EYE OF HORUS - The independent DOCTOR WHO resource - link to front page
Link to EYE OF HORUS HOME Link to DOCTOR WHO NEW SERIES 7 Link to DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC SERIES Link to DOCTOR WHO NEWS Link to EXCLUSIVE COMPETITIONS + EDITORIAL FEATURES Link to REVIEWS - DVD + AUDIO + PRINT Link to AMAZON.CO.UK - DOCTOR WHO official store Link to SEARCH within eyeofhorus.org.uk
DOCTOR WHO SERIES ONE
SERIES ONE HOME - ABOUT THE SHOW
EPISODE GUIDE
DOCTOR WHO CONFIDENTIAL
PROMOTIONAL TV TRAILERS
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
MARCH-JUNE 2005
(aka DOCTOR WHO SEASON 27)
EPISODE GUIDE
SERIES 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2009/10 SPECIALS
SERIES 5 | 6 | 7 | 2013 SPECIALS
The Slitheen invade - but what do they want from Earth? How can Rose's Mum help and will the alien help in the washing-up?
05 - WORLD WAR THREE (Episode photos below)
 
"...a nuclear strike at the heart of the beast is our only
chance of survival. Because from this moment on
Planet Earth is at war..."

PLOTLINE (Continues from the previous week's episode)

London is under threat as a alien space-craft crashes in the River Thames next to the Houses of Parliament.

The Slitheen (from the planet Raxacoricofallapatrius) are here.

Thankfully, the Doctor is too.

EPISODE FIVE REVIEW Spoilers ahead

Ouch.

Ouch.

Ouch.

Poking your eye out with a sharp stick hurts.

Not as much as enduring the un-endearing Russell T Davies' scripted effort, WORLD WAR THREE.

Re-viewing the fifth episode of the NEW SERIES was never going to be relished but it has to be done as other eyeofhorus.org.uk regular contributors failed to step up to the mark.

However, rather like beach combing the sands of Cromer, within WORLD WAR THREE there are a few interesting finds. But you have to long and hard for them as there is more flotsam of junk parochial ideas and brick-a-brack of ropey acting than there are fresh concepts and ideology.

So, instead of the frayed elements of the production we should highlight the aspects that made the 45 minutes enjoyable to sit through.

There are two key elements that have resurrected the DOCTOR WHO brand to high-art (even elevated it to the level of mainstream cinema). Firstly, the computer generated effects and, secondly, the 'photographic direction' (in effect 'the cinematography').

The MillTV has continued to surpass all expectation of long-term fans, casual viewers and industry watchers with their stunning realisation of the unreal, the surreal and the plain ordinary.

The Nestene Consciousness was not fantastic but compared to the CLASSIC SERIES it was, and excuse the phrase, 'out-of-this-world'. In episode 2, Platform One (and the surrounding environment) was unexpectedly awe inspiring and matched output from Paramount's STAR TREK studios. It may have been very subtle, the manifestation of the Gelth creatures in THE UNQUIET DEAD was suitably effortlessly ethereal.

In WORLD WAR THREE, the MillTV is tested in creating the family Slitheen (harmonising the work of the on-set actors-in-rubber-suits) and making them suitably menacing and very alien. It worked. The CGI'ed Slitheen were agile yet 'weighted' (a process that maps and coordinates an animal's muscle positioning and bone structure) as they hunted through the corridors of power. Such diligence, care and attention to detail is rare in television today, and can only be found in motion pictures. Even the small detail of the aliens' eyelids blinking vertically was thoughtful, making for the first time the most complete DOCTOR WHO alien.

Additional footage treatment from MillTV added depth and reality (in this unreal world): the electrocution of the UNIT Experts was overly violent (fantastic!), as was the 'explosion' in Mickey's kitchen; the missile realisation was effortless.

Secondly, the reason why this NEW SERIES of DOCTOR WHO has been attracting plaudits has been the work of Ernie Vincze - the Director of Photography.

With WORLD WAR THREE, Vincze has little depth to work with - it all very domestic and, even worse, primarily set in 'day' (as opposed to 'night' as in THE UNQUIET DEAD) on contemporary Earth. Everything shot through the lens could be terribly flat and drained of colour (as life inevitably is.) but here London is swelteringly vibrant and tonally mature.

