Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars, the second 2009 special

Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars is the second 2009 special released from BBC productions. The first special was Dr. Who: The Planet of the Dead (released prior in 2009). This is not the last of the Doctor Who specials starring David Tennant. Doctor Who: The End of Time Parts 1 and 2 is the third and fourth special. They are also available on DVD.

Sadly, Doctor Who: The End of Time Parts 1 and 2 will be the final episodes for the 10th Doctor (David Tennant). This Doctor Who fan had hoped for the 10th Doctor to stick around longer, but the regeneration process has become more frequent throughout the 47 years that BBC has blessed its audience with this fabulous science fiction television series. Earlier Doctors lasted longer than one or two seasons, which was very appealing. Guess the Gallifreyan regeneration aspect has such a magnetic allure (or higher ratings) that Russell T. Davies just cannot help himself to write this aspect into an episode script. Perhaps, Mr. Davies, Executive Producer and Scriptwriter of the Doctor Who series is difficult to work with and the actors who play the Doctor make the choice for him by finding roles elsewhere. Which ever is the case, all Doctors 1 through 10 have been awesome and unique. Each one was been superb and expert in their portrayal of the fictional character the Doctor, now an extremely famous Gallifreyan beloved by many.

The 11th Doctor will be portrayed by Matt Smith. This new 11th Doctor is the youngest of all the Doctors (literally). The Doctor seems to be aging backwards with each regeneration. In the beginning (in 1963), the Doctor was a Senior and grandfatherly; had all the answers. Gradually, through all previous regenerations of the Doctor, loyal viewers have watched the Doctor regenerate younger and younger. He seems to become more fit as he ages. Lucky Doctor!

In Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars the Doctor (David Tennant) is still on his own without any companion. The TARDIS, with a mind of its own, transports the Doctor to November 21, 2059 to the Bowie Base, human colony on Mars. The Doctor, well versed in "future history" events of this colony, refuses to interact or become involved with the colonists. He knows all on the base will perish in the explosion that destroys the Bowie Base. This creates a dillema and internal conflict for the Doctor who has dedicated himself to the preservation of time lines and the future. He fears his influence at the Mars base might change what is already in the known "future history". The Doctor knows he cannot change that which is meant to happen due to the Laws of Time. Well, not without paradox and many problems with alternative time lines occurring; something the Doctor numerous times in the past has prevented.

The Doctor finds himself without any choice, in spite of all of his efforts not to be noticed, to interact with the Bowie Base colonists and their Captain. This further precipates the Doctor reluctantly interfering as the events take shape. His conscience forces the Doctor to assist even though he knows it is futile. In spite of his plans to walk away when "the time of explosion" occurs, well, like all previous episodes the Doctor cannot turn his back on a challenge and comes up with an amazing alternative. The alternative is not perfect and could cause time paradoxes, but it eases the Doctor's mind knowing he did all he could for those on the base.

Captain Adelaide Brooke (Lindsay Duncan) who is in charge of the Bowie Base creatively thwarts the Doctor's alternative solution to prevent the main "future history" accounts becoming altered. This selfless act by Captain Brooke maintains the sentient virus, contained in the glacier (before the Ice Warriors) that was found by the human colonists when one of the water filters in the infiltration system breaks, does not escape Mars. This nearly eradicates the alteration of the time line's "future history" events. Almost, but not quite enough, that is.

Loved the message about the importance of a water filter! Russell T. Davies had me grinning with that one.

The primary cast further included, in order given by credits: Peter O'Brien (Ed Gold, noble escape shuttle pilot who gave his life for the preservation of mankind), Aleksander Mikic (Yuri Karenski, one of the two survivors), Gemma Chan (Mia Bennett, the other two survivors), Sharon Duncan Brewster (Maggie Cain, second colonist to become infected by the sentient virus), Chook Sibtain (Tarak Ital, third colonist infected by sentient virus), Alan Ruscoe (Andy Stone, in charge of infiltration system who made a bad judgement call regarding the broken water filter and was the first infected by the sentient virus), Cosima Shaw (fourth colonist to be infected by sentient virus), Michael Goldsmith (Roman Groom), Lily Bevan (Emily), Max Bollinger (Mikhail), Charlie De'Ath (young Adelaide's father), Rachel Fewell (Young Adelaide), Anouska Strahnz (Ulrika Ehrlich), Zofia Strahnz (Lisette Ehrlich), and Paul Kasey (Ood Sigma).

Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars is 1 hour 2 minutes in length and rated NR (not rated). Highly recommend Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars, all previous specials and episodes. Definitely "a must see" for all Doctor Who fans! All worth viewing and fun to watch.

Enjoy!

For information about the first Doctor Who special and the television series please view: http://hubpages.com/hub/Doctor-Who-Planet-of-the-Dead

More information about Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Waters_of_Mars

Note: Netflix does have the Doctor Who episodes from 1963 to 2009 available through their DVD rental and "Instant" view programs. To learn more check out: http://www.netflix.com/