchWhittering]

Considering UNIT debuted in 1968, I would argue the UN had had plenty of time to complain before now.

[@RedmoonIndustries]

"A long time ago, back in the 70's"... 5:10 Classic WHO, the Third Doctor had been exiled to Earth by the Time Lords, and he agreed to join UNIT as its Scientific Advisor under Brigadier General Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart and as they mention here, he never officially quit the job.

[@Andy-wl6xy]

The 3rd Doctor is the best! Reverse the polarity!

[@InspectorWhoReacts]

"You dumbo, great big, outer space, dunce." -Donna Noble

[@Metzwerg74]

Yeah.... -The Doctor

[@TK-30115]

"The last great time war. The finest war in history and we weren't allowed to be part of it." Bro really wanted the throw hands with the Daleks at the height of their power. Mad confidence.

[@Metzwerg74]

well, they crave a good death in a battle more than surviving..... their genetic mass production infused them with quite some serious flaws....

[@SunlessNick]

The Sontarans were a big deal - in the original series, they conquered Gallifrey at one point.

[@somerandomguy2073]

​​Total fluke. They were punching well above their weight when they did that. Successful espionage strategy, but they only successfully invaded the capital for a few hours. It was never gonna last.

[@darkarpatron]

@@SunlessNick In the Big Finish Audio Books, They even managed to capture a high ranking Timelady as well as the Dalek Time Strategist and put 'em in the same cell. They likely wouldn't have faired well in the Time War but they certainly would've left their mark on it.

[@barriehull7076]

Wilf was played by Bernard Cribbins (29 December 1928 - 27 July 2022) an English actor and singer whose career spanned over eight decades. During the 1960s, Cribbins became known in the UK for his successful novelty records "The Hole in the Ground" and "Right Said Fred" and for his appearance as Albert Perks in The Railway Children (1970) with Jennifer Agutter who later was in An American Werewolf in London in the 1981 comedy horror film. She was also in Logan's Run a 1976 American science fiction action film.

[@doorofnight87]

Bernard Cribbens (Donna's Grandfather, Wildred Mott) was a true British TV legend (to my understanding, I am an American) and a charming and delightful human being (sadly, he passed last year) whose connection with Doctor Who goes back to the 1960's. In the first boom of the show's popularity, dubbed Dalekmania due to much of that popularity being centered around the Daleks, a UK film studio decided to remake the first two Dalek stories into color films, Dalek become Doctor Who and the Daleks and Dalek Invasion of Earth becoming Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth 2150. The cast of the TV show was not available due to filming (the first six series of Doctor Who ran about 48 episodes per year) so they brought in new cast. Bernard Cribbins plays a Policeman in the second film who ends up in the TARDIS and serving as one of the Doctor's 'companions'. For anyone interested, the movies have a charm to them, with some neat visuals and effects, and Peter Cushing (his most famous roll to modern audiences would be Moff Tarkin in Star Wars) as the Doctor is a delight. The Doctor is actually named Doctor Who and rather than being mysterious is explicitly shown as a human inventor, who invented The TARDIS, which is only a little bigger inside than out and he is a much more charming and benign character than the sometimes grumpy and much more mysterious First Doctor, but there differences work due to Cushing's talent and clear enjoyment of playing a character that isn't either a villain or extremely serious. The weirdest thing is that, feeling the Dalek Weapon effect would be too traumatic in color, the Dalek's weapons are basically fire extinguishers, which is both really fun and somehow in a few scenes MORE disturbing than the reverse-polarized screen effect from the show.

[@qa1327]

3:05 i like how you immediately knew who it was and were so excited about it Enjoyed the reaction as usual.

[@lanceloomis2038]

12:59 I think it's important to remember that we do not necessarily see all of the time the companions spend with the doctor. Just the fact that the doctor let her have a hand at the Tardis controls almost implies They've had a bunch more adventures.

