We Don't Need Two Metaphors

A superb finale that provides satisfying resolution and generates fevered anticipation for the show's 50th anniversary After what's been an unspectacular run of episodes, there was a lot of pressure resting on this episode, show runner Steven Moffat and this season as a whole. Thankfully this episode not only ensured this season's place in the show's history, but it re-invigorated the show just in time for its 50th anniversary. Within the ramblings of mad man, Madame Vastra hears a word that she knows to hold a great significance to The Doctor; Trenzalore. She calls together a group of The Doctor's closest friends to help him in his hour of need. It's a low-key opening that neatly brings the characters together and establishes the significance of the threat. The Whispermen, all teeth and no eyes, rudely interrupt the conference. If we were in any doubt of the raised stakes, the Whispermen kill Jenny without a second's thought. Although she is ultimate...

Neil Gaiman's second Doctor Who episode is lazy, irritating and uninspiring.  Last week's The Crimson Horror  ended on an unexpected note. Clara's time travelling exploits had been uncovered by Angie and Artie, demanding a trip in the TARDIS in exchange for their silence. The biggest worry with children on TV shows is that they can be terribly annoying and are often used to initiate plot strands. In The Walking Dead , Rick and Lori's son Carl was forever wandering off and turning up at the most opportune moment, often at the expense of any character development. Sadly Neil Gaiman falls into that exact trap. Thinking he's onto a winner, The Doctor takes Angie and Artie to the biggest theme park in the universe, Hedgewick's World Of Wonders. Well it used to be, but the planet has since been quarantined after several attacks from Cybermen. When The Doctor is partially upgraded by the mysterious Cyber Planner, he has to battle the Cyber Planner in a game of ...

A very silly, strange and lightweight episode that's a whole lot of fun A few weeks ago, Mark Gatiss delivered his best Doctor Who  episode to date ( Cold War ). The Crimson Horror , whilst not perfect, is now the owner of that accolade. Set in 19th Century Yorkshire, The Crimson Horror  is an unrestrained slice of twisted fun. Bodies are turning up in the river, except the flesh on the bodies has developed a deep red colouring. Local factory owner Mrs Gillyflower (Diana Rigg) is offering the chance of salvation from this disturbing fate, which has been dubbed the Crimson Horror by the people, in her idyllic village compound known as Sweetville; a place where only the best are welcome. Past seasons of Doctor Who  have attempted to lighten the workload of the Doctor and his companion by writing episodes which feature only one of the pair e.g. Midnight , Turn Left  or episodes which leave them out of the action for most of the running time e.g. Blink . This...

A nerd-tastic set up manages to stay the right side of plausible With any story which explores a previously unexplained aspect of a show's mythology, there's always the possibility that whatever revelation that is made will anger more than it might please. Or to put it more succinctly, the Midichlorian problem from Star Wars . The Doctor and Clara are meandering across space when they get caught by a passing salvage ship. The damaged TARDIS lands on board the salvage vessel (manned by the Van Balen brothers), and Clara is nowhere to be found.  After trapping the crew inside the TARDIS and activating a self-destruct timer, the episode is ready to explore the previously unexplored mysteries of the TARDIS. The salvage of a lifetime. (image courtesy of guardian.co.uk)

There's some spooky 'n' scary goings on in this excellent "ghost" story Neil Cross' return to Doctor Who , after an absence of just 1 week, with a much less divisive episode than The Rings Of Akhaten  (though I was much more positive about it than many others). Hide  is an episode which finds the balance between the divisive whimsy of Akhaten  and the steady ground of Cold War,  and is the best episode of this 2013 run so far. Hide  is assuringly old fashioned in its set-up. A pair of ghost hunters are working in haunted house in the 1970s. The illusive spectre is most definitely with them, but never hangs around for long. The Doctor and Clara show up to try and solve the mystery of the Witch of the Well.

Mark Gatiss' chilly thriller falls just short of greatness After last week's divisive The Rings Of Akhaten , Cold War  finds Doctor Who  on much more familiar ground. Familiar, but wonderfully entertaining. It's 1983 and a Soviet submarine crew uncover what they believe to be a mammoth. Except it's very much not a mammoth, it's a Martian Ice Warrior. Living underneath the ice for nearly 5000 years, the Ice Warrior is lost and confused. The Doctor and Clara arrive just in time to see the Russian crew provoke the Ice Warrior, turning the proud soldier into a very dangerous foe.  Last year, Doctor Who  delivered an episode called Dinosaurs On A Spaceship , and Cold War  could easily be re-titled Alien On A Submarine  as not only does the episode take place within the confines of the underwater vessel, but it bears a significant resemblance to Ridley Scott's 70's masterpiece ( Alien) . It's behind you... and slightly to your right

The Doctor and Clara's latest adventure is thematically rich despite a thin plot Last week's installment ended with Clara describing the leaf in the pages of her book as "page 1"; the comment went unexplained. I eventually thought nothing of it and was pleasantly surprised to see it brought up again so quickly. The Rings of Akhaten  not only allowed Clara to demonstrate her worthiness as a companion, but explored themes of fear, loss and religion. The Rings of Akhaten  (or Indiana Jones and The Sunshine X-Factor as it could be called) started with a sweet prologue which charted the story of the leaf and its importance. The leaf brought together Clara's mother (originally named Ellie Ravenwood. Ravenwood as in Marion Ravenwood from Indiana Jones) and father, and is of significant emotional value to Clara. Not only does this help to develop Clara as a character,  but plays a pivotal role in the episode's conclusion. The Doctor and Clara explore the...

The Doctor makes his return to our screens with a new TARDIS, a new look and a new companion So here we are; part two of season 7 of the reboot of Doctor Who. Got that? Good. Whilst season 6 was a season of 2 halves, season 7 is very much two mini seasons. As such, The Bells Of St. John  should be seen as a season opener, and whilst they never tend to be the best of episodes; their main aim is to successfully introduce the new companion or Doctor. I'm pleased to say that The Bells Of St. John  worked very well indeed. Only Doctor Who  could follow a teaser about the dangers of Wi-fi with a trip to 13th century Cumbria. Here we find The Doctor contemplating the impossible girl, Clara Oswin Oswald. Moments later the TARDIS phone begins to ring and The Doctor has found his impossible girl once again. Jenna Lousie Coleman as Clara Oswald After 2 and a half seasons of Amy Pond, or Amy and Rory, it was important to establish Clara as a sufficiently different comp...