Doctor Who (2005)

Love & Monsters

Season 2, Episode 10, Aired 6/17/06

Episode Summary

Location: London, Earth
Date:2007
Enemy: The Abzorbaloff

Elton is an ordinary man, living an ordinary life, but it's soon totally upturned when he becomes obsessed with a man called The Doctor and his big blue box. It leads him to join a like minded group of people, and also leads him to Viktor Kennedy, a man unlike no other, who will soon destroy what little happiness he had... ''moreless

7.2

EPISODE RATING: Good

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Cast & Crew

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Billie Piper

Rose Tyler
David Tennant

The Tenth Doctor
Camille Coduri

Jackie Tyler

Fan Episode Reviews (57)

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It's a marmite episode, and much like marmite, I bloody love it.

10

"Perfect"

By Calumnw, Dec 16, 2011 Report Abuse

I definitely think this episode gets a highly undeserved bad wrap. It seems that a lot of - not all, mind you - the negative reception this episode receives stems from taking it simply at face value. And, granted, at face value it's very, very silly. But that doesn't make it bad by any means. It's very fun to watch and the comedy is intelligent without being smug.

However, that is only taking the episode at face value. Scratch the surface and it's a very deep, very moving character piece about how the Doctor effects human life as well as a social commentary on fandoms. It encourages us to celebrate life, even the stuff that has negative repercussions. Oh, and playing devil's advocate here, the Abzorbaloff is a BRILLIANT creation. Seriously. The script writers managed to combine a grotesque concept for a monster - as envisioned by a genius of a 9 year old - with a very silly character. It contrasts so well; the Abzorbaloff will absorb you, he'll take away your body, your ability to move, all to feed himself, and he just won't care. Worse than not caring, he'll also gurgle and stick his tongue out and laugh like a madman.

Overall, a brilliant episode. I hope it turns out to be the 21st century equivalent of City of Death; with negative reception when aired, but soon gaining the reputation of the hilarious and meaningful masterpiece it is.moreless

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Tried too hard.

7.6

"Good"

By ben-the-hen, Nov 11, 2011 Report Abuse

The writers and producers tried too hard to make this episdoe good. There was hardly any alien action, and if they were going to do the flashback thing, they should have gone all out instead of doing it a little bit and poorly.

There was way too much talking and we didn;t see as much as we eould have liked of the abzorbaloff eg. the alien in this episode.

There wasn't enough humour or fun moments in this episode. The writers tried to make it fun but a bit scary, and they didn't use Peter Kay to the full effect. He didn't really show off well.

Not too good.moreless

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2 0
I wish I never watched it.

1.5

"Abysmal"

By racxiu, Sep 27, 2011 Report Abuse

This episode is undoubtedly the worse episode of Dr Who I have ever seen. Boring and obvious story line
Not enough Doctor
Bad wolf virus. WTH?!
Characters I couldn't care less about
A very silly monster of the week
THAT STUPID CHASE SCENE
Jackie trying to seduce Elton Annoying voice of Ursula (ok maybe this is going a little overboard)

yep.

I do understand they were attempting to show a different side of the story. From a clueless, common person's POV.But it was very poorly executed. Thankfully this episode just happens to be an anomaly.

Uh ignore this area I needed to reach 100 word limit.d d s dmoreless

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5 5
I'm Peter Kay in a fat suit! I'm gonna absorb yer! rar!

2.0

"Terrible"

By TVsheep, Mar 19, 2011 Report Abuse

This was the worst episode of Doctor Who I have ever seen. (Even worse than Voyage Of The Damned). First of all, what the hell was that thing that only calmed down with cold water!!?? It would have been quite scary if it wasn't for the Benny Hill chase scene afterwards. Peter Kay playing a monster!? WHAT WAS THAT!? It wouldnt have been so awful if he'd have changed his voice when he was the abzorbaloff, or at least his accent. What we were left with was a comedian in a fat-suit, speaking in a yorkshire accent, farting and reading newspapers. Plus, the name of te monster. Abzorbaloff. I know it was designed by a little boy, but they could have changed the name couldnt they? Then there was desperate middle-aged husewife Jackie trying to seduce Elton (shudder) and his own attempt at being sexy ("It is hot. And its about to get hotter!").
Then they tried to use domestics in an already terrible storyline, followed by a comically stupid chase scene.
Then, to cap it all, Elton Claims to have a relationship with a bald head in a paving slab wearing glasses. (I don't want to know what the sex would be like).

