Planet of the Dead [AKA Riddle of the Sands]

[Kit]

I felt a twinge of Doctor/Christina, or as someone I saw termed it "Xtina", during the middle of the special. Cause apparently they couldn't STOP flirting with each other. But by the time she actually kissed him I was kind of over it. I thought that moment between them felt a little forced but I liked a lot of their chemistry.

In the end I'd rather just see them out causing trouble together and not have shippy thoughts.

I completely agree with every word! You can tell they threw in the kiss because, well, it was written by Rusty!
And I'm a bit still in awe that you voiced my opinions so exactly.

[IMForeman]

I rather embarrassingly am willing to ship Ten with almost anyone that is not impressed by him and that he occasionally engages in witty banter with. I'm utterly shameless that way.

Did anyone else think Malcolm was going to end up kissing the Doctor as well or just me?

[Kit]

Did anyone else think Malcolm was going to end up kissing the Doctor as well or just me?

Nope, I thought it as well! It would have been the kind of thing for Rusty to have written.

[jjpor]

I'll white it, just in case:

*Well, I sort of enjoyed that; as others have said, it wasn't a classic, but it was entertaining enough. I did like it better than the Xmas special, which is a shame as I really enjoyed David Morrisey and the Multi-Doc Montage of Squee; maybe my sights weren't set unrealistically high this time. It's RTD (and Gareth Roberts) in crowd-pleasing mode, so it had all of the things that traditionally irk me about those stories (unwanted Doc/companion shipping, bombastic slightly daft climax that doesn't make much sense, angst), but in no case were any of these as bad as in the Xmas one, and maybe that's because RTD was only co-writing it. Even the little bits of emo Ten angst weren't as badly done as at Xmas; his reason for not taking Christina with him at the end actually seemed fair enough in light of the Rose and Donna situations, whereas the "they break my heart(s)" whinging to Jackson Lake just made me want to kick the telly in (I resisted, fortunately, or I would not have been able to watch this!) Random thoughts:

You know, I thought those security guards at the beginning who had the task of standing still all night while holding big, heavy machine guns and making sure not to look up (and I don't recall ever seeing a museum guard with an enormous machine gun in Britain, and I've been to quite few museums) had the worst job going. Until I saw those poor UIT squaddies who have to run alongside the perfectly good vehicles the taxpayer has provided for them, kind of defeating the object of vehicles if you ask me. "Can I ride in the truck today, Sarge?" "No, Private Smith; today you get to run alongside!" In other news, UIT continue to disgrace the fine military traditions established in the 70s, or possibly the 80s; Captain Magambo is probably the most competent UIT officer we have seen to date in NuWho, but that really isn't saying a lot. I mean, saluting on the phone?? And I can only imagine the Brig's reaction if his men had ever decided to down weapons so that they could give the Doctor's latest escapade a resounding round of applause: "Sergeant Benton! Tell those men to stop clapping at once! It'll only go to his head." Moreover, unless you happen to find yourself serving in the Soviet Army circa 1942, I doubt it is considered acceptable to stick a gun in a subordinate's face, even if he has just disgracefully refused to obey an order; a little over the top! ;D And the Doctor fixed up the two lads with jobs in this crazy organisation! Thanks Ten; if they don't get eaten/deleted/exterminated in the next season finale, they'll either get shot by their own mad officer, or spend all of their time running alongside vehicles they should be riding in!

Er, such were the thoughts that occupied me while watching it, but as I say, I did quite enjoy it, honest. I actually liked the flymen- they had an appealingly cheap 80s-Who look to them; I actually felt sorry for them when they got eaten (token good aliens never prosper, do they?) The stingray things were well-designed, I thought, even if I found the explanation for their wormhole-building a little iffy. The supporting characters were nice, if a little thinly-drawn. I liked Malcolm; he was actually funny in a way that comic relief characters rarely are; I interpreted his reaction to the Doctor at the end as a fanboy thing rather than slash, and liked Ten's reaction to it as well (although some reviews I have seen online did not). The psychic woman was as annoying as psychics in NuWho usually are, and we all know who she was talking about at the end, don't we??

For the record, I liked Christina, even if she did have a couple of lines that maybe grated. I saw the kiss as a classic action-movie type kiss, such as action heroes and their assistants traditionally share at the conclusion of their adventures, as opposed to a full-on RTD shipping moment. On the whole, the idea of an amoral, highly intelligent and hyper-competent companion who can handle the action stuff and take charge in a crisis, even if she is a bit too clever for her own good, is a good one, and I think would be an interesting direction to go in for the future, even if we never see Christina again. The amoral thing is maybe a bit of a problem; I don't know if I approve of Ten springing her from the cops at the end, because it isn't as if she's going to use it as an opportunity to turn over a new leaf. Maybe his reason for leaving her behind should have been that he wasn't going to save her from the punishment she had brought on herself and seemed very richly to deserve (after all, she left her accomplice/boyfriend/whatever to take the heat at the beginning), and he might have added that, actually, stealing for the fun of it is if anything even worse than doing it because you need the money. ;D

Anyway, apart from a couple of moans, because I like to moan, it was all right. Not an Empty Child/City of Death, but then again not a Doctor's Daughter/Time Flight either! If you see what I mean...*

[Stripes]

I am just going to forget the last five minutes.

