Twenty three years after The End of the World, the Doctor and Rose are drawn to New Earth by a psychic note, to a hospital run by cat nuns (honestly) where their miracle cures they promote. There's a couple of cast reunions, pussy lumpy lesions and coloured infusions, intimate exchanges without ablutions (several in fact) and an uprising or revolution that's the start of evolution, it's all a bit bemusing - just like chasing a ball of wool. All in a not too dissimilar story to Never Let Me Go (by Kazuo Ishiguro), though a lot more extreme, but with a happy ending, for those who survive at least.
32 Reviews
A bold and fun start to the new series
Sleepin_Dragon13 August 2015
I have a huge fondness for New Earth, it's the first full outing for Tennant and Piper, and it's a very good one.
The Doctor and Rose travel further then they've ever gone, The Doctor explains what happened to Earth after its destruction in Episode 'The End of the world,' hence 'New Earth,' and it's not long before we're met with a friend and a foe from that episode, The Lady Cassandra and the face of Boe are both patients at a hospital run by cats. They have the ability to cure impossible diseases, but how? Intensive care is a particularly unpalatable place, so the Doctor is dealing with two enemies, Cassandra and the Nurses.
The cast is outstanding, each of the cats, Dona Croll, Adjoa Andoh and Anna Hope are so good, those costumes must have been tough to wear. Billie Piper is excellent, Cassandra's transformation into Rose is hilariously done, from class to brass. Sean Gallagher is fun as Chip, but my favourite performance comes Cassandra's character through the different actors, her death scene is stunningly done, so moving.
It's not an epic story by any means, and the ending is a little light, but overall it's just real good fun and utterly original.
The Doctor and Rose travel further then they've ever gone, The Doctor explains what happened to Earth after its destruction in Episode 'The End of the world,' hence 'New Earth,' and it's not long before we're met with a friend and a foe from that episode, The Lady Cassandra and the face of Boe are both patients at a hospital run by cats. They have the ability to cure impossible diseases, but how? Intensive care is a particularly unpalatable place, so the Doctor is dealing with two enemies, Cassandra and the Nurses.
The cast is outstanding, each of the cats, Dona Croll, Adjoa Andoh and Anna Hope are so good, those costumes must have been tough to wear. Billie Piper is excellent, Cassandra's transformation into Rose is hilariously done, from class to brass. Sean Gallagher is fun as Chip, but my favourite performance comes Cassandra's character through the different actors, her death scene is stunningly done, so moving.
It's not an epic story by any means, and the ending is a little light, but overall it's just real good fun and utterly original.
A Season Debut That's Fun
Theo Robertson29 April 2008
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
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
A plot which is as random as the show
BrownieLover18 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
If you loved the last series with Christopher Eccleston, be prepared for more weirdness.
In this episode, they travelled to New Earth (hence the title name) to find a hospital run by "Cat Nuns", who have the cure to absolutely everything. Then the Doctor goes to investigate. Then we find out that Cassandra is back trying to find out the same thing.
We then flash to the nuns to find a room full of trapped humans, with every disease known to man.
If you like this much random action as i do, you'll like the whole of this series.
In this episode, they travelled to New Earth (hence the title name) to find a hospital run by "Cat Nuns", who have the cure to absolutely everything. Then the Doctor goes to investigate. Then we find out that Cassandra is back trying to find out the same thing.
We then flash to the nuns to find a room full of trapped humans, with every disease known to man.
If you like this much random action as i do, you'll like the whole of this series.
Wunderbar Wonderbra
southdavid14 July 2020
A smart sequel to Rose and the Doctor's first ever off world story that, whilst fun, has the odd technical issue and storyline flaw that stops the episode reaching the top tier.
The Doctor (David Tennant) and Rose (Billie Piper) travel to New Earth, a colony set up on a planet whose orbit and atmosphere are aligned with the previous Earth, prior to the destruction we saw in the episode "The End of the World". They are called to a hospital on the outskirts of New New York, where amongst some miraculous and ahead of schedule medical breakthroughs, the Face of Boe appears to be approaching the end. But another former acquaintance, the villainess Cassandra (Zoe Wanamaker) is hiding in the basement, and on seeing Rose again, formulates a plan.
There is some bad CGI work to kick off this episode, that shows things haven't really improved that much yet, despite what must have been a higher effects budget than before. Cassandra herself, in her first form, and the transition effects, later in the episode, as people succumb to the disease are also pretty bad. The practical effects though are much better, with the cat nurses looking particularly good, along with the infecteds general boils and sores. It was interesting to read about the weather issues that affected the episode in the trivia section, as that helps explain a few times when sets are reused even when that doesn't make a lot of sense for the episode - this is particularly evident in the Zombie-esque finale.
But what the episode does do well is humour. The conceit of Cassandra jumping into other people gives, particularly Billie Piper, a chance to show some more of her comedic ability - she does this better than either Tennant or Sean Gallagher, who both just do generic posh women. There are also a couple of gags based on not quite swear words that were good too.
