30 Days of Television - Day 7
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite TV show
Doctor Who: “Planet of the Dead”
I was extremely excited when “Planet of the Dead” aired because it was one of only four new Doctor Who episodes that aired in 2009. I watched the episode, went upstairs to talk to Justin, flopped down onto the couch and sighed, “It wasn’t very good.”
The premise was ok. A bus, on which the Doctor is riding, gets sucked through a wormhole to San Helios, a planet that once had a thriving ecosystem, but has been reduced to endless desert. The Doctor and one-off companion, Lady Christina de Souza, must figure out what happened to San Helios and get everyone back through the wormhole before a mysterious, glinting storm reaches the damaged bus. Ok, the premise actually sounds really good, but the execution just didn’t work for me.
I think most of my problem with the episode lies with Lady Christina, who we see in the opening scene robbing a museum a la Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible. She’s not only a thief, she’s also a snob. I was completely unable to relate to her and I saw no redeeming qualities in her.
Also, this episode really stretched the definition of science fiction. SciFi should be plausible. The metal monsters and the way they form a wormhole just didn’t work for me. I didn't buy it. And, judging from the actors' delivery of the lines, they didn't buy it, either.
I was relieved when I saw this episode listed on Television Without Pity’s Worst of the Best: The Worst Episodes of Great Shows. I realized I wasn’t alone.
They had some really great promotional stills, though…
Past
Day 01 - A show that should never have been canceled: Futurama
Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching - Doctor Who
Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this TV season): Community
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever: Doctor Who
Day 05 - A show you hate: Charmed
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite TV show: Doctor Who: "Blink"
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite TV show: Doctor Who: "Planet of the Dead"
Future:
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you've watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite mini series
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best TV show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First TV show obsession
Day 29 - Current TV show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death
Doctor Who: “Planet of the Dead”
I was extremely excited when “Planet of the Dead” aired because it was one of only four new Doctor Who episodes that aired in 2009. I watched the episode, went upstairs to talk to Justin, flopped down onto the couch and sighed, “It wasn’t very good.”
The premise was ok. A bus, on which the Doctor is riding, gets sucked through a wormhole to San Helios, a planet that once had a thriving ecosystem, but has been reduced to endless desert. The Doctor and one-off companion, Lady Christina de Souza, must figure out what happened to San Helios and get everyone back through the wormhole before a mysterious, glinting storm reaches the damaged bus. Ok, the premise actually sounds really good, but the execution just didn’t work for me.
I think most of my problem with the episode lies with Lady Christina, who we see in the opening scene robbing a museum a la Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible. She’s not only a thief, she’s also a snob. I was completely unable to relate to her and I saw no redeeming qualities in her.
Also, this episode really stretched the definition of science fiction. SciFi should be plausible. The metal monsters and the way they form a wormhole just didn’t work for me. I didn't buy it. And, judging from the actors' delivery of the lines, they didn't buy it, either.
I was relieved when I saw this episode listed on Television Without Pity’s Worst of the Best: The Worst Episodes of Great Shows. I realized I wasn’t alone.
They had some really great promotional stills, though…
Past
Day 01 - A show that should never have been canceled: Futurama
Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching - Doctor Who
Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this TV season): Community
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever: Doctor Who
Day 05 - A show you hate: Charmed
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite TV show: Doctor Who: "Blink"
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite TV show: Doctor Who: "Planet of the Dead"
Future:
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you've watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite mini series
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best TV show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First TV show obsession
Day 29 - Current TV show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death