The Impossible Planet

Last night I sat down to watch an episode of Doctor Who I knew very little about. Not much pre-publicity by the Beeb (oddly), but I did know that there were no returning monsters or companions and it was going to be our first proper visit to an alien planet (don't count New Earth as we didn't see any of it). And it was superb.

I watched it again this morning and 45 minutes just flew by. Danger, excitement, scares - this episode had them in abundance. In fact, I only have one niggle and its so tiny I'm not sure I want to mention it. Oh, alright then: the hug between the Doctor and Acting-Captain Zach seemed forced and unecessary. Apart from that I think it was pretty much flawless. Even if the second episode lets it down, for me this was the best episode of the new Who since The Empty Child.

The guest cast were superb. Danny Webb (Jefferson), Claire Rushbrook (Ida) and Shaun Parkes (Acting-Captain Zach) gave superb performances, perfectly pitched and not OTT. I've loved Claire Rushbrook since her appearance in Spaced (rather than the Godawful Carrie and Barry) and Shaun Parkes has been a favourite since Human Traffic (and his scene stealing role in The Mummy Returns). But the surprise performance for me was Will Thorp as Toby. I know he's been in Casualty (or Holby City - its all the same old nonsense to me), so I had already marked him down as dodgy casting, but I'll eat my hat right now as he was superb. Flitting from slightly twitchy, nervous academic Toby, to scary-tattooed-demon-nutjob, he was fabulous.

The Ood were an interesting idea. Pre-title sequence they're a threat, post-title sequence they're not, half way through and they are a threat again. Nicely judged so we're not quite sure where we stand. Although the whole 'happy slaves, human race dependent on them, turned evil by sinister voice' idea is very Robots of Death.

Scooti suffered the fate of Lynda-with-a-Y, sucked into space through a shattered window, but it was probably the scariest scene in the episode. The computer's "He bathes in the black sun", followed by Toby standing outside with no suit was edge of the seat stuff.

And while I'm at it, the music was top notch this week as well. Murray Gold always falls between brilliant and average for me but the obvious inclusion of an orchestra just moved things up a level. Which could equally be said of the direction. Newcomer James Strong seems to have this sort of thing pitched perfectly in his mind. Lots of ground level and overhead shots, tons of smoke and plenty of atmosphere.

This is where I come to the script. Matt Jones has provided this year's best (so far). The dialogue was realistic, the relationship between the Doctor and Rose stayed just the right side of irritating and the pacing was perfect. Is it Satan? I doubt it (just as I don't expect it to be Sutekh - even with Gabriel Woolf doing the Voice of the Beast). Whatever it is, I'm looking forward to its confrontation with the Doctor.

The Mill excelled themselves with the effects, particularly the cave scenes and the transparent roof looking at the black hole. It all felt very 'real' for CG, which is a testament to how hard they must work on this show. The set design must also get a mention, the Sanctuary base looking very tough and grim (very Alien - but that's no bad thing).

So is the TARDIS dying? RTD has said there's a couple of big shocks in store before the end of the season and the TARDIS playing up hints towards something there. Rumours of a =n exploding time-machine have been bandied around, although frankly I think that would be a bit crap. The Doctor has to have the TARDIS or there's no show. Its also an integral part of what the series is. Knowing he'd have to get it back eventually would kill any suspense. On top of that, its already died once this season, so it would be no great shock.

The blurb for The Satan Pit says that the Doctor has to face up to everything he believes in being questioned. Does this mean the Beast will tell him he isn't the last of the Time-Lords. Will it tell him that Rose is a manipulative little cow, attempting to use the new UK divorce laws to get half of the TARDIS?

Who knows? I'm really looking forward to next week though. This is what Doctor Who is all about! For the first time this season (and only the second since the new Who started in 2005) 5/5

Things I Loved: everything (except the hug)

Things I Didn't Love: the hug