Ep 11. Boom Town

In the Doctor Who (2005) season 1 episode 11 titled Boom Town, the audience is taken to Cardiff, where the TARDIS crew finds themselves in a sticky situation. The episode revolves around the confrontation between the Doctor (played by Christopher Eccleston), Rose (played by Billie Piper), Captain Jack (played by John Barrowman), and a familiar face, Margaret (played by Annette Badland), the last surviving member of the Slitheen.

Margaret has managed to escape the destruction of her planet, but her fate is subject to debate. The Doctor is convinced that Margaret should be executed for her crimes, while Rose and Jack argue that she deserves a chance to make amends. Eventually, the Doctor decides to take Margaret back to her home planet, Raxacoricofallapatorius, to stand trial for her actions.

However, things take a turn for the worse when the TARDIS experiences a malfunction. The crew is stranded in Cardiff, and the Doctor realizes that Margaret has been manipulating events behind the scenes to prevent her own execution. She has been posing as a mayor, using her knowledge of advanced technology to sneak around undetected, and has threatened to destroy the entire city with a nuclear power plant.

What follows is a tense and thrilling showdown, as the Doctor and Margaret engage in a series of mind games and negotiations. Margaret argues that she has changed for the better and deserves a second chance, but the Doctor remains suspicious. As the audience wonders who will emerge victorious, the crew must work to prevent the destruction of Cardiff and ensure that justice is served.

Boom Town stands out as a character-driven episode, exploring the complex relationships between the TARDIS crew and the moral dilemmas they face on their travels. Annette Badland delivers a standout performance as Margaret, injecting humor, desperation, and vulnerability into her slimy alien character. The episode also features a stunning cameo from singer Shirley Bassey, who is a Cardiff native.

Overall, Boom Town is a well-crafted and engaging episode that adds depth and nuance to the Doctor Who universe. It challenges viewers to think about the value of redemption and the importance of second chances, while also delivering some thrilling action sequences and standout performances.