Series 2 (2006)
Episode title: The Impossible PlanetFeaturing: Tenth Doctor
Companions: Rose Tyler
First shown: 3rd June 2006
Related articles: Ood
Guide: On the planet of Krop Tor, the TARDIS materialises on a sanctuary base designed for deep space expeditions, where the Doctor and Rose discover an ancient inscription on the wall, written in a language so old that not even the TARDIS translation system can translate it for them. After a misunderstanding with the Ood, servants to the humans on board the base, the duo meet the crew of the sanctuary base following an earthquake, Captain Zachary Cross Flane, science officer Ida Scott, head of security John Jefferson, trainee maintenance officer Scooti Manista and archaeologist Toby Zed. The Doctor discovers that the planet is in orbit around a black hole, a phenomenon he believes impossible, as the planet would have to sustain an enormously large power to generate the huge gravity funnel required to keep the planet in its geostationary orbit. The team reveal that they are on Krop Tor to discover what power is keeping the planet from falling into the black hole like the star systems around it are and explain that they’re drilling 10 miles into the planets core to have a look. The origin of the power is said to be from an ancient civilisation that used to live on Krop Tor and the inscription found on the wall by the TARDIS was a transcription of a stone tablet found on the planet.
The Doctor discovers that storage facilities 5, 6, 7 and 8 collapsed into the planet during the earthquake, leaving the TARDIS, that had landed in storage facility 6, in a crevice with no chance of being rescued, stranding the Doctor and Rose on Krop Tor. Meanwhile, a malevolent presence is making itself known with strange messages referring to the Beast awaking to make a war against God come from the Ood translation spheres and the computer speakers, while Toby is possessed by the Beast. The Doctor, Rose and the crew watch the Scarlet system fall into the black hole before Rose receives a message on her phone pertaining to the Beast while Toby wakes up. Scooti goes to Toby’s room to check his expenditure but finds his room empty, while the computer announces that door 41 has opened and closed. Puzzled, Scooti goes to investigate and finds Toby outside on the barren surface of the planet, surviving without a space suit. Toby attempts to take control of Scooti but she shrugs off his influence so he clenches his fist and the porthole windows begin to crack. Scooti runs to the other door but it refuses to open for her as the cracks widen and the air is sucked from the corridor, along with Scooti, who falls into the vacuum of space.
The base begins to shake violently, prompting Zachary to order the evacuation, where the Doctor, Rose and Danny race to meet Jefferson, where they, along with Ida and the now unpossessed Toby evacuate through the doors that Jefferson then seals, sealing off the breach. Jefferson notes that Scooti is not with them and tries to call her on the radio but she doesn’t answer, but Zachary says her biochip is registering as being in Habitation 3, where Jefferson and Ida go to find her while the Doctor and Rose tend to Toby. While searching for Scooti, Jefferson says they can’t find her while Zachary says that her biochip is still saying that she’s in Habitation 3, but the Doctor then reports that he’s found her, as he stares out of the window to see her body floating towards the black hole, prompting Zachary to record her death on the computer logs.
The drill finally manages to reach the core of the planet, prompting the Doctor and Ida to journey down into a massive cavern, where they find ancient, giant sculptures along the walls. They head towards the power source, being guided by sensor readings, before finding a large circular disc, the edge of which is covered in inscriptions, set in the floor of the cavern, which the Doctor suspects to be a trap door of some kind. Meanwhile, back on the base, the telepathic field of the Ood raises dangerously high to Basic 100, high enough to induce brain death, though the Ood are still alive. Through Toby, the Beast makes itself known before transferring its consciousness to the Ood, where the Ood then identify themselves as the Legion of the Beast and begin to advance on the crew members and Rose. Back in the cavern, the Doctor and Ida stand before a seal in the walls, which begin to slide apart to show a black chasm, while a voice calls out that “The pit is open, and I am free!”, followed by malevolent laughter as the Doctor and Ida look down. The episode ends on this cliff-hanger.
This episode is the first of a two parter. To read the guide to the second part, click here.