Doctor Who: The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances
This won’t be a full review as my memory is a little hazy on some of the details of The Empty Child, but I did want to write a short post to say that I think with this two parter that the new series of Doctor Who has just struck the perfect note.
I’ve enjoyed pretty much all episodes of this series of Doctor Who so far, some more than others but none that were outright bad. The Empty Child was great stuff. Not only did it do a great job of combining the more fantastical elements of Doctor Who with a setting that Who really hasn’t explored but it also achieved some really eery moments.
However it was The Doctor Dances that really sealed the deal for me. Everything just hit the right note. From the wonderful mixture of the creepy to the downright scary to the funny. The Doctor sending an almost omnipotent enemy to to its room is just such a Doctor Who moment. The scale of events was simultaneously epic and personal, which is not an easy thing to achieve.
But the crowning moment was the very end of the episode. The almost hysterical joy in the Doctor’s eyes when he realizes that this time he can save everyone was simultaneously wonderful and scary to see. This is a Doctor who is right on the edge. There’s a darkness to him that wasn’t there in previous regenerations. He’s still the Doctor, but the things he’s seen and been through have taken a toll on him.
Doctor Who really doesn’t get better than this.
Eoghann Irving is amongst other things the creator and Editor of Solar Flare. He has a life long interest in all forms of science fiction and fantasy and a pressing need to share this interest with anyone who will listen. Find out more at his personal website eoghann.com..
One Comment, Comment or Ping
Jeff Moore
I agree, “The Doctor Dances” was positively splendid. I felt true joy as we reached the end of this, and the Doctor’s exuberance is infectious. I did not realize how dark things had become until this moment of release. GREAT! GREAT STUFF! Steve Moffat who created “Coupling” wrote this. I am becoming a huge fan of his. He also wrote the Doctor Who parody, “Curse of the Fatal Death.” Anyway, if you get a chance, check out “Coupling.” It’s wonderful stuff too.
Jun 10th, 2005
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