DW Rewatch - 4x03. Planet of the Ood
Mar. 8th, 2010 08:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
caz963I think that The Fires of Pompeii and Planet of the Ood are almost like a two-part continuous story. Of course they’re not, but in terms of the way they both present Donna to the audience and continue to reveal and develop her character and her relationship with the Doctor, I feel a strong sense of continuity. We had a trip back in time in Earth's history, and now we're in the future on another planet, so it's a good balance, and gives Donna the chance to show that kindness and compassion go a long way, no matter what the date or what galaxy you're in.
This is also a fabulous example of just what Doctor Who can be. I’m not saying that it needs to be addressing serious issues all the time (although it does do that every episode in one way or another), because at its heart (hearts?) it's entertainment. But there are times when it can strike a real chord and make you think and that’s what it does here. What we’ve got is basically a story about slavery – and not only, that, but slavery in the 42nd Century.
So much for William Wilberforce, then.
Pompeii was Donna’s first trip through time and (probably) her first trip with the Doctor (I’m not counting the one in TRB here). Planet of the Ood is her first visit to an alien planet.
The Doctor has set the TARDIS to “random” (I’d argue that it’s pretty random most of the time!) and has no idea where they’re going to end up.
Donna is like a kid at Christmas - totally hyped up and excited – and again, the Doctor is lapping it up. Like in Pompeii, you can tell that he’s getting a real kick out of introducing someone else to all this … stuff, but it’s not just that.
He’s the same - I know what it's like -- everything you're feeling right now. The fear, the joy, the wonder -- I get that! - and what could be better than having someone to share that with?
Even though she does manage to miss his big speech
He looks like he’s lost a quid and found fourpence
Comfy?
Now that's what I call a spaceship. You've got a box -- he's got a Ferrari. Come on, let's see where it's going.
Anyone would think she’s maligned his manhood.
She’s definitely maligned something ;-)
Not happy bunnies at the Ood Processing Plant where cases of "Red Eye" are on the increase.
The Doctor can hear singing
Sadly, it’s not a happy song
In the course of 45 minutes – well, less, actually – Donna goes from her initial revulsion at the Ood’s appearance, to feeling sorry for them, empathizing with them, abhorring what’s been done to them and championing them.
One last hurrah – so to speak
How gorgeous is Donna’s hair in this?
Whatever’s going on, it’s trouble. (Is it ever anything else when the Doctor’s around?!)
The Doctor very quickly realizes that perhaps he’d neglected the Ood during their last encounter. To be fair though, he did have his hands full battling the devil, so…
Civilisation. As becomes clear later, that might be a bit of a misnomer.
Sorry we’re late. Makes me laugh how he keeps that smile plastered to his face while Donna rambles on
The running gag
They’re playing our song - Ooh, is that an alarm?
Listening to the sales pitch. That stuff with the different voices is so degrading. Which of course, it’s meant to be…
DONNA
But look at us -- we're everywhere. Is that good or bad, though? I mean, are we like explorers or more like a virus?
THE DOCTOR
Sometimes I wonder.
The Ood don’t get a say in what they do or where they go
Do I look single? Oh, Donna, make your mind up!
Let’s keep to the point, shall we?
Spexy (And no, I don’t have to keep to the point all the time, in case you were wondering!)
Care to ditch the guide book?
Off the beaten track
They’re not servants. They’re slaves!
His comment here - I never asked is – as Donna says – very unlike him It’s also one which comes back a couple of times in the episode. All that’s needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing…
But now he owes them one
THE DOCTOR
Where did you learn to whistle?
DONNA
West Ham, every Saturday.
What's she doing going to West Ham if she comes from Chiswick?
Ood Export
DONNA
A great, big empire, built on slavery.
THE DOCTOR
It's not so different from your time.
Oi! I haven’t got slaves.
Who do you think made your clothes? Plus ça change…
Is that why you travel round with a human at your side? It's not so you can show them the wonders of the universe, it's so you can take cheap shots.
Ouch. But he likes it :-)
They don’t understand the concept of freedom
What is the circle and why must it be broken?
But before they can find out –
That’s us, come on!
Where’s she gone?
