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Midnight (Doctor Who)
Encyclopedia
"Midnight" is the tenth episode of the fourth series of British
science fiction television series Doctor Who
. It was first broadcast on BBC One
on 14 June 2008. The episode placed much more emphasis on the role of David Tennant
as the Tenth Doctor
than in the rest of the fourth series
, with the Doctor
's companion
, Donna Noble
(played by Catherine Tate
) playing only a minimal role. For this reason Stephen James Walker has described this episode in his book Monsters Within as being "companion-lite", in his analysis of this episode's successor, the "Doctor-lite" episode "Turn Left
".
is unable to persuade Donna
to join him on a long shuttle bus trip to see the Sapphire Waterfall. The Doctor joins the other passengers on the shuttle; Professor Hobbes and his assistant Dee Dee, the Cane family (Biff, Val, and Jethro), and businesswoman Sky Silvestry. Upon departure of the shuttle the hostess attempts to start a cacophony of en route entertainment; the Doctor disables the entertainment system, and the rest of the passengers readily join him in casual conversation.
The cruiser unexpectedly stops mid-route, which the pilot suggests is caused by a problem with the micropetrol engines, and he issues a request for help. The Doctor suggests they raise the radiation shields briefly to take a look at the view, and as they close the shields, the technician claims to have spotted something moving outside. Soon, a rhythmic knocking starts on the hull of the shuttle, which then mimicks the patterns the passengers make on the walls. The knocking moves around the hull to where Sky is cowering; the shuttle is rocked briefly, causing the lights to fail, but when they return they find that the pilot cabin has been torn away, killing the pilots, and that Sky appears to be possessed amid an array of damaged seats.
The Doctor talks to Sky, but she appears able only to repeat the words he or the other passengers say. However, as they talk to her more the delay in her repetition decreases, to the extent that she eventually speaks at the same time as the other passengers. The other passengers become increasingly afraid of what has possessed Sky, and they start plotting to throw her out of the shuttle. The Doctor strongly opposes the idea and the passengers begin to accuse the Doctor; distrusting him for not revealing who he truly is. The Doctor realises that Sky is now repeating only his words, and turns back to Sky to try to help her. However, at his last sentence, Sky says it first, before the Doctor, and then begins to talk on her own. It is the Doctor that is now repeating Sky's words instead, causing the other passengers to think the possession has moved onto the Doctor. Though Sky tries to encourage the other passengers to throw the Doctor out of one of the airlocks, both the hostess and Dee Dee, and later Jethro, believe this to be the next stage of Sky's possession. When Sky uses words and phrases that the Doctor used at the start of the trip, the hostess realises that Sky is still possessed and drags her out of the other airlock, sacrificing herself in the process. With Sky gone, the Doctor regains his normal self while the other passengers come to grips with what happened. As they wait for rescue, the Doctor realises that no one knew the hostess's name.
At the spa, a mournful Doctor is reunited with Donna. When she repeats one of the Doctor's phrases, he quickly tells her not to.
". Donna has a minor role in the episode (appearing in only the pre-credits sequence and the final scene), while the Doctor has a minor role in "Turn Left".
, cast here as Professor Hobbes, was a late replacement for Sam Kelly
, who broke his leg and had to withdraw from the production. Troughton joined the rest of the cast in Cardiff
with just two days notice. Now known for his stage work with the RSC
as well as television, he is the son of Patrick Troughton
, who portrayed the Second Doctor
. He has had long association with series since the 1960s, appearing as an (uncredited) extra in the Second Doctor serial "The Enemy of the World
", as Private Moor in the Second Doctor serial "The War Games
", and as King Peladon in the Third Doctor
serial "The Curse of Peladon
". He has appeared in the Doctor Who audio dramas Cuddlesome
, The Judgement of Isskar
, The Destroyer of Delights
, and The Chaos Pool
. He is unrelated to the director of the episode, Alice Troughton
.
Colin Morgan
, the young actor who guest stars as Jethro in this episode, has gone on to star as the lead character in the hit BBC series Merlin
.
