The Impossible Planet

"Don't turn around... one look and you will die."

Writer: Matt Jones
Format: TV
Broadcast: 3rd June 2006
Series: 2.08

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

Rose finds herself further away from home than ever before, in the orbit of a Black Hole. That should be impossible. Not only that, but there is written language that even the TARDIS can't translate. Everything seems impossible, and something is awake...

Verdict

The Impossible Planet was an excellent episode and a brilliant way to start this two parter story! Right from the word go it set the tone for the rest of the story and the slow reveal of everything was perfectly paced and the timing just allowed that tense atmosphere to be built which I think is very important in the opening episode of a two parter. This story is often used in drawing contrasts between the Classic era and this side of the wilderness years following the 2005 revival. There is no disputing that the modern episodes are a lot faster and usually include a great deal more action than the original series but I think the beauty of the Classic era is in its often slow build in the opening parts of some stories. Had this story featured between 1963-1989, the cliffhanger that we see at the pre-titles sequence would more than likely have been built on a lot more and had a twenty-two minute or so build but instead here, we get a quick fast forward through to the Doctor and Rose establishing that they are on a sanctuary base but they get a rushed introduction to the Ood. The resolution about their "we must feed" line was quite humorous and I loved the look of shock on the crew's faces after seeing that the Doctor and Rose were very much alive and very much real. They had quite a shaky start to their time on the base with a quake hitting and it would appear to have lasting consequences for the Doctor as the area that the TARDIS had landed in had been obliterated and sent tumbling down to the planet's surface. The planet itself was nameless which was harrowing enough on its own but chuck in the fact it was orbiting a black hole and immediately you had the Doctor's interest. His reaction to just how impossible things were was excellent and I loved how the crew reignited his love for the human race. A time funnel gave them access to this impossible planet and did they follow it? Of course they did. Why? To have a look. It was as simple as that which was fantastic. The TARDIS translation circuits not being able to translate the language written inside the base was mightily intriguing and just the mention of it being beyond the depths of the TARDIS was an outrageously strong statement. It meant that it was impossibly old and I liked how the Doctor was worried. The relationship between the Doctor and Rose was wonderful but I did like the awkwardness between their mortgage discussion. The Doctor really was helpless without the TARDIS but could he really settle down? The transformation of Toby was quite substantial in the episode and the way he was possessed was very frightening which made it great. The same thing happened with the Ood after some not so subtle hints about them being possessed and their telepathic nature and slave status of a race made it easy for them to be taken over. The Doctor and Ida embarking on the mission below into the planet was terrific and the scale of the civilisation was quite incredibly beautiful. But then came the cliffhanger and with something stirring above and waking up, the Doctor and Ida were about to see what as an entrance to even deeper into the planet opened. The Ood were possessed, Toby was made and whatever was causing it was ready to meet the Doctor. Not too shabby a cliffhanger at all! Overall, a fantastic start to the story and I look forward to the second episode very much! Oh, and happy birthday Doctor Who!