Marvellous. Planet of Evil, The Daemons, The Robots of Death, Alien, Event Horizon, Solaris say what you like about similarities with past episodes and other things but this was marvellous. I was disappointed with last weks ep but this brought us back on track with a vengeance. I liked the way that they stretched the boundaries of the usual base under siege story. Instead of the usual, 'you're strangers you must be responsible for this', it's subverted by the doc just saying to the base commander, 'you trust me don't you?' and the commander basically saying, 'yeah OK'.

The design of the Ood was great, very HP LOvecraft. Despite the comparisons made with other things I think that Lovecraft is a huge influence on this. If you haven't read 'At the Mountains of Madness' then read it because it's a great story but it's very like this. The scientists in that story found impossibly old creatures and writing in the Antarctic (which means 'without bears' incidentally so there) just like the Doctor realises that the writing is impossibly old.

The doc is left without the TARDIS in this ep and is apparently stranded, this is dramatically necessary because it adds to the claustrophobia and means he has no choice but to throw his lot in with the crew. It asn't been explained yet why an immortal entity at the edge of the cosmos would use judeo christian imagery but I suppose that we are coming up on the 6/6/6. By the way if 666 is the number of the beast then is 665.99 the recommended retail price of the beast?

I still remember watching The Planet of Evil for the first time and the cliffhanger when the monster rises out of the pit as a child and seeing the seal open in this episode reminded me of it. Oh yeah, another reference, the seal of Danthazar which the ubervamps come out of in Buffy. There's nothing wrong with borrowing from other things, it's only plaigarism if it isn't any good. Next episode please and a knighthood for Russell if Margaret Thatcher comes out of the pit.

First off- The impossible Planet. Wow. It’s at the top of my list; along with the Parting of the ways and the Doctor dances. For some reason I always prefer the follow on, whether it’s a 2 parter tv episode or a sequel to a book. So I have high hopes for the Satan Pit!

I noticed the Impossible planet received a 6/5 for fear factor, which was a bit extreme. I’d actually prefer it scarier, with more of those turn-around-and-scream moments with the dramatic, jumpy music. And more blood and gore. The possessed Toby was quite freaky, however, similar to the empty child. I loved his creepy, manic smile- it was somewhat entrancing, as were his red eyes and the ancient script covering him.

Yes, moving swiftly on to Will Thorp. He was fantastic! When I first heard he was going to be in Doctor Who I had my doubts (didn’t we all?). But he was the star of the show (apart from David and Billie who are always on top form). So many different personalities! My favourite is his possession of course. The voice really added to it as well- well done Gabriel Woolf!

The other characters were brilliantly played also. I wasn’t too sure about Danny though. His acting wasn’t the best and he got on my nerves a bit. But I’m like that- I hate all characters trying to flirt with Rose or the Doctor, i.e. Mme de Pompadour (I hated Girl in the fireplace. Monsters I can believe but the Doctor falling in love with someone else after meeting them twice? Give me a break.), Mickey (the idiot), Lynda with a y and Adam. But not Captain Jack; funny, seeing as he was flirting with both of them! But I’m just a stubborn romantic- it’s Rose and the Doctor or nothing!

Talking of Rose and the Doctor, that old chemistry between them has revived itself and the impossible planet was filled with sexual tension. I’d almost given up hope of it ever appearing again, having to be content with watching the end of the Parting of the ways again and again- though all of the 1st series was packed with it. Funny that the Doctor regenerates, comes back funnier and better looking (no offence Chris) and nothing happens- excluding the parts in the Christmas invasion when the Doctor wasn’t lying in bed…er…yes. But now the tenth doctor is demonstrating that he’s just as good at secretly loving Rose as the 9th!

Moving onto the actual plot, it was flawless as usual. I like the idea that there’s something the Doctor can’t explain; he was getting a bit cocky and big-headed! The music was great as per usual, with a new tune that I particularly liked, though I still wish sometimes that they would bring back the bad wolf music. You know, the one that played whenever there was a bad wolf mention, and during the Parting of the ways kiss. All in all, a fantastic episode!

