The over-arching idea is nice. Mankind has to escape Earth due to some solar flares so pops into space for a nap until it all subsides. Along with the whole history of the human race. However they oversleep and some nasty huge insects get onboard their ark while they’re akip. Sadly, said insects have a grudge against mankind and a few of the early risers (along with our three heroes) have to battle them while the rest of humanity snooze on.
The Wirrn’s plan is actually quite unpleasant but I suppose a part of nature. In essence they are going to use the snoozing humans to feed their young’uns and use the Ark as a massive breeding plant. Again, I know this sort of thing goes on in nature however I suspect it put a few people off their dinner.
The story is quite dark I suppose but that is detracted by the fact it’s so light. It’s rare I worry about sets but the brightness of these does somehow undermine the darkness of the story. It would be like setting Alien on the Starship Enterprise, somehow. Half that film’s atmosphere came from the dark and I can’t help but feel this would have benefitted if it had been a lot dingier.
Other than the three main characters the story is quite badly scripted and dull. Harry, Sarah and The Doctor banter well though. The Doctor winding up Sarah is fun and Baker’s grin is always infectious. I adore these three together.
I sort of coast through this whenever I watch it, which I guess is a shame. I can’t put my finger on why. The monsters are a bit crap but that’s never really bothered me before. It may be just that I have issues supporting humanity in this. The humans are all just so dull I almost feel that if this is our future I’d rather we were used as fodder for a new generation of Wirrn.
So, yeah, in theory should be a very great story. But the execution somehow doesn’t work and we have that very specific “Just can’t put my finger on it” aspect.
6/10