Rate 'Planet of the Dead'

Not in London any more though!

I gave it a 4 out of 5 for different reasons. As I stated before I enjoyed it. I've only seen it the one time, but I'll re-watch it soon.

Here's what I think is part of the difference of perception is: I watched with my critical switch turned off. I only watched to be entertained looking for light-hearted fare - just a good ole sci-fi romp. There were bits of action, drama, and comedy. There were some clever lines. There were some nods for the Wrinklies.

Otheres, who did not like it as much, watched, I think, with a more critical eye. Their expectations were higher than mine. I also think the pre-conceived notions of what it should be may have adversely coloured their perception (or should I say reception?) of 'Planet of the Dead.'

It is this same pre-conception that is discolouring my perception of 'The Waters of Mars'. The criticism that RTD & co are falling back on themselves is justified for this piece. Clearly, it is a formulaic "space station siege" tale. We've seen this many times starting with Troughton's era. While the water destroying the rock making up the isolated space station/Mars Base may seem like a new idea, but it's really nothing more than a variation on a tired theme (especially tired for this crew). So, with this perspective going into 'The Waters of Mars' I'm giong to be harder to please.

However, when I re-watch 'The Waters of Mars' I may be more accepting of what it is for its own sake and be more entertained. Just like when I re-watch 'Planet of the Dead' next time I'll be more critical and may enjoy it less as I pick it apart.

Fair play to us all. We benefit from different perspectives, opinions, and insights of the show. I'm sure we're all just glad the show is still popular enough to keep going.

I agree, HC. (Hey, that rhymes!) Very balanced, nuanced perspective.

Horizon Chaser wrote:Otheres, who did not like it as much, watched, I think, with a more critical eye. Their expectations were higher than mine. I also think the pre-conceived notions of what it should be may have adversely coloured their perception (or should I say reception?) of 'Planet of the Dead.'

Not especially, not especially and no. But thanks for trying to decide ulterior motives as to why I didn't like it, as opposed to the reasons stated.

It is this same pre-conception that is discolouring my perception of 'The Waters of Mars'. The criticism that RTD & co are falling back on themselves is justified for this piece. Clearly,etc.

Oh yes. You are so clearly right. Mine and Frank's criticisms of the thing we've just seen are exactly the same as your clear opinions on something that you haven't.

Lucy McGough wrote:I agree, HC. (Hey, that rhymes!) Very balanced, nuanced perspective.

Which bits do you agree with?

As I said on DWF:

Well, the story was solid but inconsequential, Michelle Ryan was fun for an hour but would have been grating after not much more than that, and the Tritovores were rubbish.

But the gags were good, it looked lovely, and I actually cared about the characters. 4/5.

But I agree, if this and The Next Doctor are the best the team can do even with a long break between episodes, then the change will probably be well overdue.

Rich Flair wrote:
Which bits do you agree with?

The bit where he said:

Horizon Chaser wrote:
Fair play to us all. We benefit from different perspectives, opinions, and insights of the show. I'm sure we're all just glad the show is still popular enough to keep going.

There is no right or wrong way of watching a television show. The opinions of you, HC and Frank are equally valid.

If anything, HC was complimenting you by implying that you have higher standards than he has.

Doc Filth wrote:

But I agree, if this and The Next Doctor are the best the team can do even with a long break between episodes, then the change will probably be well overdue.

Reluctantly seconded

Well, I've enjoyed both The Next Doctor and Planet Of The Dead, while the various snippets I've heard about the new team's plans haven't filled me with buckets of anticipation...so tomayto/tomahto, I guess.

Nick Barlow wrote:Well, I've enjoyed both The Next Doctor and Planet Of The Dead, while the various snippets I've heard about the new team's plans haven't filled me with buckets of anticipation...so tomayto/tomahto, I guess.

i've not heard anything- but i have slight apprehension about matt smith. (although i'm sure i'll be proved wrong)

i've really enjoyed season 4 and the specials whereas rich and frank haven't much. but then again i quite like destiny of the daleks and a few sylvester mccoy stories so my idea of what is good dr who isn't the same as theirs.

which is as it should be.

These days, I disengage my critical faculties before watching Doctor Who, and I stay out of Spoiler territory before hand.

Why?

Spoilers generate fan speculation, which is sometimes better than the finished product. I also prefer to not know ahead of time.

Second, I prefer to leave the serious critique to those who are best able to do it. Part of the fun of beiong a fan these days is seeing something, and then finding out what Frank said about it (for example). Good critiques add a layer of entertainment to the whole experience.

Planet of the Dead, once again, gave me the Doctor Who experience I was looking for. I didn't need consequential, or "big", I just wanted to be entertained. After the last two weeks, I really wanted to watch something fun. I got what I wanted, and am therefore a happy camper.

Dave Webb wrote:Planet of the Dead, once again, gave me the Doctor Who experience I was looking for. I didn't need consequential, or "big", I just wanted to be entertained. After the last two weeks, I really wanted to watch something fun. I got what I wanted, and am therefore a happy camper.

About sums up my experience.

I found it more fun on the second viewing as well.

Lucy McGough wrote:

Rich Flair wrote:
Which bits do you agree with?

The bit where he said:

Horizon Chaser wrote:
Fair play to us all. We benefit from different perspectives, opinions, and insights of the show. I'm sure we're all just glad the show is still popular enough to keep going.

There is no right or wrong way of watching a television show. The opinions of you, HC and Frank are equally valid.

If anything, HC was complimenting you by implying that you have higher standards than he has.

QFT

Zoltar wrote:I found it more fun on the second viewing as well.

