Doctor Who 28.9 The Satan Pit [spoilers]

[Brakkart]

Well this is the most aptly named episode yet that's for sure. Easily the best episode of the season to date (for me this surpasses Girl in the Fireplace and the first half of this two-parter).

The use of CGI was very good, with the Doctor hanging in the black of the pit like that, and of course the huge frikking demon lord which was just brilliant and one of the nastiest things I've ever seen in an episode of Doctor Who.

I thought the Torchwood mention was a bit poor though, and I'm guessing that next weeks episode might involve the Torchwood crew (whoever they are) fully, as it appears that the Doctor and Rose are wanted by the authorities. Ohh that there be one ugly looking critter too!

 

[Plane Sailing]

I agree, I thought this was the stand-out episode of this series. Very tense, included a number of themes from sci-fi movies in similar settings but gave its own twist.

I particularly liked the splitting up of people, the attempts by the creature to induce despair, the Doctors words to inspire and get people back on track, Rose's part in kicking people into action, difficult decisions being made in extremis, personal beliefs being challenged... it was all good.

Very nice.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

Got to chime in here with my agreement. I really enjoyed this episode- I'm torn whether this is my favorite, or School Reunion- but it had so much going for it. Really spot on writing, excellent character moments- both action filled and quiet ones. It was great to see the Rose that I enjoyed so much last season actually come back into the spotlight, as she took control in the Doctor's absence. I really came to like the other characters as well, which is something that I can't say too much for many of the other episodes this season (the other characters in the Cybermen two parter, for instance, were kind of bland ciphers IMO). I liked the quiet moment shared between the Doctor and Ida as he hung precariously over the pit, and I especially liked yet another reference to the Time Wars when the Beast referred to the Doctor as the person who killed off all of his people; when are we going to get more history on that (or are we ever?)

I admit to being a bit befuddled when the Beast (in Toby form) shushed the Ood into not revealing his plan, and then standing around letting the others defeat his troops. Of course, all became clear when it was revealed that escape was really his plan- it was actually a pretty elaborate scheme.

The only bit that I wasn't overly fond of was the Doctor's talking through it reasoning down in the pit- the camera angles as he came to his revelation and his "I believe in her" came off a little weird. I think that part could have been done more effectively.

In any case, I really enjoyed this two parter, and this episode in particular. In the words of Mr. Burns, "Eexcellent!"

 

[Viking Bastard]

So we get what at first appears to be a traditional space/alien/ghost story ala Event Horizon, but what do we end up getting?

A gargantuan demon lord chained down in a fiery pit.

I love Doctor Who.

 

[delericho]

I loved this episode! Though for me, School Reunion just edges it out.

I particularly liked Rose rallying the troops to get them out of trouble, and the sacrifice of the security officer.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

One thing that initially started to bug me was how the Doctor "miraculously" found the TARDIS. It almost seemed to make their sacrifice meaningless, but then as I thought about it, the mere fact that they were all willing and ready to sacrifice themselves to stop the greater evil was the point, and the fortune of having found the TARDIS didn't really diminish that at all.

(Plus, he did indicate that the people who trapped him had somehow seemingly arranged for his- or someone's- safe descent into the pit to destroy the Beast, and it is conceivable that the TARDIS' presence was part of that plan all along too.)

Again, well done episode.

 

[Elemental]

So we get what at first appears to be a traditional space/alien/ghost story ala Event Horizon, but what do we end up getting?

A gargantuan demon lord chained down in a fiery pit.

I love Doctor Who.

See, I like that it was never definitively stated what that thing was. A demon? A primal embodiment of evil older than the universe? A telepathic alien using demonic imagery as psychological warfare? It's not revealed, and in a way, it doesn't really matter.

 

[Felon]

So, the Doctor destroyed his own people.

And Rose is gonna dieeeeeeeeeeeeee!

 

[sniffles]

See, I like that it was never definitively stated what that thing was. A demon? A primal embodiment of evil older than the universe? A telepathic alien using demonic imagery as psychological warfare? It's not revealed, and in a way, it doesn't really matter.

I liked that aspect of the episode too. The Doctor ended up not knowing what the Beast really was. If he always knows everything he stops being an interesting anti-hero.

The animation of the Beast was really impressive - it's hard to believe sometimes that this is just a television programme! They did a lot of elaborate special effects in this episode. Makeup effects, animatronics, wire work, animation... Judging by the Confidential, this story was hard work for the actors, too - David Tennant really did abseil down a cliff in his spacesuit costume, and the other performers all had to crawl round in the maintenance conduits and do lots of "Kirk" acting as they pretended to be jostled about by the earthquakes and the rocket blast-off.

I also really enjoyed the way Rose took charge when all the station personnel were on the verge of panicking. That's an interesting development.

 

[KaosDevice]

Well the yay! factor on this one was just about off the charts. I thought the giant chained demon thing was a bit high on the cheese but otherwise much fun. The Uze guys were great and I really liked the possesed dude. Rose's self confidence is just great to see (As my friend pointed out, after you kill the god of the Daeleks everything else seems easy.) and David Tennant has finally won me over to his version of the Doctor (I was a hard sell). They are getting a little excessive with the Torchwood references though.