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

I loved this story. Bernard Cribbins was already a household name long before I was born, from the Carry On movies and his well-known songs ‘Right Said Fred’ and ‘Hole In The Ground’, and he seemed to be involved in so many kids TV shows when I was growing up (The Wombles, Jackanory etc). Such a lovely man, and I was thrilled every time I saw him in Dr Who. It was also great to see UNIT back - albeit very different to how they used to be in 70s Who!. And it was such a joy to have the Sontarans back after so long. I wasn’t a fan of this silly “Sontar-Ha” chant, as if they needed some kind of catchphrase, but I love Christopher Ryan (Spud Gun, Mike from The Young Ones and Kiv from classic Who) and they’ve were so well played that I could easily overlook it. All round great story. You’ll enjoy part 2.

[@CrankyGrandma]

I was so excited to see Martha and Donna together. And Donna being a clerical worker has a whole different type of smarts. The Third Doctor worked for UNIT and his “companions” or rather “assistants” were other UNIT members. Brigadier Lethbridge Stuart was in charge of the division and he was probably the companion seen with the most incarnations of the Doctor. He first met the SecondDoctor, and was seen on screen with most of the Classic doctors.

[@kevinpope1297]

Wilfred amott played by Bernard Cribbins was in one of the 1960s Doctor who movies with Peter Cushing in another time line as they say these days he is a much beloved UK TV icon who passed away July 2022 .

[@nimblehealer199]

When it was first introduced, UNIT stood for the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. Now it's called the Unified Intelligence Taskforce, because the UN didn't want their name to be associated with war.

[@samuelterry6354]

That's funny. 🤣

[@ftumschk]

I think the UN was generally unhappy with their name being used by a fictional organisation, rather than specifically objecting to it being associated with war. After all, the UN has its own military staff, and deploys peacekeeping troops to conflict zones and other troubled parts of the world.

[@therealpbristow]

As @ftumschk says, it was about the specific usage of their name in relation to a fictional body in a fictional world, not about "war". Basically, the whole point of the UN is that *IF* there's a war, it's members will help defend each other. This also gives them all an incentive to try to *prevent* any of the other members going to war, thereby (it is hoped) reducing the risk of war occurring at all. So "associated with war" is kind of in the job description. =:o} That said, the way that UNIT tends to behave in "Doctor Who" is exactly *NOT* how a UN-based organisation should operate! I don't blame them for saying "Yeah... um... you can keep your little band of trigger-happy alien-hunters, but pleased don't drag our name into it any more. People think badly enough of us already." =:o1

[@ftumschk]

@@therealpbristow Fun fact: For Pertwee's second season, producer Barry Letts decided to get an authentic uniform for the Brigadier, and asked the military outfitter what a UN-affiliated brigadier's uniform would look like. The tailor explained it would be the same as a British Army uniform, but with UN flashes on the lapels and a blue cap. Letts realised that a blue cap would disappear in any scene requiring "blue-screen" special effects, so settled for a khaki/brown cap for the Brig instead.

[@thedoctor4327]

Tenth Doctor, Donna and Wilf is probably my favorite trio in Doctor Who 🙂 UNIT was a regular group of supporting characters in Classic Who. Their most prominent member was Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart who’s a fan favorite DW character and one of the Doctor’s closest non-Companion friends. The Sontarans likewise were in Classic Who as recurring enemies. Their debut story was also the first appearance of Sarah Jane!

[@SunlessNick]

I do love that Martha and Donna immediately got on.

[@chrisbamber2762]

Another introduction to a classic villan. The off comment about when the doctor worked with unit is a refrence to a real life debate about when episodes featuring unit are set as many episodes timelines contradict.unit were introduced for the 3rd doctor to give him people to work with as he was restricted to earth bound missions mainly for budget reasons

[@j.diamond6014]

I love two-parters, this one is very action-packed and i think it sets up the next part well.

