puppetmaker | New Who review for The Impossible Planet

This is the first part of a two-parter that takes place back in space and we don't hear the magic word 'Torchwood' for a couple of episodes. I am going to put most of the review behind the cut since this is such a discovery episode I would hate for someone to stumble on this. So spoilers are behind the cut.

I will say that this was a good set up for the next episode. More Doctor/Rose relationship stuff is brought forward and good acting all around. Will Thorp did a good job and gets my pity vote for make-up.

So the Doctor for the second time this season is left without his TARDIS. He keeps losing it in the strangest places. This time it seemed more of a convention to keep the Doctor from using it to take care of the problem or get everyone away from the pit. Makes the writing a little clunky in my book.

However the scene between the Doctor and Rose in which they discuss how life would be if the Doctor settled down was really well written. The death of Scooti was sad and the music was just heart breaking at that point when they finally find her. Most of the rest of the episode is set up for next week.

I do like the Ood and hope we see them again. There is a whole subtext about slavery and class that runs through this episode that is very interesting. Rose comes from a time when this sort of thing is just not done but to the people of the space station the Ood just are and seem happy to be given orders. Some of the words applied to them shows how much they are not thought of. Kind of uncomfortable to listen to but not unheard of even in this day and age. The communication sphere of the Ood that turns into a weapon in the end was cool. Ariel thought it was rather dumb until she saw that. I also like the occasional glitches in the sphere. "We must feed...you if you are hungry" worked very well.