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Human Nature (Doctor Who episode)
Encyclopedia
"Human Nature" is the eighth episode of the third series of the revived British
science fiction television series Doctor Who
. It is the first episode of a two-part story written by Paul Cornell
adapted from his 1995 Doctor Who novel Human Nature. Along with its continuation, "The Family of Blood
", it was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form in 2008.
and Martha
narrowly escape an attack by the Family of Blood who are seeking the Doctor's Time Lord
life force to prevent themselves from dying out. As the Doctor directs the TARDIS
to Earth, he tells Martha that he must transform into a human for three months to escape the Family's detection while they die, and gives her a list of instructions to follow. He then uses the Chameleon Arch to transfer his Time Lord configuration to a fob watch which he asks Martha to guard.
After landing on earth in 1913, a year before the Great War
, the Doctor adopts the persona of John Smith, a schoolteacher at Farringham School for boys, while Martha acts his maid. John's personality is nearly opposite of the Doctor's, being quiet and timid, but faint memories of the Doctor slip through in dreams, appearing as text and images he writes in his "Journal of Impossible Things". Though John carries the fob watch, the perception filter that it possesses prevents John from being curious about it. John has become infatuated with the new school nurse, Joan Redfern, and shares his journal with her; Martha remains concerned, as the Doctor did not instruct her what to do, should he fall in love. Timothy Latimer, a younger student at the school with extrasensory perception, discovers the fob watch and pockets it for himself, unbeknownst to Martha.
Meanwhile, the Family of Blood have been able to track the Doctor to Earth, and cover their ship in an invisibility shield to keep it from being discovered. The various members of the Family seek out human victims to possess, including one of the school's prefects, one of Martha's fellow maids, a farmer, and a young girl with a balloon, allowing them to seek out the Doctor undetected. When Timothy briefly opens the watch and experiences portions of the Doctor's memories, the Family detects its presence at the school, and soon recognises Martha. They try to get information from her about the Doctor. Martha realises that the Family has found them and attempts to retrieve the watch in order to bring back the Doctor, but cannot find it. She talks to John and tries to awaken the Time Lord persona, but instead causes John to become angry with her, forcing her out of his chambers as he prepares for a village dance with Joan that night. At the dance, Martha again tries to persuade John to become the Doctor by showing him elements of his past such as his sonic screwdriver
, but is unaware that the Family has overheard her conversation. Now aware that John is the Doctor, the Family captures both Martha and Joan. The cliffhanger ending leaves the Family asking John the question of "Maid or matron, your friend or your lover. Your choice."
and Bernice Summerfield
, with their roles replaced on television by the Tenth Doctor
and Martha Jones.
The key plot difference between the book and television versions is that, in the novel, the Doctor seeks human form to better understand humans, whereas in the television version, he is hiding from the Family of Blood.
The villains in the novel are a family of Aubertide shapeshifters, who provide the device that transforms him. Their plan is to gain his abilities by stealing the "biodata module" while he is relatively helpless. The Family's possession of Lucy Cartwright is a nod to the character of Aphasia, an Aubertide who likewise takes the form of a young girl with a balloon, although in the book, the "balloon" is a semi-sentient being Aphasia can send to attack people.
Bernice's cover story is that she is John Smith's niece, who has just finished university education and is staying in the village. She meets her uncle weekly in the pub. Martha's position as a maid reflects the position of ethnic minorities in the period, as well as a need to be nearer the Doctor, since she knows he may be in danger. This also necessitates another change; the replacement of Bernice's friend, the suffragette
Constance with another maid at the school, Jenny. There is also no equivalent to the character of Alexander Shuttleworth, Bernice's landlord, who learns the truth and agrees to help her.
Other character changes include Joan Redfern becoming the school matron rather than a science teacher, although in both she is Smith's love interest and opposes teaching the boys to fight. Hutchinson, as Captain of House
and leader of the boys who bully Timothy, is also a more significant character in the book. In a very minor change, Tim Latimer is named Timothy Dean in the original. In the novel Tim absorbs some of the Doctor's memories and personality, taking on a Doctor-like role, whereas his acts of bravery in the TV story seem to be his own. Timothy Dean's experiences with the Doctor lead Timothy Dean to become a conscientious objector
, whereas Tim Latimer becomes a combat medic
.
