The Slitheen have infiltrated Parliament and have the Doctor and his friends trapped as the Doctor works to prevent them from starting World War Three.The Slitheen have infiltrated Parliament and have the Doctor and his friends trapped as the Doctor works to prevent them from starting World War Three.The Slitheen have infiltrated Parliament and have the Doctor and his friends trapped as the Doctor works to prevent them from starting World War Three.
- Strickland
- (as Steve Spiers)
- Indra Ganesh
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Russell T. Davies(showrunner)
- Sydney Newman(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaContinuing the "Bad Wolf" theme, the American newsreader announcing the UN's decision is named "Mal Loup", French for "Bad Wolf". The name does not appear in the televised clip, but is present on the version on Mickey's website.
- GoofsObvious disparity between CGI Slitheen creatures and the live action during chase scenes - the monsters moving at far faster speed than their quarry, yet repeatedly repositioned a considerable distance behind again in subsequent shots with the full-size (and different-colour) monster costumes.
- Quotes
The Doctor: [talking about firing a missile at 10 Downing street] That's the thing. If I don't dare, everyone dies.
Rose Tyler: Do it.
The Doctor: You don't even know what it is. You'd just let me?
Rose Tyler: Yeah.
Jackie Tyler: Please, Doctor, please, she's my daughter, she's just a kid.
The Doctor: Do you think I don't know that? 'Cause this is my life, Jackie - it's not fun, it's not smart, it's just standing up and making a decision because nobody else will.
Rose Tyler: Then what are you waiting for?
The Doctor: I could save the world but lose you.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Doctor Who Confidential: I Get a Side-Kick Out of You (2005)
- SoundtracksDoctor Who Theme
(uncredited)
Written by Ron Grainer
Arranged by Murray Gold
Performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales
With The Doctor (Christopher Eccleston), Rose (Billie Piper), Harriet Jones (Penelope Wilton) and Jackie (Camille Coduri) all seemingly at the mercy of the Slitheen, it takes the Doctors quick thinking and alien physiology to save them. From there, the Slitheen's dastardly plan becomes apparent and the future of the planet, lands in the hands of Mickey (Noel Clarke).
So what did I like about this one? Well, everyone is settling into their performances and group dynamics a little more now. Mickey is less scared of the Doctor and more resentful - Jackie is addressing the one aspect that isn't usually discussed, that being the Doctors companion is enormously dangerous and it's the truth is that there are families that simply never see their relatives again. There is, mercifully, less farting in this episode and a lot more menace from the Slitheen. The CGI versions of the characters, used in the running scenes are actually a pretty decent effect - unfortunately - they don't bare much relationship with the practical costumed version - both the scale and colour is wrong.
I didn't care much for the resolution though. Though dropping a missile on themselves (and blowing up 10 Downing Street) was spectacular, it wasn't exactly the sort of clever out I was expecting - particularly after the reveal about the effect of Vinegar on the Calcium based Slitheen, which I assumed was going to feature somehow. Launching a missile seems like something the Doctor ought to utilise more often if that's a tactic available to him. That said, it does keep up the idea that the Doctor has killed each alien he's come across so far, which if I remember rightly does play into the next episode. Time has given the "weapons of mass destruction" lines as little less context than they had 15 years ago, still with the Iraq war fresh in our minds. It did make me smile though when people complain that 2020 Doctor Who has gone political.
The first episode I'd describe as "alright" rather than "good" - but I know there's better to come.
- southdavid
- Mar 5, 2020
Details
- Runtime45 minutes
- Color