Every great series of Doctor Who needs a solid two-parter, or at least that appeared to be Russell T Davies' ethos during his first time at the helm of the series. The Sontaran Stratagem, which aired on 26 April 2008, serves as the first half of a tense, large-scale adventure that brings back classic monsters, rekindles old relationships, and begins to widen the series’ narrative lens. Written by Helen Raynor and directed by Douglas Mackinnon, the story reintroduces the militaristic Sontarans for the modern audience, while also welcoming back a now grown-up Martha Jones. Rewatching this in 2025, the scope and ambition remain impressive, though its execution occasionally wobbles under the weight of its own setup.
The episode opens with a sleek mystery—people all over the world are installing ATMOS devices in their cars, a revolutionary GPS and emissions control system that just so happens to be alien technology in disguise. When UNIT starts noticing deaths and atmospheric anomalies, they call on an old friend: Martha Jones. The reunion between the Doctor, Donna, and Martha is surprisingly warm and understated, given all that Martha has been through. Freema Agyeman plays her with cool assurance, clearly changed by her time away from the Doctor, more confident and more embedded in a military structure she once stood against.
Catherine Tate continues to impress as Donna, whose grounded perspective balances out the sci-fi excesses. Her return home and scenes with her grandfather Wilf are beautifully played—especially Wilf’s unknowing brush with death in his ATMOS-enabled car. Bernard Cribbins, as always, brings warmth and gravitas to even the smallest scene. It’s Donna’s dual role—adventurer and dutiful granddaughter—that keeps the human cost of these global events front and centre.
David Tennant, meanwhile, relishes the return of a proper alien threat. His Doctor is inquisitive and rattled in equal measure, especially once the truth about ATMOS and its creators begins to unfold. The Sontarans, updated with new prosthetics and a more polished aesthetic, are a worthy reintroduction. They’re brutish, loyal, and obsessed with honour and war. Christopher Ryan’s General Staal—the self-declared "Staal the Undefeated"—is both menacing and slightly ridiculous in true Doctor Who fashion.
The scale of The Sontaran Stratagem is impressive, incorporating international crisis, military tensions, and covert alien invasion without losing its sense of character. The decision to frame the episode through Martha’s involvement with UNIT is clever, highlighting how much she has grown since travelling with the Doctor, while also drawing a line between scientific inquiry and military obedience.
The episode is not without its flaws. Some of the UNIT personnel feel a little underwritten, and the plot mechanics, while engaging, occasionally slow under the weight of exposition. The notion of an alien GPS system emitting toxic gas is compellingly eerie but a bit clunky in delivery. The cliffhanger ending, though, works brilliantly—cars across the planet suddenly emit deadly gas as the Sontarans begin their offensive. The sense of global catastrophe is tangible, and it’s clear that this is just the beginning.
Rewatching The Sontaran Stratagem in 2025, its strengths still shine: confident performances, classic monster revival, and an intriguing ethical tension between Martha’s new life and the Doctor’s approach to crisis. As setup for the second half, it builds momentum and character stakes, leaving audiences eager for resolution. It's not the show at its very peak, but it's certainly Doctor Who in full stride, confidently revisiting its roots while pushing into bigger territory.
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