In the novel, Benny has a document listing nine things she should not let the Doctor do while in human form. In the television episode, Martha has a video recording with a much longer list of at least 23 directives. Both characters note that falling in love is not mentioned, although Benny adds "Don't let me fall in love" in biro. In both versions, attempts to persuade Smith he is the Doctor without the memory store result in his concluding the companion is mad.
In the episode, Smith mentions learning to draw on Gallifrey
, which he assumes is in Ireland
. The same assumption occurs in the book. He also recalls his parents, Verity and Sydney. In the book, Verity is Smith's lost love, and he has many flashbacks to her. She is actually a trigger to remind him when he needs to become the Doctor again.
The TV episode is set primarily on 11 November 1913, a date that would later be Armistice Day
, but the novel is set in 1914.
Smith's journal clearly has 'Maius intra qua extra' written on one page — Latin for what is inside is greater than what is outside, which is a reference to the TARDIS, but is also the school's motto in the original book (the motto in the episode is 'Audaces Fortuna Juvat' — fortune favours the brave). In the book, however, Smith fails to understand the motto, saying "It's written in a foreign language." The journal itself is equivalent to a children's story Smith tries to write in the book, which described a Victorian scientist bringing laws and police boxes to the primitive planet of Gallifrey, before escaping the order he had created.
. The plot was developed with fellow New Adventure novelist Kate Orman
and the book was well received on its publication in 1995. Several years later, the revived Doctor Who television series included several people who had worked on the New Adventures. For his second story for the television series, Cornell adapted his novel. Although most praise for the script was directed at Cornell, a great deal of the episode had in fact been rewritten by executive producer Russell T Davies.
Despite Julie Gardner
's position as executive producer
since "Rose
", this episode marks the first time since Verity Lambert
's 1965
swansong, "Mission to the Unknown
", that a woman was the credited producer
of an episode of Doctor Who. However, it is not producer Susie Liggat
's first production job in the Doctor Who universe: in 2006, she produced "Invasion of the Bane
", the first episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures
. Thus, only she and John Nathan-Turner
have produced episodes from two different programmes set in the Doctor Who universe.
The physical prop of John Smith's journal notebook was created by artist Kellyanne Walker, and incorporates text provided by writer Paul Cornell
. Much of the episode was filmed at St Fagans National History Museum
, an open-air museum near Cardiff
, and Treberfydd
, the Victorian Gothic mansion which served as Farringham School, located near Llangorse Lake
in south Wales
. Other interior locations were filmed at Llandaff Catherdral, Cardiff.
The Doctor's list of 23 directives, much of which is sped through in the episode, is presented at normal speed in a deleted scene
released on the BBC DVD. In place of the nonexistent unheard requests, David Tennant breaks the fourth wall
to speak humorously about a love for The Housemartins
and also spout gibberish to pad out the time before returning to character for the 23rd and final directive. Another instruction, about not letting Smith eat pears, appears in both the deleted scene and in the novel Human Nature.
Radio Times credits David Tennant as John Smith for Human Nature and as The Doctor for The Family of Blood. On-screen credits read The Doctor/Smith for Human Nature and The Doctor for The Family of Blood.
The episode also received a favourable review from The Stage
with reviewer Mark Wright commenting that the episode "is unlike any Doctor Who story you’ll ever see", and that there's "nothing duff" about the episode. Wright singles out the performances of Agyeman and Tennant for considerable praise and he concludes by describing the episode as "BAFTA worthy Drama".
In 2009, Doctor Who Magazine
readers voted "Human Nature"/"The Family of Blood" as the sixth best Doctor Who story of all time.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction television series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. It is the first episode of a two-part story written by Paul Cornell
Paul Cornell
Paul Cornell is a British writer best known for his work in television drama as well as Doctor Who fiction, and as the creator of one of the Doctor's spin-off companions, Bernice Summerfield....
adapted from his 1995 Doctor Who novel Human Nature. Along with its continuation, "The Family of Blood
The Family of Blood
"The Family of Blood" is the ninth episode of Series 3 of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Preceded by "Human Nature", it is the second episode of a two-part story written by Paul Cornell adapted from his 1995 Doctor Who novel Human Nature...
