Doctor Who 4x3 “Planet of the Ood” FULL REACTION
Added 2020-03-19 13:34:20 +0000 UTC
Comments
This is one of the best episodes in my opinion. The chemistry between The Doctor and Donna is great. While the story itself is depressing, I still think it has the ingredients of a solid story. I liked the Ood storyline coming to full circle here and the focus on slavery with morality being called out. The establishment of Ood Slavery lasting long is unsettling but effective. Donna's reaction to the situation is very moving too. Her wishing to go home is genuinely sad. I enjoy the directed action scenes, the dark humour, The Doctor taking a jab at the ugly side of humanity and the sinister vibe along with the high body count. I think it had substance with good energy. Even though you had a mixed opinion on this, it was still interesting to hear your thoughts even if I disagree. I look forward to seeing more of your reactions to the next episodes.
JY
2020-03-20 08:31:57 +0000 UTCYeah, this episode doesn't work that well for me. Hang in there until the second half of the season. From episode 8, it gets really good (and I think episode 7 is a lot of fun).
Will
2020-03-20 04:35:04 +0000 UTCI thought your correlation of having lost control of your brain and religion great.🙂
David Murray
2020-03-20 02:38:25 +0000 UTCDonna was definitely a highlight
Other Boy Reactions
2020-03-20 00:04:26 +0000 UTCI think Ian is right. This story would have worked a lot better as a two-parter - the ending is rushed and the guest stars don't get much development at all. The Friend of the Ood guy at the end hardly says a word before his final scene and that's such an important plot point. Having said that, I like it a lot more than most people seem to do in this comments section. Point taken on the comparisons of slavery to real-life slavery and how it can be seen insensitively - I'm sure that's not their intention but I told hear you. But for me the humanity of Donna is so powerful again. These first three episodes are littered with so many 'throwaway' lines that are so important it's so frustrating watching it back and knowing what's important and what's not. Personally I'd have made this a 2-parter and a future 2-parter story in this season a 1-parter... no spoilers as to when they happen!
Mark Ward
2020-03-19 23:58:08 +0000 UTCI think a possible reason it doesn't work so well as a message story is the short length of the episode. At 45 minutes there's no time to explore nuance;or aspects of something - it's "here's the allegorical message;here's the chase scene; here's the funny scene; here's the scary Finale. End" Under those circumstances, It's difficult to avoid blunt,shorthand storytelling.
Ian Smith
2020-03-19 21:06:26 +0000 UTCPassing coded messages helped but didn’t free an entire race of people
Other Boy Reactions
2020-03-19 20:26:40 +0000 UTCInteresting, I hadn't looked at the singing like that before. Fascinating... Must of been a coincidence that singing was used to pass coded messages to facilitate the underground railroad network to help get people to the free states and Canada. They probably weren't thinking of that at the time. It might have just part of a previously non verbal telepathic race and the way communicated.
Daryl
2020-03-19 20:24:05 +0000 UTCThis is my least favourite episode of the season. Like you, it just falls flat for me. I don't know if it's the performances, the bland sets, the Ood (who I like) not being emotive enough or what, can't put my finger on it. But a slavery story such as this should really pack more of an emotional punch. But still, this season has a LOT to offer, mainly in its second half (like last season), so onwards!
Aidan Raffle
2020-03-19 17:57:28 +0000 UTCMy reason for disliking episodes like this is because I’ve seen so many shows and movies that compare the discrimination of aliens and mutants and vampires to the discrimination of people of color, the LGBT community, women etc. Aliens get sympathy for being enslaved and mistreated but real life people have been enslaved and discriminated against and continue to be discriminated against because they are not seen as human even though they are. Obviously I can’t speak for everybody but I know people who would feel bad for these aliens but not for people held in detention centers in real life.
Other Boy Reactions
2020-03-19 17:41:48 +0000 UTCI have to admit that this episode didn't land for me the first time for what ever reason I'm not sure. But after a number of rewatches it has become one of my over all favourites. I thought you did a wonderful analysis of the episodes message at the end. But I am so very hugely disappointed that before and after that you came to some of the conclusions you appeared to. I don't don't see the comparison as different at all. Sentient life is sentient life. Life is life sentient or not. Be that of the same species or not. The Doctor's retort about who makes your clothes obviously is intended to widen the examination of what is considered slavery. As you mentioned, that of the mind, physical. Or now economic. The subjugation of one over another by holding to the notion that one is better than the other. I do like this one as depressing as it is. Catherine is magnificent. She breaks my heart in this one. Her character represents the best of us.
Daryl
2020-03-19 17:13:29 +0000 UTCThe Ood are in fact based on a telepathic alien species called the Sensorites, who featured in a very early Classic DW story from the very first season in 1963/4. The Doctor makes a reference to that when he tells Donna he's been in this solar system a long time ago. In that First Doctor story the Sensorites planet (known as the Sense-sphere, while on this episode they are on the Ood-sphere) was being exploited for minerals by humans. So even back then DW explored themes of exploitation and the impact of colonialism. While I agree this episode doesn't rank with the best, I still enjoy it and appreciate what it's trying to achieve. And again, Donna's humanity and compassion shines through.
Lloyd B
2020-03-19 15:18:09 +0000 UTC
