doctor episode series british science fiction television series doctor broadcast bbc april written directed episode alien time traveller doctor takes new companion far future discover remainder humanity planet live perpetual motorway underground highway system martha kidnapped doctor races find enters dangerous fast lane completes loose trilogy began end world new earth contains hints series story arc story designed doctor bring hope world production took place september october episode filmed studio large computer generated imagery appeared set cgi world location filming cardiff notably temple peace viewed million viewers received generally positive reviews critics plot doctor takes martha tardis year billion city planet end street traders selling mood patches help people deal emotions doctor talks martha kidnapped gun point young couple named vehicle explain pregnant needed adult passengers use fast lane promise drop martha reach destination miles away estimated years mentions rumours living fast lane saying cars seen doctor chases martha arrives motorway completely enclosed highway filled thousands stuck air begin affect doctor seeks refuge van wife doctor learns couple traffic road travelled short distance years helps doctor locate vehicle containing martha heading fast lane doctor tries police gets hold refuses family danger doctor decides try reach martha begins jump lane lane breaking sonic shortly doctor leaves enters van chasing martha drive fast lane begin hear strange noises nearby driver warns escape slow lanes eaten creatures live fast lane refuses doctor finding van fast lane looks discovers floor motorway filled monstrous crab like alien beings intelligent feral attempt capture eat fly fast lane doctor watches van nearly caught martha realises beings attracted light motion generated van cut power saves leaves minutes air van finally catches doctor senate building face waiting explains new mood drug called bliss proved addictive virus bliss drug airborne wiped entire surface population matter minutes motorway spared sealed keeping travellers constant traffic avoid telling real problem face wired system motorway operational doctor determines danger bliss caused long passed works try power systems motorway face sacrifices life energy system allowing ceiling motorway open doctor broadcasts drivers escape ceiling gives martha directions come find martha arrives doctor tending face face close death glass container shattered doctor tries encourage face live kinds knowing dying face final message doctor doctor martha leave doctor tells martha message meant martha knows doctor lying forces tell truth fills sound entire surviving population new new_york singing hymn explains martha time lord tells time war production writing trilogy began series end world series new earth green crescent seen mood patches previously appeared new earth head writer executive producer wanted visit world year maintain sense continuity hard doctor formula producer remarked displayed davies tendency write issues set dark future satire common traffic jam story bleak davies showed doctor transforms place literally opening sky bringing light davies hymns hope members motorway motorway sing old rugged cross hymn heard end episode episode displays doctor growing attachment martha feels guilty lying bringing realises misses taken davies stated based aspects anthology comic including businessman appearance judge comic books numbered mood patches parallel number coded mood controllers ninth doctor novel human davies confirms inspiration character homage featured similar character named online commentary davies noted appearance based cgi cat head virtual presenter early 1990s start episode based farming couple painting american gothic having identical glasses alice homosexual married couple featured doctor episode marks second appearance large race previously appeared second doctor serial previous intelligent state davies thought cute bring year old monster story missing contains important hints story arc series reveals great secret promised doctor face new earth face originally intended die new earth episode featured death meaning final words revealed time lords suggest face true identity captain filming filming block series experiment filming took place mid september early october episode uses largest complex cgi effects series far motorway entirely constructed cgi aside single car set time episode set inside cgi world revealed radio_times films fifth element star wars specifically planet influenced look episode completed particularly interior car scenes car set different car cars decorated look like lived incorporated futuristic known home objects children played real proved difficult direct production team shot days foot foot car davies called nightmare camera angles available crew member adjust props lighting time addition smoke generated car blend cgi smoke cgi cars small set intended benefit actors feel scene doctor jumps car car underside car built suspended feet car set green screen angles possible davies preferred action sequences moved scale seen television location temple studio news reporter production team spent days filming september doctor martha arrive filmed designed look disrepair artificial rain proved difficult shots production team trouble getting walls wet broadcast reception broadcast directly cup semi final bbc match gone extra time episode postponed following week overnight ratings showed episode watched million viewers increased time shifted viewers taken account placed second watched programme week bbc seventh overall received appreciation index ign rated calling great episode series particularly praised satire traffic jam acting use martha companion aid doctor loss sfx gave stars praised attention detail props department appearance concept traffic jam felt plot holes called actor played wooden slant_magazine reviewer wrote like episode viewing busy chaotic proper grip subsequent proved qualities backbone story initially wished stage positive calling end world new earth praised visual look episode despite finding ending life found possible plot hole wonders face didn open roof place dvd talk compared episode fine wine gets better age wrote episode contain stunning imagery motorway touching scenes doctor history doctor guide revival doctor interpreted meant realistic commented strength powerful theme motorists blind truth stated fun fast paced story lots comedic set pieces worked advantage appearance treat long time fans despite popularity later series episodes human nature family blood felt candidate season best story author called best episodes revived series particularly praising acting robot named fifth best tenth doctor episode
Gridlock (Doctor Who)