Daniel Ryan
(Biff Kane) had announced in a 2006 interview that he was going to ask Russell T Davies for a role in Doctor Who, as he wanted his children to see him acting on television in a programme that was not inaccessible. Ryan had a supporting role in the Davies created series Bob & Rose (starring Lesley Sharp
), and Davies had previously written an episode of Linda Green
which Ryan starred in. Ryan's former castmates Sean Gallagher and Claire Rushbrook
had already appeared in Doctor Who.
score of 86 (considered Excellent).
The episode received a number of reviews in British national newspapers. The Guardian
s TV reviewer Sam Wollaston described the episode as "great... it's tense and claustrophobic, and gnaws away at you." He praised the fact that all the action happened in one confined space with an unseen enemy, saying "this is psychological drama rather than full-blown horror; creepy-unknown scary, not special-effect-monster scary." William Gallagher of Radio Times
was generally positive about the episode, but he said he would have "liked just a beat more, just a tiny further step before the resolution; can't even tell you what was missing but I needed one more stage in the journey". IGN
's Travis Fickett rated the episode 8.6 out of 10, commenting that it was "a nice change of pace" from the more complex and emotional two-parter that preceeded it. He thought the most successful aspect of the episode was the creature and praised the fact that it was "tightly written" and allowed the viewer to get to know the different passengers. The Times
s reviewer Andrew Billen wrote that Tennant's Doctor was becoming "increasingly irritating", that the episode was "sheet upon sheet of dialogue" that "felt too much of a writing exercise to be really scary" and an example of how the 2008 series "fails as often as it succeeds". Billen praised the episode for its claustrophobic atmosphere and for showing the series was "not afraid of variety," but instead "dead scared of repetition".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction television series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. It was first broadcast on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
on 14 June 2008. The episode placed much more emphasis on the role of David Tennant
David Tennant
David Tennant is a Scottish actor. In addition to his work in theatre, including a widely praised Hamlet, Tennant is best known for his role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, along with the title role in the 2005 TV serial Casanova and as Barty Crouch, Jr...
as the Tenth Doctor
Tenth Doctor
The Tenth Doctor is the tenth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by David Tennant, who appears in three series, as well as eight specials...
than in the rest of the fourth series
Doctor Who (series 4)
The fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who began on 25 December 2007 with the Christmas special "Voyage of the Damned". Following the special, a regular series of thirteen episodes aired, starting with "Partners in Crime" on 5 April 2008 and ending with "Journey's End"...
, with the Doctor
Doctor (Doctor Who)
The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
's companion
Companion (Doctor Who)
In the long-running BBC television science fiction programme Doctor Who and related works, the term "companion" refers to a character who travels with, and shares the adventures of the Doctor. In most Doctor Who stories, the primary companion acts as both deuteragonist and audience surrogate...
, Donna Noble
Donna Noble
Donna Noble is a fictional character played by Catherine Tate in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. A secretary from Chiswick, London, she is a companion of the Tenth Doctor, appearing in one scene at the end of the final episode of the 2006 series,...
(played by Catherine Tate
Catherine Tate
Catherine Tate is an English actress, writer, and comedian. She has won numerous awards for her work on the sketch comedy series The Catherine Tate Show as well as being nominated for an International Emmy Award and four BAFTA Awards...
) playing only a minimal role. For this reason Stephen James Walker has described this episode in his book Monsters Within as being "companion-lite", in his analysis of this episode's successor, the "Doctor-lite" episode "Turn Left
Turn Left (Doctor Who)
"Turn Left" is the eleventh episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by showrunner Russell T Davies and broadcast on BBC One on 21 June 2008....
".
Synopsis
While visiting the crystalline resort planet Midnight, the exposed surface of which is bathed in X-tonic radiation due to its close orbit around its sun, the DoctorDoctor (Doctor Who)
The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
is unable to persuade Donna
Donna Noble
Donna Noble is a fictional character played by Catherine Tate in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. A secretary from Chiswick, London, she is a companion of the Tenth Doctor, appearing in one scene at the end of the final episode of the 2006 series,...
to join him on a long shuttle bus trip to see the Sapphire Waterfall. The Doctor joins the other passengers on the shuttle; Professor Hobbes and his assistant Dee Dee, the Cane family (Biff, Val, and Jethro), and businesswoman Sky Silvestry. Upon departure of the shuttle the hostess attempts to start a cacophony of en route entertainment; the Doctor disables the entertainment system, and the rest of the passengers readily join him in casual conversation.