", it was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form in 2008.
Plot
The DoctorDoctor (Doctor Who)
The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
and Martha
Martha Jones
Martha Jones is a fictional character played by Freema Agyeman in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its spin-off series, Torchwood. She is a companion of the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who, replacing Rose Tyler...
narrowly escape an attack by the Family of Blood who are seeking the Doctor's Time Lord
Time Lord
The Time Lords are an ancient extraterrestrial race and civilization of humanoids in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, of which the series' eponymous protagonist, the Doctor, is a member...
life force to prevent themselves from dying out. As the Doctor directs the TARDIS
TARDIS
The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
to Earth, he tells Martha that he must transform into a human for three months to escape the Family's detection while they die, and gives her a list of instructions to follow. He then uses the Chameleon Arch to transfer his Time Lord configuration to a fob watch which he asks Martha to guard.
After landing on earth in 1913, a year before the Great War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Doctor adopts the persona of John Smith, a schoolteacher at Farringham School for boys, while Martha acts his maid. John's personality is nearly opposite of the Doctor's, being quiet and timid, but faint memories of the Doctor slip through in dreams, appearing as text and images he writes in his "Journal of Impossible Things". Though John carries the fob watch, the perception filter that it possesses prevents John from being curious about it. John has become infatuated with the new school nurse, Joan Redfern, and shares his journal with her; Martha remains concerned, as the Doctor did not instruct her what to do, should he fall in love. Timothy Latimer, a younger student at the school with extrasensory perception, discovers the fob watch and pockets it for himself, unbeknownst to Martha.
Meanwhile, the Family of Blood have been able to track the Doctor to Earth, and cover their ship in an invisibility shield to keep it from being discovered. The various members of the Family seek out human victims to possess, including one of the school's prefects, one of Martha's fellow maids, a farmer, and a young girl with a balloon, allowing them to seek out the Doctor undetected. When Timothy briefly opens the watch and experiences portions of the Doctor's memories, the Family detects its presence at the school, and soon recognises Martha. They try to get information from her about the Doctor. Martha realises that the Family has found them and attempts to retrieve the watch in order to bring back the Doctor, but cannot find it. She talks to John and tries to awaken the Time Lord persona, but instead causes John to become angry with her, forcing her out of his chambers as he prepares for a village dance with Joan that night. At the dance, Martha again tries to persuade John to become the Doctor by showing him elements of his past such as his sonic screwdriver
Sonic screwdriver
The sonic screwdriver is a fictional tool in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its spinoffs. It is a multifunctional tool used by The Doctor. Its most common function is that of a lockpick, but can be used to perform other operations such as performing medical scans,...
, but is unaware that the Family has overheard her conversation. Now aware that John is the Doctor, the Family captures both Martha and Joan. The cliffhanger ending leaves the Family asking John the question of "Maid or matron, your friend or your lover. Your choice."
Continuity
- The process the Doctor uses to disguise himself resurfaces in "UtopiaUtopia (Doctor Who)"Utopia" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 16 June 2007 and is the eleventh episode of series three of the revived Doctor Who series...
". - John Smith's A Journal of Impossible Things features sketches of the interior and exterior of the TARDISTARDISThe TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
, a sonic screwdriverSonic screwdriverThe sonic screwdriver is a fictional tool in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its spinoffs. It is a multifunctional tool used by The Doctor. Its most common function is that of a lockpick, but can be used to perform other operations such as performing medical scans,...
, K-9K-9 (Doctor Who)K-9, or K9, is the name of several fictional robotic canines in the long-running British science fiction television series, Doctor Who, first appearing in 1977...
, Rose TylerRose TylerRose Marion Tyler is a fictional character portrayed by Billie Piper in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was created by series producer Russell T Davies...
, AutonAutonThe Autons are an artificial life form from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and adversaries of the Doctor. First appearing in Jon Pertwee's first serial as the Doctor, Spearhead from Space in 1970, they were the first monsters on the show to be presented in colour.Autons...
s, Clockwork Droids, CybermenCybermanThe Cybermen are a fictional race of cyborgs who are amongst the most persistent enemies of the Doctor in the British science fiction television series, Doctor Who. Cybermen were originally a wholly organic species of humanoids originating on Earth's twin planet Mondas that began to implant more...
