S04E03: 'Planet of the Ood'

Published Saturday, Apr 19 2008, 19:06 BST | By Ben Rawson-Jones | 19 comments

Doctor Who can occasionally transcend the properties of a mere family television show to reach out and give viewers a poignant, beautiful epiphany and greater sense of the world they inhabit.

'Planet of the Ood' contained several such moments towards the end of the story, but none as moving as the simple, stark imagery of Donna tearfully observing the unprocessed Ood in their cage, clutching onto their secondary brains and singing their 'Song of Captivity'.

Harking back to the touching hymn in last season's 'Gridlock', the scene boldly evoked the atrocities of concentration camps during the Holocaust and the spiritual solidarity that transcended the crushing environment. It all exemplifies just how powerful and emotive Doctor Who can be when writing, direction and performance are all harmonious and complete their own Ood-like circle.

Tim McInnerny was impressive as the vain Mr Halpen and gave him enough psychological layers to ensure that he was no one-dimensional villain. In particular, his commendation to his loyal Ood servant during the 'red-eyed' Ood breakout denoted a sense of militarial honour and decency lurking beneath his rapidly-receding bonce. "Faithful to the last," he proudly proclaimed, with a surprising sense of humbleness. If only he knew what his slave was feeding him all along!

Many eyes are still focussing on Catherine Tate's performance as Donna, looking for flaws to dissect. Such a high profile star is bound to come under intense scrutiny, but she has been largely impressive and conveyed the emotional humanity of Donna particularly well in both Pompeii and the Ood's terrain. However, one couldn't help but be slightly 'bovvered' when she came out with the following cringeworthy line, delivered in overblown sketch show style: "Why do you say Miss? Do I look single?"

Overall though, 'Planet of the Ood' is an extremely impressive, contemplative examination of the abhorrent nature of humanity when there's a buck to be made. One final thought: The treatment of the Ood 'livestock' appals The Doctor, but he didn't have too many concerns when tucking into a turkey over at Jackie Tyler's house on Christmas Day, did he? Come on Doc, don't be a hypocrite and go veggie!

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james,london, on June 15th, 2008
definetley better than fires of pompeii and had a plot some very good action scenes and i am glad the ood are back they were good in series two and fantastic in series four

James York, on June 9th, 2008
i think the OOOOOD's word 4 life is 'song'. Thats why that Ood Dr. and Doner Kebab found was singing as it was dying, and why all the Ood were lonely, coz they cant sing, so theyre dying

James York, on June 9th, 2008
i have a crazy theory 4 the missin bees. i think that Davros(whos returning in da finale) is taking the bees and some how transforming them into Daleks (and yes, u can insult me 4 bein retarted). or otherwise how can he suddenly make an army of daleks?

Robert, Manchester, on May 12th, 2008
I thought this was a good story, great acting and the design of the planet was really good but the writing was terrible. I would put this as the worst writing on the show so far. It was as though he'd seen that DT can talk loud and fast in other episodes and wrote all the dialogue that way. Really let it down.

Chris Henley, Alabama, on May 10th, 2008
The Doctor really didn't do anything in the episode. He just ran around and watched it all happen, then switched off a machine that the Ood themselves might have done. It had a good message and attempts at action but the Doctor was a spectator here. I do love the continued buildup with Rose, she is coming back and the Doctor's song will end????

Matt, London, on April 25th, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed Planet of the Ood, but I wouldn't say it was better than The Fires of Pompeii. It was quite slow and although I love the Ood to bits, I think they look like men in bad masks (which they are). That bit at the end when Ood Sigma said "your song must end soon" sounded like it had just been added in at the last minute and the action and suspense wasn't nearly as good as episode two. I liked the idea of the Ood becoming friends of the Doctor and Donna, but I didn't like it when they started singing. Love & Monsters and Utopia were the only two episodes beside Daleks in Manhattan and Evolution of the Daleks that were worse. The Ood-Sphere was quite well animated and I enjoyed the scenes of the Doctor and Donna walking through the snow, but I don't agree that it was better than Pompeii.

Megan D, Birmingham, on April 24th, 2008
I thought this was a really brilliant episode. I found it really traumatic watching the oods living in such conditions, but loved the way they gained freedom. Best episode so far!

