Utopia (TV story): Difference between revisions

== Synopsis ==

== Plot ==

== Cast ==

* [[Tenth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[David Tennant]]

* [[Martha Jones]] - [[Freema Agyeman]]

* [[Captain]] [[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]

* [[Yana|Professor Yana]]/[[War Master|The Master]] - [[Derek Jacobi]]

* [[Chantho]] - [[Chipo Chung]]

* [[Padra Toc Shafe Cane|Padra]] - [[Rene Zagger]]

* [[Lieutenant]] [[Atillo]] - [[Neil Reidman]]

* [[Futurekind Chieftain|Chieftain]] - [[Paul Marc Davies]]

* [[Guard (Utopia)|Guard]] - [[Robert Forknall]]

* [[Creet]] - [[John Bell]]

* [[Kistane Shafe Cane|Kistane]] - [[Deborah MacLaren]]

* [[Wiry woman|Wiry Woman]] - [[Abigail Canton]]

* {{Simm|n=The Master}} - [[John Simm]]

* [[Beltone Shafe Cane|Beltone]] - [[Adrian Walker]]

* [[Jate (Utopia)|Jate]] - [[Oliver Hopkins]]

* Guard at Desk - [[Kristian Arthur]]

* Guards - [[Lloyd Everitt]], [[Owen Prentice]], [[Ian Newbery]], [[Robert Price]], [[William Adrian]]

* Futurekind - [[Ken Hosking]], [[Chester Durrant]], [[Ruari Mears]], [[Jon Childs]], [[Alan Wadlam]], [[Kris Williams]], [[Edd Fleming]], [[Robert O'Neil]], [[Mark Early]], [[Rick Manning]], [[Liam Taborn]], [[Nathalie Cuzner]], [[Maddi Knibbs]], [[Cath McGowan]], [[Ellen Thomas]]

== Crew ==

== Worldbuilding ==

* Yana hears the voices of two of his incarnations, one of them calling him a [[fool]].

=== Individuals ===

* [[Rose Tyler]] is mentioned, including reference to the [[Battle of Canary Wharf]] and that she lives now in a [[Pete's World|parallel world]] with [[Mickey Smith]] and [[Jackie Tyler]].

* Yana asks how the Doctor could be a [[hermit]] with friends.

* Chantho became Yana's assistant [[99999999999983|17 years ago]].

=== Timeline ===

* The Doctor lists the years [[1000000000|1,000,000,000]], [[5000000000|5,000,000,000]], [[5000000000000|5,000,000,000,000]], and [[50000000000000|50,000,000,000,000]] as the TARDIS accelerates into the [[far future]] until it finally settles at the end of the universe.

=== Time Lords ===

* Yana is an acronym of the [[Face of Boe]]'s last words "You Are Not Alone."

* The Time Lords never travelled far enough to see the [[End of the Universe]].

== Story notes ==

* This episode is part of a continuous arc that begins in the ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'' episode ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]'', develops in the Torchwood episode ''[[End of Days (TV story)|End of Days]]'', switches over to ''[[Doctor Who]]'' in this one, continues in ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]],'' ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'' and'' [[Time Crash (TV story)|Time Crash]], ''before ending in ''[[Voyage of the Damned (TV story)|Voyage of the Damned]]''.

* This episode marks the start of the first three-part story since ''[[Survival (TV story)|Survival]]'', which also featured the Master. In terms of actual screen time, it is actually more the equivalent of an old-style six-part episode, making this the first story of that sort since 1985's since ''[[The Two Doctors (TV story)|The Two Doctors]]'', which was also a three-part story consiting of 45-minute episodes. Additionally, while there are multiple other stories that could be and sometimes are considered as three-parters in the revived series, the story starting here is the only one generally numbered as such by official sources.<ref>While the BBC does not itself officially designate which episodes in the revived series should be counted together, it typically tends to use the numbering system employed by [[Doctor Who Magazine]] when the need to number stories arises, such as [[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|when promoting milestones]], or in episode guides.</ref>

* This episode was not originally promoted as being connected to the finale two-parter.

* This episode shows flashbacks from ''[[The Parting of the Ways (TV story)|The Parting of the Ways]]'', ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'', ''[[Gridlock (TV story)|Gridlock]]'', and ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]''.

* Each sentence heard from the watch were spoken by [[Derek Jacobi]] and [[Roger Delgado]] respectively, the latter taken from an audio clip from classic series episode ''[[The Dæmons (TV story)|The Dæmons]]'', wherein the Master is bargaining with Azal and utters the line “Destroy Him! And you will give your power to me!”. The chuckle is [[Anthony Ainley]]'s trademark laugh from his classic series appearances, though it is not (currently) known which specific episode the audio clip is taken from. Delgado and Ainley (both now deceased) portrayed the Master. [[Eric Roberts]] gave permission to use audio of him as the Master from the ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'' TV movie but Fox refused permission, so the clip was cut.

