Midnight (TV story)

The Doctor and Donna visit the alien leisure planet, Midnight.

Synopsis
The Doctor is trapped, alone, powerless and terrified, on the planet Midnight. Soon, the knocking on the wall begins. Only a woman called Sky seems to know the truth – but as paranoia turns into a witch-hunt, Sky turns the Doctor's greatest strengths against him, and a sacrifice must be made...

Cast

 * The Doctor - David Tennant
 * Donna Noble - Catherine Tate
 * Rose Tyler - Billie Piper
 * Hostess - Rakie Ayola
 * Sky Silvestry - Lesley Sharp
 * Val Cane - Lindsey Coulson
 * Biff Cane - Daniel Ryan
 * Jethro Cane - Colin Morgan
 * Professor Hobbes - David Troughton
 * Dee Dee Blasco - Ayesha Antoine
 * Mechanic Claude - Duane Henry
 * Driver Joe - Tony Bluto

Production crew
to be added

Story notes

 * This episode has marked Doctor Who's 200th story.
 * Donna was be largely absent as Catherine Tate was filming Turn Left.
 * Dee Dee mentions The Lost Moon of Poosh, one of the six planets Russell T Davies said would be mentioned throughout Series 4.
 * This episode was the 50th of the 'New Series' to be filmed, not broadcast, which is why the shuttle is called 'Crusader 50'. Confirmed in DWM 396.
 * This is the first Television story since Genesis of the Daleks not to feature the TARDIS at all.
 * This is the second episode in which the Doctor has not had a companion to assist him. The first episode without a companion was The Deadly Assassin, although the earlier story remains the only one in which no companion appears at all (as opposed to Donna's appearances at the beginning and end of this episode).
 * The villian in this episode is actually never revealed.
 * David Troughton, who plays the professor, is the son of Patrick Troughton, who played the Second Doctor. Episode director Alice Troughton is not related.

Filming Locations
To be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

 * The hostess twice opens the doors in the shuttle to the outside and lives, despite the Professor saying that the X-Tronic light would vaporise them in a split-second. There is actually 6 seconds before the x-tronic lght becomes harmful. Actually six seconds is how long the shielding lasts. Once it gives out, death is instantaneous.
 * When the Doctor's authority is challenged, he finds himself at a loss for words, at one point desperately citing his John Smith alias in hopes of placating the panicking passengers. Why wouldn't he use the same "I'm a Time Lord from the Planet Gallifrey, I'm 903 years old and I'm going to save your lives - got a problem with that"-type speech that he used in a similar situation in Voyage of the Damned? Aside from the obvious -- it would be repeating what had gone before -- the last time the Doctor made such a speech and such a promise, all but two of the passengers died, which may have made him less likely to try it again. This is also a totally different situation. They were all paranoid and it would be likely that telling the truth would have not made any difference. Besides they were already criticizing his attempts to save them, they cared more about hating each other than helping each other.

Continuity

 * Rose Tyler is seen again this time in one of the shuttle bus's screens. (This is the same clip that apeared for a seconed in The Poison Sky except this time it was slightly longer, and Rose seemed to mouth "Doctor!" twice rather than the once in The Poison Sky)
 * The Doctor states the words "Medusa Cascade" to see if Sky would repeat him. It is said that the Medusa Cascade is an arc word for the series.
 * This is the first time in the revived fourth series that there has been no scenes inside the TARDIS. Every other episode of the fourth series from Voyage of the Damned to Forest of the Dead have featured interior TARDIS scenes.
 * This is the first time in the revived series and the first time since the Fourth Doctor serial Genesis of the Daleks that the TARDIS has not appeared on screen at any point.

DVD and other releases

 * It will be released on the Series 4 boxset DVD in November 2008.
 * It will be released as Series 4 Volume 3 alongside Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead in August 2008.