It is new but also an extension of its ability to project a gravitational field as shown in "Horns of Nytol" -- er, "Nimon." The circumstances are even similar (remember the Doctor telling Soldeed someone was "building a black hole on your doorstep").
I liked "The Satan Pit." Especially how Rose has finally gained enough experience and confidence to take charge in the Doctor's absence (cf. "Christmas Invasion," when, however, she was distraught). This feels exactly right to me and justified the Doctors faith in her as a partner. As has been said before in these forums, Billie Piper kicks ass. The Doctor's dilemma and the plan that the prisoner had evolved made sense to me, and the Doctor's knowledge that everyone might die no matter what he did seemed powerful to me.
The acting by the guest stars in both these episodes was excellent, and I also liked seeing a "gritty" space environment that didn't particularly remind me of "Alien."
I know saying all this will cause CV to label me a patsy, but despite certain misgivings about what's already been noted as a certain Pertweeish edge of smugness that's creeping into the production, I've having a lot of fun with season two.
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