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DOCTOR WHO SERIES TWO
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APRIL-JULY 2006
(aka DOCTOR WHO SEASON 28)
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DOCTOR WHO - Episode 1 - NEW EARTH - David Tennant and Billie Piper
01 - NEW EARTH - Photos below
 
"...same size of the earth,
same air, same orbit, lovely.
The call goes out, the humans in..."

PLOTLINE

Dateline: 5,000,000,023. Galaxy M87. New Earth.

The Doctor and Rose are 'texted' by an old friend to come to New New York's local Hospital facility. The facility is coordinated by the Sisters of Plentitude who have demonstrated that they can cure any disease or virus know to the galaxy.

Beneath the facility, the time travellers encounter an old nemesis, The Lady Cassandra O'Brien (previously seen in THE END OF THE WORLD).

EPISODE ONE REVIEW

At the start of this new DOCTOR WHO series the Editor of eyeofhorus.org.uk informed its contributors to be bear in mind that the site is truly "independent", and not affiliated by cronyism to either BBC WALES, licence holders or in the pocket of other websites.

"Be honest, don't be influenced by other critics and be independent", he instructed.

So.

With the resounding success of THE CHRISTMAS INVASION, the series has been buoyant for many months, riding on the crest of expectation for four months. Has the wait been worth it?

NEW EARTH is Russell T Davies' tenth (of fifteen) script for his re-launch of DOCTOR WHO , and his fifth in a straight row; does he really trust other writers with his re-creation? I think not, and it quite understandable. It's his 'baby, but there is a fine line between 'mothering' and 'smothering' potential creativity and vigour.

Is NEW EARTH another example of Davies' astride his pony trotting around the family sci-fi drama circus ring, receiving polite applause from an audience even though the tricks performed have been well rehearsed and without the threat of the writer falling off (due to safety wire)?

Yes.

And, no.

But judge for yourself.

Of course, the story starts on 'original' Earth to remind viewers that this drama is about family bonded and then broken apart so many times. The balance shifting where once the Doctor was the wanderer through time and space but now it is jilted and abandoned Mickey Smith. Is it time to redeem his adoration and escalate him to saviour or hero?

Arriving, through a request received on his psychic paper (still a wonderful story concept), the Doctor introduces Rose Tyler to a replacement Earth (almost a twin of its previously expired namesake. See THE END OF THE WORLD). The BBC WALES vision of this new world is, whilst a little flat as if it was (new) Constable's version of HAY WAIN, nonetheless substantial. The first televised vision of another planet on a budget exceedingly stretched would always be scrutinised by ardent fans; fortunately, it succeeded. Just. DOCTOR WHO will never match the 'alien' vision created by the STAR TREK later series.

Was it me or was the incidental music over-mixed (i.e. loud) at times during the opening scenes as the Doctor generously re-caps a previous adventure?

Reclining on the apple grass, this tenth Doctor seems as reinvigorated (seemingly, with a toothy grim surgically applied to his face) and raring to put right what once was wrong (or is that QUANTUM LEAP?), and to continue to demonstrate to Rose that there is more to her life (or any life) than sleep, and work, and chips.

Even in this opening scene, and I make no apologies to his fans, David Tennant has started to grate. Is he trying to hard to act, to make an impression after Eccleston's tour de force ? Russell T Davies has said that he hasn't changed how he actually scripts the tenth Doctor compared to the ninth, but sometimes an aside glance can sum up a line of script or a major monologue. However, my kids love Tennant's wide-eyed verve and have accepted him without question. For me, I should accept Tenant in the way that fans accepted Troughton after the Hartnell. Let him settle in.

Seemingly, the villain of the piece is Cassandra (again voiced by Zoë Wanamaker), languishing in a cellar beneath the Sister of Plenitude's Hospital and, like a can of Campbell's' Tomato Soup, reconstituted after her apparent 'death' on Platform 1.Sphyphoning off drugs to maintain her existence (and like 1920s film star, Norma Desmond, reminiscing her past life as a hostess or aging debutante through cine film), she aims to exploit the hospital 'charity' for her own financial gain, but she needs help. Enter Rose Tyler.

Cassandra (talking of Rose Tyler): This is destiny. At last, I can be revenged on this little.

(Quick cut: next scene)

Rose Tyler: ...bit rich.

Body swapping (with the aid of Cassandra's psychograft machine) is an age-old dramatic device. It takes deft acting to carry it through successfully. Silencing, once again, critics (and even this website) with her skill, Billie Piper embraces the characterisation of Cassandra once 'inhabited'. The voice is subtly manipulated, the face twitches with arrogance, and the body slinks guile. Superb.

Separated from Rose, the Doctor uncovers the true extent of the Sister's healing power - the hospital can cure an y disease of the galaxy. Marconi's Disease, Pallidrone Pancrosis, Petrifold Regression - all fatal but curable. Impossible? Not so, but how?

After a marvellously comic moment that echoes the lustful embrace Hattie Jacques and Kenny Williams share in CARRY ON.DOCTOR [1968].