Shoved into a container full of Ood, that’s where
That cap amuses me *g* (There don't seem to be any decent caps of the chase bit, so you'll have to take that as read!)
And surely I can't be expected to pass up the opportunity to make a comment about getting David Tennant flat on his back... (you can make up your own - you get the general idea!)
If you don't do what she says, you're really in trouble. Not from me -- from her.
Definitely more George and Mildred than Terry and June!
THE DOCTOR
There we go, safe and sound.
DONNA
Never mind about me, what about them?
Again, Donna’s first concern is someone other than herself.
Taking advantage of the distraction afforded by rabid Ood
DONNA
If the people back on Earth knew what was going on here...
SOLANA
Don't be stupid. Of course they know.
DONNA
They know how you treat the Ood?
SOLANA
They don't ask. Same thing.
Setting up the “foot and mouth” solution
I didn’t need the map. I should have listened!
The sentient hair makes an appearance *g* (He’s manic, so his hair goes suitably crazy!)
He can still hear the singing
I love this scene for two reasons. Firstly because it's simple and it's powerful and the Doctor's and Donna's griefstricken and horrifed reactions are like a punch to the gut; and secondly because speaking as a musician, the way the music is used here to tell us of the misery of the Ood - while also using it to let us hear their innate nobilitly despite their situation is simply masterful. I think this was the point at which I sat up and began to really take notice of Murray Gold's work. I've posted about his music for DW before and said that while I'm a long-time fan of movie music, I've never really taken much notice of TV music because it's rarely composed on the same scale. Well, Gold is the exception to that rule. His scores for Who are like film scores each week (and okay, so there are repeated cues, but I'd imagine that's a necessity due to time constraints rather than a lack of creativity) and I'd urge anyone who hasn't listened to his work on the show to do so immediately. Most of the album tracks can be found on You Tube. I might have to do a "top tracks" post at some point, before Season 5 starts :-)
The Song of Captivity heard in this scene is combined on the soundtrack album with the Song of Freedom we hear at the end of the episode. It's on You Tube here. I still tear up when I listen to it.
They're natural-born Ood. Unprocessed. Before they're adapted to slavery. Unspoiled. That's their song.
I can't hear it.
Do you want to? I feel he almost doesn't want her to hear because he knows how she'll react.
Open your mind. That's it. Hear it, Donna... Hear the music.
Take it away. I can't bear it. I know how she feels. It's unbearably beautiful and gut wrenching at the same time.
But you can still hear it.
All the time.
And then they realise why these Ood are unlike the others.
I spent all that time looking for you, Doctor, because I thought it would be so wonderful out here. I want to go home.
He doesn't have to say anything. You can see what he thinks of that idea all over his face.
Captured again.
But the Ood like being slaves. They didn't put up a fight.
You idiot! They're born with their brain in their hands, don't you see? That makes them peaceful! They've got to be because a creature like that would have to trust anyone it meets.
Nice one. He's so proud of her when she says that :-)
But what's the missing part of the circle?
Eh. That's just pretty.
The Ood are fighting back
Left to the mercies of red-eyed, rampaging Ood and quality handcuffs(which is where the episode would have ended in the old days!)
Doctor, Donna - friend. The circle must be broken.
They get by with a little help from their friends
Oh, yes!
The penny drops - it's a shared brain
Oops.
Eaten by a brain. An ignominious end.
They've been preparing you for a very long time
The transformation scene is gross, grotesque - and completely right. The Ood might not be killers or fighters in the normal sense, but revenge is a dish best served cold. What more fitting punishment could there be for someone who has treated them as Halpern has treated them than for him to become one of them?
He's an Ood.
I noticed
DONNA
It's weird, being with you. I can't tell what's right and what's wrong anymore.
THE DOCTOR
It's better that way. People who know for certain tend to be like Mr Halpen.
He wants to do the honours
The Ood can sing. (And Donna can hear them now! Is that because they're so close to the brain?)
Would have made a good BBC 1 ident.
Back at the TARDIS
There they are - the Doctor/Donna. There is room in the song for you.
I’ve sorta got a song of my own, thanks.
I think your song must end soon
Do you still want to go home?