[clocketpatch]

I liked it, and am now sad that Tennant is leaving. I've got a bit of a love-hate relationship with his Doctor (when he starts moaning about people breaking his heart I just want to kick him). But this episode did what it said on the tin: it was a fun romp, and I had this big sappy grin on the whole way through.

And yes, maybe the psychic lady was a bit useless/annoying, but I didn't really mind her that much, and I really liked her husband saying "we win ten pounds twice a week; if that's not a gift...?" maybe the bus!people as I shall call them weren't particularly well-developed, but I felt like they were given enough back story, and they seemed real enough, and, well, the story wasn't really about them anyway.

(agreement with JJPOR on the whole the Doctor getting the two random guys jobs with UNIT. Has he forgot about their turnover rate???

that said, I didn't mind their trigger happy captain. I get the impression that she doesn't normally turn guns, but fate of the world and all that; I think she was well within her rights, and the Doctor probably would have agreed with her (we-ll, not agreed, but I think he'd understand)

The running beside the jeeps was a bit naft though wasn't it?).

Favourite bits (in no particular order)

UIT Captain: "I don't believe it! Guns that WORK!" ;D ;D ;D

Duggan-like Detective: Serious City of Death vibes off that guy. It was kind of awesome.

Malcom: "I LOVE YOUUUUUUUU!!!!" (yay, I kind of though he was about to kiss the Doctor too, just cause it's a Rusty eppy, but I didn't take it as slash; just fanboying. I think I want Malcom to be my best friend too)

Fly Aliens: They kind of reminded my of the Hoth, except, they were flies, and they were sort of adorable, and yes, I love them.

Death Aliens: Awww... they remind me of this book I read once called Manta's Gift; except in that the flying sting rays weren't ebil. *shifty eyes* I think one of the script writers might have read that book though, or at least been on the same wave-length: it's UNCANNY. Still, love the book, love the sting rays.

Crystal Clamps: The Doctor throwing away that crystal was SO him, and unexpected, and made me deeply happy for some unknown reason

Flying Bus: and the Doctor hitting an alien with his bus. Hehehehe. Win.

Sunglasses: 'nuff said

Happy Easter! ...My wheel is spinning: Awww!!! Happy Doctor is Happy! and I love him when he's being a complete nutter. That just had me grinning my fool head off.

Christine: I didn't like her at first, but then I quickly decided that I really did like her. Especially her Big Bag Of Everything. She made me think of Ace. Actually, when the Doctor was all "I had a friend once..." I was expecting an Ace reference, but Donna works too. Both are win. I liked Christine's ammoral flirting, and I liked how the kiss at the end was totally NOT Doctor instigated, and I got the distinct impression that he was a bit bemused by the whole thing. Though, for the ending I would have preferred either: A. Companion status, or B. Doctor giving her a lecture about why stealing is bad -

"But you stole your little blue box; you said you did; from your own people. AND you destroyed that. That's worse than stealing" *puppy dog eyes*

"Christine, if you were stealing for food, or because you needed the money, or because you had to, to save someone's life, I would travel with you in a heartbeat, but you steal because you enjoy it, and you hurt people because you enjoy it"

"And isn't that what you do Mr. The worse it gets the more I love it. We're the same; you and me. They'll arrest me Doctor."

"Maybe you deserve it"

"And what about you, and your little blue box. Don't you deserve it too?"

*far off angsty look*

"We-ll, probably, but I served my sentence. They always catch you in the end Christine, remember that."

Christine *disgusted look* *gets arrested* *Doctor frees her*

Volia.

Oh dear, did I just fanfic? lol

Anyways, yes, I rather did love this episode. Even the random prophesy at the end, and THE PREVIEW!!!

Mars!!! YAY!! And it looked interesting and fun, and rompy, and exciting. ~ish happy~

Oh Tenant, oh Rusty, why is it that on the eve of the departure I start to love you so?

anyway, that's it for now, but I'll probably be adding more things as they come to me. I REALLY did like that eppy. Perhaps I'm just Who-starved, or I'm easily pleased, or whatever, but yes HAPPY! ***

[merrythemad]

**Alright well going to chime in in spite of my lack of a wholly formed opinion. I did like it,it was Who, afterall. Christina I really liked at first, then it just seemed forced (I think someone here may have mentioned this already) And "you're too like a timelord" (or whatever it was he said to her)WTF?!?! She's timelord how exactly? In that she steals, fails to sit on her bum and observe and bask in her own moral superiority? I think that's when it started to fail for me. I DID like it, I DO like it, but this close to the end, I want more, I guess.

