The Stolen Earth
| 201b – "The Stolen Earth" | |||
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| Doctor Who episode | |||
| 275px Donna, Captain Jack and Rose are in shock as the Doctor begins to Regenerate. | |||
| Cast | |||
Guest
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| Production | |||
| Directed by | Graeme Harper | ||
| Written by | Russell T. Davies | ||
| Produced by | Phil Collinson | ||
| Executive producer(s) | Russell T. Davies Julie Gardner | ||
| Production code | 4.12 | ||
| Series | Series 4 | ||
| Running time | 50 mins | ||
| First broadcast | 28 June 2008 | ||
| Chronology | |||
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The Stolen Earth is the twelfth and penultimate episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 28 June 2008 at 7:10pm.[2] The title was withheld until two weeks before broadcast, as "it gives away too much."[3][4] It was the second episode of the three-part finale.[5]
The episode featured the return of many past characters, including the recurring villain Davros, his first TV appearance since the 1988 serial Remembrance of the Daleks.[6] There were also several crossover elements from Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, with both characters and locations from these series featuring.
Plot
Synopsis
When the Earth is stolen from its orbit and placed in another galaxy with 26 other stolen planets,[7] the Doctor's secret army of allies comes together to defend the Earth from the new Dalek Empire. With battles raging on the streets and in the sky, the Doctor and Donna confront the Shadow Proclamation to find the truth; however, a fearsome old enemy waits in the shadows.[2] At the episode's finale, the Doctor is exterminated by a stray Dalek causing him to appear to regenerate in the closing moment.
Cast notes
The episode featured the return of many actors and characters to the programme. Freema Agyeman reprised her role as Martha Jones for the second time in the series, and John Barrowman and Elisabeth Sladen returned as Jack Harkness and Sarah Jane Smith, respectively. Adjoa Andoh returned as Francine Jones for the first time since "Last of the Time Lords". Julian Bleach assumed the role of Davros, after appearing as the "Ghostmaker" in the Torchwood episode "From Out of the Rain" earlier in 2008.
This episode was also the first fully-fledged crossover between Doctor Who and its spin-off series Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, with Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles), Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd), Luke Smith (Thomas Knight), and Mr Smith (Alexander Armstrong) all appearing in the parent program for the first time. Eve Myles previously played Gwyneth in the 2005 Doctor Who episode "The Unquiet Dead".
Penelope Wilton returned as Harriet Jones, former British Prime Minister. Jason Mohammad reprised his role as the newsreader from "Turn Left", and Lachele Carl also reappeared as the recurring American newsreader from Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures, credited as "Trinity Wells" in series 4 after previously being named "Mal Loup" in an on-line video.[8] Dalek Caan also returned in this episode for the first time since "Evolution of the Daleks", along with the Judoon from "Smith and Jones".
TV host Paul O'Grady and biologist Richard Dawkins also appeared as themselves, continuing the pattern of celebrity appearances in the penultimate episode of every series since the show's revival in 2005. Dawkins is married to Lalla Ward, who played Romana II alongside Tom Baker's Doctor.
Continuity
- Among the Planets that have been stolen are Klom, the Adiposian breeding planet, Pyrovilia and one of Poosh's moons – mentioned in Love & Monsters (though its disappearance was not revealed until this episode), Partners in Crime, The Fires of Pompeii and Midnight respectively.
References
- ^ "The Stolen Earth" credits - BBC
- ^ a b "Programme Information, Network TV Week 27, Saturday 28 June 2008". BBC Press Office. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ "Episode 12 Title". BBC Doctor Who homepage. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ "The Stars are Coming Out". Radio Times (5-11 April 2008). BBC: pp 14-24. 2008.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help);|pages=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Arnopp, Jason (2008-06-26). "Decisions, Decisions". Doctor Who Magazine (397). Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent: Panini Comics.
Yes, [Turn Left is the first of a three-parter,] like Utopia, it leads you into the finale.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Dr Who's enemy Davros to make a comeback - The Daily Telegraph, 2008-06-17
- ^ Wilkes, Neil (2008-06-24). "Preview: A 'Doctor Who' reunion". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
- ^ {{http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/doctorwho/ram/usnews?size=16x9&bgc=CC0000&nbram=1&bbram=1&lang=en-wl American News Reports] - World War Three, BBC media player}}
External links
- The Stolen Earth on Tardis Wiki, the Doctor Who Wiki
- "The Stolen Earth" at the BBC Doctor Who homepage