The cruiser unexpectedly stops mid-route, which the pilot suggests is caused by a problem with the micropetrol engines, and he issues a request for help. The Doctor suggests they raise the radiation shields briefly to take a look at the view, and as they close the shields, the technician claims to have spotted something moving outside. Soon, a rhythmic knocking starts on the hull of the shuttle, which then mimicks the patterns the passengers make on the walls. The knocking moves around the hull to where Sky is cowering; the shuttle is rocked briefly, causing the lights to fail, but when they return they find that the pilot cabin has been torn away, killing the pilots, and that Sky appears to be possessed amid an array of damaged seats.
The Doctor talks to Sky, but she appears able only to repeat the words he or the other passengers say. However, as they talk to her more the delay in her repetition decreases, to the extent that she eventually speaks at the same time as the other passengers. The other passengers become increasingly afraid of what has possessed Sky, and they start plotting to throw her out of the shuttle. The Doctor strongly opposes the idea and the passengers begin to accuse the Doctor; distrusting him for not revealing who he truly is. The Doctor realises that Sky is now repeating only his words, and turns back to Sky to try to help her. However, at his last sentence, Sky says it first, before the Doctor, and then begins to talk on her own. It is the Doctor that is now repeating Sky's words instead, causing the other passengers to think the possession has moved onto the Doctor. Though Sky tries to encourage the other passengers to throw the Doctor out of one of the airlocks, both the hostess and Dee Dee, and later Jethro, believe this to be the next stage of Sky's possession. When Sky uses words and phrases that the Doctor used at the start of the trip, the hostess realises that Sky is still possessed and drags her out of the other airlock, sacrificing herself in the process. With Sky gone, the Doctor regains his normal self while the other passengers come to grips with what happened. As they wait for rescue, the Doctor realises that no one knew the hostess's name.
At the spa, a mournful Doctor is reunited with Donna. When she repeats one of the Doctor's phrases, he quickly tells her not to.
Continuity
- Rose TylerRose TylerRose Marion Tyler is a fictional character portrayed by Billie Piper in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was created by series producer Russell T Davies...
appears briefly on one of the shuttle's television screens shortly after the lifeform attacks the transport, echoing a similar appearance in The Poison SkyThe Poison Sky"The Poison Sky" is the fifth episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 3 May 2008. The episode features both former companion Martha Jones and the alien Sontarans...
. In both instances, she silently shouts for the Doctor, who is not there to see the image in the first instance and is looking the opposite way in this episode. She also appears briefly in Partners in CrimePartners in Crime (Doctor Who)"Partners in Crime" is the first episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 5 April 2008. The episode reintroduced comedienne Catherine Tate as Donna Noble, who previously appeared in "The Runaway Bride"...
. Rose is also mentioned by the Doctor by name along with MarthaMartha JonesMartha Jones is a fictional character played by Freema Agyeman in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its spin-off series, Torchwood. She is a companion of the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who, replacing Rose Tyler...
and DonnaDonna NobleDonna Noble is a fictional character played by Catherine Tate in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. A secretary from Chiswick, London, she is a companion of the Tenth Doctor, appearing in one scene at the end of the final episode of the 2006 series,...
. In an early conversation with Sky about becoming recently single, the Doctor indirectly referred to Rose as one who "went to a different universe."
- This is the first story since 1975's Genesis of the DaleksGenesis of the DaleksGenesis of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was originally broadcast in six weekly parts from 8 March to 12 April 1975. It marks the first appearance of Davros, the creator of the Daleks.-Plot:...
where the TARDISTARDISThe TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
does not appear. - Two of the Tenth Doctor's common phrases are used to identify his voice: "allons-y" (French for "let's go") and "molto bene" (Italian for "very well" or "very good"), first used in Army of GhostsArmy of Ghosts"Army of Ghosts" is the twelfth and penultimate episode in the second series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who which was first broadcast on 1 July 2006...
and The Runaway BrideThe Runaway Bride (Doctor Who)"The Runaway Bride" is a special episode of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, starring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor...
respectively. - The location concept of an enclosed leisure palace on a deadly and lifeless but beautiful planet was used previously in The Leisure HiveThe Leisure HiveThe Leisure Hive is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 30 August to 20 September 1980.-Plot:...