* [[Graeme Harper]]'s penchant for including a distorted image of a main character is present in this story. Though not included in every single story he's directed for [[BBC Wales]], it's seen often enough to be considered something of a directorial "signature". Similar distortion is achieved through the use of other magnifying glasses in ''[[The Unicorn and the Wasp (TV story)|The Unicorn and the Wasp]]'' and ''[[Army of Ghosts (TV story)|Army of Ghosts]]'', a curved window in ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'', and with mirrors in ''[[Turn Left (TV story)|Turn Left]]''. This time, it's the Master that's under the magnifying glass.

* For the first time, three names are presented in the opening credits; prior to this only the Doctor and his "current" companion's names were ever displayed, even when the series featured other actors as companions, such as Barrowman and [[Noel Clarke]]. Hereafter, most guest companions, such as the returning Martha Jones in ''[[The Sontaran Stratagem (TV story)|The Sontaran Stratagem]]'' and the multiple companions of ''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]'' / ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'' receive similar credit treatment.

* This story features the second regeneration scene in which the Time Lord subject is shown to be standing, and the first time in the revived series where a Time Lord other than the Doctor visibly regenerates.

* This is the sixth televised ''Doctor Who'' story which actually shows a [[regeneration]] occurring within [[the Doctor's TARDIS]]. It was preceded by ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'', ''[[Destiny of the Daleks (TV story)|Destiny of the Daleks]]'', ''[[The Caves of Androzani (TV story)|The Caves of Androzani]]'', ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]'', and ''[[The Parting of the Ways (TV story)|The Parting of the Ways]]''. Additionally, ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'' implies, and [[COMIC]]: ''[[The Night Walkers (comic story)|The Night Walkers]]'' confirms, that the regeneration resulting in the [[Third Doctor]] actually occurred in the TARDIS as well. Since then, ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'', ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'' and ''[[Twice Upon a Time (TV story)|Twice Upon a Time]]'' have all shown regenerations occurring in the TARDIS.

* The Master last appeared on-screen in ''[[Scream of the Shalka (webcast)|Scream of the Shalka]]'', where Derek Jacobi also played another incarnation of the Master.

* Just before the start of the opening credits, the scene shifts from showing Jack clinging onto the TARDIS as it flies through the vortex to the Futurekind preparing for a human hunt. According to the DVD commentary, this had to be done, otherwise the opening credits — showing the TARDIS flying through the vortex — would have felt out of place without Jack being seen clinging to the outside. David Tennant and [[Russell T Davies]] joke that they could have re-made the titles with Jack clinging onto the TARDIS and that a "special edition" may be released in the future with a computer-generated Captain Jack attached to the TARDIS.

** Fans have created fan-edits of the opening sequence including Jack Harkness clinging on, which are available to see on such sites as [[YouTube]].

* The keyboard Chantho uses is a keyboard for [[Japanese language|Japanese]] {{wi|hiragana}}.

* This is the first episode to identify the severed hand Jack possesses as belonging to the Doctor.

* Captain Jack last appeared in ''Torchwood'' episode ''[[End of Days (TV story)|End of Days]]''. This episode continues directly from the end of that episode, which had been first broadcast six months earlier. He last appeared in ''Doctor Who'' itself in ''[[The Parting of the Ways (TV story)|The Parting of the Ways]]''.

* This is the first time in the revived series that the Doctor uses his [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdriver]] in a vertical fashion, reminiscent of his old sonic screwdrivers.

* ''[[Doctor Who Adventures]]'' [[DWA 22|issue 22]] mentions the Doctor and Martha "discovering" Utopia, suggesting that it is a real place.

* [[John Bell]], who played [[Creet]], entered a ''[[Blue Peter]]'' competition to appear in this episode. He was notified by phone by [[Russell T Davies]] that he had beat out 8,000 other competition applicants to appear on the program.

* Jack's immortality is finally explained: when [[Rose Tyler]] as the [[Bad Wolf (entity)|Bad Wolf]] resurrected him, she couldn't control the power and brought him back forever as a living fixed point in time.

* The Doctor learned to make the TARDIS inaccessible to anyone other than himself and his companions after this story. For instance, he leaves it one second out of sync with the rest of time in ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'' and bio-locks any potential thieves out of it in ''[[The Eaters of Light (TV story)|The Eaters of Light]]''.

* Upon first meeting, the Doctor ask Jack if he's "had work done". [[John Barrowman]], by his own admission, had some minor botox done around his eyes, probably during the year and a half between his appearances on this series.

* At one point, Jack was to explain that the Doctor's hand had been recovered from a newsagent's roof.

* [[Chipo Chung]] said that playing Chantho was "the most fun she'd had in front of the camera".

* [[John Barrowman]] performed the stunt where Jack leaps onto the TARDIS on his birthday.

* The firearm of choice at the end of the universe, some when beyond the year 100 Trillion, is the AK-47.

* [[David Tennant]] and [[Derek Jacobi]] both played [[Hamlet]]. Tennant in 2009's Royal Shakespeare production in Jacobi in the BBC's 1980 version, ''Hamlet: Prince of Denmark''.