Interior and Exterior shots, location and studio recordings (read: warehouse) are seamless, which is something that the CLASSIC SERIES failed to address.

Credit must also go to the location coordinators for their input in securing time to film in London's Whitehall (a block down from the 'real' Downing Street) for the closing moments of the episode. Perhaps, once again, the words DOCTOR and WHO garner respect and open doors.

The approach of the NEW SERIES Producers has been wholly professional and focused in firstly presenting DOCTOR WHO as a BBC TV drama (as opposed to a children's sci-fi series) and secondly presenting the drama as mainstream family viewing. With AOL and WW3, it is only the content that fails to match that manifestation.

Overall, WORLD WAR THREE is a vast disappointment which can only be measured against the fact that this (along with its predecessor, ALIENS OF LONDON) was recorded first (in July 2004) and everyone was "finding the feet".

Things can only get better.

I hope.

 

Things to look out for...

DOCTOR WHO FOLKLORE The Doctor mentions the history of 10 Downing Street's history. In 1730, Mr Chicken lived there. In 1796, the Cabinet Room was assigned. In 1991, 3 inch steel plating was added to the exterior of the cabinet Rooms.

DOCTOR WHO FOLKLORE The TARDIS is revealed to have a telephone (in the style of a 1970s 'trill-design'). This is the same style of telephone "installed" in the Master's TARDIS (as shown in THE MIND OF EVIL).

DOCTOR WHO FOLKLORE The Doctor chokes back on the alcoholic sherry given to him by Harriet Jones MP after they have destroyed the marauding Slitheen.

TYPICAL HUMANS! Jackie Tyler calls a Slitheen, "a Slickeen!"

THE SLITHEEN FAMILY In the style of STAR TREK(in particular DEEP SPACE 9), the aliens featured are not called by their race monica but their designated name. Slitheen is their surname. The originate from the planet Raxacoricofallapatrius, and are killed by liquid Acetic Acid (it gets them in a pickle).

  • 'General Asquith' is actually called Jocrassa Fel Fotch Pasameer-Day Slitheen
  • 'Commander Strickland' is actually called Sip Fel Fotch Slitheen

CONTINUTY We're still checking.

 
Guns pointed at him, the Doctor is in a tight spot. No change there, then.
Another hot-spot needs to be extinguished. The Doctor with Rose Tyler and Harriet Jones (MP for Flydale North)
Jackie Tyler and Mickey Smith in a real kitchen sink drama - it's not pleasant!
How does Mickey Smith save the day?
A family business - waiting for a call !
Who ever said that politics wasn't explosive! Downing Street will never be the same again.
Yes, the TARDIS calls Rose's mobile. Product placement on DOCTOR WHO?
Thrill with a 'trill'. The Doctor telephones Rose from the TARDIS.
Review - Matthew Walter
EOH RATING



WORLD WAR THREE by RUSSELL T DAVIES
WORLD WAR THREE Directed by Keith Boak
CAST
DOCTOR WHO
Christopher Eccleston
ROSE TYLER
Billie Piper
HARRIET JONES MP
Penelope Wilton
MICKEY SMITH
Noel Clarke
JACKIE TYLER
Camille Coduri
MARGARET BLAINE
Annette Badland
GENERAL ASQUITH
Rupert Vansittart
INDRA GANESH
Navin Chowdhry
SPRAY PAINTER
Corey Doabe
JOSEPH GREEN MP
David Verrey
OLIVER CHARLES
Eric Potts
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND
Steven Speirs
SERGEANT PRICE
  Morgan Hopkins
REPORTERS
  Lachele Carl
Jack Tarlton
Himself
  Andrew Marr
PRODUCTION CREW
1st ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
George Gerwitz
2nd ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Steffan Morris
3rd ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Dafydd Rhys Parry
LOCATION MANAGER
Clive Evans
PROD.
CO-ORDINATOR
Dathyl Evans
PROD. ACCOUNTANTS
Debi Griffiths
Kath Blackman
CONTINUITY
Sian Prosser
SCRIPT EDITOR
Helen Raynor
Elwen Rowlands
CHOREGRAHPER
Ailsa Aliena-Bark
CAMERA OPERATOR
Mike Costello
Martin Stephens
FOCUS PULLERS
Steve Lawes
Mark Isaac
GRIP
John Robinson
SOUND RECORDIST
Ian Richardson
BOOM OPERATOR
  Damian Richardson
GAFFER
  Mark Hutchings
BEST BOY
  Peter Chester
STUNT
CO-ORDINATOR
  Rod Woodruff
PROD. BUYER
  Catherine Samuel
SET DECORATOR
  Peter Walpole
SUPERVISING ART DIRECTOR
  Stephen Nicholas
STAND-BY ART DIRECTOR
  Julian Luxton
PROPERTY MASTER
  Patrick Begley
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER
  Andy Smith
ASSISTANT COSTUME DESIGNER
  Yolanda Pearl-Smith
MAKE-UP SUPERVISOR
  Linda Davie
MAKE-UP ARTIST
  Sarah Wilson
CASTING ASSOCIATE
  Kirtsy Robertson
POST PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
  Marie Brown
ON LINE EDITOR
  Matthew Clarke
COLOURIST
  Kairan Beers
2D VFX ARTISTS
  Simon C Holden
David Bowman
Sara Bennett
Alberto Montanes
Jennifer Herbert
3D VFX ARTISTS
 

