It was supposed to be a treat for Donna, the Doctor taking her to her first alien planet, unfortunately the experience almost caused her to regret ever leaving merrie olde terra firma. And it really was a very dark story, drenched in a melancholy tone that in no way prepares the travelers for the horror story at the heart of the bountiful human expansion to the stars. The origins of The Ood's relationship with the human race, a story weighed down with its revelations of monstrous cruelty and exploitation of a vulnerable species. When the truth is revealed it is little wonder Donna is horrified and ashamed of the human race.
When I was growing up and reading the novelizations of classic era stories I was aware they covered four, and sometimes six, episodes. A story that mostly took a month to unfold whereas modern era stories are generally one episode long. So the stories sometimes require a little beefing up. Not padding, the modern generation of writers are smarter than that, just a bit of extra material for the reader to get there teeth into. Although the story whisks along at a fast pace the tragedy of The Ood is laid bare and the guilty are exposed. It took a while though. Two hundred years, sadly.
The Chris Achelious inspired cover is a real treat. One that relects the Doctor/Donna era, a season of exploration, not only of space and time but one that explores the limits of friendship and sacrifice. The whole series, behind and in front of the camera, was on a creative high.
One can't help suspect, and hope, that it's all about to happen again.
Creative high that is.
The Doctir and Donna are such a lively pairinging,bringing the best out in each other.There was a real sense if the pair discovering each other, learning as friends what a wide weird world we all live in.
Hope it's all about to get a whole lot wilder and weirder.
