Dr Who: Planet of the Dead

I saw it, and thought it was only average... Just like the christmas special...

warning-spoilers!!

so many plot holes and contrivances, like the one-way/two-way wormhole, and the flying bus ... As someone else I know said, with the working cell phones, they could have just had the army or whatever toss a winch through and tow the bus back... And dont even get me started on the "creation" of the wormhole... those things moving (at clearly sub-light speeds) create a wormhole? I think not.

But I did like the planet of the dead concept... Although as soon as i saw a production still in the sand, and knew the title, I could just tell the sand was gonna be cremated people ...

And the "monsters" were cool. I like the notion of steel skeletons, kinda wolverine-esque, and they also kinda looked like big brains, which I also liked... reminded me of futurama's evil flying brains.


-- And am I the only one annoyed that these "specials" are really just glorified regular episodes, only about ten minutes longer than the normal ones? ... Christmas was really short, too, I thought... And I feel like the previous years' specials were much closer to two hours... At least they felt like a special, as opposed to a modestly extended episode.

I was excited when they announced the specials, but now Im only seeing a whole year with four episodes and no legitimate companion.... Such a crappy way to end tenants brilliant run ... Why couldn't he have given us one more year with a full season of episodes and then gone to theatre-work ...

And the 4 knocks seems like an obvious Master reference, and I hope thats what it is, and that its simms again ...

And I agree casey, bbc doesnt get the new model of tv revenues, but then again, no else does either....

I've come to understand the thinking behind the specials, RTD knows fully well that these specials are designed to be shown at times when people are expecting safe, cosy, and bombastic TV, and as such I can appreciate them for what they are.

It's probably the best special thus far in terms of set up and pay off, and it feeling a little lightweight probably goes into my pet theory about the function of the specials.

From what I've heard The Master, in his John Simm persona, will make an appearance in not the next special, but one of the Christmas ones. Although from what I've heard his presence on set means his role is going to be quite small.

Well that means the character is there, and thats whats most important... he'll probably have some other form like that old professor or whatever from his last appearance.

thanks for the info.

And why do you feel like it was the best in terms of set up and payoff - because of the mystery & solution aspect of it? Because it felt a bit weak to me... with the cutaways to shadowy hands pointing at the doctor on a monitor, I was assuming there was gonna be a grand plan or that someone had brought them there intentionally... And as I said before, I felt what actually brought them there in reality (the speed & number of the creatures) was a fairly weak and unsatisfactory explanation.

I just think RTD tends to work better by staying small. He's generally great at build ups, but aside from The Parting of Ways and Doomsday he's never been particularly good at pay offs.

I think what made the episodes end work for me was that there wasn't any major mystery, it was just all about survival. By keeping things simple he didn't overplay things. Also it was nice to see UNIT kicking some ass. It's still quite shocking to see a British TV show with such a positive view of the military.

I think in terms of the science then the idea of velocity tearing a hole in space time is a bit ropey. But the idea of a perfectly designed creature whose only purpose is to consume was really neat and keeping their ability to travel 'natural' really cemented that.

In regards to Simm, what I'm working off of is one source who tends to be quite good (he told me about the two doctors and Professor Yana weeks before the episode aired) and a bunch of shots of a hooded runner who looks to be Simm.

Special note has to go to the score as well, some really great (recycled?) cues throughout the thing. Someone sent me the Season 1,2 and 3 soundtrack last week and listening to the isolated scores it's so impressive what Murray Gold does, even if some of his compositions seem a bit off (his Cyberman Theme is pretty much the series generic action theme, it's awesome but it doesn't fit the new cybermen at all)>

I can understand what you mean about keeping it small and "natural", and how there's always some super-big-secret-twist, man-behind-the-curtain-reveal-- but for some reason, maybe cause its supposed to be a special, I feel big is deserved and almost called for in this case.

And how can you say their view of the military is positive, they try to kill the doctor almost every time they appear (if not destroy or implode the entire universe), and it generally ends with the doctor verbally scolding their commander.

"Water on mars" looks to be good .... those are the episodes I like most, with isolated, foreign futuristic terrains and space station/habitats, with mystery monsters or entities... kinda like "the thing" in space.... like the two-parter with satan back when rose was the companion.

