Okay, now that's a good first episode for Ten.
New Earth is a really good start to the series. Between the creepy cat/nun/nurses and the return of Cassandra this might be my favorite RTD-written plot. Cassandra while solid in The End of the Word really cements her self (similarly to Blon the Slitheen) as an excellent villain in her return. Not only is the way she inhabits the Doctor and Rose just campy fun I love the mess she makes of everything in her desire to obtain a new body. The touch of depth they gave her in the end was also appreciated even if it felt a tad rushed.
The cat/nun/nurses and their hoards of diseased human clones was a really fun take on a zombie story. The way the cats are certain that their actions are for the benefit of everyone made them great antagonists. And the diseased humans are a solid zombie type threat. I especially liked that we got to see, if briefly, into their minds through Cassandra.
Ten gets some really great moments here with his comical negotiating with Cassandra for Rose's body to the standoff the the cat/nurse/nun things about their horrific medical practices. A solid "I've saved the day" speech is given and it's just fun to watch Tennant chew up the scenery with it.
This episode was also a great reintroduction to the Face of Boe given that his presence in series 1 never goes above a cameo. A great setup for that arc that unfolds across this season.
The only quibble I could have with this episode was the Ten/Rose dynamic. This is the beginning of what is going to become a very intense romantic arc between the two and I'm not necessarily against it (I mean I liked that about Nine and Rose). But that dynamic here is in your face in a way that I remember becoming tedious. The full on makeout sessions here (yes, I know Rose was possessed at the time but I think its an indication of the mode of the Doctor and Rose's relationship throughout the series) compared to the tender hand holding of series 1 says it all.
This story is the second in a trilogy about humanity after the destruction of Earth. It brings back Cassandra and The Face of Boe, both last seen in The End of the World (2005). I've never really liked or understood this tory. I find Rose to be unlikable, the Doctor to be stiff and the main plot to be boring. I also don't like it when RTD forces the dating/flirting aspect between the Doctor and Rose. It feels unnecessary and it gets worse as the series progresses.
The story brings the Cassandra arc to satisfying close while having that lovely and warm atmosphere over it. It also introduces a mystery which won't be resolved until Gridlock (2007).
Billie Piper puts in a great performance, playing both Rose and Cassandra in Rose's body. She manages to separate these characters well. David Tennant is good, but not as energetic hand bouncy as in The Christmas Invasion (2005). Interestingly, Tennant's best performance in the episode comes when Cassandra is inside him. The script also overdoes the Cassandra possessing Rose and The Doctor thing, so it stops being fun.
The Doctor is pretty unlikeable here, and not as bouncy as before. I've never quite liked him in this story, and this is the only story where he is like this.
It's lovely to see Rose so confident and experienced here, clearly showing that she has been travelling with the Doctor for quite a while.
Cassandra has never been a particularly engaging villain, and she is even less so here.
Out of all the alien worlds, the revived series has presented so far, New Earth is the most innovative. It's pretty well realized, even though the extensive use of cheap CGI sticks out like a sore thumb.
This is surprisingly slow-paced, despite the long chase sequence in the second half. It feels like there is not much point to it.
The atmosphere is mostly light-hearted, with a minor dark turn once the truth of the hospital is revealed. The ending has that "everybody lives" feel over it.
Not the greatest season opener, and a pretty forgettable adventure, which initiated the implied love relationship between Ten and Rose.
Not one I'm going to watch again anytime soon. It didn't work very well for me.
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:
Adjoa Andoh, who performs under heavy make-up as Sister Jatt, also appears in Series 3 as the mother of companion Martha Jones and has appeared in several Big Finish audios.
Rose being taken over by the villain is a continuation of the tradition of companions being possessed.
For one, the Doctor is allowed to be proper Doctor and cure people.
The end of this serial teases the next appearance of the Face of Boe in Series 3, as well as the 'You are not alone' mystery.
Score: 61/120
Shout by ragreynoldsVIP 7BlockedParentSpoilers2022-11-10T03:40:19Z
"Who needs arms... when we have claws."
Any episode with Cassandra in it gets an instant rating bump - though I must admit I was disappointed she took over Rose's body rather than remaining that flat piece of skin. She's the best thing this show has produced until this point, and I don't see that changing any time soon. I want to mount her (as a piece of skin) on my wall and stroke her skin every day. She is my spirit animal and I love her.