What they got right: It's rare that a story with a sad ending gets high marks from me, but Starkings and Russell pull this one off so beautifully that I don't think any other ending would do. At least death has meaning here, unlike certain other publications that shall remain nameless–like slag they will THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT DC AND MARVEL, NOT AS A CHEAP PR STUNT THAT DISRESPECTS YOUR PROPERTIES AND PREDECESSORS! What results is a storytelling masterpiece, with the usage of old Who races the Draconians and the Ice Warriors as a bonus. The Doctor (or rather the writers) remember Donna's calling the Doctor a Martian and introduces her to real Whoniverse Martians. It is an excellent story.
What they got wrong: The Ice Warriors' first appearance in a modern Who story (as far as we Americans know, anyway) really should have had a better use. It's nice to see them being not evil (did they ever reform in classic Who?) but they don't really do anything in the story, and anyone could have been used in their place. I'm also not sure about using the Draconians as an analog for Sharia, what with the way the womenfolk are treated. Of course, Donna changes hearts and minds once again, which is how she's used, making what Davies did to her at the end of the season even more wrong than ever. I'm so glad he's going. Also, I'm not sure I would have chosen this art style for this story. It just doesn't work for the Doctor's somber moment at the end.
Recommendation: This is an incredible story, and one you should read for yourselves.
