28.01: New Earth

[Dave]

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Written by...............Russell T. Davies
Directed By.............James Hawes

Guest Stars
Zoe Wanamaker............Cassandra

This episode involves the feline Sisters of Plenitude — "the Matron", "the Sister" and "the Novice" — a group of nuns who run a "Plague Farm" where humans are being treated for various diseases. It also features the return of Lady Cassandra, her robotic spiders, and the Face of Boe from 'The End of the World'.

[Dave]

I'm surprised no one has wanted to discuss this. After much hype and advertising on TV and in print, and the great expectations following the first series and the Christmas special, I thought this was a little disappointing.

The good nurses have a secret and are not what they seem. That was only to be expected.

I do hope that there will be a third meeting between the Doctor and the Face of Boe, because I want to know what he has to tell the Doctor.

Billie Piper actually got a chance to act and seemed to relish being Cassandra inside her own body. I didn't understand how Cassandra could keep zapping between bodies though. The first time required a machine that the Doctor claimed was banned, but then she seemed able to do it at will.

The trailer shown for next week didn't give me much hope either. I know some people don't watch the trailers deliberately, and I don't want to spoil, but after the "Undead" in this episode, they seem to be raiding another horror classic for ideas next week, and the following week may feature another classic horror theme (if the rumours are correct.) I would have expected a little more originality!

Yes, disappointing!

[ray gower]

Not a whole lot to say really.

Doctor gets a message to go and see somebody who is dying, but isn't.
Rose has a partial personality transplant.
Lots of ill people in a cupboard.
Doctor sprinkles multicoloured water over them.
Everybody happy.
The End

I'm not a great lover of the single episode/story and this proves the point.
Where was the mystery, the danger, the suspense the discovery- In fact the story?

So much unexplored RTD must kick himself

Not as if the new Doctor really did anything to establish himself as anything but a clone of the last. Which is unfortunate.

Did prove Billie Piper is not going to become Dame Billie Piper for her abilities as an actress though.

But I said much the same after the first episode last year.

Which leaves the only remaining and interesting question- Why did the hospital look like a Dalek?

[little smaug]

I think that 'disappointing' is a bit harsh. Ok, maybe it wasn't one of the best episodes since RTD took over the reins, but it was by no means one of the worst.

There were parts of the episode that grated - the insistence of "I am the Doctor!" seemingly every 2 minutes; the return of (IMO, at least) one of the most annoying characters from the previous series, who nobody particularly liked the first time around; the reappearance of the Face of Boe, apparently for no reason other than to reuse an impressive special effect. But at the same time, I can see why these points were necessary - children who have been newly introduced to Doctor Who may still be having trouble with the concept of the regeneration, and by bringing back characters from series 1, it helps to tie things together.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with Ray about Billie Piper's acting talents, though. I was actually rather impressed by both her and David Tennant's acting as Cassandra, and I'll admit, DT's camp acting was one of the episode highlights for me.

I'm also going to disagree that David Tennant's Doctor is a clone of Chris Eccleston's. Even though the storyline this week was rather silly, Tennant never came across as goofy, which I sometimes felt with Eccleston. I also felt that there was enough of the ninth Doctor in there to affirm that they are the same person (the continued use of "Fantastic!", the same matter-of-fact introduction of "I'm the Doctor."), and at the same time, enough difference in personality that they are completely separate portrayals of the same character.

On the whole, I'd say that the tenth Doctor appears to be darker and more serious than the ninth. Tennant's Doctor seems much more dangerous when angry; whereas the ninth Doctor was played as being hurt and disappointed when bad things happened, you get the impression that the tenth Doctor is capable of turning quite violent when pushed.

So, ok, maybe the episode itself wasn't up to scratch plotwise. But neither was the first episode of series 1 (at least compared to some that came after), and like 'Rose', I think that 'New Earth' served the purpose of properly introducing a new Doctor as effortlessly and seamlessly as possible. From what I can tell of the trailers I've seen, there is better yet to come, and I for one can't wait.

Originally posted by ray gower
Which leaves the only remaining and interesting question - Why did the hospital look like a Dalek?

Of the people I've spoken to, half are of the opinion that the hospital looked like a Dalek, and the other half are of the opinion that it was inspired by this hotel in Dubai. Personally, I'm voting for the latter.

