The Infinite Quest (TV story)

The Infinite Quest was a special animated Doctor Who serial, featuring the Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones, which was produced for Totally Doctor Who. The show's live-action stars voiced their animated counterparts in this, the first made-for-television animated Doctor Who adventure. The serial was initially broadcast in 12 instalments of approximately 3.5 minutes each; the 13th and concluding chapter, however, was not broadcast individually, but rather was incorporated into a re-edited omnibus version that incorporated the preceding 12 parts. The total running time of the serial was approximately that of a regular live-action episode. Although produced by the BBC using the show's actors, and clearly set within the 2007 Series Three timeframe, The Infinite Quest is not considered an episode of the Third Series.

Synopsis
The Doctor and Martha must find the legendary lost starship, the Infinite, before the evil Baltazar, scourge of the Galaxy, gets it.

Part One
Baltazar is aboard his space ship looking upon a digital display of the Earth. Caw is with him in a spherical cage. Baltazar gives the order for the plasma cannons to prepare to fire upon the Earth. The TARDIS materialises aboard Baltazar’s ship. The Doctor and Martha Jones step out, and the Doctor tells Martha of Baltazar’s title as scourge of the galaxy. Baltazar reveals that his plan is to consume the earth in a field of plasma fire that will compress all carbon-based life forms and reduce them to Diamonds. The Doctor reveals his plan to stop Baltazar using a spoon he produces from his pocket - which Baltazar chops in half, and it falls upon the deck. The Doctor explains the spoon was made on a planet that specialized in fungus, which causes the deck of the ship then rusts quickly. The Doctor frees Caw from his cage with his sonic screwdriver before flying off in the TARDIS. The Doctor predicts the most likely planet for Baltazar to be put in prison would be Volag-Noc. The Doctor asks Martha to give him three random numbers for the destination settings - which take them to Copacabana Beach. As they fly off, Baltazar’s ship falls apart with the rust but Baltazar escapes riding on Caw.

Cast

 * The Doctor - David Tennant
 * Martha Jones - Freema Agyeman
 * Baltazar - Anthony Head
 * Caw - Toby Longworth
 * Captain Kaliko - Liza Tarbuck
 * Swabb - Tom Farrelly
 * Meregrass - Paul Clayton
 * The Mantasphid Queen - Lizzie Hopley
 * Pilot Kelvin - Steven Meo
 * Computer Voice - Barney Harwood
 * Gurney - Stephen Greif
 * Governor Lok - Dan Morgan
 * Warden - Dan Morgan
 * Squawk - Toby Longworth

Crew
to be added

Story Notes

 * The Infinite Quest was broadcast as part of Totally Doctor Who.
 * The first 12 were broadcast weekly as part of the show.
 * The story was also run as a full episode, with the last part following on from the end of part twelve.
 * Martha Jones explains this adventure in the Sunday, July 01, 2007 Entry in her Blog.

Ratings
to be added

Myths
to be added

Location Filming
to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

 * The TARDIS' temporal grace field, previously established as preventing weapons from being fired inside the ship, evidently doesn't work against Baltazar's ray gun. (This doesn't always happen, example Earthshock, perhaps it's stopped working) .
 * Left unexplained is how Martha, Baltazar and the Doctor are able to breathe and speak outside the Infinite vessel, which is depicted as floating in space. The ship could have a oxygen field keeping the air in, but this may not be true as the ship itself is a wreck.
 * Also not explained is how the Doctor kept from freezing to death during his long voyage atop Squawk.

Continuity

 * The Doctor is separated from Martha for three years in his personal chronology.
 * Anthony Head plays Baltazar; he also guest-starred as Mr. Finch in School Reunion. Head also narrates Doctor Who Confidential and also lent his voice to a number of Big Finish audio productions.
 * The Doctor tells Martha "don't do that" when she attempts to speak like a pirate. This follows a similar admonition against Rose Tyler attempting a Scottish accent (DW: Tooth and Claw), while Donna Noble would later receive this request twice (in different contexts) (DW: The Unicorn and the Wasp and Midnight).

DVD and Other Releases

 * Released on a single DVD in the UK in November 2007, with special features listed |here. A North American DVD release has been announced for November 2008.

Other Cosgrove Hall Animations

 * Scream of the Shalka
 * The Invasion DVD