Doctor Who: 9 Most Underrated Episodes Of The Revived Series
6. Planet Of The Ood (Series 4)
The Ood. One of the most famous creatures from the new series. Certainly from the Russell T Davies era, and theyd arguably be taking the top spot if it wasnt for the behemoth of the Weeping Angels. Yet the trip fans took to their home planet doesnt feel hugely appreciated, more so since the casting of Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor has led to a re-appraisal of the episode that directly preceded this one, The Fires of Pompeii. However, in Planet of the Ood, it is not the aliens or the monstrous-looking things that are the villains for once. For once, its the humans that are presented as the bad guys, specifically through the bristling malice of guest stars Tim McInnerny and Roger Griffiths. This allowed viewers to take an alternate look at the effect of humans on the wider universe of Doctor Who, and as its not a particularly optimistic viewpoint, it manages to be both thought-provoking and refreshing in equal measure. Its not an entirely one-dimensional glance either. Viewers saw members of the Friends of the Ood who challenged what the big corporations were doing and Donna and the Doctor do manage to break through to Solana and give her a moment of doubt. Its these little touches which manage to broaden episodes like this one. This all leads to a fantastically shot sequence in which the Ood escape and battle the humans, which manages to be poignant and even a little gruelling to boot. The episode also revealed more about the Ood, as you would rightly expect from an episode about the planet on which they originated. Fans got to see that they function as part of a hive mind, are born with brains in their mouths and do a lot of singing, all of which is imaginative and deepens the species in terms of storytelling. The episode generates a lot of empathy for the creatures, mostly through Donna's reaction as she finds it difficult to accept their turbulent treatment. Even if you're not the biggest fan of Catherine Tate, you cant deny that shes the heart and soul of this story, gluing its emotional core together, and she deserves a lot of praise for that. This story also holds importance in terms of continuity as it marks the first appearance of Ood Sigma who goes on to play a vital role later in the Tenth Doctors arc. Thats less key in arguing why this story is underrated, but its something nonetheless, and it definitely makes it an important moment for the revival.
