Quote: Matthew Stott @ June 12 2010, 11:21 AM BST
According to his book, RTD wrote it in a couple of days, too; when he had to axe someone elses script. I know that shouldn't come into an appreciation of the actual finished thing, but it did impress me a touch. It also showed that RTD can write as dark as any other Who writer when he wants; it shows people in a very grim light.
It is good. I hope I didn't give the impression of damning it with faint praise. It exploits something that is very neglected in SF - the actual bodily danger of being in space or in an alien environment.
Most of it's faults - over-reliance on the sonic screwdriver/psychic paper, proselytising gay sex, bimbo doctor are faults of most of RTD's stories.
It also needed a special effects shot of the rover on the surface. Of course the greatest special effect remains David Tennant's cartilage and fat-free nose, which I find impossible to take my eyes off.