The Impossible Planet

[The Thinker]

This thread is for after episode ranting for the 'Impossible Planet' which premiers on 03/06/2006. Posting before the date shown (except for this one) will mean you're either clairevoyant or you don't know what you're talking about.

JLD

[The Thinker]

Ok, it's been broadcast. If any of you watched Doctor Who Confidential one word... Quarry.

I found this episode quite good as a matter of fact. The cliffhanger was especially good too and I found the episode suitably dark and morbid, great stuff! What's Part Two going to be like?

[amitchell]

Probably one of the best so far.

[Dominic Smith]

My Review: CONTAINS SPOILERS

Ah now this is really the direction I think the series should be taking. The atmosphere was superbly dark and morbid and the story holds together well, running along at a nice pace. The opening was good although the resolve to the pre-titles sequence was, I thought, a bit anti-climactic and actually rather childish but there you go; you can’t have everything.

The set up to the situation of the story is fantastic, some great characters all superbly portrayed. The loosing of the TARDIS was a good idea, to get the Doctor and Rose more involved with wanting to solve what’s going on and the scenes with Toby were excellent.

The possession of Toby was possibly the scariest thing the series has done, I was genuinely quite unnerved by the scenes of him standing outside and the death on the character he kills (I forget her name at this point) was very well executed, as was the revelation of her body.

The scene that really grated me when I was watching the episode was the one between the Doctor and Rose regarding settling down together. I’ve never really liked this aspect of the series because I’m not entirely convinced these types of scenes are very well pulled off but there you go.

The whole issue of the Ood as slaves was a bit cliché but thankfully it didn’t go on for too long, whereas the creatures’ other role in the episode was fantastic, the way we slowly realise they are being channelled is very well done.

The climax to the episode is absolutely fantastic, the scenes below the planet’s surface have an epic feel and the rise in tension as the trap door opens, Toby passes on hi possession and the Ood turn against their masters leads to one of the best cliffhangers so far as the creature rises from the pit.

So all in all despite the rather stomach churning attempt at pathos, the naff pre-titles resolve and the cliché ‘save the Ood’ scenes, this episode absolutely shines throughout and it’s easy to overlook the weaker areas when the rest is so spectacular, roll on ‘The Satan Pit’.

[Eryx]

Loved the episode, just sheer back to basic Dr Who. 10/10.

I also found myself pondering whether we were looking at a new Daemon (ala The Daemons episode) here. Probably not but it got me thinking.

[davisonera]

What with the dross of Rise Of The Cybermen and The Idiot's Lantern over the last three weeks I was apprehensive about The Impossible Planet. But thankfully what emerged was not only a true Doctor Who story with the base-under-siege setting and the eery voices in the dark. Brilliant performances all round, probably one of the best guest casts ever in a Doctor Who story, only heighten this. Can't quite believe this but it's 10\10.

[The Thinker]

Did you know Gabriel Woolf is in this one? You know, the bloke who played Sutekh in 'Pyramids of Mars'. Funnily enough, one of Sutekh's names was Satan. Interesting.