That was awesome.
So this episode came from the
mind of Sarah Dollard, most well known (in the BBC that is) for her
contributions to Merlin and Being Human. It’s more the Being Human experience
that’s used here, with supernatural elements, explained with “science.”
Dollard also has a talent for
making the audience want to see the darker side of the characters. Where most
writers would play it safe and shoehorn in the “we must be better than
them” message, Dollard has us begging for the Doctor to unleash The Valyard.
To give a brief overview,
Maisie Williams returns as Lady Me (now Lady Mayor) who is preciding over a
hidden street of alien refugees in London. Trouble arises when Rigsy (another
returning character) falls foul of the residents of the street and calls the
Doctor for help.
Spoilers to follow.
So it turns out that
everything that happens is all part of some elaborate plan by Lady Mayor,
operating under threat from some unknown enemy, to teleport the Doctor away for
punishment. Oh and the big twist; Clara’s essentially caught in the crossfire of
their maneuvering and dies. This is apparently Jenna Coleman’s exit to the
series and comes as full on shock. Usually, the Doctor would pull out a way to
save a companion in these circumstances, but no; she’s dead. I mean I hope
she’s dead; I like Clara as a character, but after the whole Osgood thing, I
cannot get behind some characters being invincible.
Clara’s exit is marked
perfectly by Capaldi. The Twelfth Doctor does not cry (like the 10th
and 11th) or make empty threats (like the 9th). He tells
Lady Mayor that he is going to destroy everything she has built and ruin the
lives of everyone she has saved. I get the impression that his promise to Clara
(that he wouldn’t seek revenge) is the only lie he told throughout the whole
monologue. As soon as Clara’s gone, he essentially tells Lady Mayor that the
next time they meet he’s going to kill her. None of the other Doctors (of the
revived era) could have delivered that message the way Capaldi does. that performance does take focus slightly from Coleman, as she acts out Clara's final moments.
The episode’s not perfect;
Clara’s adrenaline junky phase is just annoying and laid on far too thick.
But those are minor quibbles
in terms of a fine episode.
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