But ultimately those moments can't fully make up for the questionable science that makes up all of the episodes conclusion.
The Doctor (David Tennant) and Rose (Billie Piper) travel to New Earth, a colony set up on a planet whose orbit and atmosphere are aligned with the previous Earth, prior to the destruction we saw in the episode "The End of the World". They are called to a hospital on the outskirts of New New York, where amongst some miraculous and ahead of schedule medical breakthroughs, the Face of Boe appears to be approaching the end. But another former acquaintance, the villainess Cassandra (Zoe Wanamaker) is hiding in the basement, and on seeing Rose again, formulates a plan.
There is some bad CGI work to kick off this episode, that shows things haven't really improved that much yet, despite what must have been a higher effects budget than before. Cassandra herself, in her first form, and the transition effects, later in the episode, as people succumb to the disease are also pretty bad. The practical effects though are much better, with the cat nurses looking particularly good, along with the infecteds general boils and sores. It was interesting to read about the weather issues that affected the episode in the trivia section, as that helps explain a few times when sets are reused even when that doesn't make a lot of sense for the episode - this is particularly evident in the Zombie-esque finale.
But what the episode does do well is humour. The conceit of Cassandra jumping into other people gives, particularly Billie Piper, a chance to show some more of her comedic ability - she does this better than either Tennant or Sean Gallagher, who both just do generic posh women. There are also a couple of gags based on not quite swear words that were good too.
But ultimately those moments can't fully make up for the questionable science that makes up all of the episodes conclusion.
Hello Tennant!
wetmars5 August 2020
A good episode but not a good series opener
pjgs20015 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
New Earth is a good episode. It's hilarious, fun, and fast paced; but Cassandra's servant and the weird looking "zombies" are really off putting to new viewers and to returning fans alike. Tennant and Piper were hilarious, and it was great to see Cassandra and more importantly, the Face of Boe. I really liked the use of the Westminster Bridge theme from series 1- it works very well as an action theme, and the music that played when the Doctor met the Face of Boe again was great.
I think the worst thing about New Earth was the zombies. They looked really bad, and they weren't very good villains. Also, when the Doctor sprayed the zombies with the cure he mixed, shouldn't he have been affected in some way by it as well?
New Earth is a good episode of Doctor Who. It's fun, really funny, and the acting is good, but the villains and the zombies can be very off putting to new fans. Cassandra wasn't as good as she was in the End of the World, and her "pet" was really, really weird. For those reasons, New Earth wasn't a very good series opener. Still, it's not a bad episode. 7/10
I think the worst thing about New Earth was the zombies. They looked really bad, and they weren't very good villains. Also, when the Doctor sprayed the zombies with the cure he mixed, shouldn't he have been affected in some way by it as well?
New Earth is a good episode of Doctor Who. It's fun, really funny, and the acting is good, but the villains and the zombies can be very off putting to new fans. Cassandra wasn't as good as she was in the End of the World, and her "pet" was really, really weird. For those reasons, New Earth wasn't a very good series opener. Still, it's not a bad episode. 7/10
Tennet's first trip
movieman_kev23 April 2006
Rose (Billie Piper) takes her first trip on the TARDIS with the regenerated new version of the Doctor (David Tennant) to New Earth in the year 5 Billion and 23. Turns out after the Earth we knew blew up (as depicted in Episode 2 of the first series, or of the 28th series is you're a die hard Who fanatic), surviving Humans found a planet with the same elements of the original Earth and colonized it. But I digress, Rose and the Doctor are there to check out a urgent message the doctor got for his help sent by a rather old acquaintance who is being cared for by a mysterious group of cat nuns. But it seems that their old nemesis Cassandra, after surviving her 'death' in an earlier episode, is there as well. I'm not giving any more away to this episode then what I already have,but suffice it to say that this episode is a pretty solid one and if the rest of this series can be as good, it'll be a tad better than the first/28th (let's just hope the Slitheen never NEVER return)
My Grade: A
My Grade: A
An Alright Episode For Tennants First Outing
chillbillch31 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Well, it wasn't terrible, I still rank the eleventh hour as a better first episode, but it's not nearly as aggressively mid as deep breath. I've never been a big fan of Cassandra as a villain she seems a bit flat (pun intended) to be honest I was kind of bored I mean it wasn't terrible I just haven't enjoyed it to much any of the times I've watched it. There's some pretty bad CGI in the middle half and that took me out quite a bit. And to be honest I've never really liked Rose that much I've always been more of an Amy fan or Donna. I don't know, it wasn't a particularly good episode for Tennants at first, but it's serviceable, tooth and claw is good though.
A solid start to Tennant's 10th Doctor
MrFilmAndTelevisionShow17 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Pretending the Christmas Special doesn't exist for minute this Season 2 Episode 1 is a very good first episode for David Tennant, I can understand that some people didn't like Casandra's return so soon after her frist debut, but I didn't mind one but as the story was original and she definitely developed as a character. I think the 7.4 it has achieved on this site is far too low for such a good episode.