* This marks the second time that [[Derek Jacobi]] has played the Master, having previously portrayed the character in ''[[Scream of the Shalka (webcast)|Scream of the Shalka]]''. [[David Tennant]] had an uncredited role in that production as a caretaker.

* When the Doctor and Martha find Jack unconscious outside the TARDIS, a brief moment of the theme from ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'' is heard.

* The Doctor's response to the Master asking him to "use my name" was originally intended to reveal who Yana really was, but the writing team decided it would be a pity to have [[Derek Jacobi]] not be able to utter his catchphrase during his brief stint as the character.

=== Ratings ===

* 7.3 million viewers - Overnight

* 0.82 million viewers - [[BBC Three]] Sunday repeat

* 7.84 million viewers - Final BARB ratings<ref>[http://guide.doctorwhonews.net/info.php?detail=ratings&start=100&type=date&order= Doctor Who - consolidated ratings]</ref>

=== Filming locations ===

* Trident Park - Cardiff Bay

* Wenvoe Quarry - Cardiff

* Argoed Quarry - Llanharry

* Roald Dahl Plass - Cardiff

=== Production errors ===

* When Jack goes through the time vortex, he clings onto the TARDIS. At the start the windows are clearly blue, reflecting the vortex, but when zoomed out, they are white.

* When Martha and the Doctor emerge from the TARDIS, it is briefly seen to be raining. This stops as they find and approach Captain Jack's body.

* Captain Jack's hair is noticeably different from the style he sported in the final scene of ''[[End of Days (TV story)|End of Days]]''.

== Continuity ==

* When Martha asks about the [[Cardiff Earthquake]], the Doctor claims that he "had a little trouble with the [[Slitheen]]." Additionally, he claims he was a "[[Ninth Doctor|different man]]" back then. ([[TV]]: ''[[Boom Town (TV story)|Boom Town]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Cardiff Earthquake (short story)|Cardiff Earthquake]]'')

* Jack isn't fazed by the idea of regeneration, having previously met the [[Sixth Doctor]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Piece of Mind (audio story)|Piece of Mind]]'')

* Jack scoffs at the Doctor for asking if he's had any cosmetic work done, referring to the Doctor having regenerated since he last saw him. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Parting of the Ways (TV story)|The Parting of the Ways]]'') [[Cassandra O'Brien.Δ17|Cassandra]] made a similar remark when she saw the Tenth Doctor, ([[TV]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'') believing the [[Ninth Doctor]] underwent plastic surgery since their last encounter. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of the World (TV story)|The End of the World]]'')

* Jack refers to the human race as "[[fantastic]]", to the delight of the Doctor. ([[TV]]: ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]] ''- ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'')

* [[Yana]] tells the Doctor that he hears "the sound of drums". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'', ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'', ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')

* Yana states that he was found naked on the banks of the [[Silver Devastation]], which is also where some believed the [[Face of Boe]] was from. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of the World (TV story)|The End of the World]]'')

* Yana hears a phrase in the voice of a previous incarnation of {{Delgado}} whilst being tempted by the [[chameleon arch]] [[biodata module]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Dæmons (TV story)|The Dæmons]]'')

* The Doctor had also previously referred to the [[Human|human race]] as "indomitable" during his [[Fourth Doctor|fourth incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Ark in Space (TV story)|The Ark in Space]]'')

* The Doctor previously referred to himself as a [[doctor]] of "practically everything" during his [[Third Doctor|third]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'') [[Fifth Doctor|fifth]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Four to Doomsday (TV story)|Four to Doomsday]]'') and [[Ninth Doctor|ninth]] ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Cruel Sea (comic story)|The Cruel Sea]]'') incarnations. Here, he drops the word "practically".

* The Doctor says that not even the [[Time Lord]]s had ever [[Time travel|travelled]] this far into the future. The [[Fifth Doctor]] revealed that there was a rule among the Time Lords that they mustn't travel beyond a certain time. ([[TV]]: ''[[Frontios (TV story)|Frontios]]'') In fact, when the [[Eighth Doctor]] attempted to travel to the end of the universe, he was prevented from doing so because it was forbidden. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Great War (audio story)|The Great War]]'')

* Jack isn't the first to grab onto the exterior of [[the TARDIS]] as it dematerialises. [[Father Kreiner]] also managed this in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Interference - Book Two (novel)|Interference - Book Two]]''.

* The Doctor states that [[Cardiff Space-Time Rift|the Rift]] had recently been active. This was due to [[Owen Harper]] activating [[Torchwood Three]]'s [[Rift Manipulator|rift manipulator]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]/[[End of Days (TV story)|End of Days]]'')

* The Doctor has had his TARDIS stolen before. ([[TV]]: ''[[Blink (TV story)|Blink]]'')

== Home video releases ==

* This story was released along with ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]'' and ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'' on the Series 3 Volume 4 DVD.

* It was also released as part of the series 3 box set.

== External links ==

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/episodes/2007/311.shtml Official BBC Website - Episode Guide: '''Utopia''']

== Footnotes ==