Andy Howell
Chris Tucker
Jean-Claude Dagnara
Mark Wallman
Paul Burton
Chris Potts
Porl Parrot

DIGITAL MATT PAINTER
  Alex Fort
DUBBING MIXER
  Tim Rickettts
DIALOGUE EDITOR
  Paul McFadden
SOUND FX EDITOR
  Paul Jefferies
BRAND MANAGER
  ian Grutchfield
BUSINESS MANAGER
  Richard Pugsley
CONCEPT ARTISTS
  Bryan Hitch
CASTING DIRECTOR
  Andy Pryor CDG
PRODUCTION MANAGER
  Tracie Simpson
PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT
  Endaf Emyr Williams
COSTUME DESIGNER
  Lucinda Wright
MAKE-UP DESIGNER
  Davy Jones
VISUAL EFFECTS
  THE MILL
VISUAL FX PRODUCER
  Will Cohen
VISUAL FX SUPERVISOR
  Dave Houghton
SPECIAL EFFECTS
  ANY EFFECTS
PROSTHETICS
  Millennium Effects
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
  Edward Thomas
EDITOR
  Mike Jones
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
  Ernie Vincze BSC
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
  Helen Vallis
SPECIAL MAKE-UP
  Neill Gorton
MODELS AND MINATURES
  Mike Tucker
INCIDENTAL MUSIC
  Murray Gold
ORIGINAL THEME MUSIC
  Ron Grainer
PRODUCER
  Phil Collinson
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
  Mal Young
Julie Gardner
Russell T Davies
DIRECTOR
  Keith Boak
  Produced by
BBC WALES
WRITER
  Russell T Davies
     
INFORMATION
BROADCAST DATE
23 April 2005
   
REPEATED DATE
24 April 2005
(BBC3 00:05-00:50 + 19:00-19:45)
   
FIRST RUN UK RATINGS (millions)

Unofficial Overnight Average: 7.26
Peak: 7.9
Audience Share: 38%

Official: 7.89 million

     
BBC3 REPEAT UK RATINGS (millions)
  Sunday 00:05am 24 April 2005 - 168,000

Sunday 19:00pm 24 April 2005 - 477,000
     
DVD RELEASE
  June 2005 (as part of Volume 2 boxset)

 

Online visitor hits since 13 April 2003

© www.eyeofhorus.org.uk 2015
(Extra © information visit here)

"DOCTOR WHO commentary since 1983"

Email us EDITORIAL EMAIL - We do not reply to emails

Follow us on TWITTER - eyeofhorus.org.uk on Twitter


Contact us - EDITORIAL EMAIL
Link back to HOME - EYE OF HORUS Link to DOCTOR WHO NEW SERIES 2 Link to CLASSIC SERIES 1963-96 Link to CURRENT NEWS Link to BIG FINISH AUDIO Link to EYE OF HORUS - EDITORIAL + GIVEAWAYS Link to DOCTOR WHO MERCHANDISE EMAIL - EOH cannot reply to all emails due to time restrictions