"Doctor Who" Planet of the Ood (2008)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Graeme Harper

Writer:

Keith Temple (writer)

TV Series:

"Doctor Who" (2005)

Original Air Date:

19 April 2008 (Season 4, Episode 3)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Finding themselves on the Ood-Sphere planet in the 42nd century, The Doctor and Donna discover the truth over the Ood's willingness to serve humankind. |

Plot Keywords:

Torture | Slavery | Doctor Hero | Telephone | Space Hero

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Oct. 24

5:00 AM

SCIFI

Planet of the Ood

#4.3

Cast

David Tennant	...	The Doctor
Catherine Tate	...	Donna Noble
Tim McInnerny	...	Mr. Halpen
Ayesha Dharker	...	Solana Mercurio
Adrian Rawlins	...	Dr. Ryder
Roger Griffiths	...	Commander Kess
Paul Clayton	...	Mr Bartle
Paul Kasey	...	Ood Sigma
Tariq Jordan	...	Rep #1
Tony Gibbons	...	Rep #2
Silas Carson	...	The Ood (voice)

Runtime:

48 min | 45 min (50 episodes)

Certification:

UK:12 (DVD rating)

Company:

BBC Wales

Quotes:

Ood Sigma: I think your song must end soon.
The Doctor: Meaning?
Ood Sigma: Every song must end.

An "old school" episode with oodles of atmosphere

You can always spot a Graeme Harper directed episode - it may be the pace or the themes but there's a certain gritty atmosphere in his tales that's quite unique.

In "Planet of the Ood", The Doctor and Donna visit the Oodsphere, a beautiful snow covered world where humans are exploiting the planet's occupants. It's a welcome change to see the action taking place on an alien world and the episode successfully captures the feeling of another planet.

Tim (Percy from "Blackadder") McInnerny is a memorable balding baddie whose follicle obsession takes centre stage in his thoughts. McInnerny's treatment of the Ood race is despicable but there's the feeling throughout the episode that his comeuppance is nigh.

This is very much an "old school" episode. It feels like "classic" "Doctor Who" and contains at least one disturbing scene and quite a high body count. There's questionable morality in this story, as acknowledged by The Doctor himself. This could well be a darker season of new "Who" but early signs are that this is going to be the best one yet.

Observant viewers will by now have latched onto the "disappearing bees" sub-plot. I wonder what this could be about? Whatever the outcome, it's definitely this year's "Bad Wolf" / "Saxon" guessing game. And then there's the musical cue from "Doomsday" to consider. I have thoughts about how and why The Doctor's "song" will end but time will tell...

8 out of 10. A strong episode, beautifully produced and directed by the team.