The Doctor (after the kiss - falsetto): Yup, still got it.

.The Doctor and Rose-Cassandra uncover a hidden vast chamber of hermetically sealed compartments (tomb like) within which exist infected humanoids. An uncompromising laboratory with human "lab rats" that are "born sick with every infection of the galaxy" - a human petri dish (or "flesh" as the Sisters name them) genetically designed and grown to develop viral strains and to create suitable anti-virals.

With the "flesh" released by Rose-Cassandra, the threat to New Earth is incalculable and sets up a chain of DOCTOR WHO action-adventure scenarios on a scale previously not realised. Once again, The MILL has provided a series of visual effects that witnesses the transmission of infection; free-fall of our heroes through a lift shaft; and a reprise of the wonderfully inventive Lift Disinfectant scene (a simple solution to the crisis that echoes the resolution at the end of series 1's ROSE re: anti-plastic).

The Doctor (after curing the infected): A brand new form of life. Life will out.

Tennant's over ebullience with this key scene (in effect Tennant's equivalent of Eccleston's "Just this once, everyone lives!" from THE DOCTOR DANCES ) was superficially amateur. Director, James Hawes, should have realised that Tennant was trying too hard.

Dying of old age, the Face of Boe reappears (from THE END OF THE WORLD) for no reason than to set up a third and final meeting with the Doctor later in series 2 to reveal his/its "final secret" (that the Time Lord Planet exists, perhaps).

Novice Hame (of The Face of Boe): It's said that he'll talk to a wanderer, to the man without a home - The lonely god.

Viewers will have to wait (this series' "Bad Wolf" linking storyline? Or will it be New Earth being a twin of the original Earth? Or genetically altered humanoids?).

The Cassandra storyline was wrapped up with greater satisfaction. Now borrowing her aides (Chip) body, which, as a 'half-life' creation, is dying, the flawed & dismissive Cassandra is transported back in time. A time when she was fleshed-out (literally!), and wherein redeems any misgivings the viewer had as she cradles the terminal Chip-Cassandra. Beneath that taut, powdered skin, she was compassionate, caring and non-judgmental - human.

In NEW EARTH we see demonstrated a breadth of vision and visual capacity not seen before and reassures DOCTOR WHO viewers that series 2 will be epic on scale, yet defined by morality and purpose that we embrace.

In parts, this episode tried too hard to 'out score' series 1 and at times it did. Any fault that the production demonstrated must be the responsibility of both the Director and Editor, and not the writer.

 

EXTRA
 

DOCTOR WHO FOLKLORE First seen in THE END OF THE WORLD, The Face of Boe communicates through telepathy.

DOCTOR WHO FOLKLORE The story is set in the year 5,000,000,023 in the galaxy of M87.

DOCTOR WHO FOLKLORE The motto of the Sisters of Plenitude is "Hope, Harmony and Health". The hospital is treating a variety of illness such as Petrifold Regression (which turns the victim to stone), Marconi's Disease and Palindrome Pancrosis.

DOCTOR WHO FOLKLORE Cassandra uses a psychograft machine to transfer her mind into the body of Rose Tyler.

DOCTOR WHO FOLKLORE On Earth, the TARDIS dematerialises during late spring or summer as the trees are in full leaf. This is at least five or more months preceding THE CHRISTMAS INVASION .

CONTINUITY The descending lift shot was first used in SERIES 1 episode, ROSE.

CONTINUITY Unfortunately, with the series using a single camera, a number of the "front point of view" and "back point of view" do not match.

CONTINUITY The Doctor buttons-up the first two buttons on his jacket.

CONTINUITY The "Bad Wolf" graffiti, from THE PARTING OF THE WAYS, is seen in the opening 'departure' scenes. However, it is considerably faded.

CONTINUITY The credits: There is a change from Eccleston's DOCTOR WHO to Tennant's THE DOCTOR.

NEW EARTH - Who is monitoring the Doctor and Rose Tyler?
ENLARGE IMAGE
NEW EARTH - New New York's main hospital
ENLARGE IMAGE
NEW EARTH - The Doctor is disinfected in the lift
ENLARGE IMAGE
NEW EARTH - The Doctor chats to Rose Tyler
ENLARGE IMAGE
NEW EARTH - The Doctor tackles Cassandra's spirit
ENLARGE IMAGE
NEW EARTH - The Doctor is attacked by
ENLARGE IMAGE
NEW EARTH - The Doctor meets the Face of Boe for the second time - and a third time?
ENLARGE IMAGE
NEW EARTH - The experimental clone
ENLARGE IMAGE
NEW EARTH - The Doctor and Rose Tyler enjoy the party?
ENLARGE IMAGE
NEW EARTH - CASSANDRA O'BRIEN.DELTA 17 in the flesh
ENLARGE IMAGE



Review - Matthew Walter
EOH RATING



DOCTOR WHO - SERIES 2 - EPISODE 1 - NEW EARTH
CAST
THE DOCTOR
David Tennant
ROSE TYLER
Billie Piper
CASSANDRA O'BRIEN.DELTA 17
Zoë Wanamaker
DUKE OF MANHATTAN
Michael Fitzgerald
FRAU CLOVIS
Lucy Robinson
MATRON CASP
Dona Croll
SISTER JATT
 
