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Doctor Who
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IMDbPro

Planet of the Dead

  • Episode aired May 10, 2013
  • TV-PG
  • 59m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
Michelle Ryan and David Tennant in Doctor Who (2005)
AdventureDramaSci-Fi

A meeting in a London bus with jewel thief Lady Christina takes a turn for the worst for the Doctor when the bus takes a detour to a desert-like planet, where the deadly Swarm awaits.A meeting in a London bus with jewel thief Lady Christina takes a turn for the worst for the Doctor when the bus takes a detour to a desert-like planet, where the deadly Swarm awaits.A meeting in a London bus with jewel thief Lady Christina takes a turn for the worst for the Doctor when the bus takes a detour to a desert-like planet, where the deadly Swarm awaits.

  • Director
    • James Strong
  • Writers
    • Russell T. Davies
    • Gareth Roberts
    • Sydney Newman
  • Stars
    • David Tennant
    • Michelle Ryan
    • Lee Evans
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    5.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • James Strong
    • Writers
      • Russell T. Davies
      • Gareth Roberts
      • Sydney Newman
    • Stars
      • David Tennant
      • Michelle Ryan
      • Lee Evans
    • 22User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos41

    Michelle Ryan, David Tennant, and Daniel Kaluuya in Doctor Who (2005)
    Doctor Who (2005)
    David Tennant in Doctor Who (2005)
    Doctor Who (2005)
    Lee Evans in Doctor Who (2005)
    Doctor Who (2005)
    Michelle Ryan and David Tennant in Doctor Who (2005)
    Doctor Who (2005)
    Michelle Ryan and David Tennant in Doctor Who (2005)
    David Tennant in Doctor Who (2005)
    Lee Evans in Doctor Who (2005)
    Michelle Ryan and David Tennant in Doctor Who (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Tennant
    David Tennant
    • The Doctor
    Michelle Ryan
    Michelle Ryan
    • Christina
    Lee Evans
    Lee Evans
    • Malcolm
    Noma Dumezweni
    Noma Dumezweni
    • Capt Magambo
    Adam James
    Adam James
    • DI McMillan
    Glenn Doherty
    • Sgt Dennison
    Victoria Alcock
    Victoria Alcock
    • Angela
    David Ames
    • Nathan
    Ellen Thomas
    Ellen Thomas
    • Carmen
    Reginald Tsiboe
    • Lou
    Daniel Kaluuya
    Daniel Kaluuya
    • Barclay
    Keith Parry
    • Bus Driver
    James Layton
    James Layton
    • Sgt Ian Jenner
    Paul Kasey
    Paul Kasey
    • Sorvin
    Ruari Mears
    Ruari Mears
    • Praygat
    Marcus Elliot
    • Security Guard
    • (uncredited)
    Barbara Fadden
    • UNIT Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Ian Hilditch
    • Security Chief
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • James Strong
    • Writers
      • Russell T. Davies(showrunner)
      • Gareth Roberts
      • Sydney Newman(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The episode's tone word-"joyous"-was influenced by Russell T. Davies' realisation that "every story since The Fires of Pompeii (2008) [had] a bittersweet quality" and his subsequent desire to avoid the recurring theme.
    • Goofs
      The number of the bus in England is W974 GHM, while the number of the damaged/CGI bus is RUA 461W.
    • Quotes

      [on phone]

      Capt. Magambo: Doctor, this is Captain Erisa Magambo.

      [salutes]

      Capt. Magambo: Might I say, sir, it's an honour.

      The Doctor: Did you just salute?

      Capt. Magambo: [pauses] No.

    • Crazy credits
      Credit at the end of "Planet of the Dead": LATER THIS YEAR THE WATERS OF MARS (The Waters of Mars (2009))
    • Alternate versions
      An edited for US commercial 1-hour time-slot version excises many scenes, including almost all of Carmen's lines, notably her ESP and foreshadowing of the Doctor's fate in upcoming episodes, including "He will knock four times."
    • Connections
      Featured in Doctor Who Confidential: Desert Storm (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Doctor Who Theme
      (uncredited)

      Written by Ron Grainer

      Arranged by Murray Gold

      Performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Flight of the London Bus
    My 2009 Easter Special Review:

    Planet of the Dead

    This was broadcast as an Easter Special in a year when there were only 4 new stories for fans to see on TV. I suspect that is why it seems to have received an overly negative response and dismissed as disappointing. Fans were eager for more Doctor Who that year and expected that if they only got 4 stories they should all be awesome classics. That is an understandable reaction and indeed this is not an awesome classic so I guess it failed to meet expectations but I do think it was a decent episode.

    Michelle Ryan as guest character Lady Christina is very good, the other passenger characters are decent with future Hollywood star Daniel Kaluuya (star of Get Out and Oscar winner for Judas and the Black Messiah) doing as great a job as you would expect in a small early role. Interestingly, when people talk about big stars who have appeared in Doctor Who people always seem to forget Daniel for some reason.

    David Tennant acts brilliantly as always but has less meaty material than in other recent stories. Comedian Lee Evans has a fun appearance and the Tritovores are a fun alien race although with not much to do.

    The visuals of the episode are great and there is some nice action and dialogue.

    The story and certain ideas and scenes are more suited to a mid series filler episode than a special and are not totally satisfying but it is still pretty good fun.

    My Rating: 8/10.
    helpful•5
    0
    • A_Kind_Of_CineMagic
    • Mar 26, 2019

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 10, 2013 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Filming locations
      • Margham Desert, Dubai, United Arab Emirates(San Helios planet surface)
    • Production company
      • BBC Wales
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      59 minutes

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