Smith and Jones is a purposefully lightweight episode, which is perhaps why it's frequently overlooked. The introduction of Martha Jones as a companion is front and center in the season 3 opener, and few recurring characters have been given such a great first appearance. There's an immediate contrast between her and Rose Tyler -- where Rose was an empathetic, salt of the earth young woman who has to travel with the Doctor to discover her true potential, Martha strikes us as clever and capable right off the bad. She's intelligent, insightful, level-headed, and calm in the face of panic. In other words, she's a perfect match for the Doctor. Even when her entire hospital is transported to Mars and there's a blood-sucking alien wandering around, she doesn't lose her head. Add in the concept of a hilariously bureaucratic intergalactic police force populated entirely by a race of alien rhinoceroses and David Tennant at the top of his game, and you've got a surprisingly solid episode that doesn't get the credit it deserves.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