Adjoa Andoh
NOVICE HARNE
 
Anna Hope
CHIP
 
Sean Gallagher
MICKEY
 
Noel Clarke
JACKIE TYLER
  Camille Coundri
FACE OF BOE
  Struan Rodger
PATIENT
  Simon Ludders
   
PRODUCTION CREW
 
1st ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Jan Older
2nd ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Steffan Morris
3rd ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Lynsey Muir
LOCATION MANAGERS
Lowri Thomas
Gareth Skelding
UNIT MANAGER
Justin Gyphion
PROD.
CO-ORDINATOR
Jess van Niekerk
PRODUCTION / SCRIPT SECRETARY
Claire Roberts
PRODUCTION RUNNERS
Debbie Meldrum
A/PROD. ACCOUNTANTS
Debi Griffiths
Kath Blackman
Bonnie Clissold
CONTINUITY
Llinos Wyn Jones
SCRIPT EDITOR
Simon Winstone
CAMERA OPERATOR
Julian Barber
FOCUS PULLERS
Marc Isaac
GRIP
 
BOOM OPERATOR
  Jeff Welch
Rhydian Yeoman
GAFFER
  Mark Hutchings
BEST BOY
  Peter Chester
STUNT
CO-ORDINATOR
  Peter Brayham
STUNT PERFORMERS
  Dean Foster
Kim McCarrity
Maurice Lee
SUPERVISING ART DIRECTOR
  Stephen Nicholas
ART DEPT PRODUCTION MANAGER
  Jonathgan Marquand Allison
STAND-BY ART DIRECTOR
  Nick Burnell
ASST SUPERVISING ART DIRECTOR
  James North
DESIGN ASSISTANTS
  Matthew Savage
Ben Austin
STANDBY PROPS
  Phil Shellard
STANDBY CARPENTER
  Silas Williams
STANDY RIGGER
   
SET DECORATOR
  Julian Luxton
PROPERTY MASTER
  Adrian Anscombe
PRODUCTION BUYER
  Catherine Samuel
PROPS STOREMAN
  Stuart Wooddisse
SPECIALIST PROP MAKER
  Mark Cordory
PROP MAKER
  Penny Howarth
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER
  Matthew Hywel-Davies
GRAPHICS
  BBC Wales Graphics
COSTUME ASSISTANT
  Lindsay Bonaccorsi
Barbara Harrington
MAKE-UP ARTISTS
  Anwen Davies
Steve Smith
Moira Thomson
CASTING ASSOCIATE
  Andy Brierley
ASSISTANT EDITOR
  Ceres Doyle
POST PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
  Chris Blatchford
Samantha Hall
POST PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR
  Marie Brown
ON LINE EDITOR
  Matthew Clarke
COLOURIST
  Mick Vincent
3D VFX ARTISTS
  Chris Petts
Paul Burton
Jean-Claude Deguara
Nicolas Herhandez
Andy Howell
Matthew McKinney
Neil Roche
Chris Tucker
Mark Wallman
Nicj Webber
2D VFX ARTISTS
  Sara Bennett
David Bowman
Melissa Butler-Adams
Joseph Courtis
Bronwyn Edwards
Michael Harrison
Simon C Holden
Russell Horth
DIGITAL MATT PAINTER
  Alex Fort
VISUAL EFFECTS CO-ORDINATOR
  Kim Phelan
DUBBING MIXER
  Tim Ricketts
SOUND EDITORS
  Paul McFadden
Doug Sinclair
SOUND FX EDITOR
  Paul Jefferies
     
With thanks to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales
   
ORIGINAL THEME MUSIC
  Ron Grainer
CASTING DIRECTOR
  Andy Pryor CDG
PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT
  Endaf Emry Williams
SOUND RECORDIST
  Simon Fraser
COSTUME DESIGNER
  Louise Page
MAKE-UP DESIGNER
  Sheelagh Wells
MUSIC
  Murray Gold
VISUAL EFFECTS
  THE MILL
VISUAL FX PRODUCER
  Will Cohen
VISUAL FX SUPERVISOR
  Dave Houghton
SPECIAL EFFECTS
  ANY EFFECTS
PROSTHETICS
  Neill Gorton and Millennium Effects
EDITOR
  Llana del Giudice
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
  Edward Thomas
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
  Ernie Vincze BSC
PRODUCTION MANAGER
  Tracie Simpson
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
  Helen Vallis
   
PRODUCER
  Phil Collinson
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
  Mal Young
Julie Gardner
Russell T Davies
DIRECTOR
  James Hawes
  Produced by
BBC WALES
WRITER
  Russell T Davies
     
INFORMATION
BROADCAST DATE
15 April 2006
 
REPEATED DATE
  16 April 2006 and 21 April 2006
     
FIRST RUN UK RATINGS (millions)
8.62 million (38.6% TV Share)
 
DVD RELEASE
1 May 2006

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