Doctor Who Club of Australia

[Ohica]

I really loved Donna in the Christmas special and wanted her to be the companion full-time. But after that didn't happen, I was a bit dubious about having her back again after all this time. But, after the last 3 eps, I'm not disappointed. She actually appreciates the enormity of what travel in the TARDIS means for an ordinary person. I felt the past two companions, as much as I liked them, [especially Martha], tended to trivialise the whole experience by dwelling on their shallow infatuation with the Doctor. It's so refreshing to finally get back to a companion that's not interested in him, per se but rather appreciates the fabulous privilege of being able to travel in space and time to all sorts of planets. Donna is lots of fun but she is donig what she said the Doctor needed, keeping him from turning bad. Keeping him "human" or humanityized. She's the one with compassion now and she does a good job of it. She's a REAL person. An ordinary woman. It's good to see someone with a bit of get up and go. Go Donna.

[SharazJek]

Ohica I was dubious about Donna's return for a different reason...I couldn't stand her in The Runaway Bride!!

But I too am very pleased with the way she has so comfortably put on full-time companion shoes!

I'm very glad to be rid of the Doctor/companion sexual tension.....for the moment. With Rose lurking around I'm sure it will be back.

[KnottyEmily]

God help us if Martha and Rose meet. It will be like School Reunion all over again, but I can imagine it being much worse.

[Panecea]

[Speckled Jim]

Brilliant. Utterly brilliant, and just about flawless.
I've been in the dumps since the execrable Voyage of the Damned about this latest season, wondering if there's any point putting the man hours in ... and then Planet of the Ood came along with a script and execution so clever it left me gobsmacked.
As people have said, the first coupla minutes grated a tad - how much longer do we need companions dancing like hyperactive spaniels about the whole leaving-Chiswick-for-another-planet silliness? But a clumsy intro was swept aside by this awesome story that dispensed with safety and comfort and really rattled the nerves.
I have to agree with others about the "dark" element of this episode; the PR girl being, well, a PR girl and toeing the company line and then copping it big time; the somewhat upsetting concept of an alien species born so vulnerable being ruthlessly mutilated and exploited by "superior" invaders; the giant hive mind; and the calculated plan to transform the director into an Ood at the end ... all good Dr Who.
And Tim McInnerny, wow. Just awesome. Utterly repugnant. Not a trace of Percy left in him.