A horrible episode.

Good night, and have a pleasant tomorrow.moreless

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9 3
The life and times of people besides the Doctor and Rose

10

"Perfect"

By fatfreeoreos, Aug 22, 2010 Report Abuse

I actually really liked this episode. It reminds me of Blink from season 3 and also Random Shoes from season 1 of Torchwood. I love episodes that go outside the usual genre, outside the usual cast. I like that outsider feeling, the reality of the world going on on around the main characters.

Elton was such a sweetheart and throughout the episode, I truly cared for him, no matter what was happening. He was a great camera personality and those cam scenes can be tough, but he pulled them off. He and Jackie made me laugh and then feel real bad. I liked his flashbacks too.

And the scenes that the Doctor and Rose were actually in were hysterical. I love the Scooby Doo-ness of the opening scene, and that she's more pissed at him for upsetting her mom than at the monster.

Of course, the monster was not the best one, but in the end it was unique and how Doctor Who-y is an Abzorbaloff? It kinda grossed me out, but then you get used to it.

All in all, not the best episode, but as it was written by Russel T Davies, it was really good in and of itself.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Clom, the home planet of the Abzorbaloff, is mentioned again in the series 4 episode The Stolen Earth as one of the 27 planets transported to the Medusa Cascade. Edit
- Music: Electric Light Orchestra - Mr Blue Sky Electric Light Orchestra - Don't Bring Me Down (performed by L.I.N.D.A) Edit
- Barney Harwood, the presenter of Totally Doctor Who, makes a cameo appearance in this episode. He is one of the market stool owners, when Elton first spots Jackie across the street. Edit
Notes
ADD NOTES
- International Airdates:
  Turkey: September 12, 2010 on CNBC-e Edit
- Both David Tennant (The Doctor) and Shirley Henderson (Ursula Blake) previously appeared in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as Barty Crouch, Jr. and Moaning Myrtle, respectively. Unlike in Harry Potter though, the two shared scenes here. Edit
- The final viewing figure for the BBC One airing of this episode was 6.66 million. Edit
Quotes
ADD QUOTES
- The Doctor: (talking to the monster) Here boy! Eat the food! Come on! Look at the lovely food! Isn't that nice? Isn't it? Yes it is - get out of here quickly - (refering to Elton) that's a boy how'd-ya-like-a-porky-chopy-then- I SAID RUN! (Rose comes running in with a blue bucket) Rose: Aaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!! The Doctor: Wrong one! You made it worse! Rose: You said blue! The Doctor: I said not blue! (Rose runs off) Edit
- The Abzorbaloff: And I'll return there (Clom, the Abzorbaloff's home planet), victorious, once I possess your travelling machine. The Doctor: Well, that's never gonna happen! Edit
- Elton: So, there you go. Turns out I've had the most terrible things happen. And the most brilliant things. And sometimes… well, I can't tell the difference. They're all the same thing. They're… just me. You know, Stephen King said once, he said 'salvation and damnation are the same thing'. And I never knew what he meant. But I do now. Cos the Doctor might be wonderful but… thinking back, I was having such a special time. Just for a bit. I had this nice little gang (brief clip of 'musical L.I.N.D.A.') and they were destroyed. It's not his fault. Maybe that's what happens if you touch the Doctor. Even for a second. I keep thinking of Rose and Jackie, and how much longer before they pay the price. Edit
Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS
- Elton: A quote by Stephen King. 'Salvation is Damnation'. Stephen King is a popular horror writer of the 20th century and the 21st century. He has written many books including Carrie, The Stand, and Salem's Lot and the popular series The Dark Tower. The quote is actually used in The Dark Tower Volume I: The Gunslinger Edit