Is the next one really gonna be in November? I read that, and then that the last two were one big finale.... November is so far away!

It's scheduled for Bonfire Night I think. There's a certain element of distrust with UNIT, and you often have a rote by the book character, but the sheer joy RTD seems to have in showing UNIT kick ass is kind of palpable.

um, im american, should i know bonfire night?

edit: looked it up ... a.k.a Guy Fawkes Night, bonfire night is supposedly Nov 5th

November 5th. It's our celebration of Guy Fawkes trying to kill one of our Kings.

sounds like something to celebrate!

I don't think the BBC really cares, what with it not being reliant on revenue at all. I did like Christina actually, although I thought she'd probably be a better foil for the Doctor than a full on companion.

So it was Tomb Raider meets Stargate meets Pitch Black meets Harry Potter.

Did I miss anything?

That was a fun episode, a nice change of pace from the bittersweet endings some of the previous episodes have had. Nice to see Tennant leaping into the TARDIS with a smile on his face rather than a "Well, lost another companion" frown.

Malcolm: "I've read up on all of your files."
The Doctor: "Really? Which one was your favorite--giant robot, right?"

I'm gonna assume the "giant robot" comment was a reference to "Robot", the first Tom Baker serial.

And I believe this is the first time the Doctor has explicitly stated that he stole the TARDIS, though its been mentioned before that he "borrowed" it, "unofficially".

I've read the Dr. Malcolm is supposed to be a loving jab at Dr. Who fandom.

casey moore-- Pretty much every show (and especially a who special) is on torrents and websites about ten minutes after it finishes airing.

And I liked his companion too... Im right that she was Bionic Woman from NBC last year, and the ex from Cashback?

I was sad to see her go, as I was kinda hoping the rest of the specials would have a single companion, and she was good... I like the especially spunky ones, and the ones that think theyre on the same level as the doctor.

My problem is why do the specials get the good companions when the series get such nothings.

I really liked this one; probably my favourite of the specials at any rate. Ryan was hot; the extra budget really showed on this one. I've given up picking Davie's scripts apart as he really does seem to be trying for tone and feeling more than nuts and bolts narrative, like Moffat does.
Can't wait for his run. November feels pretty far off for another shot of Who, but after the overload of the Davros stuff last season it's kind of nice to take a bit of a break.

Are you serious? Every bloody companion since the show relaunched has pretty much gone toe-to-toe with him!

I hated this special, and it just make me wish it were Moffatt handling the last four Tennant shows and not Davies. Spunky, irritating female sidekick that's been done to death? Check. Tennant getting moony-eyed over the awesomeness of the human race? Check. Expensive location shoots still looking horrendously rendered? Check. WATERS OF MARS looks more promising, but I hate that, given the quality of Tennant's work and the dramatic depths that could be explored as he heads towards his regeneration, we're seemingly getting weak-sauce derivative action-adventures. If this is what the fans of the show want, then I find myself moving more towards Devin's take on the whole thing. It can be great sci-fi with action and adventure and character and pathos, but this was just paper-thin nonsense.

And enough with the damn kissing already.

I've no idea why, but this was my favourite special.

Right down to the predictable "Oh i've got a convenient shaft that requires descending - and I just happen to have the gear to do it" and "Wait, you want me to close the portal now despite him only being 10 seconds away and he was the one who figured out how to close it anyway" moments.

Lee Evans was born for these roles. Production values were excellent. It was silly, fun and filled with plotholes without even remotely building on the Who ethos. Just like a good Dr Who special should be.

My only gripe is the continual "your time is ending" crap, which stopped being ominous the twentieth time they did it. We all know he's leaving, it's only powerful if you do it once or twice and if the audience aint keyed in on the star's departure.

Not trying to be a dick or anything, but why is that what a WHO special should be? Especialy when said special is one of only four hours of Tennant-era WHO left?

Put it this way: the best of WHO is like WRATH OF KHAN. But that special was THE VOYAGE HOME. Is THE VOYAGE HOME really what you guys want out of WHO? Campy drivel?