. - Dee Dee tells the Doctor that she has written a paper on the lost moon of Poosh, the third reference to a missing planet in the series, after Adipose 3 in Partners in CrimePartners in Crime (Doctor Who)"Partners in Crime" is the first episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 5 April 2008. The episode reintroduced comedienne Catherine Tate as Donna Noble, who previously appeared in "The Runaway Bride"...
and Pyrovilia in The Fires of PompeiiThe Fires of Pompeii"The Fires of Pompeii" is the second episode of the fourth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 12 April 2008....
. All three disappearances are explained in episode 12 and reversed in episode 13 of the series: the planets were snatched out of time and space by DavrosDavrosDavros is a character from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Davros is an archenemy of the Doctor and is the creator of the Doctor's deadliest enemies, the Daleks...
and the Daleks. Whilst speaking to Sky, the Doctor also mentions the Medusa Cascade, where these planets were sent.
Production
This episode is the fiftieth episode filmed for the revived series, and was filmed at the same time as "Turn LeftTurn Left (Doctor Who)
"Turn Left" is the eleventh episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by showrunner Russell T Davies and broadcast on BBC One on 21 June 2008....
". Donna has a minor role in the episode (appearing in only the pre-credits sequence and the final scene), while the Doctor has a minor role in "Turn Left".
Cast notes
David TroughtonDavid Troughton
David Troughton is an English actor, best known for his Shakespearean roles on the British stage.- Biography :David Troughton was born in Hampstead, North London. He comes from a theatrical family: he is the son of Doctor Who actor Patrick Troughton, elder brother of Michael Troughton, and father...
, cast here as Professor Hobbes, was a late replacement for Sam Kelly
Sam Kelly
Sam Kelly is an English actor who has appeared in television, radio and theatre.-Career:He has had roles in British sitcoms such as Porridge as Bunny Warren, Allo 'Allo! as Captain Hans Geering leaving after series three, On the Up as Dennis Waterman's chauffeur and We'll Think of Something as Les...
, who broke his leg and had to withdraw from the production. Troughton joined the rest of the cast in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
with just two days notice. Now known for his stage work with the RSC
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
as well as television, he is the son of Patrick Troughton
Patrick Troughton
Patrick George Troughton was an English actor most widely known for his roles in fantasy, science fiction and horror films, particularly in his role as the second incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running British science-fiction television series Doctor Who, which he played from 1966 to 1969,...
, who portrayed the Second Doctor
Second Doctor
The Second Doctor is the second incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by character actor Patrick Troughton....
. He has had long association with series since the 1960s, appearing as an (uncredited) extra in the Second Doctor serial "The Enemy of the World
The Enemy of the World
The Enemy of the World is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in six weekly parts from 23 December 1967 to 27 January 1968...
", as Private Moor in the Second Doctor serial "The War Games
The War Games
The War Games is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in ten weekly parts from 19 April to 21 June 1969. It was the last regular appearance of Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor, and of Wendy Padbury and Frazer Hines as companions Zoe...
", and as King Peladon in the Third Doctor
Third Doctor
The Third Doctor is the third incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by actor Jon Pertwee....
serial "The Curse of Peladon
The Curse of Peladon
The Curse of Peladon is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 29 January to 19 February 1972.-Synopsis:...
". He has appeared in the Doctor Who audio dramas Cuddlesome
Cuddlesome
Cuddlesome is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was released free with issue 393 of Doctor Who Magazine. This has Peter Davison playing the Doctor....
, The Judgement of Isskar
The Judgement of Isskar
The Judgement of Isskar is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. -Plot:The Key to Time must be sought again, due to the Doctor's carelessness during its last assembling...
, The Destroyer of Delights
The Destroyer of Delights
Destroyer of Delights is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
, and The Chaos Pool
The Chaos Pool
The Chaos Pool is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. -Plot:...
. He is unrelated to the director of the episode, Alice Troughton
Alice Troughton
Alice Troughton is a British television director. Her work on Doctor Who makes her only the second person to direct episodes of Doctor Who, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures....
.
Colin Morgan
Colin Morgan
Colin Morgan is an actor from Armagh, Northern Ireland, best known for playing the title character in the BBC TV series Merlin. Morgan went to Integrated College Dungannon and, during his third year, won the 'Denis Rooney Associates' Cup awarded to the best overall student of that academic year...
