2.8 - The Impossible Planet

The Impossible Planet is the first part of a two part story. It is absolutely brilliant as is the second part The Satan Pit.

The story is among my favourite all time classics. It is a creepy, unnerving episode with some great scares but also great characterisation, great script, great acting and great production values. The Ood are introduced as an alien race used. basically, as slaves. They are fantastic. The human characters are excellent and all of the dialogue is of high standard. The story is thrilling and intelligent. Tennant and Piper are on top form as 10 and Rose with some fabulous exchanges between the two adding real depth.

This is a totally top notch Doctor Who episode that can stand alongside the greatest episodes of the classic series.

Amazing, creepy and atmospheric. I always recall this as being the bombshell of the series, I knew nothing other than the names of the episodes and so when it aired I was highly rewarded with one of tens best two parters.

Ood are a popular new “species” while the mysterious black hole resistant world we see is pleasing also as at this point I’d been craving more off earth / non space stories.

Excellent 9/10

The Doctor and Rose arrive on a base built on a planet in the midst of a black hole. They find themselves stranded when the TARDIS disappears. This is a superb first part as tension builds throughout the episode even while the characters and their world are established. The story is superbly acted with some of the best characterization ever seen Doctor Who. There's also a nice very genuine moment between the Doctor and Rose that's very well-done.

Memorably creepy and atmospheric. Rare example of a New Series two-part story which works.