Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8800 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-08-07
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
This latest collection of episodes from the 'second' series of Doctor Who again features a couple of cracking instalments, although this time there's one that's attracted a heavy amount of criticism too.

So let's start with the good. Stretching a tight budget to its limits and in the process delivering a cracking piece of science fiction, the two-parter that kicks off with "The Impossible Planet" and concludes with "The Satan Pit" takes place in the far reaches of the Universe, on board a craft that's been sucked into a black hole. Only it isn't. It's mysteriously defying the pull of the black hole, and there are other sinister goings on too. There are no spoilers here, but rest assured that this is tense, gripping television, with a surprising number of behind-the-sofa moments. And if the second part doesn't quite match up to the strengths of the first, it still rounds off a satisfying, enjoying story.

As for "Love & Monsters", there's a hard core that believe it to be an innovative, interesting experiment for Doctor Who. This reviewer, however, sides with the majority. By leaving the Doctor and Rose pretty much entirely on the sidelines, and giving centre stage to primarily irritating and clumsy characters (epitomised by Peter Kay's desperately unconvincing baddie), it becomes easily the weakest episode since the Who revival, and leaves you hoping that it's an experiment not to be repeated.

Still, this disc is still very much worth it for two of the episodes, so buy it with those in mind, and treat the third very much as an anomaly, no matter what your thoughts on it. And brace yourself for the next disc too--it's a corker… --Simon Brew

Customer Reviews

A great DVD... just what the Doctor ordered!
The fourth installment of the second series of 'Doctor Who' is another superb DVD and contains three episodes that are all brilliant, exciting, moving and suspenful. David Tennant continues to shine as the Tenth Doctor, and he has great on-screen chemistry with Billie Piper. The scripts are well-written, the special effects stylish and impressive, the acting brilliant and full of conviction and the aliens hugely scary and inventive.

'The Impossible Planet' and 'The Satan Pit' are both wonderful episode; dark, scary, gripping and crammed with tension. There are some great moments as the Doctor is forced to question religion. 'Love & Monsters' is a love/hate kind of an episode, but personally I thought it was superb, and showed how normal people's lives can be changed by an encounter with the Doctor. It's a great piece of wriiting, full of laughs and pathos. And it's got Peter Kay in it.

All in all, Series 2 continues to match the first superb series in quality, and 'Doctor Who' (again) has been the television highlight of the year, thus far. Brilliant stuff.

From the sublime to the ridiculous
The good news - The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit is an all-time great of Doctor Who. A rare new series off-Earth jaunt for the TARDIS crew, and the results are superb. Alternately tragic and sinister, clautrophobic and agorophobic, it takes to viewer into the darkest depths of human fears to meet the ultimate evil. A strong cast, fast pace, tight plotting and just enough humour to stop it getting unrelentingly grim makes for a jewel in the crown of British science-fiction.

So what happened to the fifth star in the rating? Sunk without trace, along with 'Love and Monsters'. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. To say the parts are better than the whole is to put it mildly. The mostly excellent cast struggle valiently with the material but are ultimately overwhelmed by the tripe that is this episode. I am not a fan of Peter Kay, I must admit, but he is quite impressive in human form; sadly when he loses human shape, he appears to lose his acting ability, as well. The conclusion is trite and unbelievable. Knowing that the main villain was created by a nine year-old Blue Peter viewer in a competition might lead you to fear the worst, so it is ironic that the monster itself is a brilliant conception - it's a pity that the professionals couldn't come up with a quality story to match it.

Just when you thought 'Doctor Who' couldn't get any better...
This DVD continues the second series of the BBC's hit revival of 'Doctor Who' and contains three episodes. David Tennant's performance as the Tenth Timelord remains strong, energetic and vibrant, whilst Billie Piper as Rose Tyler remains his equal in every way. This disc contains no special features, but there will be a 6-disc boxet released in November that comes crammed with bonus material and content. But if you're like me and can't wait that long, this DVD is definitely a must-buy when it is released. The three episodes on the disc are all of an extremely high calibre, and the standard set so far by the series is maintaned. So, where is the TARDIS taking us this time...?

The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit
Writer: Matt Jones
Director: James Strong
Originally broadcast: 3/6/06 and 10/6/06

The above two episodes make a superb two-part adventure for the Doctor and Rose, and for the first time since the show's revival, the pair finally travel to another planet (instead of Earth). OF the episodes transmitted so far from Series 2, these two are probably my favourite - they are scary, moving, exciting and such fun to watch. It is serious stuff for younger viewers as the Doctor is forced to question his faith in love, God and the Devil, whilst Rose finds herself having to battle some deadly enemies in the form of 'The Ood', a superb new monster. The special effects and CGI are amazingly good, the music score is tense and adds atmosphere to the episode, and the performances are particularly strong. Highlights for me included the Beast's rising from the pit, The Ood transforming from helpful slaves to deadly killers, Rose's separation from the Doctor and the Timelord's debate about religion and the ultimate sacrifice. The whole episode is beautiful to watch, and it is too the production team's credit that the experience feels realistic and utterly epic. Its quite a frightening episode though, what with Toby's possession!

Love & Monsters
Writer: Russell T Davies
Director: Dan Ziff
Originally broadcast 17/6/06

After the frightening, dark adventure that make up the previous episode, 'Love & Monsters' couldn't be more contrasting in tone and execution, for this episode takes on a very comic and offbeat nature, and is probably the most original and unique episode of 'Doctor Who' in its 43-year history. It is fair to say that this episode will perhaps not satisfy ever 'Who' fan, because its so different in style and approach, but, personally, I adored it and found it up there with the very best of the new series. The episode focusses on Elton Pope, a man who is eager to track down the Doctor, but he soon meets a group of people who are also desperate to locate the Timelord. They form a friendly association called LINDA and Elton seems to be finding love at last, but the peace and friendship is shattered by the eVil Victor Kennerdy, who wants to 'absorb' the Doctor. There are some great scenes in this masterfully written script, which are both funny and touching, such as Elton's approaches on Jackie and Peter Kay's evil baddie 'The Abzorboloff', which was designed by a nine-year-old boy who won a 'Blue Peter' competiton to design a monster. This episode may not be to everyone's tastes, but I certainly adored it.

There are a number of excellent guest stars in these episodes, such as Peter Kay as the cold and cunning Victor Kennerdy, Marc Warren as the man eager to hunt down the Doctor and Shirley Henderson (Moaning Myrtle from 'Harry Potter') as the girl Elton falls in love with. The episodes contained on this disc are all wonderful and represent the strengths of the new series brilliantly, as they are the pick of the Series 2 litter thus far (although there are 3 episodes still to be aired on television). Great fun to watch, and a treat for the whole family; funny, emotional, scary, exciting - what more do you need. Highly recommended.