The Impossible Planet

WOW.

That would do, actually, but the Reviews section stipulates more than one word, so IВ’ll waffle on for a while! This is one for a multitude of superlatives, a terrific example of Doctor Who В– old and new В– at its best. IВ’d even go as far as to say it was an example of TV sci-fi at its best.

IВ’m convinced that the two-part format is preferable (personally, I would run with five two-parters and just three single-parters in a season) as 45 minutes is just too short to build up a story properly, particularly in a show which likes (to its great credit) to add plenty of meat to the bones of its supporting cast. Sometimes, you just canВ’t fit it all in.

The Impossible Planet (and what a great title that is) did fit it all in. The story was great В– as great as it sounded in the prГ©cis. Having been separated from the TARDIS, Rose and The Doctor are trapped with a group of pioneers (people after The DoctorВ’s hearts, as underlined by his man hug with Captain Zack) with mysterious monster slaves, the Ood (another great name). TheyВ’re on a planet on the edge of a black hole. ThereВ’s a malevolent force in another hole deep below the surface, which has killed one member of the crew and possessed another. Oh, and the aforementioned force is The Devil В– and he ainВ’t in disguise . . .

I donВ’t often comment on direction but, visually, this was like a film (and a good one) on a TV budget. OK, it was a lot like Alien but, if youВ’re going to В“borrowВ” ideas, borrow good ones В– and, whatever director James StrongВ’s influences, he created a wonderfully-atmospheric setting for this tale aided, of course, by the design and effects team, who really surpassed themselves.

Just when you think the special effects canВ’t get any better . . . there were some wonderfully-iconic images, and genuinely scary, too. The old writing covering TobyВ’s skin as part of his possession was one of those edge-of-the-seat (or, if you must) behind-the-sofa moments. And the dead crew member seen floating in space was superbly done В– weВ’ve come a long way since Four To Doomsday! Plus the planet itself was stunning В– right up there with the work on The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances. And then there was the Ood. Yet another model-making triumph В– and (unlike the Cybermen) totally-audible voices! Great idea using the lightened ball as a vocal device.

Another good idea was to get rid of the TARDIS early in the episode, thus establishing that Rose and The Doctor didnВ’t have the option of just nipping back into it and being away В– they really are stuck, and in danger. As a subtext to the main plot, I did detect more of a closeness between the two lead characters, and David Tennant and Billie Piper were, in the main, in good form. Lovely scene when they talked awkwardly about В“getting a house togetherВ” В– much more reminiscent of some of the stuff weВ’d have seen in Series One, but which has never really materialised since regeneration. It was always likely that their relationship would deepen once Mickey had left, and there is strong evidence that this is the case.

I did think this story would meet with diehard Doctor Who fansВ’ approval, but wondered if taking the show away from Earth (in past, present and future) might put off the mainstream audience. However, it wasnВ’t hard sci-fi, it was a good adventure in such an eye-taking setting that I really canВ’t imagine there will be much naysaying which canВ’t be swatted away.

Another Doctor Who debutant, Matt Jones (with, no doubt, some significant input from Russell T Davies) could hardly have had made a better start to his Who writing career. Great score from Murray Gold, too. The whole thing just fused together so well.

If there was a minor criticism, it would be the fact that the seemingly-obligatory В“comedyВ” one-liners threatened to distract from the excellent drama the episode was building when Rose and The Doctor first encountered Captain Zack and his band. The guest cast played the whole episode totally straight, and were terrific В– Tennant and Piper were given the feeble one-liners, and those added nothing to proceedings. Yes, itВ’s a tradition of Doctor Who, itВ’s the В“would you like a jelly baby?В” factor. But there is a fine line to tread with the flippancy, and I would hate such a strong episode to be devalued by just one daft line too many. I can appreciate the need to offer a little light to contrast the (wonderfully) dark feel of the episode, but giving lines such as В“wot, like a rollercoasterВ” to Rose adds nothing to a scene, and rather trivialises the character.

I wouldnВ’t mark the episode down for that, though. I didnВ’t think this seasonВ’s previous two-parter (Rise Of The Cybermen/The Age Of Steel) improved in the second half but, if The Satan Pit even matches The Impossible Planet, we have a serious contender for Story Of The Season here, and we may even be moving into all-time classic territory.

Frankly, though, even if The Satan Pit proves to be a clunker, I could quite happily recommend The Impossible Planet on its own as a fabulous slice of entertainment.

As I said at the outset, wow.