[@alexsimpkin5620]

Doctor Who got into a legal issue with the actual United Nations, as UNIT's original acronym was United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. So they retconned the name into Unified Intelligence Taskforce.

[@910luk]

so... 5:29 emme, that is a WHOLE ERA of the classic series that spanned 3~5 seasons, UNIT had been with Doctor Who, as a show, since the 70s too!

[@HuntingViolets]

Always good to see Martha.

[@doorofnight87]

I've always enjoyed this two parter, are a few bits a little silly, maybe, but the Sontarons have been an interesting villain since they were introduced in 1973 (in a serial called The Time Warrior, which was also the first appearance of Sarah Jane Smith), and there is some good tension and it is nice to see Martha (who I've always thought underrated as a companion) and UNIT back. Really enjoyed your reaction!

[@10thdoctor15]

Human Nature is the only cliffhanger where 'the Doctor' has to make a choice.

[@ronfehr7899]

The only time I've ever taken any sick days is when I was actually sick. I believe faking sick days is wrong. My philosophy is "work when you're scheduled to work, whether or not you feel like a."

[@obiwankenobi687]

5:25 The Doctor doesn’t know when he worked for UNIT as the show doesn’t really know either. The Brigadier makes a comment in classic who that would mean he retired from UNIT in 1976 before UNIT was even set up in 1979. So when the doctor worked for them it would have been the 80’s, but it was also the 70’s in real life but also couldn’t be the 70’s as unit wasn’t set up until 1979. Wibbly wobbly timey wimey. So bit of a joke poking fun at a continuity error

[@andrewft31]

UNIT was introduced under the second Doctor which was way before 1979. UNIT first appeared in 1968 in the episode The Invasion. The Doctor is their scientific advisor.

[@mayotango1317]

​@@andrewft31And Sarah Jane say that she is from the 80s in Pyramids in Mars, or that the Cold War ended in "Robot".

[@therealpbristow]

[NODS] The main run of UNIT stories were *supposed* to be set about 5 years after whenever they aired; But a later production team goofed when giving the date of the Brig's retirement (though to be fair, they were in a sticky situation having planned a story around a completely different character, and having to substitute the Brig at the last minute).

[@somerandomguy2073]

​@@andrewft31Yeah, but that was supposed to be a few years in the future. Web was contemporary, but Invasion was several years down the line after UNIT had been set up. The entire Pertwee era was supposed to be set in the near future, but they messed up the dates in Mawdryn Undead.

[@loganmorales1838]

“it breathes in the Chicago river on St. Patrick’s Day” 💀💀

[@cameronmonaghan6883]

'I wonder if we'll ever see that' 🤦‍♂️😆 Honestly though. The Classic UNIT episodes are some of the best in the whole franchise. And The Sontaran Strategm is the best UNIT story of the revival. Future UNIT stories should take note.

[@mayotango1317]

20:05 Well, the Sontarans conquer Gallifrey...

[@OrbitalPulsar]

The kid genius became pretty popular for british tv shows after this. Hes actually my neighbor now 😂

[@elvwood]

Well, you can tell him I think he's a really good actor - every character I've seen him play comes across as completely different, to the extent that it takes me a while to realise it's Ryan Sampson again!

[@pmh2390]

They did rush medical students to the field/hospitals during Covid and a lot got severe burnout some stayed with the professional but some moved fields

[@SarahH-ns6ly]

The Doctor worked with UNIT a lot in the classic series. Some of the companions from that era were members of UNIT.

[@solitarymaninblack]

2:05 This actress was in The Walking Dead.

[@josh8764]

Martha becoming a doctor only got “rushed” through because she already had the training. Nothing was getting left out because she already knew it.

[@smashstuff86]

5:29 We wonder if YOU will ever see that. 19:11 Turn left.

[@breeeldred2168]

Grandad Wilf is going to be one of the great recurring characters in Dr Who for years, thanks to the acting talent of Bernard Cribbins.