, the young actor who guest stars as Jethro in this episode, has gone on to star as the lead character in the hit BBC series Merlin
Merlin (TV series)
Merlin is a British fantasy-adventure television programme by Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps. It began broadcasting on BBC One on 20 September 2008. The show is based on the Arthurian legends of the wizard Merlin and his relationship with Prince Arthur but differs from...
.
Daniel Ryan
Daniel Ryan (actor)
Daniel Ryan is an English actor and writer.He is known for starring as Darren Alexander in the BBC drama comedy Linda Green, Andrew Gilligan in The Government Inspector, Andy Coulson in Steel River Blues and Kenny Reed in The Whistleblowers...
(Biff Kane) had announced in a 2006 interview that he was going to ask Russell T Davies for a role in Doctor Who, as he wanted his children to see him acting on television in a programme that was not inaccessible. Ryan had a supporting role in the Davies created series Bob & Rose (starring Lesley Sharp
Lesley Sharp
Lesley Sharp is an English stage, film and television actress, particularly well known for her variety of British television roles including Clocking Off, Bob & Rose and afterlife.-Early life:...
), and Davies had previously written an episode of Linda Green
Linda Green
Linda Green is a British television comedy-drama series that lasted for two series, screened in 2001 and 2002. The twenty half-hour episodes were broadcast on BBC One and produced for the BBC by the independent Red Production Company....
which Ryan starred in. Ryan's former castmates Sean Gallagher and Claire Rushbrook
Claire Rushbrook
Claire Rushbrook is an English film and television actress best known for her lead and support roles in various episodic television series.-Background:...
had already appeared in Doctor Who.
Reception
"Midnight" was watched by 8.05 million viewers, a 38% share of the total television audience, making it the fifth most-watched programme of the week. The episode received an Appreciation IndexAppreciation Index
The Audience Appreciation Index is a score out of 100 which is used as an indicator of the public's appreciation for a television or radio programme, or broadcast service, in the United Kingdom. Until 2002, the AI of a programme was calculated by BARB, the organisation that compiles television...
score of 86 (considered Excellent).
The episode received a number of reviews in British national newspapers. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
s TV reviewer Sam Wollaston described the episode as "great... it's tense and claustrophobic, and gnaws away at you." He praised the fact that all the action happened in one confined space with an unseen enemy, saying "this is psychological drama rather than full-blown horror; creepy-unknown scary, not special-effect-monster scary." William Gallagher of Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
was generally positive about the episode, but he said he would have "liked just a beat more, just a tiny further step before the resolution; can't even tell you what was missing but I needed one more stage in the journey". IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Travis Fickett rated the episode 8.6 out of 10, commenting that it was "a nice change of pace" from the more complex and emotional two-parter that preceeded it. He thought the most successful aspect of the episode was the creature and praised the fact that it was "tightly written" and allowed the viewer to get to know the different passengers. The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
s reviewer Andrew Billen wrote that Tennant's Doctor was becoming "increasingly irritating", that the episode was "sheet upon sheet of dialogue" that "felt too much of a writing exercise to be really scary" and an example of how the 2008 series "fails as often as it succeeds". Billen praised the episode for its claustrophobic atmosphere and for showing the series was "not afraid of variety," but instead "dead scared of repetition".
Cultural references
- Dee Dee Blasco quotes, and the Doctor references, Christina RossettiChristina RossettiChristina Georgina Rossetti was an English poet who wrote a variety of romantic, devotional, and children's poems...
's poem "Goblin MarketGoblin Market"Goblin Market" is a narrative poem by Christina Rossetti. In a letter to her publisher, Rossetti claimed that the poem, which features remarkably sexual imagery, was not meant for children. However, in public Rossetti often stated that the poem was intended for children, and went on to write...
," excerpting the famous lines:
"We must not look at goblin men,
We must not buy their fruits:
Who knows upon what soil they fed
Their hungry thirsty roots?"
- The song that plays on the shuttle's entertainment system is "Do It Do It Again", by Raffaella CarràRaffaella CarràRaffaella Carrà , in Italy often simply known as la Carrà and in some Latin American countries sometimes simply as Raffaella, is an Italian singer, dancer, television presenter, and actress...
.