Sulamite3, Northampton, on April 21st, 2008
It was excellent, although not enough explanation about the Oods evolution!

Paul, Guiseley, on April 21st, 2008
I really liked this episode. I think Catherine Tate is really good. It's a nice change to see someone who isn't all gooey eyed for the Doctor. But the most intense bit was at the end when the Ood mention that the Doctor's song will end too. We all know that David Tennant will be leaving soon, maybe after next years specials. But does this allude to his exit at the end of this series? We know that all the companions are back for the finale. Maybe this is Russel T Davies big ending of his time in Doctor Who. He always gives you titbits to the end story throughout the season. E.g. The Master. We've already seen one example of this in the first 2 episodes with regards to Rose. It's a real shame that someone with so much writing talent is leaving the show. The BBC should do whatever it takes to keep him. This season has been so good. Big shoes to fill.....

Elizabeth, London, on April 21st, 2008
Wonderful episode, really affected me. Very like classic Doctor Who, in that the human race were shown to be one of the most evil in the universe.

Chris, Devon, on April 20th, 2008
And yet another wonderful episode - on par with Gridlock and Pompeii here - from another new writer. Touching, heartfelt, (complete with wonderful song), tragic, brilliant themes scattered throughout, with lovely bits of comedy dabbed in throughout. Another comedian making a flawless transferral to serious acting here - first Catherine Tate, then Tim McInnerny as another brilliant villain. Lovely touch with the Ood transformation as well. And did I mention the singing? Yes I did - but I have to talk for hours more about it... and the Ood - another example of non-villainous aliens... 5/5 surely.

Paulo, Newcastle, on April 20th, 2008
I was one of the people that enjoyed Fires of Pompeii. This beats it all ends up. Thought provoking, It drew me in from the off. The musical score was exceptional too. How will the song end? If it continues like this I hope it doesn't!!!

Michael, Kent, on April 20th, 2008
I really don't agree, I thought this episode was one of the worst we've ever had, on a par with Love and Monsters and Utopia. There was no tension at all, it hardly seemed to matter when the Doctor and Donna were being threatened by the Ood, and the acting was awful all around (except David Tennant, but even he slipped into annoying shouting at times). Catherine Tate is really irritating me, and it's going to be refreshing to see Martha back next week. I'm not impressed with the fourth series at all so far, and it doesn't look like it's going to get much better until Steven Moffat's two-parter (episodes 8+9, which will almost certainly blow the rest out of the water). Keith Temple's writing was really bad, I hope they don't invite him to write any more episodes. I much preferred the series 2 double episode about the Ood, where they actually seemed quite scary and threatening.

sophie birmingham, on April 20th, 2008
though it was not as funny as the last 2 this is one of the most moving episodes with the songs and donna's true understanding of what is happening with the ood (mind you that bit at the end freaked me out!)

Hil, darlington, on April 19th, 2008
Wow. What a brilliant episode. It's my favourite so far from season 4. Everything about it was amazing; acting, music (espec. the song), and Donna is growing on me more and more!! Hope to see more eps as good as this one.

Daniel Mooring, York, on April 19th, 2008
Planet of the Ood was brilliant and I can see why they decided to bring back Catherine Tate as Donna.As for David Tennant he was exeptional as always and Tim Mcinnerny was fantastic as the sinister Mr Halpen. As for the Ood i hope they return,i hope the same for the judoon.There's only one thing left to say:Bring on the Sontarons

Hong Kong Phooey, London, on April 19th, 2008
"One final thought: The treatment of the Ood 'livestock' appals The Doctor, but he didn't have too many concerns when tucking into a turkey over at Jackie Tyler's house on Christmas Day, did he? Come on Doc, don't be a hypocrite and go veggie!"

Hey, it might have been free range...

H London, on April 19th, 2008
Awesome episode, best so far I was dissapointed with the first two but this one was just something of it's own. But what does, 'Your song must end soon.' Then Rose music??!

Michael Dalton, Switzerland, on April 19th, 2008
How can you say this was better than episode 2? yeah it was good and had all that faith, choice, life issues thing and the Ood are a good monster and it had good action. But it was slow not really that gripping wheras in Pompei we had it all and you gave it a three. This deserved a three and Pompei a five. The reveal that DT could go and the martha jones/sontaron two parter coming up is what got me really excited.

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