, DalekDalekThe Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
s, the Moxx of Balhoon and a Raxacoricofallapatorian as well as a picture of the gas-masked Chula Zombie from "The Empty ChildThe Empty Child"The Empty Child" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on 21 May 2005. It is the first of a two-part story. The concluding episode, "The Doctor Dances", was broadcast on 28 May...
"/"The Doctor DancesThe Doctor Dances"The Doctor Dances" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on 28 May 2005. It is the second of a two-part story and saw Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman, join the Doctor as a companion. The first part, "The Empty Child", was...
". All ten incarnations of the Doctor are also illustrated (albeit not all are shown on-screen), with the FirstFirst DoctorThe First Doctor is the initial incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by the actor William Hartnell from 1963 to 1966. Hartnell reprised the role in the tenth anniversary story The Three Doctors in 1973 - albeit in a...
, FifthFifth DoctorThe Fifth Doctor is the fifth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is portrayed by Peter Davison....
, SixthSixth DoctorThe Sixth Doctor is the sixth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Colin Baker...
, SeventhSeventh DoctorThe Seventh Doctor is the seventh incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by the actor Sylvester McCoy....
, and EighthEighth DoctorThe Eighth Doctor is the eighth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Paul McGann...
clearly visible, this being the first time in the revived series when the Eighth Doctor is explicitly referenced, prior incarnations having been alluded to in "School ReunionSchool Reunion (Doctor Who)"School Reunion" is the third episode in the second series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It first aired on 29 April 2006. The episode's narrative takes place some time after the events of "The Christmas Invasion"...
". The pocket watch from the episode is also sketched. The image of the Eighth Doctor resembles an often-referenced publicity photo of Paul McGannPaul McGannPaul McGann is an English actor who made his name on the BBC serial The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role...
as the character, holding a pocket watch. - John Smith refers to his parents Sydney and Verity, part of the personal history created for him by the TARDIS. This is a nod to Sydney NewmanSydney NewmanSydney Cecil Newman, OC was a Canadian film and television producer, who played a pioneering role in British television drama from the late 1950s to the late 1960s...
, credited as the primary creator of Doctor Who, and Verity LambertVerity LambertVerity Ann Lambert, OBE was an English television and film producer. She is best known as the founding producer of the science-fiction series Doctor Who, a programme which has become a part of British popular culture, and for her association with Thames Television...
, the show's first producer. Russell T Davies confirmed this in Doctor Who ConfidentialDoctor Who ConfidentialDoctor Who Confidential is a documentary series created by the British Broadcasting Corporation to complement the revival of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Each episode was broadcast on BBC Three on Saturdays, immediately after the broadcast of the weekly...
. Verity Newman was later the name of Joan Redfern's granddaughter, seen in the episode "The End of TimeThe End of TimeThe End of Time: The Next Revolution in Our Understanding of the Universe, also sold with the alternate subtitle The Next Revolution in Physics, is a 1999 science book in which the author Julian Barbour argues that time exists merely as an illusion.-Auto-biography:The book begins by describing how...
", who had written a novel recounting the events of "Human Nature" and "The Family of Blood". - Fleeting clips of the lone Dalek in "DalekDalek (Doctor Who episode)"Dalek" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on 30 April 2005. It should not be confused with the first Dalek serial, The Daleks...
", Cybermen, Ood, Sycorax, the werewolfWerewolf (Doctor Who)Werewolves have featured a number of times in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its other media tie-ins...
seen in "Tooth and ClawTooth and Claw (Doctor Who)"Tooth and Claw" is the second episode in the second series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and was first broadcast on 22 April 2006. In 1879 Scotland, the Doctor and Rose meet Queen Victoria...
", Racnoss and Lazarus in his mutated form are shown when Timothy opens the watch. There is also a clip of the Doctor using his sonic screwdriverSonic screwdriverThe sonic screwdriver is a fictional tool in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its spinoffs. It is a multifunctional tool used by The Doctor. Its most common function is that of a lockpick, but can be used to perform other operations such as performing medical scans,...
in "DoomsdayDoomsday (Doctor Who)"Doomsday" is the thirteenth and final episode in the second series of the revival of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 8 July 2006 and is the conclusion of a two-part story; the first part, "Army of Ghosts", was broadcast on 1 July 2006...
