N.B. there might (or might not) be spoilers in this article!

Smart fella, that RTD! Naming the aliens in Partners in Crime the Adipose, which sounds suitably unearthly but is actually just another, more scientific, name for body fat, was a nice touch.

“I just want a mate.”

The Doctor, Partners in Crime

Broadcast a day after Torchwood‘s Series Two finale (meaning I continue to run 15 years behind for a little while longer), Doctor Who‘s Season Four opener Partners in Crime is part-cautionery tale about the dangers of quick fix diet pills, part humourous reunion of the Doctor and Donna.

All the just-missing-each-other stuff is well done and once they do meet, their silent conversation across the room where Miss Foster and her cronies are interrogating / threatening journalist Penny, followed by the realisation that they’re being watched, is joyous and, what’s more, genuinely funny.

I’m not entirely sure if Miss Foster’s plan was to kill all the Adipose pilltakers in the manner that did for poor Stacy or whether that was an unfortunate side-effect of Donna and the Doctor’s investigations, but if nothing else, it’s nice to see the great Sarah Lancashire getting to include Doctor Who on her CV.

There are some hints at other possible mysteries to come here too: bees disappearing, the Adipose planet being “lost”, and of course the appearance of Rose Tyler, which to my recollection, was a complete surprise at the time. (I’m usually pretty good at avoiding spoilers, though.)

All-in-all, Partners in Crime is an enjoyable way to kick off the new season and re-introduces to the glorious Donna Noble. What is she like!