Midnight - Digital Spy Review

There are some fascinating elements at work in Russell T. Davies's episode, but an unsatisfying conclusion undermines much of the tension built up.

Cracking dialogue and performances underpin The Doctor's verbal jousting with the possessed Sky, with Lesley Sharp acquitting herself admirably in a very tricky and sinister role. David Tennant manages to cope fine without a sidekick, bolstered by an impressive ensemble cast.

There's some definite character development in the Time Lord, for he appears to exhibit a narcissism and vanity not witnessed since his sixth incarnation. Perhaps all that female attention has swelled his ego?

Setting an episode predominantly in one confined location is a real test for any director to keep the visuals looking fresh. Alice Troughton proves to be a sturdy hand behind the lens, allowing the two compelling central performances from Tennant and Sharp to breathe and flourish.

The main plot of an unknown intruder lurking outside or possibly inside a confined space provides a nice riff on iconic movies like The Thing From Another World and Night Of The Living Dead. The fact that we know so little about the apparent forces lurking on the planet Midnight is a wise move by Davies, as fear of the unknown is very powerful indeed.

Less commendable is the shoddy denouement though. The sudden promotion of the stewardess from random expendable supporting character to The Doctor's self-sacrificing saviour is glaringly mishandled and wraps everything up in an unsatisfying manner. The stewardess has effectively been relegated to a convenient and incongruous plot function.

All's not well when an episode ends so poorly, which is a shame as there are many commendable components at work within 'Midnight'.