psychological fear, there is no need for CGI, the creature is terrifying without special effects or physical appearance
study of identity,
the things which are usually assets/no problem for the doctor are subverted, i.e. him turning up out of the blue instead of pre-booking, his intelligence, mucking about with machinery, using a fake name (Nobody’s called John Smith, he’s lying!) him taking authority and assuming leadership of the situation, him asserting himself over other people- all of it is used against him and makes him suspicious in their eyes
mob mentality, fear of the unknown, the ugliness of humanity, people seeing what they want to see/confirmation bias
study of ethics- is it right to kill this creature just because we’re scared? how it becomes easier and easier for them to decide to kill the further they go, first the creature then the doctor and then dee dee are all turned against- the value of life is lost as they lose their morality in fear
it’s an excellent study in characterisation, every single one of the passengers has a distinct personality and flaws and are morally grey; even dee dee who is very logical and sees what’s really going on tells everyone about the 6 second delay on the doors which would make it possible to kill someone, because she just wants to go home. and then at the end when she knows exactly what’s happening, instead of intervening she shrinks into a corner blocking it all out
‘We must not look at goblin men’ it’s my favourite poem lol
the doctor is completely powerless, his voice is his strength and that is taken away from him completely
the importance of the ordinary, individual. if it wasn’t for the hostess’ sacrifice the doctor would have been murdered, and the ironic thing is that she was the one who suggested throwing someone out in the first place. and nobody even knew her name.
david’s acting when he’s possessed is excellent
the subtle way in which the creature manipulates the other passengers after subduing the doctor, using male pronouns to describe the entity turns the fear towards him after they’d all been using ‘she/it’ and how she puts words into his mouth by saying them
VAL: Stop. Oh, my God, make him stop. Someone make him stop.
DEE DEE: But she’s saying it!
VAL: And you can shut up.
DEE DEE: But it’s not him, it’s her. He’s just repeating.
the dialogue is excellent, the tension is well crafted, all the technical stuff- practically the entire episode is show in one tiny set
the little details which we never find out- what is the creature, what was its intent? is it still alive, seeing as it existed in the deadly sunlight before entering the vehicle? how did it survive on a planet which supposedly can not support life? what does Sky mean by ‘She said she’d get me!’ when she is being driven insane with fear?
‘I said it was her.’ gahhhh Val
Sky’s sexual orientation being normalised
‘The pool is abstract!’ ‘The lost moon of poosh!’ ‘Chicken or beef? I think it’s both.’- all the little interactions of the passengers when they are forced to interact after the entertainment breaks down
Rose’s face on the monitor, ‘I had a friend who went to a different universe. ’ heeeee
