Discussion of Episode 4.03 "Planet of the Ood" - Aired 04/19/08 (BBC1-UK)

[Mr Pointy]

From radiotimes.com -
Episode 3/13 Planet of the Ood
Donna's helped the Doctor avert disaster in modern-day Britain and taken a trip back in time to the Roman Empire - now she's ready to experience an alien world. The duo visit the home planet of the Ood, a servile race the Doctor has encountered before (in series two episodes The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit). A company run by the ruthless Mr Halpen (Tim McInnerny) is exploiting the genial aliens - and it's up to the Doctor and Donna to discover the secret he's hiding…

RT Choice (Alison Graham, 19 April 2008)
There are some unexpected moments of throat-catching poignancy as the Doctor takes Donna to her first-ever alien planet. There he's reunited with the Ood, and what unfolds prompts a teary Donna to beg the Doc to take her home.
http://www.radiotimes.com/shows/doctor-who/episode-guide/

[Mr Pointy]

Bloody brilliant! An almost old school episode in feel but so very much part of the new Who. I like Catherine better with every ep and the Ood had a superb comeback...albeit extremely gross...a couple of hide behind the sofa moments I reckon...as RTD said in DW Confidential - moments to be discussed in school playgrounds up and down the country on Monday :)

Even more comebacks in the next ep - a certain Dr Jones and Sontarans!!!!

[Angel's vision]

So finally watched the eppy today and how good was it? "Sometimes I don't know what's right and wrong with you anymore"
"Maybe it's better that way" Is that the shape of things to come? We have had a clue in ep 1
Rose appears and vanishes Bees are dissapearing aswell as planets;
Ep2 The Medusa Cascade is mentioned as some sort of firey thing with the Dr's true name in it
Ep3 His song according to the Ood will end!
Definalty connected to his attitude and outcome I guess unless his friends can save him from himself which i am finding very likely!
Hense the crowded companion story ala finale! It's all about restoring the Dr!
Anyway those are my theories.

The Bloke who turned into an Ood well not wanting to sound like I don't care which I don't Hee! but that was a fitting come-uppence! I mean He treated them like dirt so they turn him into one of them! LOVED it!
It was a bit gross though when the skin came off! and a bit far fetched that one drop of their special something something every now and then can turn him into one!

I was moved by their song though! but it got a little too Christian imagery when they lifted their hands when singing! Sorry been to church today maybe that's why i see that!
Loved how Donna stole his words when they were captured and having the Baddie/goodie discussion.

Role on next week, sontarians! and MAFAHHHHH! Oh yes! LOVED "Hello Dr I'm bringing you back to earth!"

Edited because N4H reminded me that I left out two other clues

[N4H]

Like Pointy said, had an old school feel. I like the addition of the eps where the Doctor is a reasoner who's always one step ahead rather than some sort of hand-waving demi-god. The return to a more classic story structure is always comfortable too. I don't necessarily always love them, but so far at least I always like them. They fit well.

AV, would you add the "bees" thing to your list? Maybe not eh? It seems more season specific, than something that seems to affect the Doctor's mythology on the whole series. Oh here's one though, and I can't remember if we've seen any hints yet, but last season at least, we were hearing hints on the Doctor having some sort of family connections.

And another thumbs up on the return of Martha and the Sontarans. I'm also looking forward to learning more about how the new version of UNIT works. How does it differ from Torchwood? How has it changed?

[Angel's vision]

There is some "family connections" in Ep 6, "The Doctors daughter" Just incase this spoils anything It is tagged!
Oh and maybe The medusa cascade that has his name (mention also in TFoP) will relate to him in a familial way perhaps too?

[Bored of the Dead]

The Song is the Doctor/Rose song.

[Cookies]

Feeling rather let down by the previous episodes, I sat down to watch this and thought it was going to be as terrible as the other episodes but ended up pleasantly surprised.

The part where Donna and the Doctor saw the Ood in that cell thing made me quite tearful.

I enjoyed all of this episode and I actually quite liked Donna in this episode. I think I'm starting to get used to her, which I didn't think was possible.

[Vilandra]

I liked this episode a lot - the twists and revelations in the storyline were pretty good. I also found the Ood a likeable adversary this time: I did not care for the last ep with them in it so I was pleasantly surprised with this one.