When 42 was first broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2008 here in the US, the TV Guide magazine promoted it as "Doctor Who does 24", or words to that effect. That is, like the Fox thriller series, this was going to be an episode that was to take place in real time. As a premise, it's an interesting one for Doctor Who and, indeed, if there was an episode of the series that it would for, this would be it. Unfortunately, it's a premise that is far more original than the script itself.
While I can't speak for Chris Chibnall's other writing (be it Torchwood or anything else), his Doctor Who scripts haven't been hugely impressive. Perhaps ironically for someone who can be seen in a 1986 clip featured on the DVD box-set of The Trial Of A Time Lord complaining about the quality of that season of the old series, Chibnall contributes one of the weakest scripts for season three. This is an episode full of cardboard characters and, once you look past the real time plot, this is an episode whose plot is ripped off entirely from Planet Of Evil, the fourth Doctor era story made three decades earlier. There is not even an attempt to hide it: there are "infected" characters with glowing eyes and a last minute saving of the spaceship in question just before it crashes into planet/star.
Still there's always some good to be found. Graham Harper's direction is first rate and full of energy, but even that can't hide the fact that, despite the ticking clock, character's manage to stand around doing very little in a couple of places in the episode. There are also some highly impressive special effects shots, including the shot that closes the opening teaser sequence (which was the longest special effects sequence done for the new series up to that time). These though are cosmetic touches to an otherwise lacking episode.
And what about the real time plot? Well, there's no particular reason for the whole "42 minutes" business. It doesn't create any further tension than what has already been established by the fact the ship is hurtling towards the star helplessly. It's a ticking clock yes, but one that doesn't add anything to the story at all. It's a gimmick in other words.
Ultimately, 42 is a weak episode built around a gimmick. Not even the direction of Graham Harper or indeed the impressive special effects can hide that fact. Thankfully though, the best of series three (and arguably the new series to date) was just waiting to be broadcast
While I can't speak for Chris Chibnall's other writing (be it Torchwood or anything else), his Doctor Who scripts haven't been hugely impressive. Perhaps ironically for someone who can be seen in a 1986 clip featured on the DVD box-set of The Trial Of A Time Lord complaining about the quality of that season of the old series, Chibnall contributes one of the weakest scripts for season three. This is an episode full of cardboard characters and, once you look past the real time plot, this is an episode whose plot is ripped off entirely from Planet Of Evil, the fourth Doctor era story made three decades earlier. There is not even an attempt to hide it: there are "infected" characters with glowing eyes and a last minute saving of the spaceship in question just before it crashes into planet/star.
Still there's always some good to be found. Graham Harper's direction is first rate and full of energy, but even that can't hide the fact that, despite the ticking clock, character's manage to stand around doing very little in a couple of places in the episode. There are also some highly impressive special effects shots, including the shot that closes the opening teaser sequence (which was the longest special effects sequence done for the new series up to that time). These though are cosmetic touches to an otherwise lacking episode.
And what about the real time plot? Well, there's no particular reason for the whole "42 minutes" business. It doesn't create any further tension than what has already been established by the fact the ship is hurtling towards the star helplessly. It's a ticking clock yes, but one that doesn't add anything to the story at all. It's a gimmick in other words.
Ultimately, 42 is a weak episode built around a gimmick. Not even the direction of Graham Harper or indeed the impressive special effects can hide that fact. Thankfully though, the best of series three (and arguably the new series to date) was just waiting to be broadcast