Continuing Martha Jones’ journey in the TARDIS, Gridlock, first broadcast on April 14, 2007, takes the Doctor and his new companion to New Earth—last seen in, perhaps unsurprisingly, New Earth—but this time, we are plunged into a dystopian nightmare of endless traffic, societal collapse, and a message of hope hidden beneath it all. Written by Russell T Davies and directed by Richard Clark, Gridlock is an episode that plays with expectations, initially appearing as a quirky adventure before revealing itself as something much deeper and more profound. But does it still hold up in 2025?
The episode’s opening is deceptively light-hearted. The Doctor, keen to show Martha the wonders of the universe, takes her to the far future, only for her to be promptly kidnapped and taken into the depths of the endless motorway. What begins as a seemingly absurd setup quickly morphs into a story about endurance, survival, and faith in something greater. Gridlock is, at its core, a story about hope in the face of despair, and that thematic resonance makes it one of the most affecting episodes of the Tennant era.
The setting is strikingly bleak yet strangely beautiful. The idea of an entire civilization trapped in never-ending gridlock, stuck in traffic for years without ever reaching their destination, is both darkly humorous and disturbingly relevant. The production design, with its layers of floating vehicles, each a tiny self-contained world, reinforces the sense of isolation and societal decay. The idea that people have adapted to this reality—forming relationships, keeping faith, and holding onto routines despite the futility of it all—adds an emotional weight to what could have been a purely comedic premise.
Martha, still in the early days of her travels with the Doctor, is once again put through a trial by fire. Her abduction forces her to rely on her intelligence and adaptability, and Freema Agyeman continues to shine in the role. Martha’s conversation with the couple who kidnapped her, Cheen and Milo, is a standout moment, as she questions their decisions while also coming to understand the desperation that led them to this point. Her growing frustration with the Doctor’s secrecy, particularly about his past, also begins to build in this episode, subtly setting up the arc that will define her time in the TARDIS.
The Doctor, meanwhile, is forced to confront a situation unlike any other—one where the true enemy is not an alien invasion or a mad scientist, but bureaucracy, stagnation, and the unintended consequences of well-meaning decisions. His descent into the depths of the motorway is one of the episode’s most effective sequences, slowly peeling back the mystery of why these people are trapped. David Tennant is fantastic here, balancing his usual fast-talking wit with an underlying sense of sorrow. His growing frustration as he realizes the extent of the problem, and his final, desperate attempt to open the motorway’s roof, are some of his best moments of the season.
And then, there is the Face of Boe.
The return of Boe, first seen in The End of the World and New Earth, adds an unexpected layer of mythos to the episode. His final moments, where he sacrifices himself to give the trapped citizens a second chance, are deeply moving. His dying words—"You are not alone"—send the Doctor reeling, teasing the revelation to come later in the season while also tying into the show’s ongoing exploration of loneliness and identity. The idea that Boe, a creature who has lived for billions of years, uses his last act to give hope to others, perfectly aligns with the themes of Gridlock.
Beyond its emotional weight, Gridlock is also an episode that rewards long-time fans. The return of the Macra, last seen in The Macra Terror during the Second Doctor’s era, is a fun Easter egg, though their role is more symbolic than narrative. The Doctor’s monologue about Gallifrey, where he finally opens up to Martha about his lost home, is one of the most beautiful moments in the revival. The way he describes its orange skies and silver leaves, his longing clear in every word, is a stark contrast to the playful traveler he pretends to be. It is a rare moment of true vulnerability, and Tennant delivers it masterfully.
Rewatching Gridlock in 2025, it remains a powerful and underrated gem. What begins as an amusing satire of traffic congestion evolves into something deeply moving, with themes of hope, endurance, and faith in something beyond ourselves. It is Doctor Who at its best—combining adventure, heart, and an unshakable belief in the goodness of people, even in the darkest of circumstances.
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