[ray gower]

Must say, we never had much trouble identifying the Doctor in his first seven incarnations and they really could not come much different than Hartnell/Troughton/Pertwee/Baker. You do not want me to believe kids now are that much dimmer than me and mine?

Of the people I've spoken to, half are of the opinion that the hospital looked like a Dalek, and the other half are of the opinion that it was inspired by this hotel in Dubai. Personally, I'm voting for the latter.

Perhaps the Daleks are already in control of Dubai?

[Dave]

Originally posted by little smaug
I think that 'disappointing' is a bit harsh. Ok, maybe it wasn't one of the best episodes since RTD took over the reins, but it was by no means one of the worst.

Sorry, we'll have to agree to disagree. I think only 'Boom Town' was worse that this.

I think 'Christmas Invasion' adequately introduced Tennant and showed that he was going to be quite different to Eccleston (though he was laid up with a severe lack of tea for most of that episode.)

As for reusing characters (and several sets) I don't think I'm being cynical in saying that that is down to financial considerations than anything else, nor do I mind providing they come up with a story to cover it.

As for Arab building that look like Daleks, this is the tomb of Nur al-Din, Damascus:
http://www.oberlin.edu/art/images/art109/87.JPG

I think you have stumbled on a new conspiracy theory. Have either of you emailed Clive (in the episode 'Rose') about it?

[obcooke]

Boy, for a "third world" country that's one d#mn impressive hotel! Course many of you are spoiled - I looked again at "Aliens of London" for the aerial view and London has some very impressive architectural landmarks. The USA really sucks when it comes to avant-garde design, mostly its just Greco-Roman boxes. But that's getting off-topic.

Certainly a flawed story. And the solution was so unimpressive - it had a nice fuzzy literally touchy-feely feeling, but not all that impressive.

I think this episode also suffered from splitting its focus into myriad parts. A story about Cassandra up to no good should have been sufficient.

Say, Cassandra being the secret behind the hospital. Harvesting bodies, living through the patients, providing the nurses with an "insider's" description of their patients ills, so they keep her secret, using the hospital as a base to rebuild her fortune, Rose is wounded and ends up being a patient, The Doctor (again!) has to deal with his feelings about placing Rose in danger, only this time with a near-miss urgency. Having to make "the call" to Jackie, mum.

You know, something, but more importantly - one thing, one villian, one scheme to foil.

There wasn't even time to give the patients more than the back of their hand. There seemed to be some interesting stories behind the patients, but the Producers wanted to spend the time foreshadowing something that has to happen this season. There is no way they spent that much time setting up the Face of Bo without pulling the trigger this season. That is sheer speculation - I love the fact that The Doctor surprises me so, so I'm avoid spoilers.

Okay, that's enough about the episode... But hang on because I have a couple of thoughts about The New (boy, did that joke get old fast) Doctor.

New, New York - I can see the logo now - N2Y - that would look better if I could do superscript on the 2.

[lordoftime]

Another great episode for the new Doctor, I liked seeing more depth to Cassandra, and we get a great storyline with the Cat Nuns and some really Doctor-esque moments. I am sure everyone noticed the so-called recap at the start was actually NOT from what we saw at the end of the Christmas Invasion. Looks like some time pased between the 2.

[Krystal]

This episode was great. I agree definitely we see another side of Cassandra.

[Whitestar]

Originally Posted by Krystal

This episode was great. I agree definitely we see another side of Cassandra.

The episode was fun and entertaining, up until the Doctor came up with a deus ex machina by spraying all the infected people with water. Please! Still, the best part for me was the scene where the Doctor and Rose (Cassandra) go down that elevator shaft screaming all the way. It was quite exciting to watch and its a great moment. Plus, the special effects were very good for a tv series. Another interesting note is when the dying Cassandra meet her past self, the episode suggests that the Cassandra of the past will become a more thoughtful, caring, and compassionate human being.

[Krystal]

Originally Posted by Whitestar

Still, the best part for me was the scene where the Doctor and Rose (Cassandra) go down that elevator shaft screaming all the way. It was quite exciting to watch and its a great moment.

Yeah, that was great.