[@TLC62]

I love the scene where the Doctor and Ross were trapped in the ATMOS equipped UNIT car which was about to drive itself into the water and drown them, they finally manage to get free just as the car goes into the water and they throw themselves down expecting a great big bang, and there's just a spark or two. The Doctor's reaction is "Oh, is that it?" looking disappointed. (I guess the budget wouldn't allow an actual explosion so they turned it into a funny moment instead.)

[@jkpole]

Great Great Great reaction video emme , now you've met the Sontarans ( not a wonderful group) .... LOVE love love the appearance of your beautiful cat.... Great to see the WONDERFUL Bernard Cribbins , such a GREAT actor and in so many films and TV shows

[@AlmightyCRJ]

"What's that?" Violent Mr Potato Head.😂

[@Randomaited]

5:29 - if you ever get round to watching/reacting to Classic Who, it comes up eventually

[@space1999]

The sontarans were classic era monsters and 1st appeared in mid 70s... their debute was also the debute of a certain sarah jane smith....

[@matthewmartin2558]

They did show it to us during the classic series

[@biguy617]

The Sontaran also appeared in one episode of the Sarah Jane Adventures

[@craigmorris4083]

Oh Emme, you should see The Doctor work with U.N.I.T.. Those episodes are classic. :)

[@craigmorris4083]

Also.....God bless Wilfred Mott. :)

[@little-wytch]

Just waiting for the callback realization in the next episode lol.

[@MuchWhittering]

So it's a UNIT story where they need an older car not fitted with ATMOS? If only the Doctor had an old car UNIT would have in storage for him? I'm sorry BBC, but WHERE IS BESSIE!?

[@MuchWhittering]

"Salve Luke." "Alright Doctor?"

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thank you, Emme! ⏳

[@ethanfreel1222]

17:00 STRAX MY BELOVED

[@olivefernando7879]

there was a missed opportunity that I really really wish they hadn't missed, I think they should've brought up in the show that Wilfred was a former Companion to (a version of) the Doctor

[@alexandermills9965]

Torchwood

[@paulalexandredumasseauvan2357]

enjoyed your reaction 👍☺

[@jamieguadagni9325]

You need to get torchwood series 2 finished before the end of this season!

[@ziggythedrummer]

"I wonder if we'll ever see [the Doctor working with UNIT in the 1970s/1980s]" - Classic Who, Second and Third Doctors worked closely with UNIT, especially Third. Definitely worth watching the Classic Era of 1963-1989. A bit dated now but still fun if you ignore the fact that every alien planet was a quarry in Wales and some language/behaviour that would probably get someone cancelled these days!

[@therealpbristow]

"every alien planet was a quarry in Wales" - WHAT?!? They never had *THAT* big a budget! Imagine all those travel expenses! =:oo It was almost always a quarry (or other location) within 30 miles of TV Centre (London). They did get out as far as Wales a couple of times, but not for the quarries. =:o}

[@ziggythedrummer]

@@therealpbristow fair point, though cast and crew travelling to Wales and back wouldn't necessarily have been prohibitively expensive back then.

[@therealpbristow]

@@ziggythedrummer The way it worked was that if they stayed within 30 miles of "home", the production didn't have to cover people's travel costs at all: Anyone without a seat in the camera/equipment van was expected to arrange their own travel to and from location, and suck up the expense themselves.

[@JoeThornhill]

"I wonder if we'll ever see" (The Doctor with U.N.I.T. in the '70's). That's up to you, love. It'll take a few years but will you go back and watch all of Classic Who?

[@ragabashmoon1551]

Not 100% sure but pretty sure field medical work counts, especially for the military where you're doing a lot of hands on work.

[@craigoconnor6662]

"The squish & the goo" - The worst pub in England.

[@StaceyGreenstein]

Hi Emme if you're new here, I'm Stacey! XD

[@ConorDale]

Completely off subject but sticking with the sci-fi theme, I think you would really really love Orphan Black x

[@spicyfood6943]

15:44 kitty!!!!!!!!

