For me,
this episode is like a sigh of relief.
It’s not mind-blowing or anything, but it really feels like Who, and with the exception of some
untidy plotting and one niggling irritant (more on that later,) I can sit back
and enjoy it rather than feel like a grumpy killjoy of a Whovian. This fast, fun romp is probably my favorite
of the season so far.
The
Doctor, Clara, technologically-augmented human Psi, and shape-shifting mutant-human
Saibra find themselves unwanted guests in the most secure bank in the universe
with their recent memories wiped and a distorted voice on a screen telling them
they’ve agreed to rob it. As they try to
follow their scant, piece-meal instructions and figure out how they ended up
here, they’re hunted by the Teller, a psychic alien that can hear guilt and
turn brains into soup.
The
central mystery is convoluted but enjoyable, packed with action and quick
thinking. What’s more, it resolves in a
fairly satisfying way. The Teller is
good and creepy, and the one-off characters are excellent. Both Psi and Saibra are clever, brave, and
entertaining to watch, and hints of pathos flesh them out nicely. Saibra, who takes on the appearance of anyone
she touches, admits the loneliness of her impressive gift, and while Psi’s
augmented mind can interface with any computer, he’s erased certain memories from
his hard drive that he yearns to recover.
I really like seeing them interact with the Doctor and Clara, gradually
learning to trust and assist each other.
Because
it seems I always end these episode reviews with a gripe, I’m moving my only
major complaint here so I can end on a higher note. It’s so
weird to me that Clara is such a part-time companion. It was sort of understandable at the end of
Amy and Rory’s run, because they traveled with the Doctor for a long time and
were at the point where they were getting ready to move on. But Clara, it seems, has always been an
occasional day-tripper, popping off for a quick jaunt across time and space
when she’s not too busy with work or her social life. This episode opens with the Doctor
practically begging Clara to go on any one of countless fantastical excursions
with him and her basically saying, “No thanks, got a date, catch you later.” It makes Clara feel a lot less relatable for
me, because who does that? What has the entire universe at their
fingertips but only wants to see it when it fits into their schedule?
Twelve
feels well and truly Doctory here, a fine blend of perceptive, funny, and inquisitive
while maintaining his sharpness and alien detachment. And even better, he gets to be effective. Far too often this season, it seems the
Doctor hasn’t been terribly involved in solving the mysteries or saving the
day, and I’m not sure why that is (sure seems like a strange way to get the audience
invested in a new Doctor!) In this
episode, though, his tactical skills and knowhow back up his take-charge
attitude, and he has a lot of cheer-worthy moments. All I can say is, “Thank goodness!” It’s the Doctor’s show, after all, and
regeneration or no regeneration, I still want him to be the mad and brilliant
Time Lord we all love. With this
episode, I’m pleased to report that I see it.
Warnings
The
Teller’s “feasting” on people’s minds is incredibly gross.
Hi! I discovered your blog a few days ago while looking up obscure parts of Peter Capaldi's filmography. I'm very excited to see that you've posted lists of your favourite Old Who episodes -- our views on New Who seem to align very closely, so I will definitely be making use of your suggestions when exploring Old Who. :)
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