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ladyofleithian...and it was really well-done! Loved it. :)
I will admit that the Ood have always been my favorites since they first appeared in "The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit", but this episode really did a great job in taking these creatures and fleshing them out more. I know the revelation about the Ood basically being lobotomized was really frightening and heartwrenching to see, and stuff like the scene with the "customized translator" (which seems funny at first -- I think it's the Comedy Classic that kind of makes me smile -- but once you learn what happens to put in that translator...yeah) takes on a harsher edge after you see what goes to make the Ood docile. And the most frightening and infuriating part about this, all of it, is how the man running the operation judges it as, basically, "We're doing the Ood a favor! They were nothing before we came along!" And so on and so forth. It's a really common sort of mentality others use to justify oppressing certain races (and sexes, for that matter), and generally those who seem "inferior". It's frightening because in a way, I can picture something like that actually happening. It's a very powerful commentary on the nature of slavery and what has to go into a sort of mentality like that, not just slavery but any form of cruelty -- everyone has justifications for their actions, and that's what makes it so frightening. I think if they really realized what they were doing, I don't think they would be able to bear it.
The villain of the episode himself was very well-done, very well-played. He wasn't a cackling lunatic; if nothing else, he was played as very matter-of-fact (save for that one moment he pours his drink on the Ood brain, which later comes back to bite him -- although pretty much everything about that drink comes back to bite him), all while being completely awful at the same time. Stuff like killing that one "Friends of the Ood" guy, and other things -- his punishment, while admittedly gruesome, is also very fitting. Being turned into an Ood himself, becoming that which he used to oppress -- all while Ood Sigma was playing his "docile servant" role to the max. I guess my only question is what happens to him after he becomes an Ood, really.
Other disturbing/heartrending parts of the episode included the Doctor and Donna witnessing the Ood being marched out as slaves, as well as that one man whipping one of the fallen Ood. Donna's disgusted reaction doesn't help -- it also breaks your heart, really, and paints a whole new layer of Harsher in Hindsight regarding their first appearance in "The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit". Also, Donna hearing the Song of the Ood. I know that when she started crying and asking the Doctor to take it away -- and Jesus, imagine what it must be like for the Doctor, hearing it all the time. I mean, all this knowledge, all these sounds and such...just Jesus. 0.0 -- my eyes got kind of watery. I also liked the conversation between the Doctor and Donna in regards to, basically, "Where do you think your clothes came from, Donna?" And Donna expressing her hesitation to stay at first -- I'm glad she stayed, though. I also loved the Ood, for the first time, breaking the circle and singing. Just...amazing, beautiful moment. And Ood Sigma vowing to not forget the Doctor and Donna.
I also loved early in the episode Donna expressing compassion for one of the dying Ood. It's really one of many reasons I love Donna, really. :) And her joking around with the Doctor prior to that about him having a box while the rocket guy has a Ferrari. Honestly, there were a lot of great parts in the episode. Seriously.
So overall? Amazing. Definitely recommended.
I will admit that the Ood have always been my favorites since they first appeared in "The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit", but this episode really did a great job in taking these creatures and fleshing them out more. I know the revelation about the Ood basically being lobotomized was really frightening and heartwrenching to see, and stuff like the scene with the "customized translator" (which seems funny at first -- I think it's the Comedy Classic that kind of makes me smile -- but once you learn what happens to put in that translator...yeah) takes on a harsher edge after you see what goes to make the Ood docile. And the most frightening and infuriating part about this, all of it, is how the man running the operation judges it as, basically, "We're doing the Ood a favor! They were nothing before we came along!" And so on and so forth. It's a really common sort of mentality others use to justify oppressing certain races (and sexes, for that matter), and generally those who seem "inferior". It's frightening because in a way, I can picture something like that actually happening. It's a very powerful commentary on the nature of slavery and what has to go into a sort of mentality like that, not just slavery but any form of cruelty -- everyone has justifications for their actions, and that's what makes it so frightening. I think if they really realized what they were doing, I don't think they would be able to bear it.
The villain of the episode himself was very well-done, very well-played. He wasn't a cackling lunatic; if nothing else, he was played as very matter-of-fact (save for that one moment he pours his drink on the Ood brain, which later comes back to bite him -- although pretty much everything about that drink comes back to bite him), all while being completely awful at the same time. Stuff like killing that one "Friends of the Ood" guy, and other things -- his punishment, while admittedly gruesome, is also very fitting. Being turned into an Ood himself, becoming that which he used to oppress -- all while Ood Sigma was playing his "docile servant" role to the max. I guess my only question is what happens to him after he becomes an Ood, really.
Other disturbing/heartrending parts of the episode included the Doctor and Donna witnessing the Ood being marched out as slaves, as well as that one man whipping one of the fallen Ood. Donna's disgusted reaction doesn't help -- it also breaks your heart, really, and paints a whole new layer of Harsher in Hindsight regarding their first appearance in "The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit". Also, Donna hearing the Song of the Ood. I know that when she started crying and asking the Doctor to take it away -- and Jesus, imagine what it must be like for the Doctor, hearing it all the time. I mean, all this knowledge, all these sounds and such...just Jesus. 0.0 -- my eyes got kind of watery. I also liked the conversation between the Doctor and Donna in regards to, basically, "Where do you think your clothes came from, Donna?" And Donna expressing her hesitation to stay at first -- I'm glad she stayed, though. I also loved the Ood, for the first time, breaking the circle and singing. Just...amazing, beautiful moment. And Ood Sigma vowing to not forget the Doctor and Donna.
I also loved early in the episode Donna expressing compassion for one of the dying Ood. It's really one of many reasons I love Donna, really. :) And her joking around with the Doctor prior to that about him having a box while the rocket guy has a Ferrari. Honestly, there were a lot of great parts in the episode. Seriously.
So overall? Amazing. Definitely recommended.