[@Metzwerg74]

5:28 easy to see that, just watch classic who... i think, correct me if i´m wrong, but the 2nd doctor worked a lot with them...

[@therealpbristow]

Third, mainly; But the 2nd Doctor was in at their very beginnings.

[@gumdeo]

Evil Martha is scary...

[@prestongeeding1995]

U.N.I.T is during classic Who late 60’s - 1989.

[@craigoconnor6662]

Isn't Grandad Wilf the best? He makes you cry.

[@TheAppeyes]

Hey Emme, will you be returning to Torchwood or are you just doing Doctor Who now?

[@Melono0000]

She said shes watching series 2 in her own time and will continue reactions for series 3.

[@TheAppeyes]

@@Melono0000 Awesome thanks! Just didn't want her getting Torchwood spoilers from Doctor Who

[@kevindean0000]

@@Melono0000 So no more reactions to Torchwood, that's highly disappointing if that's the case.

[@Melono0000]

@@kevindean0000 well she will react to series 3 when she gets there.

[@kevindean0000]

@@Melono0000 But not series 2? ..which by air dates she should already be doing, right?

[@subscorpion9560]

Sontarans are a warmongering race. They’re bred to fight in wars. For many years they been at war with a jellyfish like race but relish other kinds of battle such as the time war. However, I believe both side wouldn’t allow another faction interfere with their own battle, hence why the sontarans weren’t allowed in the time war

[@mrgadd]

Sonta-HA!

[@suzannehammer4944]

the sontarans are the doctor old enemys

[@joebowers6554]

The Sontarans appeared in the original run of the show a handful of times. It's not the best reintroduction of a classic baddie IMO (it the Daleks for me), but it's far from the worst.

[@AndrewCBateman]

I don't know if you'll see this... but you have this episode out of order on your Doctor Who playlist. I just found it and I've been binging them all and this really threw me off, lol.

[@Corlwow]

So sad rocky season 1 of torchwood was watched but then the great season 2 that leads into season 4 doc who is not watched :’(

[@brianwisecarver4880]

Reupload?

[@emme]

yes! the other one got demonetized so i had to fix it

[@suntannedduck2388]

An ok episode. Martha back, Sontarans modern who returns, Old Who to New Who differences of Unit. Seen the confidential behind the scenes of some this era they are pretty good. Sick days hmm Donna being smarter in her way. Doctor yep you are the alien genius. Ah the family situation scenes. What a comparison. The way it asks if Donna does she want to stay or go. Ah teasing the audience with words/perspective understanding. Them being flesh yeah they don't have that sort of understanding. Yep Sylvia isn't great but Wilfred is excellent. Yep Atmos being in everything is hilarious. Got to follow the green future after all. Even if Atmos is controlling.

[@klaxoncow]

"So they all pretty much look the same." That's racist. (Just kidding, just kidding.)

[@alexgrainger3845]

You could see it but you'll have to watch the classic dr who from the 60/70s

[@fayesouthall6604]

Martha’s back ❤ Spot on he spots Martha Clone straight away!

[@thepandorica1660]

This is part 1, Faye

[@apatternedhorizon]

If you watch Classic Who then you'll see it.

[@klaxoncow]

Them Sontarans sauntering along, eh?

[@ruairiedwards8616]

SONTAR HA

[@tigger3565]

Emme good reaction. Someone can help if I’m wrong. Emme I think you miss an episode before you started this season. There was a show called planet of the dead. When you’re done with this season. Before starting the next season. You may like watching the next doctor. Nothing doing with the next season. Then the next show is call end of time. It is a 2 part show. These shows are with the Dr. we have now. Thought I would say something now. Before you get in the next season.

[@kevindean0000]

The Specials air after season 4 and before season 5, so she hasn't missed any, They go: The Next Doctor Planet of the Dead The Waters of Mars The End of Time: Part One The End of Time: Part Two