Also, that knock four times things will be soooo lame if it IS the Master.We know about his return, scare us, what about that Krillitene (sp?) who PROMISED the Doctor the next time they saw each they would work together? Or the scary Skye/diamond critter from Midnight? Be clever, RTD, pull another tritovore trick on us, lead us one way and kapow fooled you, like he will with David Morissey being 11 (kiddding) ALSO What about scaryhand!doc returning? That would be waaaaay better and Valeyard legal ruler bloke with a gavel so that could be knocking, and that could explain the random Rose-returns-mumblings. I am CONVINCED scaryhand!doc is the Valeyard, and I still hold out hope for a multidoc, even though *sigh* prolly not. anyway initial thoughts before I actually decide where I stand entirely, I just saw you lot running so far ahead *sniffs* I wanted to catch up so I could play too.

[greatbriton]

He said to Christina, "You Look Time Lord." after she tells him "You look Human." Which I think is a fair statement. Just...didn't need that long and lingering look after he said it. haha

* I've heard a few people guessing its going to be the Midnight creature/monster. That would be quite interesting. But its hard for me to think they'd use a creature that wasn't even the main focus of the episode it was in. And having the whole repeating thing over again and for that lead to the end of Ten would be a bit blah.

I'm just hoping is not the Daleks. Maybe knocking four times against the wall cause their motors for movement aren't working right? hehe **

[merrythemad]

yes, that you look timelord bit, was that meant to be a throw-away line? We're humanoid so're they, so YES we resemble one another that has been covered...I wonder if they aren't up to something with her.

[clocketpatch]

For what it's worth at the end I was thinking that they were trying to make a semi-canon Iris Wildthyme. Heck, she even has a hand bag!

[jjpor]

Whited, for safety!

*It's a bit obvious, but I still think the "knock four times" thing is the Master; remember when he's just gassed the British cabinet and was tapping his fingers on the table: "du-dum, du-dum. du-dum, dum."; one-two, three-four. Okay, maybe that's a stretch.

One of the things I really liked about this was the way they used the pre-publicity to mislead the viewers; we'd been built up to expect the fly-men as these big, scary "iconic!" villains, and they turned out to be anything but. RTD _is_ capable of springing surprises, except when it matters, of course! ;D Maybe he will surprise us in a big way in the Xmas special - I hope so.

Maybe I'm a killjoy or something (although not when the Happiness Patrol's around!), but I really, really don't want to see Christina become a recurring character in her magic flying double-decker bus. I really don't. If Moffat is even considering it, even for a moment; Don't!!*

[timeywimeyding]

Personally, I'd think that was a bit of a stretch too far. But alternatively, it could be referring to the unnamed monster in the episode 'Midnight'?

[merrythemad]

I just saw on wikipedia that the next special is scheduled to air in Nov. tentatively. Still it's better than later this year, eh?

better meaning more precise, or more like actual information as opposed to blatant fan-baiting.

[jjpor]

I hope so; okay, so November isn't that much sooner than Xmas, but it's a little bit sooner...and that would bring us back up to four specials as well (with Xmas and New Year completing the set), which would ease my confusion on that particular issue somewhat.

[clocketpatch]

I do hope it's November JJpor, and not just because this means earlier Who/ MORE Who -- but also because I really, really don't want to see the episode which tries to combine the creepy atmosphere that preview was setting up, and Mars, with... all of the stuff that's rumoured for the Christmas/New Year's specials. Mostly because, well... would that even be possible?

I just want a creepy Mars episode free of fanwank, cannon wars, or regeneration scenes. One last great huzzah for Ten!

with a side order of chips please.

[merrythemad]

*wipes premature tear* yes, and chips. Gorry! I get all weepy everytime a Doctor dies, you'd think I don't know (even from personal experience!!!) he'll be fine. *sheesh*

[IMForeman]

November would be nice. I wonder if they'd do another holiday or just have it on a general Saturday. Wikipedia obviously isn't the most reliable of sources, though - citation?

[jjpor]

I don't think we have any holidays in November over here; well, Bonfire Night, but that isn't a holiday as such...

I know what you mean Clocket; one last honest-to-goodness proper story for Ten without any of the stuff you associate with Who "specials" would certainly be very welcome. Certainly, the trailer for the next one looked all sorts of creepy; hard to reconcile that with robot Santas, very special guest "stars" and that sort of business.

Mind you, I'm hoping against hope that they avoid that sort of thing at Xmas/New Year too and give Ten a proper last story; I just think that with it being the very last story of his era, RTD won't resist the temptation to put his very special mark upon it *shudder*. I hope the Midnight/Turn Left Rusty, or even the Nine-era Rusty, shows up instead of the one who wrote Journey's End, but I'm not that hopeful.

[lynda]

I forgot for a second that Thanksgiving isn't celebrated in England; if they did, it would have made a nice time to air it. Maybe, since it's a horror one, they'll stick it at the beginning of November, right after Halloween, or perhaps on the 5th of November - isn't that significant in England?

Day of the Dead is also November 1-2, maybe it can coincide with that.

[merrythemad]

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...

yes, tis bonfire night/guy fawkes day