Last week Danny told Clara that he wanted to know the truth, no matter what it was, after she had spent some time deciding how to approach it rather than blurting out the first thing that comes into her head...which as we know tends to be a lie these days. Consequently we start this episode with Clara towards the end of this process. In true Doctorish fashion her way of unburdening is chaotic and bombastic, but there is also a very human side to it too, is this a sign that she is learning to “fear a little less, trust a bit more”?
It’s been a long time since Doctor Who has tried a two parter and it’s a welcome return for me as someone who enjoys a juicy cliff-hanger to ponder over. The episode zips by at quite pace and although there is no denying it has Moffat’s hallmarks all over it, in this half at least, it is far more linear than some of his other finales. However it’s also a dark tale; Missy’s game is far more nefarious than her being merely the mischievous snoop with an iPad of recent weeks. Yet thankfully much of the horror in the instalment – and it is pretty grim at times – should pass over most of the younger heads, it’s less visual and more cerebral in that respect. There is plenty there to keep them entertained though too, from the eeriness that director Rachel Talalay (
Supernatural, Reign) manages to create in the Nethersphere to the inevitable humour that Capaldi manages so effortlessly with just a twitch of those infamous brows.
All the actors are on top form, it’s hard to pick out any of the six main players above the other as they all bring a lot to the table. Capaldi and Coleman snag a considerable amount of the emotional intensity as the Doctor/Companion relationship is tested to breaking point, although Samuel Anderson too shows us his more vulnerable side. We see the ‘bad day’ that Danny lived through, together with him having to face up to the possible consequences his actions had, additionally we are left in no doubt of the love between Clara and himself in their heartfelt scenes too. Seb and Missy finally have time to show us what they are made of; both are wickedly delightful, spectacularly droll and most decidedly evil...yes, very evil indeed. Finally there is Doctor Chang, who appears to be more of a civil servant than a doctor, albeit a particularly enthusiastic one. Admittingly he is mainly an exposition mouthpiece but Andrew Leung establishes a likeable character pretty quickly - he even manages to squeeze a Malcolm Tucker joke in at the Doctor's expense!
Dark Water airs on Saturday 1st November at 8.15pm on BBC 1 and BBC 1 HD in the UK, and at 9pm on BBC America. Below are a few dialogue teasers to see you through until then. Don't forget to come back to vote in our poll after the episode and let us know what you thought.
"My heart is maintained by the doctor"
"Sounds like somebody left their body to science"
"Are you going to kill me?"
"There really isn't a third option here"
"I'm terribly sorry, but I'm exactly what you deserve"
"If you say that again I swear I will switch this thing off!"
"These words, from me, are yours now"
"What does 3W stand for?"
"Who owes you?"
"We have been working hard to find a better life for the deceased"
About the Author - Sandi
Sandi is part of the Senior Staff at SpoilerTV having been a contributor from back in the Lost days of DarkUFO, and who now writes previews for Banshee, The Musketeers, Atlantis, and other BBC shows. She also enjoys watching and commenting on other shows such as Sons of Anarchy, Hannibal, Game of Thrones and Elementary.