And know this, Doctor-Donna, you will never be forgotten. Our children will sing of the Doctor-Donna, and our children's children, and the wind and the ice and the snow will carry your names forever.
*wibble*. It’s even more wibble-worthy when you look at it with hindsight.
Screencaps from Sonic Biro, The Medusa Cascade and Demon-cry.net.
This is also a fabulous example of just what Doctor Who can be. I’m not saying that it needs to be addressing serious issues all the time (although it does do that every episode in one way or another), because at its heart (hearts?) it's entertainment. But there are times when it can strike a real chord and make you think and that’s what it does here. What we’ve got is basically a story about slavery – and not only, that, but slavery in the 42nd Century.
So much for William Wilberforce, then.
Pompeii was Donna’s first trip through time and (probably) her first trip with the Doctor (I’m not counting the one in TRB here). Planet of the Ood is her first visit to an alien planet.
The Doctor has set the TARDIS to “random” (I’d argue that it’s pretty random most of the time!) and has no idea where they’re going to end up.
Donna is like a kid at Christmas - totally hyped up and excited – and again, the Doctor is lapping it up. Like in Pompeii, you can tell that he’s getting a real kick out of introducing someone else to all this … stuff, but it’s not just that.
He’s the same - I know what it's like -- everything you're feeling right now. The fear, the joy, the wonder -- I get that! - and what could be better than having someone to share that with?
Even though she does manage to miss his big speech
He looks like he’s lost a quid and found fourpence
Comfy?
Now that's what I call a spaceship. You've got a box -- he's got a Ferrari. Come on, let's see where it's going.
Anyone would think she’s maligned his manhood.
She’s definitely maligned something ;-)
Not happy bunnies at the Ood Processing Plant where cases of "Red Eye" are on the increase.
The Doctor can hear singing
Sadly, it’s not a happy song
In the course of 45 minutes – well, less, actually – Donna goes from her initial revulsion at the Ood’s appearance, to feeling sorry for them, empathizing with them, abhorring what’s been done to them and championing them.
One last hurrah – so to speak
How gorgeous is Donna’s hair in this?
Whatever’s going on, it’s trouble. (Is it ever anything else when the Doctor’s around?!)
The Doctor very quickly realizes that perhaps he’d neglected the Ood during their last encounter. To be fair though, he did have his hands full battling the devil, so…
Civilisation. As becomes clear later, that might be a bit of a misnomer.
Sorry we’re late. Makes me laugh how he keeps that smile plastered to his face while Donna rambles on
The running gag
They’re playing our song - Ooh, is that an alarm?
Listening to the sales pitch. That stuff with the different voices is so degrading. Which of course, it’s meant to be…
DONNA
But look at us -- we're everywhere. Is that good or bad, though? I mean, are we like explorers or more like a virus?
THE DOCTOR
Sometimes I wonder.
The Ood don’t get a say in what they do or where they go
Do I look single? Oh, Donna, make your mind up!
Let’s keep to the point, shall we?
Spexy (And no, I don’t have to keep to the point all the time, in case you were wondering!)
Care to ditch the guide book?
Off the beaten track
They’re not servants. They’re slaves!
His comment here - I never asked is – as Donna says – very unlike him It’s also one which comes back a couple of times in the episode. All that’s needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing…
But now he owes them one
THE DOCTOR
Where did you learn to whistle?
DONNA
West Ham, every Saturday.
What's she doing going to West Ham if she comes from Chiswick?
Ood Export
DONNA
A great, big empire, built on slavery.
THE DOCTOR
It's not so different from your time.
Oi! I haven’t got slaves.
Who do you think made your clothes? Plus ça change…
Is that why you travel round with a human at your side? It's not so you can show them the wonders of the universe, it's so you can take cheap shots.
Ouch. But he likes it :-)
They don’t understand the concept of freedom
What is the circle and why must it be broken?
But before they can find out –
That’s us, come on!
Where’s she gone?
Shoved into a container full of Ood, that’s where
That cap amuses me *g* (There don't seem to be any decent caps of the chase bit, so you'll have to take that as read!)
And surely I can't be expected to pass up the opportunity to make a comment about getting David Tennant flat on his back... (you can make up your own - you get the general idea!)