Okay
wolfordcheyenne30 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Out of all of the villains to bring back why Madam Cassandra? Having Cassandra inhabit the body's of the Doctor and Rose was cheesy and cringe inducing. Also The elements of the episode didn't mash. You have the campiness of Cassandra taking taking over the Doctor, mixed with the horror of people whose purpose in life is to be germ incubators. It's a jarring clash. I would've completely removed Cassandra from the script. This is not the best episode to lead with, at the time we were still trying to figure out the personality of the new Doctor. It took screen time away from his character. At least I wasn't bored.
Cassandra returns in fun Dr. Who episode
ScreenReviews14 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
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.
New Earth. New Beginning
cybermansec22 April 2007
Warning: Spoilers
The writer of this quite exciting episode is Russell T Davies. He has written such lows as World War Three and The Christmas Invasion. But don't forget that he wrote the stunning Parting Of The Ways and Rose! So lets clap him. The basic storyline of this episode is a double of the Earth, New Earth. In a hospital, lady Cassandra is body swapping with Rose and the doctor whilst diseased patients go on the rampage.
Some of the prosthetics coming out of this story are startling (cat nuns!) and the Face of Boe returns. That's good because I like the Face of Boe. He is joined by the Duke of Manhattan (with patrifold regression) and of course a new, new doctor. Scottish born actor David McDonald (or Tennant) is the newbie. But is he anything compared to Christopher Eccleston? Not really. No he isn't. This doctor is well too wacky with no warning. Creepy at times, shouting at times, and smiling at times. The bad thing is that we have another 13 weeks of this doctor. Billie Piper and Zoe Wanamaker are alright I guess. Zoe is only in the end but she acts fantastic. Billie hasn't changed a bit. Except from she isn't crying, she's too busy not being herself.
This is the section that brings this episode to a 6 out of a possible 10. Russell, after writing the horrid Christmas Invasion, is trying to do his best to keep this story in control. Well, if he had it would have been better. This story is in all types of places. Split up to the extreme. The first 15 minutes are safe, with a hospital and a body change. It goes horribly wrong after. It's a confusing plot and I spent a good couple of minutes trying to find out what was going on. But it was worth it for that beautifully written ending. It was exciting in one aspect, death and gore. Finally the special effects I disliked. I don't want to go into it though. But I just thought they really brought the story down.
NEW EARTH was OK.
Some of the prosthetics coming out of this story are startling (cat nuns!) and the Face of Boe returns. That's good because I like the Face of Boe. He is joined by the Duke of Manhattan (with patrifold regression) and of course a new, new doctor. Scottish born actor David McDonald (or Tennant) is the newbie. But is he anything compared to Christopher Eccleston? Not really. No he isn't. This doctor is well too wacky with no warning. Creepy at times, shouting at times, and smiling at times. The bad thing is that we have another 13 weeks of this doctor. Billie Piper and Zoe Wanamaker are alright I guess. Zoe is only in the end but she acts fantastic. Billie hasn't changed a bit. Except from she isn't crying, she's too busy not being herself.
This is the section that brings this episode to a 6 out of a possible 10. Russell, after writing the horrid Christmas Invasion, is trying to do his best to keep this story in control. Well, if he had it would have been better. This story is in all types of places. Split up to the extreme. The first 15 minutes are safe, with a hospital and a body change. It goes horribly wrong after. It's a confusing plot and I spent a good couple of minutes trying to find out what was going on. But it was worth it for that beautifully written ending. It was exciting in one aspect, death and gore. Finally the special effects I disliked. I don't want to go into it though. But I just thought they really brought the story down.
NEW EARTH was OK.
A weak beginning
markianhlynka24 May 2006
This was a weak beginning to season 2. The plot seems formulaic and more than a bit hollow. Evil returns, unintentional evil, and evil for the greater good. Not to mention the silliness of The Doctor's final solution. Some interesting insights from the Face of Boe, but even these seemed tacked-on for the sake of interest. Any of episodes 2, 3, or 4 would have made a better beginning to the season. This episode just seems a non-starter.
On the subject of technical inconsistency, why does Cassandra need her fancy illegal machinery only once, after which she can achieve the same results with an effort of will! Sorry, but this episode is uninspiring.
On the subject of technical inconsistency, why does Cassandra need her fancy illegal machinery only once, after which she can achieve the same results with an effort of will! Sorry, but this episode is uninspiring.
Dr. travels farther into the future than ever (so he says)
allen-12419 April 2006
When Eccleston left the role I was afraid that the chemistry between Rose and the Dr. would evaporate. David Tenant has actually picked up where Eccleston left off and has brought Ecclestons' wide eyed wonder to the role.
I am very pleased that they are bringing back aliens from the second episode of the first season. The writers are doing an excellent job.
I don't want to spoil too much, but it is also established that Rose is attracted to the "New New" doctor thanks to the mind invasion of Cassandra. This one is worth a watch and I believe that David Tenant will be a strong actor in the role of the Doctor.