", "Army of GhostsArmy of Ghosts"Army of Ghosts" is the twelfth and penultimate episode in the second series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who which was first broadcast on 1 July 2006...
" and "New EarthNew Earth"New Earth" is the first episode of the second series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, first broadcast on 15 April 2006. It is a sequel to the first series episode "The End of the World", and brings back its villain who was thought to be destroyed, Lady Cassandra, as...
". The voice coming from the watch mentions "You are not alone", which is the last message given to the Doctor by the Face of BoeFace of BoeThe Face of Boe is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Not portrayed on-screen by an actor, the Face of Boe is a wholly mechanical effect, resembling in appearance a gigantic, wrinkly human-like head with, in place of hair, numerous tendrils which...
. - John Smith's skill with the cricket ball is reminiscent of that of the Fifth DoctorFifth DoctorThe Fifth Doctor is the fifth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is portrayed by Peter Davison....
, best exemplified in Black OrchidBlack Orchid (Doctor Who)Black Orchid is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two parts on 1 March and 2 March 1982...
and Four to DoomsdayFour to Doomsday*The working title for this story was Days Of Wrath.*Although Castrovalva was the first story aired which featured Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, this story was the first in the season to be produced....
. The BBC's Fact File notes several other examples of the Doctor being a "good shot", including his throwing the satsumaMikanThe satsuma is a seedless and easy-peeling citrus mutant of Japanese origin introduced to the West.In Japan, it is known as mikan or formally unshu mikan . In China, it is known as Wenzhou migan . The Japanese name is a result of the local reading of the same characters used in the Chinese...
in "The Christmas InvasionThe Christmas Invasion"The Christmas Invasion" is a 60-minute special episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It is Christmas, but there is little cause for celebration as planet Earth is invaded by aliens known as the Sycorax...
". - Nurse Redfern remarks that, "The Doctor has an eye for the pretty ladies", and "A girl in every fireplace". This is a reference to the character of Madame de PompadourMadame de PompadourJeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, also known as Madame de Pompadour was a member of the French court, and was the official chief mistress of Louis XV from 1745 to her death.-Biography:...
from the episode "The Girl in the FireplaceThe Girl in the Fireplace"The Girl in the Fireplace" is the fourth episode of the second series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 6 May 2006, and is the only episode in the 2006 series written by Steven Moffat...
" - When asked where exactly Gallifrey is, the Doctor responds that it must be in IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, much the same as TeganTegan JovankaTegan Jovanka is a fictional character played by Janet Fielding in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. An Australian airline stewardess and a native of Brisbane who was a companion of the Fourth and Fifth Doctors, she was a regular in the programme from 1981 to...
tells her captors in Arc of InfinityArc of InfinityArc of Infinity is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from 3 January to 12 January 1983...
. Gallifrey was also assumed to be in Ireland in The Hand of FearThe Hand of FearThe Hand of Fear is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 2 October to 23 October 1976...
, The Invisible Enemy, and in the novels Blood HarvestBlood HarvestBlood Harvest is an original novel written by Terrance Dicks and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features vampires in common with Dicks' 1980 television serial State of Decay and makes reference to that story's events as well as to those of The...
and All-Consuming FireAll-Consuming FireAll-Consuming Fire is an original novel written by Andy Lane and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The novel is a crossover with Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes featuring the characters of both Holmes and Doctor Watson, and also...
. - The theme that plays when Lucy Cartwright/The Sister appears is the same as that used for the girl component of the Dalek battle computer in Remembrance of the DaleksRemembrance of the DaleksRemembrance of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 5 October to 26 October 1988....
. - John Smith would appear to be a fine artist. In "Fear HerFear Her"Fear Her" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 24 June 2006.The episode takes part on the day of the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, almost exclusively on a fictitious cul-de-sac named after the British athlete...
", the Doctor claims "stick men are about my limit" (although the Fourth DoctorFourth DoctorThe Fourth Doctor is the fourth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC British television science-fiction series Doctor Who....
produced exaggerated sketches of various Time Lords in The Deadly AssassinThe Deadly AssassinThe Deadly Assassin is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 30 October to 20 November 1976...
