by Linda Kay
Original Air Date: July 20, 2007
Directed by: Richard Clark
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!
Synopsis: During a trip to New Earth in the far future, the Doctor (David Tennant) frantically searches for Martha (Freema Agyeman) after she is kidnapped and taken into the Motorway, a hellish gridlock of vehicles which take years to move only a mile.
Faux Cats: Several of the Earth inhabitants which the Doctor meets are human / cat hybrids, including Novice Hame (Anna Hope) and Branigan (Ardal O’Hanlon).
Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): The Doctor enters one of the trapped vehicles and meets Branigan and his wife Valerie (Jennifer Hennessy) who proudly introduce him to their children, a basket of adorable kittens, one of which seems to mew “Mama!”
The Doctor picks up a tortoiseshell kitten and pets her while learning from Branigan and his wife that the kittens were born on the Motorway and that they have been driving for twelve years.
Several other shots of the kittens are included throughout the episode.
In behind the scenes footage for this episode, David Tennant says he was not originally big on cats but he still seems to bond with the tortoiseshell kitten with whom he shared the scene.
The kittens were reportedly a bit difficult to work with, and for one shot feta cheese was used to get the kitties to open their mouths on cue.
Final Mewsings: Kittens may be difficult to direct but it is so worth the effort.
Many thanks to Mark Murton and Willance G. for letting us know about the cats in this episode.
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