The Brits always get it right!
I am very pleased that they are bringing back aliens from the second episode of the first season. The writers are doing an excellent job.
I don't want to spoil too much, but it is also established that Rose is attracted to the "New New" doctor thanks to the mind invasion of Cassandra. This one is worth a watch and I believe that David Tenant will be a strong actor in the role of the Doctor.
The Brits always get it right!
New Doctor, new adventures...
MaxBorg8920 October 2010
Having revamped the series to great effect with David Tennant's introduction in The Christmas Invasion, Russell T. Davies moves on to the start of the regular season with a basic Doctor Who story: fun, danger, and weird creatures. Sadly, it's a rather disappointing season premiere compared to series opener Rose.
In its own way, though, New Earth is a bit of a landmark in the revived show, in that it's the first episode that actually takes place on another planet (sorry, spaceships and satellites don't count), namely the eponymous new home for mankind, chosen as their home-world after the original Earth was destroyed (in Season One's The End of the World). Here, the Doctor and Rose have an encounter with a race of feline nuns that are able to cure a surprising amount of diseases. Inevitably, something's not quite right about it, and the situation worsens when it turns out that the villainous Cassandra (Zoe Wanamaker), presumed dead after the events of The End of the World, is actually scheming against the time-traveling duo.
Despite a steady pace and the welcome return of both Cassandra and the Face of Boe, the episode is let down by a distinct lack of the novelty that made the first season such a delight to watch. Part of the problem is that Davies usually writes with a bigger picture in mind, but in this case, notwithstanding an intriguing mystery regarding the Doctor's relationship with the Face of Boe, it just feels like a filler story thrown in to start the season.
On the plus side, as mentioned earlier, Wanamaker's bad "girl" (well, an abnormally stretched human face or whatever) is a hoot, and the Doctor/companion relationship is given plenty of room to evolve in light of The Christmas Invasion, even if the contrivance to make them kiss is rather bland, not to mention used too early in the series, as opposed to the truly touching romantic moment between Eccleston and Piper during the climax of The Parting of the Ways. Fortunately, there's 12 more episodes to prove the first season wasn't a fluke...
In its own way, though, New Earth is a bit of a landmark in the revived show, in that it's the first episode that actually takes place on another planet (sorry, spaceships and satellites don't count), namely the eponymous new home for mankind, chosen as their home-world after the original Earth was destroyed (in Season One's The End of the World). Here, the Doctor and Rose have an encounter with a race of feline nuns that are able to cure a surprising amount of diseases. Inevitably, something's not quite right about it, and the situation worsens when it turns out that the villainous Cassandra (Zoe Wanamaker), presumed dead after the events of The End of the World, is actually scheming against the time-traveling duo.
Despite a steady pace and the welcome return of both Cassandra and the Face of Boe, the episode is let down by a distinct lack of the novelty that made the first season such a delight to watch. Part of the problem is that Davies usually writes with a bigger picture in mind, but in this case, notwithstanding an intriguing mystery regarding the Doctor's relationship with the Face of Boe, it just feels like a filler story thrown in to start the season.
On the plus side, as mentioned earlier, Wanamaker's bad "girl" (well, an abnormally stretched human face or whatever) is a hoot, and the Doctor/companion relationship is given plenty of room to evolve in light of The Christmas Invasion, even if the contrivance to make them kiss is rather bland, not to mention used too early in the series, as opposed to the truly touching romantic moment between Eccleston and Piper during the climax of The Parting of the Ways. Fortunately, there's 12 more episodes to prove the first season wasn't a fluke...
Doctor, Rose and Cats
little_woman8613 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This episode has been one of my favourites of the whole entire series. I was not fond of Eccleston as Doctor Who, but David Tennant has brought a whole new meaning to the name. The chemistry between Rose and the Doctor is fantastic. My favourite quote has to be when Cassandra was in the doctor's body " Oh baby,i'm beating out a samba" This episode is full with secrets, new, new things, and of course nuns with cat faces which was a tad freaky, but worked so well. It also proved that Billie and David can really act. The voice changes when Cassandra went from Rose's body to the Doctor's body was right on the mark and I could believe what was going on.
In this episode nothing is of the ordinary, Cat nurses are finding cures for everything, the face of Boe appears with a great secret, and Rose kisses the Doctor (although it is actually Cassandra) We also find out that Rose is attracted to the new doctor.
In this episode nothing is of the ordinary, Cat nurses are finding cures for everything, the face of Boe appears with a great secret, and Rose kisses the Doctor (although it is actually Cassandra) We also find out that Rose is attracted to the new doctor.
Unoriginal, average and clichéd but saved by the excellent cast.
zacpetch2 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is something of an oddity. David Tennant's 10th Doctor is a fan-favourite but this, his debut proper, is very average. Having been introduced formally at Christmas this is the premier of his first series and the episode is very... safe. One of the two stories is weak and the other has been done to death before on other shows.