).
Comparison with the novel
The novel featured the Seventh DoctorSeventh Doctor
The Seventh Doctor is the seventh incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by the actor Sylvester McCoy....
and Bernice Summerfield
Bernice Summerfield
Bernice Surprise Summerfield is a fictional character created by author Paul Cornell as a new companion of the Seventh Doctor in Virgin Publishing's range of original full-length Doctor Who novels, the New Adventures...
, with their roles replaced on television by the Tenth Doctor
Tenth Doctor
The Tenth Doctor is the tenth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by David Tennant, who appears in three series, as well as eight specials...
and Martha Jones.
The key plot difference between the book and television versions is that, in the novel, the Doctor seeks human form to better understand humans, whereas in the television version, he is hiding from the Family of Blood.
The villains in the novel are a family of Aubertide shapeshifters, who provide the device that transforms him. Their plan is to gain his abilities by stealing the "biodata module" while he is relatively helpless. The Family's possession of Lucy Cartwright is a nod to the character of Aphasia, an Aubertide who likewise takes the form of a young girl with a balloon, although in the book, the "balloon" is a semi-sentient being Aphasia can send to attack people.
Bernice's cover story is that she is John Smith's niece, who has just finished university education and is staying in the village. She meets her uncle weekly in the pub. Martha's position as a maid reflects the position of ethnic minorities in the period, as well as a need to be nearer the Doctor, since she knows he may be in danger. This also necessitates another change; the replacement of Bernice's friend, the suffragette
Suffragette
"Suffragette" is a term coined by the Daily Mail newspaper as a derogatory label for members of the late 19th and early 20th century movement for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, in particular members of the Women's Social and Political Union...
Constance with another maid at the school, Jenny. There is also no equivalent to the character of Alexander Shuttleworth, Bernice's landlord, who learns the truth and agrees to help her.
Other character changes include Joan Redfern becoming the school matron rather than a science teacher, although in both she is Smith's love interest and opposes teaching the boys to fight. Hutchinson, as Captain of House
House system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
and leader of the boys who bully Timothy, is also a more significant character in the book. In a very minor change, Tim Latimer is named Timothy Dean in the original. In the novel Tim absorbs some of the Doctor's memories and personality, taking on a Doctor-like role, whereas his acts of bravery in the TV story seem to be his own. Timothy Dean's experiences with the Doctor lead Timothy Dean to become a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, whereas Tim Latimer becomes a combat medic
Combat medic
Combat medics are trained military personnel who are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. They are also responsible for providing continuing medical care in the absence of a readily available physician, including care for disease and battle injury...
.
In the novel, Benny has a document listing nine things she should not let the Doctor do while in human form. In the television episode, Martha has a video recording with a much longer list of at least 23 directives. Both characters note that falling in love is not mentioned, although Benny adds "Don't let me fall in love" in biro. In both versions, attempts to persuade Smith he is the Doctor without the memory store result in his concluding the companion is mad.
In the episode, Smith mentions learning to draw on Gallifrey
Gallifrey
Gallifrey is a fictional planet in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and is the homeworld of the Doctor and the Time Lords...
, which he assumes is in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The same assumption occurs in the book. He also recalls his parents, Verity and Sydney. In the book, Verity is Smith's lost love, and he has many flashbacks to her. She is actually a trigger to remind him when he needs to become the Doctor again.
The TV episode is set primarily on 11 November 1913, a date that would later be Armistice Day
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
, but the novel is set in 1914.
Smith's journal clearly has 'Maius intra qua extra' written on one page — Latin for what is inside is greater than what is outside, which is a reference to the TARDIS, but is also the school's motto in the original book (the motto in the episode is 'Audaces Fortuna Juvat' — fortune favours the brave). In the book, however, Smith fails to understand the motto, saying "It's written in a foreign language." The journal itself is equivalent to a children's story Smith tries to write in the book, which described a Victorian scientist bringing laws and police boxes to the primitive planet of Gallifrey, before escaping the order he had created.
Historic and cultural references
- Latimer is forced to translate Latin homework, poems of CatullusCatullusGaius Valerius Catullus was a Latin poet of the Republican period. His surviving works are still read widely, and continue to influence poetry and other forms of art.-Biography:...
