This is an odd episode, it feels like it could have been more than it was. The focus on magic feels a lot like the approach taken in the latest series, and I think there's definitely something there but I'm still not quite sure what the witches were meant to be doing.

The witches themselves felt to cartoony. The makeup looked far too stereotypical, and the hissing and gesturing reminded me in a bad way of the early depictions of ferengi as these weird cave goblins rather than scheming powerful beings.

Martha has the opportunity to be great in this episode. Shes even presented as very cultured enjoying theatre. but after the episode briefly touches on medicine of the time, bedlam, even race, theres not a whole lot there. She does get a few med community jokes in like "I work the late shift", which is a nice way to set her to as less squeamish than some other companions.

Some parts are alright. Tennant is a Shakespeare actor so it's fun watching it in kind of a meta way. The general concept of language and magic as an alternative to science is good, and I did like the doctor trying to hide that fact to prevent unrest when the man drowns. We get introduced to another of 10s upset royals, which is a nice running joke. A line or two imply that Shakespeare may be bi, which feels on topic. The CGI scenes are decent.

But none of these things are given a lot of time to shine as the central important part of the episode. So a lot going on, but maybe not enough of a focus for the episode.