The Satan Pit

This second and concluding episode had a lot to live up to. Perhaps it ended up not being quite as good as last weeks В“The Impossible PlanetВ” but В‘PitВ’ did not disappoint. If I have two criticisms they would be that the Tardis appears somewhat miraculously when it needs to, this could perhaps have been handled more imaginatively. And the line where the Doctor claims that the Time Lords invented black holes should have been removed, if for no other reason than it seems implausible that the Doctor would find initial situation so impossible if his people invented and understood black holes.

Otherwise, we had an atypical situation with the Doctor and Ida discussing belief systems, which lead to the Doctor having trouble recognising the existence of a devil. That was different and well written. В“Tell RoseВ…..ah she knowsВ”, was touching and said what needed to be said without bashing the viewer over the head. Altogether an intelligent script for a sophisticated television show.

I very much have the feeling that if there were to be a Doctor Who film, something like the Planet/Pit two parter would be a great starting point, as the two episodes together are very cinematic. The scale is vast, even though the setting is quite small in scale.

As usual for 2006, supporting cast are excellent. Direction was good, suspense built dramatically until the final few minutes and everybody had a chance to be heroic. This is what Doctor Who should be.

9/10