The Beast Below (TV story)

The Beast Below
Doctor:	[[doctor::Eleventh Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Amy Pond
Main enemy:	The Smilers Hawthorne
Main setting:	Starship UK, 29th century
Key crew
Writer:	Steven Moffat
Director:	Andrew Gunn
Producer:	Peter Bennett
Release details
Story number:	204
Release number:	Series 5
Premiere broadcast:	10th April 2010
Format:	1 x 45 minute episode

The Beast Below is the second episode of Matt Smith's first series.

Synopsis

The Doctor takes Amy to the distant future, where she finds Britain in space. Starship UK houses the future of the British people, as they search the stars for a new home. But as Amy explores, she encounters the terrifying Smilers and learns a deadly truth inside the Voting Booth.

Plot

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Cast

• The Doctor - Matt Smith
• Amy Pond - Karen Gillan
• Liz 10 - Sophie Okonedo [3]
• Hawthorne - Terrence Hardiman [4]
• Morgan - Christopher Good[5]
• Timmy - Alfie Field [6]
• Peter - David Ajala [7]
• Mandy - Hannah Sharp
• Poem Girl - Catrin Richards
• Winder - Jonathan Battersby [8]
• Voice of Smilers \ Winder - Chris Porter [9]
• Winston Churchill - Ian McNeice

Crew

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References

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Story Notes

• The sinister 'Smilers' appeared in this episode, as confirmed in DWM Issue 419.
• The Story was set in the UK in the far future, floating in space.
• Like DW: The End of the World , this episode featured the Doctor taking a new companion into the distant future for her first trip in the TARDIS.
• In a short clip on the BBC's Doctor Who website, the Doctor says that in the 29th century the Earth was roasted with solar flares and that the human race had to migrate out into the stars.
• In the latest UK trailer, a shot of "Starship UK" was seen, showing what appeared to be skyscrapers with names of various counties of Britain on them. [10]
• This story leads directly into the next.
• Another crack could be seen at the very end of the story, continuing the new theme of cracks appearing throguhout the universe.

Ratings

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Filming Locations

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Rumours

• It was originally rumoured that Sophie Okonedo was to play the character called "Liz Ten" which then was rumoured to be "Queen Elizabeth X". Sophie Okonedo has now been confirmed to play The Masked Woman, So whether Sophie Okonedo is still meant to be "Liz Ten" or another actor to play this, is still to be revealed.
• Lady GaGa is rumoured to be mentioned in this Episode
• It is rumoured that The Doctor and Amy will be swallowed by a creature 'The Beast' and have to make the 'Beast' regurgitate then to escape. This is proven more likely with them both being drenched (wearing there wet clothes) in the trailer[11]. If this rumour is true, it is possible that 'The Beast' is a Space Whale [12].

Production errors

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Continuity

• A sign with Magpie Electricals can be seen, the brand was first created by Mr Magpie in DW: The Idiot's Lantern and has continued to appear in many stories set years later.
• The advent of the Earth being rendered uninhabitable by solar flares not long before the 30th century is a plot point previously featured in DW: The Ark in Space/The Sontaran Experiment.
• Winston Churchill calls the Doctor and the shadow of a Dalek are seen.
• Liz Ten is the queen of Starship UK. She mentions the Doctor being knighted and exiled by Queen Victoria (DW: Tooth and Claw) and his relationship with the "Virgin Queen" (DW: The End of Time), as well as Henry XVII and Liz 2.
• The Doctor tells Amy that there are no other Time Lords.
• The crack, previously seen on Amy's wall and the TARDIS' monitor, is seen on the side of Starship UK

DVD/Blu-Ray release

• BBC Video - Doctor Who Series Five - Volume One is scheduled for release on DVD and Blu-Ray on 7th June 2010 (UK only), featuring The Eleventh Hour, The Beast Below, Victory of the Daleks, and the featurette The Monster Diaries.

External Links

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