My First Planet is a BBC 4 sitcom released in 2012. Set on a newly founded space colony, Brian Palmer (Nicholas Lyndhurst) finds himself thrust into the role of base commander when the original postholder dies in a cryosleep accident.
Brian's fairly convivial approach is often challenged by the ruthless Dr. Lillian Pointer (Vicki Pepperdine), who is in charge of Project Adam, which intends to create the first child fully conceived and birthed in space. Unfortunately, the assigned Adam and Eve, Richard and Carol, only lied about being a couple to get into space. Other characters include Archer, a self proclaimed "empath", and Mason, the thoroughly amoral Head of Science.
Tropes:
- Adam and Eve Plot: Carol and Richard were sent into space to serve as the parents for Project Adam, but they only lied about being a couple, and refuse any attempts by Lillian to change their minds.
- Affably Evil: More "affably amoral" than evil as his intent never seems to be malicious but Mason constantly engages in morally dubious behaviour in pursuit of his experiments. Despite this he is generally quite friendly and helpful to the other members of the colony.
- Butt-Monkey: Usually Richard, but Brian also frequently qualifies.
- Deadly Doctor: Lillian. Though she doesn't set out to harm people, her first response at any sign of resistance is a very sharp syringe.
- Deadpan Snarker: Mason will often respond to the ludicrous events going on around him with a dry, sarcastic comment.
- Did Not Think This Through: The cryosleep system requires each person to be locked in. Unfortunately the system isn't automated, which means there is no one left to seal in the original base commander.
- The Empath: Archer. Only he really isn't.
- Evil Genius:
- More of an amoral genius, but Mason has no issues with creating a human being with no real brain function so that it can be used as a living organ bank.
- Lillian is referred to as such (by Mason of all people) when she attempts to manipulate Carol into mating with Archer via mind-altering chemicals.
- Future Slang: In one episode Richard begins speaking in this fashion after an implementation experiment by Lillian, which quickly spreads among the base.
- Harmless Lady Disguise: The colony’s head of security has secreted himself among the colonists in disguise as a ditzy young woman.
- Hidden Depths:
- Archer turns out to be rather good at script writing.
- Scalding, a clone designed to be unintelligent, is revealed to be a talented hair stylist.
- Immoral Journalist: Richard becomes one when he is put in charge of the colony news-sheet. He exaggerates stories to make them more interesting, takes photographs of colony members in private moments without their permission and outright causes problems within the base in order to report on them.
- Insistent Terminology: It's Dr. Lillian Pointer. Any other form of address earns a very terse correction.
- Large Ham: The poet Hopkin, in classic booming style.
- The Load: Richard seems to have very few useful skills and was only brought on the mission because he and Carol lied about being a couple.
- Not So Above It All: The usually no-nonsense Lillian is a fan of surveillance footage television along with the rest of the base (except Brian) to the point where she is willing to stage a passionate love scene with Mason to add more drama to the proceedings. She also giggles at schoolteacher Miss Botting's surname.
- Obliviously Evil: Mason constantly flouts most morals and ethics in pursuit of his experiments such as engineering a human clone to farm for organs. However he seems to be something of a high-functioning sociopath and simply does not understand why his actions are considered immoral. He often expresses genuine surprise when people call him out on his behaviour.
- Only One Name: Other than Brian and Lillian, everyone is known only by either by their surname or forename.
- Posthumous Character: Burrows, the former base commander, has died prior to the series beginning.
- Powered Armour: Mason develops a mechanical "Personal Environment Suit" in order to avoid contracting a cold virus.
- Running Gag: At least twice an episode Lillian will threaten to (or actually) inject someone with a syringe. Or demand that they strip Brian of his duties, regardless of whether the recent calamity has had anything to do with him or not.
- Sword Fight: Archer engineers one between Brian and Mason in order to make the base security camera footage more exciting.
- Take That!: In one episode the crew becomes obsessed with watching security camera footage of events around the colony and eventually attempt to manufacture drama in order to make it more interesting. This scenario is essentially poking fun at reality television in general and specifically at producers trying to generate more interest via scripted events.
- Worthy Opponent: When Lillian and Miss Botting realise they have both been working towards the same goal, the congratulate each other... though the sentiment is quickly ended when Lillian takes advantage of Miss Botting's cold to put her into quarantine.
