Series 2, Episode 8 | 2 parts | First broadcast: 3 June 2006 | Writer: Matt Jones | Director: James Strong
Cast
- David Tennant as the Doctor
- Billie Piper as Rose Tyler
- Danny Webb as Jefferson
- Shaun Parkes as Zachary Cross Flane
Summary
The TARDIS strands the Doctor and Rose aboard a human research base orbiting a mysterious planet defying the laws of physics by sitting in stable orbit around a black hole. As the crew investigates ancient writings and a captive alien creature known as the Beast, an ancient evil claiming to predate the universe itself begins to awaken and threatens to possess the base’s crew one by one, including Rose’s friend Toby.
Interesting Facts
- This story marks the first time in the revived series the Doctor and companion are separated from the TARDIS, which is lost when the planet’s gravity anomaly pulls it away.
- The Ood, a servile telepathic alien species, make their debut appearance here, later becoming recurring figures throughout the David Tennant era.
- The planet Krop Tor’s impossible orbit around a black hole was designed to defy known physics, tying into the story’s theme of an ancient, seemingly impossible evil.
- This episode was filmed back-to-back with its concluding part, “The Satan Pit,” as a single production block.
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