. - Smith gives a lesson on the Battle of WaterlooBattle of WaterlooThe Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
early in the episode. - A doorman takes up a charity collection for "veterans of the CrimeaCrimean WarThe Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
" (1854–56) outside the village hall. - The recent Second Boer WarSecond Boer WarThe Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
is referenced frequently in this episode and the following one: Hutchison's father writes that he may be posted there (in the letter which Latimer guesses), and Latimer's uncle had a posting in JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
; Redfern's husband died at the battle of Spion KopBattle of Spion KopThe Battle of Spion Kop was fought about west-south-west of Ladysmith on the hilltop of Spioenkop along the Tugela River, Natal in South Africa from 23–24 January 1900...
, hence her antipathy to the machine gun practice; the book Latimer is picking up from Smith is a "Aitchison-Price's definitive account of MafekingSiege of MafekingThe Siege of Mafeking was the most famous British action in the Second Boer War. It took place at the town of Mafeking in South Africa over a period of 217 days, from October 1899 to May 1900, and turned Robert Baden-Powell, who went on to found the Scouting Movement, into a national hero...
"; and in the following episode, the headteacher reveals that he served during the war. - Both Human Nature and its sequel The Family of BloodThe Family of Blood"The Family of Blood" is the ninth episode of Series 3 of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Preceded by "Human Nature", it is the second episode of a two-part story written by Paul Cornell adapted from his 1995 Doctor Who novel Human Nature...
explore prejudice, particularly of race, gender and class. Jenny mentions the Suffragettes, though this exploration mainly centres on Martha - both Redfern and the pupils refer negatively to her race and class, whilst Redfern, Smith and the headteacher frequently reprimand Martha for being too bold and ready with advice for a servant.
Production
Human Nature was Paul Cornell's fifth original novel, all having been Doctor Who stories for Virgin Publishing, and the thirty-eighth New AdventureVirgin New Adventures
The Virgin New Adventures were a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who...
. The plot was developed with fellow New Adventure novelist Kate Orman
Kate Orman
Kate Orman is an Australian author, best known for her books connected to the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who.-Biography:...
and the book was well received on its publication in 1995. Several years later, the revived Doctor Who television series included several people who had worked on the New Adventures. For his second story for the television series, Cornell adapted his novel. Although most praise for the script was directed at Cornell, a great deal of the episode had in fact been rewritten by executive producer Russell T Davies.
Despite Julie Gardner
Julie Gardner
Julie Gardner is a Welsh television producer. Her most prominent work has been serving as executive producer on the 2005 revival of Doctor Who and its spin-off shows Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures...
's position as executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
since "Rose
Rose (Doctor Who)
"Rose" is the first episode of Series One of the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by show runner Russell T Davies and directed by Keith Boak, the episode was first broadcast on 26 March 2005....
", this episode marks the first time since Verity Lambert
Verity Lambert
Verity Ann Lambert, OBE was an English television and film producer. She is best known as the founding producer of the science-fiction series Doctor Who, a programme which has become a part of British popular culture, and for her association with Thames Television...
's 1965
1965 in television
The year 1965 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1965.For the American TV schedule, see: 1965-66 American network television schedule.-Events:...
swansong, "Mission to the Unknown
Mission to the Unknown
"Mission to the Unknown", sometimes known as "Dalek Cutaway", is an episode in the television series Doctor Who. It is a standalone episode, serving as an introduction to the 12 part story The Daleks' Master Plan...
", that a woman was the credited producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
of an episode of Doctor Who. However, it is not producer Susie Liggat
Susie Liggat
Susie Liggat is a British television producer. Her career had predominantly been as a first assistant director, in which capacity she worked on popular series such as Teachers, Black Books, and Casanova, until she became a producer in 2006...
's first production job in the Doctor Who universe: in 2006, she produced "Invasion of the Bane
Invasion of the Bane
-Sladen and Doctor Who:Elisabeth Sladen, who previously played Sarah Jane between 1973 and 1976. In 1981, she was offered the role again to ease the transition between the Fourth and Fifth Doctors, which she declined, but agreed to star in the pilot for the spin-off series K-9 and Company, which...