That's excellent news, because I'm planning to vote after rewatching it.
*makes popcorn*

I didn't really pick up on how terrible this bit was until the 2nd viewing:

Magumbo: Destroy the wormhole
Malcolm: No, the Doctor's coming through it on the bus
Magumbo: Okay soldier i will shoot you in the head

WTF? A UNIT captain is going to shoot the Scientific Advisor in the head for not obeying her order. Do y'think?

Another bit that grates: they let her steal the bus. All those UNIT soldiers and they let her nick the bus.

Rich Flair wrote:I didn't really pick up on how terrible this bit was until the 2nd viewing:

Magumbo: Destroy the wormhole
Malcolm: No, the Doctor's coming through it on the bus
Magumbo: Okay soldier i will shoot you in the head

WTF? A UNIT captain is going to shoot the Scientific Advisor in the head for not obeying her order. Do y'think?

Another bit that grates: they let her steal the bus. All those UNIT soldiers and they let her nick the bus.

you watched it again even though you didn't like it?

only doctor who fans would do this...

i think they could have driven another bus through with enough equipment to fix it and send it back. or chucked the tardis through the wormhole. but if you think too much about most stories it falls apart.

I watched it again because a lot of new Who stories actually get better with a rewatch. (whereas a lot of old Who gets worse with a rewatch). And I'm a Doctor Who fan, of course I'll watch each one twice.

I've even watched Fear Her twice, but that didn't get better. The Runaway Bride didn't become good until my third viewing. Last of the Time Lords increases in quality exponentially with each viewing.

PotD was worse 2nd viewing, I'm sorry to say.

Oh well. Roll on November!

The whole purpose of PotD was for that one line at the end from that woman who used to be in Eastenders (not Michelle Ryan, obviously).

Other than that it was a bit of fun. I care not for plot holes - anything is better than the reality television crap we're being force fed on other channels.

Rich Flair wrote:I watched it again because a lot of new Who stories actually get better with a rewatch. (whereas a lot of old Who gets worse with a rewatch). And I'm a Doctor Who fan, of course I'll watch each one twice.

I've even watched Fear Her twice, but that didn't get better. The Runaway Bride didn't become good until my third viewing. Last of the Time Lords increases in quality exponentially with each viewing.

PotD was worse 2nd viewing, I'm sorry to say.

Oh well. Roll on November!

i really liked it but have no real intention of watching it in the near future. i buy the dvds but have still only seen season 3 and 4 twice(except for "blink" which i drunkenly made some friends watch recently). only seen the next doctor and planet of the dead once and doubt i will again until the dvds come out.

november? surely you mean the 18th december

Kate Seadevil wrote:The whole purpose of PotD was for that one line at the end from that woman who used to be in Eastenders (not Michelle Ryan, obviously).

Other than that it was a bit of fun. I care not for plot holes - anything is better than the reality television crap we're being force fed on other channels.

i dunno kate- didn't you see the ferrero rocher man on britain's got talent?

Kate Seadevil wrote:The whole purpose of PotD was for that one line at the end from that woman who used to be in Eastenders (not Michelle Ryan, obviously).

Other than that it was a bit of fun. I care not for plot holes - anything is better than the reality television crap we're being force fed on other channels.

I concur with this assessment. This was RTD giving us a bit of foreshadowing about an event we know is coming, but not exactly how it's going to happen. "He will knock four times" has to be a reference to the Master tapping that rhythm with his fingers.

As for the rest, hey, I rather like the fanwank references: very Iris Wildthyme with the bus. All it needed to do was look good and hold my interest for an hour, and it did that well.

Lucy McGough wrote:That's excellent news, because I'm planning to vote after rewatching it.

*makes popcorn*

I'm looking forward to receiving your review Major Minor.

Rich Flair wrote:
Another bit that grates: they let her steal the bus. All those UNIT soldiers and they let her nick the bus.

Yeah, that was really annoying.

The Co=Ordinator wrote:
I'm looking forward to receiving your review Major Minor.

Ta mate.

Kate Seadevil wrote:The whole purpose of PotD was for that one line at the end from that woman who used to be in Eastenders (not Michelle Ryan, obviously)

Are you sure? Isn't that a monumental waste of money to make an hour long HD special purely for the purpose of a cryptic line at the end that most viewers would have forgotten about by the time it makes sense?

While it will never rank amongst my favourite Dr Who stories since it's return, Planet of the Dead was a fun adventure with some very good lines, and an excellent guest turn by Lee Evans.

The theme was very much about nature- it was refreshing to see a story that had no real villain. The Tritovores misunderstood who was responsible for their predicament, and the stingrays were simply obeying their base nature to eat, and then move on to new feeding grounds. Christina was out for adventure, and so was the Doctor, and the story continued Russell T Davies favourite theme of the Doctor taking someone and making them reach their potential. Christina goes from someone who steals for the thrill of it to being an adventuress in her own personal travelling machine (mirroring the trajectory of Jackson Lake in the Next Doctor).

It was also steeped in science fiction and adventure stories from the 1920's and 30's, especially the work of Edgar Rice Burrows and Robert E Howard, where an ordinary person or group is transported to a magical realm full of strange creatures and they have to fight just for their survival. And, it has to be said, that the character of Christina is rooted in the pulp fiction of this period as well- it's a shame that the budget wouldn't have stretched to setting the London sequences in the 30's instead of the present.

Complaints? As some have remarked, the story, considering it's a Special, lacked... specialness. It would have benefited greatly from being a mid-series story instead of a stand alone one, just as both the Fires of Pompeii and The Unicorn and the Wasp would have worked as Easter specials in its place. I'd also agree with C=O that the cgi was a bit dodgy in a couple of scenes (mainly with the compositing of the bus in the desert- it simply looked too red!

But not a bad story by any means, and one that may improve when watched in sequence with the specials around it.

4 out of 5 (although on the lower end of the scale)