The story sees the new new Doctor and Rose go to the future where they are reunited with old friend The Face Of Boe and old enemy Cassandra. They decide to go into a hospital where they discover that Cat-People have been creating human clones with the sole purpose of infecting them with every disease in existence so as to find a cure for everything. That's only the setting for the story though, as the main plot of the episode is about Cassandra possessing Rose's body in order to once again know what to is to live in a proper human body and thus extend her life even further. This is an interesting (but rather unoriginal) concept and it works well, shame about everything else going on in the episode that distracts from it.
The fact that this makes the villain sympathetic makes this an achievement for RTD who fills his script with clever moments of witty brilliance and Tennant & Piper both realise this to perfection with their very physical and energetic performances. The two of them have great chemistry on screen and show why the pairing of Ten and Rose is so popular. The episode also allows for both actors to show their acting ability with the scenes where each is possessed by Cassandra being particular highlights.
It's a shame about the clichéd plot: The diseased hordes just scream "ZOMBIE B-MOVIE" and the mind-swapping is nothing new. Both concerts have been done to death in the past. However, the episode finds a new perspective to come at both from by making all the enemies in this story sympathetic with the diseased people and Cassandra all seeking to be accepted and loved. When it comes down to it, isn't that all anybody ever wants? There are emotional moments throughout the ending scenes but never more than when Casandra visits herself at a party before she dies. Very sad. An achievement in writing.
To conclude: Unoriginal and mostly uninteresting. Saved by the witty dialogue and brilliant acting all round. 6/10
The story sees the new new Doctor and Rose go to the future where they are reunited with old friend The Face Of Boe and old enemy Cassandra. They decide to go into a hospital where they discover that Cat-People have been creating human clones with the sole purpose of infecting them with every disease in existence so as to find a cure for everything. That's only the setting for the story though, as the main plot of the episode is about Cassandra possessing Rose's body in order to once again know what to is to live in a proper human body and thus extend her life even further. This is an interesting (but rather unoriginal) concept and it works well, shame about everything else going on in the episode that distracts from it.
The fact that this makes the villain sympathetic makes this an achievement for RTD who fills his script with clever moments of witty brilliance and Tennant & Piper both realise this to perfection with their very physical and energetic performances. The two of them have great chemistry on screen and show why the pairing of Ten and Rose is so popular. The episode also allows for both actors to show their acting ability with the scenes where each is possessed by Cassandra being particular highlights.
It's a shame about the clichéd plot: The diseased hordes just scream "ZOMBIE B-MOVIE" and the mind-swapping is nothing new. Both concerts have been done to death in the past. However, the episode finds a new perspective to come at both from by making all the enemies in this story sympathetic with the diseased people and Cassandra all seeking to be accepted and loved. When it comes down to it, isn't that all anybody ever wants? There are emotional moments throughout the ending scenes but never more than when Casandra visits herself at a party before she dies. Very sad. An achievement in writing.
To conclude: Unoriginal and mostly uninteresting. Saved by the witty dialogue and brilliant acting all round. 6/10
Fun in the Future
A_Kind_Of_CineMagic29 November 2018
This episode takes the Doctor and Rose to a planet colonized and named New Earth by humans after they left the original Earth. It is a follow up to the 9th Doctor story The End of the World and features a couple of characters from that earlier story The Face of Boe and Lady Cassandra.
Lady Cassandra has devised a way to place her personality into a host body having been stuck in a bodyless form for many years. She ends up using Rose as a host and later switches between Rose and the Doctor.
Meanwhile the nurses at the hospital they are in (who are cat people) are hiding something. This turns out to be a sinister method of finding cures for all disease.
That underlying story of the grotesque methods of the hospital is the serious edge to the story and provides some decent drama and a nice heroic conclusion. The rest of the story is mostly comedic. This comedy works really well thanks to the comic acting skills of David Tennant, the amusing voice performance of Zoe Wanamaker as Lady Cassandra and a good job by Billie Piper too.
This is not a hugely popular episode but I think that the humour really works and find it fun. It is certainly not the best of episodes and is a bit cheesy at times but it is enjoyable and has no major problems. I also think the underlying plot is a decent one. The Face of Boe is a nice addition and adds a little suggestion towards a great story arc when he states they will meet again.
My rating: 8/10.
Lady Cassandra has devised a way to place her personality into a host body having been stuck in a bodyless form for many years. She ends up using Rose as a host and later switches between Rose and the Doctor.
Meanwhile the nurses at the hospital they are in (who are cat people) are hiding something. This turns out to be a sinister method of finding cures for all disease.
That underlying story of the grotesque methods of the hospital is the serious edge to the story and provides some decent drama and a nice heroic conclusion. The rest of the story is mostly comedic. This comedy works really well thanks to the comic acting skills of David Tennant, the amusing voice performance of Zoe Wanamaker as Lady Cassandra and a good job by Billie Piper too.