If you don't do what she says, you're really in trouble. Not from me -- from her.
Definitely more George and Mildred than Terry and June!
THE DOCTOR
There we go, safe and sound.
DONNA
Never mind about me, what about them?
Again, Donna’s first concern is someone other than herself.
Taking advantage of the distraction afforded by rabid Ood
DONNA
If the people back on Earth knew what was going on here...
SOLANA
Don't be stupid. Of course they know.
DONNA
They know how you treat the Ood?
SOLANA
They don't ask. Same thing.
Setting up the “foot and mouth” solution
I didn’t need the map. I should have listened!
The sentient hair makes an appearance *g* (He’s manic, so his hair goes suitably crazy!)
He can still hear the singing
I love this scene for two reasons. Firstly because it's simple and it's powerful and the Doctor's and Donna's griefstricken and horrifed reactions are like a punch to the gut; and secondly because speaking as a musician, the way the music is used here to tell us of the misery of the Ood - while also using it to let us hear their innate nobilitly despite their situation is simply masterful. I think this was the point at which I sat up and began to really take notice of Murray Gold's work. I've posted about his music for DW before and said that while I'm a long-time fan of movie music, I've never really taken much notice of TV music because it's rarely composed on the same scale. Well, Gold is the exception to that rule. His scores for Who are like film scores each week (and okay, so there are repeated cues, but I'd imagine that's a necessity due to time constraints rather than a lack of creativity) and I'd urge anyone who hasn't listened to his work on the show to do so immediately. Most of the album tracks can be found on You Tube. I might have to do a "top tracks" post at some point, before Season 5 starts :-)
The Song of Captivity heard in this scene is combined on the soundtrack album with the Song of Freedom we hear at the end of the episode. It's on You Tube here. I still tear up when I listen to it.
They're natural-born Ood. Unprocessed. Before they're adapted to slavery. Unspoiled. That's their song.
I can't hear it.
Do you want to? I feel he almost doesn't want her to hear because he knows how she'll react.
Open your mind. That's it. Hear it, Donna... Hear the music.
Take it away. I can't bear it. I know how she feels. It's unbearably beautiful and gut wrenching at the same time.
But you can still hear it.
All the time.
And then they realise why these Ood are unlike the others.
I spent all that time looking for you, Doctor, because I thought it would be so wonderful out here. I want to go home.
He doesn't have to say anything. You can see what he thinks of that idea all over his face.
Captured again.
But the Ood like being slaves. They didn't put up a fight.
You idiot! They're born with their brain in their hands, don't you see? That makes them peaceful! They've got to be because a creature like that would have to trust anyone it meets.
Nice one. He's so proud of her when she says that :-)
But what's the missing part of the circle?
Eh. That's just pretty.
The Ood are fighting back
Left to the mercies of red-eyed, rampaging Ood and quality handcuffs(which is where the episode would have ended in the old days!)
Doctor, Donna - friend. The circle must be broken.
They get by with a little help from their friends
Oh, yes!
The penny drops - it's a shared brain
Oops.
Eaten by a brain. An ignominious end.
They've been preparing you for a very long time
The transformation scene is gross, grotesque - and completely right. The Ood might not be killers or fighters in the normal sense, but revenge is a dish best served cold. What more fitting punishment could there be for someone who has treated them as Halpern has treated them than for him to become one of them?
He's an Ood.
I noticed
DONNA
It's weird, being with you. I can't tell what's right and what's wrong anymore.
THE DOCTOR
It's better that way. People who know for certain tend to be like Mr Halpen.
He wants to do the honours
The Ood can sing. (And Donna can hear them now! Is that because they're so close to the brain?)
Would have made a good BBC 1 ident.
Back at the TARDIS
There they are - the Doctor/Donna. There is room in the song for you.
I’ve sorta got a song of my own, thanks.
I think your song must end soon
Do you still want to go home?
And know this, Doctor-Donna, you will never be forgotten. Our children will sing of the Doctor-Donna, and our children's children, and the wind and the ice and the snow will carry your names forever.
*wibble*. It’s even more wibble-worthy when you look at it with hindsight.
Screencaps from Sonic Biro, The Medusa Cascade and Demon-cry.net.