", the first episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures
The Sarah Jane Adventures
The Sarah Jane Adventures is a British science fiction television series, produced by BBC Cymru Wales for CBBC, created by Russell T Davies and starring Elisabeth Sladen...
. Thus, only she and John Nathan-Turner
John Nathan-Turner
John Nathan-Turner was the ninth producer of the long-running BBC science fiction series Doctor Who, from 1980 until it was effectively cancelled in 1989...
have produced episodes from two different programmes set in the Doctor Who universe.
The physical prop of John Smith's journal notebook was created by artist Kellyanne Walker, and incorporates text provided by writer Paul Cornell
Paul Cornell
Paul Cornell is a British writer best known for his work in television drama as well as Doctor Who fiction, and as the creator of one of the Doctor's spin-off companions, Bernice Summerfield....
. Much of the episode was filmed at St Fagans National History Museum
St Fagans National History Museum
St Fagans National History Museum , commonly referred to as St Fagans after the village where it is located, is an open-air museum in Cardiff chronicling the historical lifestyle, culture and architecture of the Welsh people...
, an open-air museum near Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, and Treberfydd
Treberfydd
Treberfydd is a Victorian country house built in Gothic Revival style in 1847-50, just south of Llangorse Lake in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales.It is surrounded by of landscaped gardens and is open to the public during August....
, the Victorian Gothic mansion which served as Farringham School, located near Llangorse Lake
Llangorse Lake
Llangorse Lake is the largest natural lake in south Wales, and is situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park, near to the town of Brecon and the village of Llangors....
in south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Other interior locations were filmed at Llandaff Catherdral, Cardiff.
The Doctor's list of 23 directives, much of which is sped through in the episode, is presented at normal speed in a deleted scene
Deleted scene
In Entertainment, especially the film and television industry, Deleted scenes are parts of a film removed or censored from or replaced by another scene in the final "cut", or version, of a film...
released on the BBC DVD. In place of the nonexistent unheard requests, David Tennant breaks the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
to speak humorously about a love for The Housemartins
The Housemartins
The Housemartins were an English indie pop band that was active in the 1980s. Many of the Housemartins' lyrics were a mixture of Marxist politics and Christianity, reflecting singer Paul Heaton's beliefs at the time .-Formation:The band was formed in late 1983 by Paul Heaton and...
and also spout gibberish to pad out the time before returning to character for the 23rd and final directive. Another instruction, about not letting Smith eat pears, appears in both the deleted scene and in the novel Human Nature.
Radio Times credits David Tennant as John Smith for Human Nature and as The Doctor for The Family of Blood. On-screen credits read The Doctor/Smith for Human Nature and The Doctor for The Family of Blood.
Cast notes
- Jessica Hynes played Glory Bee in the Eighth DoctorEighth DoctorThe Eighth Doctor is the eighth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Paul McGann...
audio play Invaders from Mars. - Thomas SangsterThomas SangsterThomas Brodie Sangster is an English film and television actor, best known for his roles in Love Actually, Nanny McPhee, The Last Legion, and voice of Ferb Fletcher in Phineas and Ferb.-Personal life:...
appeared in the Fifth DoctorFifth DoctorThe Fifth Doctor is the fifth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is portrayed by Peter Davison....
audio plays The Mind's EyeThe Mind's Eye & Mission of the ViyransThe Mind's Eye & Mission of the Viyrans is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
and The Bride of PeladonThe Bride of PeladonThe Bride of Peladon is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Cast:*The Doctor — Peter Davison*Peri — Nicola Bryant*Erimem — Caroline Morris*Beldonia — Phyllida Law...
.
Reception
Along with "The Family of Blood", "Human Nature" was nominated for the 2008 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form. David Tennant won the Constellation Award for Best Male Performance in a 2007 Science Fiction Television Episode for the two-part story.The episode also received a favourable review from The Stage
The Stage
The Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
with reviewer Mark Wright commenting that the episode "is unlike any Doctor Who story you’ll ever see", and that there's "nothing duff" about the episode. Wright singles out the performances of Agyeman and Tennant for considerable praise and he concludes by describing the episode as "BAFTA worthy Drama".
In 2009, Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
readers voted "Human Nature"/"The Family of Blood" as the sixth best Doctor Who story of all time.
External links
- "Human Nature": episode trailer