This is not a hugely popular episode but I think that the humour really works and find it fun. It is certainly not the best of episodes and is a bit cheesy at times but it is enjoyable and has no major problems. I also think the underlying plot is a decent one. The Face of Boe is a nice addition and adds a little suggestion towards a great story arc when he states they will meet again.
My rating: 8/10.
Saved by the ending
warlordartos9 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This episode started off pretty good and stayed fairly decent until it was revealed that the Lady Casandra was back. Now she was good in the second episode of last season, but 1 episode was enough. I didn't enjoy seeing her again and the plot that came with it was not brilliant either. However happily without giving anything more away the last scenes in this episode were definitely the best part of Tennant's era, at least thus far
A fun if not amazingly-written episode.
Otter_22 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Rewatching Doctor Who, I remember being excited for this episode, I loved it as a child! Watching it now, I still love it, but parts were... odd?
I remember the whole Cassandra-mind-switch thing being very funny, but watching it now, it was just... weird. And honestly, unnecessary. Not to mention, how was she able to just flit from person to person when at first she needed an illegal machine? There was a lot of little tiny plot holes like this and unfortunately they do add up. When Cassandra went into the mind of a diseased woman, she was her usual self, but as soon as she left, she seemed traumatised. Why the delayed reaction? The diseased people also basically didn't move off-screen. Several times the Doctor and Rose (and Cassandra) should have been caught by them but weren't. Lastly, I also thought it was a good thing the solution The Doctor concocted worked... considering the reason for the lab-grown humans existence was to experiment on them to find cures. If the cures were already there, why were they infected?
Aside from all that, I do actually like the episode. Chip's character is heartbreaking, and Cassandra's death is moving. Even though I mentioned the cure as a negative, it is actually a really lovely scene. The fact that they all just crave touch is so sad too. The cat people are one of the best alien races in Doctor Who, in my opinion, and they have a successful introduction here. It's also the Face of Boe's second appearance (...well...) and he continues to be a treat.
The Otter gives this 8 out of 10 cat nun nurses!
I remember the whole Cassandra-mind-switch thing being very funny, but watching it now, it was just... weird. And honestly, unnecessary. Not to mention, how was she able to just flit from person to person when at first she needed an illegal machine? There was a lot of little tiny plot holes like this and unfortunately they do add up. When Cassandra went into the mind of a diseased woman, she was her usual self, but as soon as she left, she seemed traumatised. Why the delayed reaction? The diseased people also basically didn't move off-screen. Several times the Doctor and Rose (and Cassandra) should have been caught by them but weren't. Lastly, I also thought it was a good thing the solution The Doctor concocted worked... considering the reason for the lab-grown humans existence was to experiment on them to find cures. If the cures were already there, why were they infected?
Aside from all that, I do actually like the episode. Chip's character is heartbreaking, and Cassandra's death is moving. Even though I mentioned the cure as a negative, it is actually a really lovely scene. The fact that they all just crave touch is so sad too. The cat people are one of the best alien races in Doctor Who, in my opinion, and they have a successful introduction here. It's also the Face of Boe's second appearance (...well...) and he continues to be a treat.
The Otter gives this 8 out of 10 cat nun nurses!
Doesn't make sense
jacobjango130 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is one of the most nonsensical episodes of Davies'.
It starts off showing us the 10th Doctor in full form. Then immediately Rose acts completely mesmerized by him, with longing romantic looks that are just cringe inducing. The fact that Rose loved The Doctor was much more subtle in previous episodes, and this scene is just way too much too fast and even a bit creepy.
Then we are introduced to the fact that the psychic paper can apparently pick up the thoughts of someone a mile away. Maybe if they were a telepathic race or if it were transmitted somehow, but turns out a regular human can do this too. This never appears in the series again when a human is in distress.
We go through a few amusing/humorous scenes in the elevator and the hospital which was enjoyable. Rose meets Cassandra once again, and she is the best part of the episode. We get some character building with her that was a bit interesting. However, soon the mind transfer element is introduced. Now, the Doctor does say the use of that technology is illegal, but really if this is an in universe ability anyone could use given the access to this technology, then why would it not be used by other villains? Seems extremely powerful and she can even possess the Doctor, which means it works on any intelligent species. Also, when she possesses the Doctor, shouldn't her mind not be able to handle it? The only thing she notices is that the Doctor has 2 hearts and has "parts".
So ignoring the mind control ability which is never brought up in the series again, we now have a nonsense plot about the hospital curing patients using these humans grown to carry 1000 diseases. But somehow these can cure diseases of people that are not human and the other evolved humans that are in the hospital such as the Duke and his lawyers just appear to be regular humans. So why are they even considered a different species? And why didn't Cassandra try to take over their bodies? Was Cassandra's plan just to wait till Rose happened to show up since there are no humans left? She says that are mutants, but they look perfectly normal to me. She even considers taking the Doctor's body for good even though he's not human.
Then the diseased humans are let out and it becomes a typical boring zombie chase. This is definitely the weakest part of the episode, though the mind switching with Cassandra was amusing, it got old quickly.
