Utopia (16 Jun. 2007)

Soon after bumping into old friend Jack Harkness, Martha and The Doctor head off to Malcassairo, a distant planet where an old professor will do anything he can to keep his people alive...

Director:

Graeme Harper

Writer:

Russell T. Davies

Stars:

David Tennant, Freema Agyeman, John Barrowman

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
David Tennant	...	The Doctor
Freema Agyeman	...	Martha Jones
John Barrowman	...	Captain Jack Harkness
Derek Jacobi	...	Professor Yana
Chipo Chung	...	Chantho
René Zagger	...	Padra (as Rene Zagger)
Neil Reidman	...	Lieutenant Atillo
Paul Marc Davis	...	Chieftain (as Paul Marc Davies)
Robert Forknall	...	Guard
John Bell	...	Creet
Deborah MacLaren	...	Kistane
Abigail Canton	...	Wiry Woman
John Simm	...	The Master

Storyline

The Doctor and Martha arrive in present day Cardiff to refuel the TARDIS and are inexplicably thrust to a distant planet 100 trillion years into the future. When they arrive they realize they have an unexpected passenger in Captain Jack Harkness who has been patiently waiting for the Doctor's return since the mid-19th century. On the planet they eventually meet Professor Yana who is running the 1000-year old Utopia project, the aim of which is to relocate the human-like creatures to a new planet, away from the outsiders who they fear they will become if they don't leave. When Prof. Yana has need of someone to make repairs in a room in which no one can survive, the Doctor has the perfect candidate. The Professor is not what he seems to be however and Martha notices he has a fob watch much like one the Doctor recently made use of.

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Plot Keywords:

end of the universe | arch villain | dying repeatedly | severed hand | resurrection | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 June 2007 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Wales, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min 45 min (50 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chipo Chung said that playing Chantho was "the most fun she'd had in front of the camera".

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Goofs

Jack takes of his coat and shirt before going into the radiation room to connect the switches. He is dressed in a white T shirt... and comments that he looks great! Then he comes out, still wearing his white T Shirt while helping the Doctor start takeoff... until the scene when Martha runs to find Jack and the Doctor... now he is wearing his black shirt again UNDER his braces.

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Quotes

Doctor: Prof. Yana, this new science is well beyond me. But all the same, a boost reversal circuit in any time frame must be a circuit which reverses the boost. So, I wonder, what would happen if I... did... this?
[uses sonic screwdriver on a cable, then pulls it apart. Sirens sound and lights flash in lab]
Chantho: Chan, it's working, tho!
Prof. Yana: But how did you do that?
Doctor: While we've been chatting away, I forgot to tell you: I'm brilliant.

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Connections

Featured in Doctor Who Confidential: The Saxon Mystery (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Doctor Who Theme"
(uncredited)
Written by Ron Grainer
Arranged by Murray Gold
Performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales

User Reviews

MAGNIFICENT, PULSE-POUNDING, and another day with the Doctor at the end of the universe!!!

UTOPIA is the first in the SEASON 3 finale trilogy. Jack Barrowman returns as CAPTAIN JACK HARKNESS after being resurrected from death and settling in with his revamped version of TORCHWOOD. Freema Agyman is marvelous as Martha Jones, which in this episode proves she is a definite companion-in-time-traveling with the Doctor.

The story is very intriguing which involves the Doctor, Martha, and Captain Jack strolling along at the End of the Universe (in the year 100 TRILLION AD). They encounter many goings-on with a local cannibalistic horde known as THE FUTURE-KIND and stumbling into an underground refugee base where the residents of humans are awaiting to be transported to the fantastical-mythological place known as UTOPIA. Although, the local scientist, THE PROFESSOR, has some trouble with the rocket and its engines. But the light of hope shines with the arrival of the Doctor and his friends. Though, by the end of this episode, things get from hopeful...to apocalyptic as this episode marks the return of an 'old enemy' from the Doctor's past. And this sets the stage for the next two episodes.

GRAEME HARPER is definitely becoming a grand master of delivering excellent DOCTOR WHO episodes. He has so much energy put into this episode along with RUSSELL T. DAVIES' script that makes me jump for joy for more. The sets, the effects, and the revelation at the end as definitely marked UTOPIA as an instant classic. David TENNANT as the TENTH DOCTOR truly shines here. But the real star of this episode goes to SIR DEREK JACOBI, best known in GLADIATOR and UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION, as he plays "THE PROFESSOR" in top-form, charismatic, and class. His scenes are the best directed stuff I've ever watched. His chemistry with Tennant is absolutely amazing. Especially near the end.

As for the next episodes...keep'em coming.