I wish I could put my finger on what makes this episode so brilliant. I think David Tennant's run so far has been phenomenal and I really love him as the Doctor. This episode however was just incredible. I think it has to do with it being off planet for just about the first time in the entire series. Not Earth, not New New New New New Earth, not a space station revolving around Earth in the year 5,000,000,000, an entirely new planet! I love the Pertwee era of Doctor Who but since he was mostly stuck on Earth for his run, as a kid I fell in love with Doctor Who mainly because Tom Baker was my Doctor. Not just because he was such an awesome Doctor, but the worlds he visited and the adventures he had. It's been said many times before but you never knew where he would land next week. With the ninth and tenth so far you didn't know when you would show up and it was always an adventure but you had a pretty good idea it would involve Earth in some way. Granted there are Earthlings in this story but this episode takes from some very excellent previous Doctor stories most notably Ark in Space and The Daemons.

If anyone I knew was about to start watching the new series of Doctor Who this would easily be the story I would want them to see. The effects are so incredibly top notch, the actors playing the support roles all have a personality and work as they really are a crew and the story pulls you in almost from the first minute. As several Doctor Who's this season have done, this episode seamlessly blends top notch Sci-Fi (which alone is awesome because without Battlestar, TV is SORELY lacking in quality SF shows), a little mix of Horror and a bit of drama into one of the most satisfying hours of TV I have seen in a long time. I dare people to find faults with this episode if they are truly SciFi and Doctor fans. As always I'm sure there are plot points you could find fault with but in terms of acting, SFX and musical score, this one was a slam dunk!

If I had to find any fault with this episode, I would say that the whole "losing the Tardis" bit is bad. We all know he will get it back and I point out like I have in previous reviews that it's like when the first few minutes of Star Trek Voyager would show a possibility of getting to Earth or in any popular show really when a main character would randomly die. As well established television watchers in the year 2006 we're a little past this I believe. However, I will gladly put both my feet in my mouth if the writers take advantage of this to possibly have a non-Tardis story arc. That would actually be way cool. But I'm not holding my breath. Also, I find myself thinking that some of Billie Piper's acting has been a little off this season. The scenes with her and the Doctor flirting just seem weird. It's not because I don;t think they should, the scene where they talk about "settling down" possibly together I thought was really touching. It's her acting plain and simple. She is very good but some laughing and flirting scenes seem just a little forced.

A very very small gripe though about a really stellar episode. If you love science fiction you really deserve this type of show. I can't wait for next Saturday and the whole rest of the season for that matter.

What's with no previews for next week?! That was a first!

I've now seen this twice. My first viewing was in the games room of a camp site, where the wife and I were joined by four children. Second viewing was at home for the BBC3 repeat.

Quite simply, the best episode of Doctor Who since the show came back. Yes, even better than "The Empty Child", and if "The Satan Pit" is as good...then this will be one of the all time greats adventures. As a single episode, this will rank already as one of the best.

I knew nothing of Matt Jones' previous writing so went in with an open mind...save that the synopsis I read suggested this might be one to look forward to.

My goodness, if ever there were one episode to show people and say "This is Doctor Who"....then it is this one. It has it all. OK, so the 'base under siege' theme is not new, and the visuals are reminiscent of Alien/Aliens but there is something fresh and new about this.

We have an apparently impossible situation, a planet in orbit around a black hole - kept there by some unknown energy source buried deep beneath the planet's surface. The Doctor and Rose arrive (in a cupboard, brilliant!) and things go further wrong, an earthquake destroys the section of the base where the TARDIS materialised.

On board the base we have a pretty normal bunch of people, who have elected to drill a shaft to investigate the power source. As usual this year, the supporting cast are excellent. And they are aided by the Ood, apparently a slave/heard race who communicate via low level telepathy.

Things go wrong in a sinister way when The Beast, whcih we surmise must be at the bottom of the shaft, awakens and starts sending message to the Ood...and posesses one of the people. This culminates in perhaps one of the most scary scenes ever committed to videotape. And it's so simple..."Toby, I am right behind you"....yet so chilling!

Finally the drill shaft is complete, so the Doctor and one of the workers from the base descend to investigate. They find a 30 foot diameter trap door, which opens revealing......

Cue end credits, a sigh of relief and genuine anticipation as to what comes next Saturday!

Really top notch stuff. 10/10 for all concerned.

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.

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