Then, I guess they didn't even need the diseased humans in the first place because the elevators disinfectant was enough to cure all of the humans instantly, with absolute zero side effects and they even have clear skin. So why not just use this on the hospital patients too if it is so powerful?
The episode ends with a nice scene where Cassandra goes back to see her past self and this is the best scene in the episode. We actually see that she wasn't such a bad person to begin with and was seriously concerned and appreciative that this random stranger was hurt, though it does raise some questions about time paradoxes, and if she remembered that her future assistant looked exactly the same as this person that died in her arms, etc.
Overall, the only interesting part had to do with Cassandra's character. Even the Face of Boe is wasted just to set up future episode. It would have been more fun if they just got rid of the whole zombie thing and just had more scenes of Cassandra or proper Rose and Doctor interactions and exploring more of New Earth than the hospital.
It starts off showing us the 10th Doctor in full form. Then immediately Rose acts completely mesmerized by him, with longing romantic looks that are just cringe inducing. The fact that Rose loved The Doctor was much more subtle in previous episodes, and this scene is just way too much too fast and even a bit creepy.
Then we are introduced to the fact that the psychic paper can apparently pick up the thoughts of someone a mile away. Maybe if they were a telepathic race or if it were transmitted somehow, but turns out a regular human can do this too. This never appears in the series again when a human is in distress.
We go through a few amusing/humorous scenes in the elevator and the hospital which was enjoyable. Rose meets Cassandra once again, and she is the best part of the episode. We get some character building with her that was a bit interesting. However, soon the mind transfer element is introduced. Now, the Doctor does say the use of that technology is illegal, but really if this is an in universe ability anyone could use given the access to this technology, then why would it not be used by other villains? Seems extremely powerful and she can even possess the Doctor, which means it works on any intelligent species. Also, when she possesses the Doctor, shouldn't her mind not be able to handle it? The only thing she notices is that the Doctor has 2 hearts and has "parts".
So ignoring the mind control ability which is never brought up in the series again, we now have a nonsense plot about the hospital curing patients using these humans grown to carry 1000 diseases. But somehow these can cure diseases of people that are not human and the other evolved humans that are in the hospital such as the Duke and his lawyers just appear to be regular humans. So why are they even considered a different species? And why didn't Cassandra try to take over their bodies? Was Cassandra's plan just to wait till Rose happened to show up since there are no humans left? She says that are mutants, but they look perfectly normal to me. She even considers taking the Doctor's body for good even though he's not human.
Then the diseased humans are let out and it becomes a typical boring zombie chase. This is definitely the weakest part of the episode, though the mind switching with Cassandra was amusing, it got old quickly.
Then, I guess they didn't even need the diseased humans in the first place because the elevators disinfectant was enough to cure all of the humans instantly, with absolute zero side effects and they even have clear skin. So why not just use this on the hospital patients too if it is so powerful?
The episode ends with a nice scene where Cassandra goes back to see her past self and this is the best scene in the episode. We actually see that she wasn't such a bad person to begin with and was seriously concerned and appreciative that this random stranger was hurt, though it does raise some questions about time paradoxes, and if she remembered that her future assistant looked exactly the same as this person that died in her arms, etc.
Overall, the only interesting part had to do with Cassandra's character. Even the Face of Boe is wasted just to set up future episode. It would have been more fun if they just got rid of the whole zombie thing and just had more scenes of Cassandra or proper Rose and Doctor interactions and exploring more of New Earth than the hospital.
First RTD Stumble.
W011y4m529 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"New Earth" is one of the strangest, most needlessly camp episodes of any TV show I think I've ever watched in my entire life. It's one of the only Russell T Davies era episodes (written by the man himself) which genuinely feels like a blatantly missed opportunity - prioritising comedic gags & fast paced CGI spectacles over exploring the central moral dilemma at the heart of its narrative.
Cassandra is totally unnecessary because the basic premise of scientific endeavours encroaching upon human rights - resulting in unregulated testing on unwilling participants feels like a satisfactory, relevant & fascinating sci-fi concept in & of itself - easily capable of sustaining an entire episode without the addition of any pre-established characters.
Due to her inclusion & the whole tonally inconsistent body swap storyline - which clashes with the bleaker, more morbid goings on inside the futuristic hospital, the most interesting part gets sidelined so it feels like two interesting story ideas which don't quite gel thematically being mashed together for the sake of it - detracting from one another instead of developing both ideas as two separate episodes.
Additionally, this being David Tennant's first proper solo outing as the Doctor (he spent most of the Christmas Invasion asleep), he isn't really provided with the opportunity to establish the new relationship between his own incarnation of the Doctor & Billie Piper's Rose Tyler as she unfortunately wastes most of the run-time playing an entirely different role.
It's not bad. It just doesn't seem apt & in hindsight, Toby Whithouse's "A Town Called Mercy" is basically what Russell's "New Earth" should've been - an exploration in to the consequences of unrestrained & inhumane scientific experimentation. I still absolutely love both writers though, regardless - but neither scribes are without their misfires & this just so happens to sadly be one of Russell's.
