Planet of the Ood (TV story)

"The Ood aren't born like this - a species born to serve could never evolve in the first place. What does the company do to make them obey?"

Synopsis
The Doctor and Donna travel to the Ood-Sphere, where danger awaits them as the The Doctor discovers the awful truth.

Plot
The Doctor takes  Donna to her first alien planet the Ood-Sphere she is amazed but cold. There they discover that the Ood are being made to serve by Ood Operations removing one of their brains which controls independence and replacing it with a Translation sphere. A mysterious "red-eye" infection is spreading through the Ood and they begin to kill the staff at Ood operations. They make friends with the Doctor and Donna and the Doctor stops Mr Halpen from destroying the Ood Brain which would kill the Ood. Mr Halpen is turned into a Ood and the Circle of energy surrounding the Ood Brain is broken allowing the Ood to sing again. The Ood say they will remember the Doctor and Donna forever relieving the Doctor's guilt when he couldn't save them from falling into the Black Hole K37 Gem 5. The Ood are once again free!

Cast

 * The Doctor - David Tennant
 * Donna Noble - Catherine Tate
 * Solana Mercurio - Ayesha Dharker
 * Mr Halpen - Tim McInnerny
 * Sigma - Paul Kasey
 * Dr Ryder - Adrian Rawlins
 * Commander Kess - Roger Griffiths
 * Mr Bartle - Paul Clayton
 * Rep - Tariq Jordan
 * Ood - Paul Kasey
 * Voice of the Ood - Silas Carson

Production crew
to be added

Story Notes

 * The snow scenes were shot in a boiling hot week in August, using fake snow. This can be made in several ways. Usually the most convincing settled snow is created from tiny pieces of paper, with sprayed foam a good solution for falling snow.
 * The transformation of Halpen into an Ood was originally far more graphic, but after the footage was viewed it was re-edited to be less horrific for a family audience.
 * Russell T. Davies noted during production of the Ood's introductory episodes that he considered their home world to be close to that of the Sensorites.
 * When Ood Sigma says to the Doctor "that your song will soon end", several seconds of the parting music that was playing in Doomsday is played.

Ratings
to be added

Myths
to be added

Filming Locations
to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
to be added

Continuity

 * The Ood previously appeared in The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit.
 * The Doctor refers to the time when he couldn't save the Ood from falling into the black hole in The Satan Pit.
 * The Doctor comments that he visited the Sense-Sphere "ages ago". (DW: The Sensorites)
 * Massive brains had previously appeared on TV in Time and the Rani and in the NA novel Deceit.

DVD Releases

 * It will be released on the Series 4 boxset DVD in November 2008.
 * It will be released as part of Series 4 Volume 1 on June 2nd 2008 alongside Partners in Crime and The Fires of Pompeii.
 * The BBFC has rated this story a 12 certificate citing a 'moderate gory scene'. Partners in Crime and The Fires of Pompeii were also both given PG certificates.