New Earth, the first episode of the second series of the Doctor Who revival, seems to have fans split - those who feel it an extremely disappointing start to the Season, or those who enjoy the humour and imagination of this entertaining episode. I fall in the second caterorgy.
The episode opens quickly, showing David Tennant's 10th Doctor and Billie Piper's Rose arrive on New Earth, where they soon find themselves in a Hospital run by Cat Nuns (Chris Chibnall could never think of that in his dreams). However, soon they discover old enemy Cassandra has returned, and that the seemingly innocent Cat Nuns have a despicable plot to keep all diseases in place.
David Tennant is the perfect Doctor, but Billie Piper steals the show hear when she is (spoiler) possessed by Cassandra, leading to a stream of self-deprecating hilarity, and Zoe Wanamaker is once again brilliant as Cassandra (when she's not possessing other characters). Meanwhile, the sinister patients of the Cat Nuns and the horrific human farm will get the kids hiding behind the sofas, before the comical body-swaps reappear and they're back on the couch laughing.
The effects are largely good. New Earth itself is a bit wonky now-a-days, but in its day it prorbaly looked incredible. The make-up is amazing, espically the Cat Nuns, who fully look like Cats / human hybrids, much more than the new Cats film. The make-up on the diseased 'flesh' patients is also sickening. The music is also soild, through that's usually the case.
It's still flawed, through - the plot is nothing new, and the ultimate story resolution with all the medicines is... not that logical. Also, despite it being mostly soild, the effects have a few terrible moments - take the cat falling down the shaft, for example - and the Face of Boe's appearance is a bit bizzare. But New Earth is still a funny, occasionally quite scary episode that is worth a watch if you want a light-hearted, fun time.
Best Momment: Anything with Rose/Cassandra. Best Lines: "Goodbye trampoline, hello blonde!" "I'm a chav!" Overall Rating: 7.6/10
Rewatch: possibly.
The episode opens quickly, showing David Tennant's 10th Doctor and Billie Piper's Rose arrive on New Earth, where they soon find themselves in a Hospital run by Cat Nuns (Chris Chibnall could never think of that in his dreams). However, soon they discover old enemy Cassandra has returned, and that the seemingly innocent Cat Nuns have a despicable plot to keep all diseases in place.
David Tennant is the perfect Doctor, but Billie Piper steals the show hear when she is (spoiler) possessed by Cassandra, leading to a stream of self-deprecating hilarity, and Zoe Wanamaker is once again brilliant as Cassandra (when she's not possessing other characters). Meanwhile, the sinister patients of the Cat Nuns and the horrific human farm will get the kids hiding behind the sofas, before the comical body-swaps reappear and they're back on the couch laughing.
The effects are largely good. New Earth itself is a bit wonky now-a-days, but in its day it prorbaly looked incredible. The make-up is amazing, espically the Cat Nuns, who fully look like Cats / human hybrids, much more than the new Cats film. The make-up on the diseased 'flesh' patients is also sickening. The music is also soild, through that's usually the case.
It's still flawed, through - the plot is nothing new, and the ultimate story resolution with all the medicines is... not that logical. Also, despite it being mostly soild, the effects have a few terrible moments - take the cat falling down the shaft, for example - and the Face of Boe's appearance is a bit bizzare. But New Earth is still a funny, occasionally quite scary episode that is worth a watch if you want a light-hearted, fun time.
Best Momment: Anything with Rose/Cassandra. Best Lines: "Goodbye trampoline, hello blonde!" "I'm a chav!" Overall Rating: 7.6/10
Rewatch: possibly.