Cassandra is totally unnecessary because the basic premise of scientific endeavours encroaching upon human rights - resulting in unregulated testing on unwilling participants feels like a satisfactory, relevant & fascinating sci-fi concept in & of itself - easily capable of sustaining an entire episode without the addition of any pre-established characters.
Due to her inclusion & the whole tonally inconsistent body swap storyline - which clashes with the bleaker, more morbid goings on inside the futuristic hospital, the most interesting part gets sidelined so it feels like two interesting story ideas which don't quite gel thematically being mashed together for the sake of it - detracting from one another instead of developing both ideas as two separate episodes.
Additionally, this being David Tennant's first proper solo outing as the Doctor (he spent most of the Christmas Invasion asleep), he isn't really provided with the opportunity to establish the new relationship between his own incarnation of the Doctor & Billie Piper's Rose Tyler as she unfortunately wastes most of the run-time playing an entirely different role.
It's not bad. It just doesn't seem apt & in hindsight, Toby Whithouse's "A Town Called Mercy" is basically what Russell's "New Earth" should've been - an exploration in to the consequences of unrestrained & inhumane scientific experimentation. I still absolutely love both writers though, regardless - but neither scribes are without their misfires & this just so happens to sadly be one of Russell's.
One of the Worst Season Openers
rohanumpleby-3405722 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This for me is one of the worst Season openers. Seeing the Face of Boe was nice though however, and the interaction with him and the Doctor is always a delight. They have so much on-screen chemistry with each other that it works.
Plot:
Doctor and Rose go to " New Earth " hence the title New Earth. They go and Visit a Hospital where they meet Cat-Nuns and people with diseases that can't be cured. You've also got the return of Cassandra (Zoe Wanamaker). Listening the the Cat-Nuns whispers down in the basement of the hospital, Knowing they have Secrets. Doctor and Rose get to go inside Lady Cassandras body unfortunately. Doctor non stops says " Let her out " and Rose says " Let him go " it's an ongoing cycle that went on for far to long In my eyes, and was just irritating. They all go into a lock down when the Cats see the Incurable people walking around freely, yes "Incurable". The Doctor however has a plan, that's to put all the diseases they have and to poor water and all those diseases on to there body. It some how cures them and the day is saved.
It's just a little confusing, and contrived with a bunch of plot-holes with a predictable story. I didn't like the fact the Doctor was stuck inside Cassandras body, so early on. Middle of the siries would of worked fine but not the start of his time as the doctor. The Cats get taken away by the Police and are arrested.
Cassandra:
However despite the fact Cassandra isn't a very good villain in any sense of the word her story here is. I like the Flashbacks we get to see as her being a young adult going out drinking. Chip, her servant if you insist. He's dying and we get to see Cassandra helping him, when she did care for other people's feelings before she turned into the Sun and a bouncy trampoline. It was just interesting and seemed to work.
Some Good moments and some poor moments Let's this episode down,
Verdict:5/10,Fresh Score:50%
Plot:
Doctor and Rose go to " New Earth " hence the title New Earth. They go and Visit a Hospital where they meet Cat-Nuns and people with diseases that can't be cured. You've also got the return of Cassandra (Zoe Wanamaker). Listening the the Cat-Nuns whispers down in the basement of the hospital, Knowing they have Secrets. Doctor and Rose get to go inside Lady Cassandras body unfortunately. Doctor non stops says " Let her out " and Rose says " Let him go " it's an ongoing cycle that went on for far to long In my eyes, and was just irritating. They all go into a lock down when the Cats see the Incurable people walking around freely, yes "Incurable". The Doctor however has a plan, that's to put all the diseases they have and to poor water and all those diseases on to there body. It some how cures them and the day is saved.
It's just a little confusing, and contrived with a bunch of plot-holes with a predictable story. I didn't like the fact the Doctor was stuck inside Cassandras body, so early on. Middle of the siries would of worked fine but not the start of his time as the doctor. The Cats get taken away by the Police and are arrested.
Cassandra:
However despite the fact Cassandra isn't a very good villain in any sense of the word her story here is. I like the Flashbacks we get to see as her being a young adult going out drinking. Chip, her servant if you insist. He's dying and we get to see Cassandra helping him, when she did care for other people's feelings before she turned into the Sun and a bouncy trampoline. It was just interesting and seemed to work.
Some Good moments and some poor moments Let's this episode down,
Verdict:5/10,Fresh Score:50%
Great Episode - shouldn't have skipped it first time!
ErReads23 October 2019
This is an episode I skipped when I first began watching Doctor Who. Several people online suggested skipping this one, along with several others this season. So I did. However, when I got to the end of season 4, I just didn't want to let go of Tennant yet so I came back to watch this. I loved it. The city design was great. I laughed aloud at the antics involving Cassandra, The Doctor and Rose. I thought the case to be solved (wrong to be righted) was creepy but good. Overall, a solid "9" for me.
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