"Doctor Who" New Earth (2006)

Director:

James Hawes

Writer:

Russell T. Davies (written by)

TV Series:

"Doctor Who" (2005)

Original Air Date:

15 April 2006 (Season 2, Episode 1)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

As Rose Tyler embarks upon her first big TARDIS adventure with the newly-regenerated Doctor, they discover a sinister hospital run by strange cat people and run in to two old acquaintances, The Face of Boe and Cassandra.

Plot Keywords:

Old Enemy | Tardis | Medical Ethics | Head In Tank | Fantasy Episode

Cast

David Tennant	...	The Doctor
Billie Piper	...	Rose Tyler
Camille Coduri	...	Jackie Tyler
Noel Clarke	...	Mickey Smith
Zoë Wanamaker	...	Cassandra
Sean Gallagher	...	Chip / Cassandra
Doña Croll	...	Matron Casp (as Dona Croll)
Michael Fitzgerald	...	Duke of Manhattan
Lucy Robinson	...	Frau Clovis
Adjoa Andoh	...	Sister Jatt
Anna Hope	...	Novice Hame
Simon Ludders	...	Patient
Struan Rodger	...	Face of Boe (voice)

Runtime:

45 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:PG | USA:TV-PG | Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Tredegar House, Newport, Wales, UK

Trivia:

This story had the working title 'The Sunshine Camp'.

Goofs:

Plot holes: Those people created for medical experiments cannot run. In fact they can barely walk, so how come they can climb nearly as fast as Rose? What's more, when you see them climbing, they seem to have little ability to coordinate hand over hand. Even with the delay brought on by the cat-woman-thing, they should not have been able to keep up with her.

Quotes:

[about a seriously sick man]
The Doctor: How on Earth did you cure him?
The Sister: How on *New* Earth, you might say.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Doctor Who Confidential: New New Doctor (#2.1)" (2006)

A Season Debut That's Fun

I had high hopes for David Tennant when he was cast as the tenth Doctor . I certainly didn't believe he'd ever reach the dramatic heights of Eccleston's performances as the eponymous time traveller but I knew he'd probably be much better at humour because I never found Eccleston's comedy repartee going beyond gurning . Perhaps a story like Boom Town would have worked slightly better if it'd been produced during the Tennant era ?

As it stands New Earth is quite a fun season opener for a show eagerly anticipated by millions of British TV viewers . If you're eight years old then a year is a very long time indeed and no doubt millions of children were delighted to see the return of the human trampoline Cassandra . The plot does descend in to areas of high camp in places but this seems tailor made for the tenth doctor and the enthusiasm of the cast draws the audience in to the fun . The make up is excellent and while the climax is a bit of a cop out ( it was written by RTD after all ) the final segment is genuinely touching