This, the first story of January, 2006, had the feeling of being the first story of a new ‘season’. So the first two pages span several months of peaceful consolidation of the relationship between The Doctor and Rose before we rejoin them at a moment of growth for Rose when she is introduced to an advanced level of martial arts by The Doctor, and accidentally stabs him with the sword. The advice The Doctor gives her not to leave her sword with blood on it comes, in fact, from C.S. Lewis. In the Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Aslan tells Peter to clean his sword after he makes his first kill in a fight against the White Witch’s wolves. It is good advice in any situation, though. And it fitted in well here.

And then the adventure proper begins with a mauve alert from Paradise, the planet where most of the people chose to return to their childhood through the remarkable properties of their Well of Life. And The Doctor’s worst fears are realised. Corporate greed has come to Paradise and taken extreme measures to make sure they can maximise profits.

It is probably NOT possible to unlock a steel lock on the sort of cell door described in this story with a hair clip. That, of course, is pure bluff. But it looked good.

No doubt The Doctor COULD have handled it himself, of course. But this was one of those occasions where he could call for back up. Jack would do anything for The Doctor. When he asks for a show of strength and no shooting if possible, that’s what he gets.