Expectation were already high as I settled down to start this episode; director Douglas Mackinnon has been behind two visually stunning episodes, Listen and Time Heist, while writer Jamie Mathieson was already responsible for some of my favourite Being Human guest characters even before seeing the excellent Mummy of the Orient Express. Incidentally, Flatline was actually his first script and it’s on the strength of that he was offered the chance to write last week’s instalment too. So, these two new additions to the crew being brought together for an episode that explores alternative dimensions in the Whoniverse is sure to be a winner right?
Well I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed, this is the kind of Doctor Who I adore; it’s engaging, creepy and quirky with just the right amount of humour and horror blended together. It’s also keen to experiment with new ideas not seen in the show before, yet it still manages to seamlessly retain the overriding season arcs that have been slowly building up to this point. Once again Mathieson has also delivered a very character driven episode, as you have probably seen in the promo Clara has taken on the role of the Doctor because he is trapped inside a shrunken TARDIS. Therefore this gives us a chance to explore what it really means to be the Doctor, the choices that he has to make every day and how that influences and shapes him. Not to mention ultimately how they are (and how they really shouldn’t be) effecting Clara.
Alas there is no Frank Skinner this week, but that’s not a problem when you have Auf Wiedersehen, Pet’s Christopher Fairbank playing the wonderfully contentious Community Payback Leader Fenton. He is easily one of the most callous ‘good guys’ that we’ve seen, which neatly brings into focus just how discerning and judicious Capaldi’s Doctor really is despite his lack of social niceties when the clock is ticking. Then there’s rising star Joivan Wade playing Rigsy, a graffiti artist who becomes Clara’s stand-in companion and tags along to help her investigate the mysterious disappearances that have been happening in the area.
The monsters and aliens this series have been superbly realised, I feel like I am starting to sound like a cracked record as each week goes by and I praise the team that bring them to life. But the effects this week really are something special, Douglas Mackinnon and the team have worked wonders together on this creepy two dimensional alien. As this species learns more about our 3D world, including human anatomy, the episode pulls off some pretty cool CGI work that starts out as unsettling and ends up as nightmarish. The Doctor always wins the day though, so it’s obvious they won’t stand a chance once a way is found to get him out of the TARDIS and face them, and boy does he let rip when he does. In a scene reminiscent of Eleven seeing off the Atraxi, or Ten the Sycorax, Twelve gets a defining speech that gave me goose bumps!
Flatine airs on Saturday 18th October at 8.25pm 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.
"Clara, there’s no power, the TARDIS couldn't boil an egg at the moment"
"Sorry, stop listening a while a go..."
"Get on with it, this is community service not a holiday camp"
"It’s kind of more of a right place, right time, or wrong place, wrong time thing depending on how he’s behaving"
"Yes, I get it, you’re excited. When can I go home?"
"I'm the one chance you've got of staying alive, that’s who I am"
"The objective is to save the great trees, not the brushwood"
"Oh my god, that’s so adorable, are you in there?"
"Are you in a safe place, are you being held against your will?"
"I don’t mean edible pie but circular pi...which I realise also would mean edible pie..."
Trailer Teaser
"She’s only saying it because it’s true. We are in the middle of London"
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.
Thank you for the weekly previews and teasers. Plus it's always fun trying to guess which teasers belong to Clara or the Doctor. Some obviously are the Doctor's. The pie one make me laugh already.
ReplyDeleteGuest stars are pretty efficient these days in Doctor Who. Those character usually are a good way to dig into a character or dig up character's issues.
My favourite so far are Psi and Saibra. I woudn't be against seeing them again.
For now, with what I know from the episode and what I saw of it in trailers and sneak peeks (the fact that the doctor is stuck in a tiny Tardis aside) remind me a bit of "Fear her" in season 2. Since you saw the episode what do you think ?
And there a big speech from the Doctor. YEAH ! I love the Doctor's speech. Can't wait for tonight !!
I really like those moments in Twelve when I can catch a glimpse of Eleven or even Ten. Even so this Doc is much darker or maybe he just hide himself a little less ? well, I still saw the same character and after all those years and the actors it's kinda amasing. (I'm only talking of the second serie, I didn't see the first)
Actually, it's this sneak that reminded me of Fear Her. It was just a feeling per say. Now that i rethink of it, like you said it's probably (and I say probably only because I haven't seen Flatline yet.) not as similar as I felt. And the effect are indeed quite different. Hell, I didn't even remember the doctor being trapped in Fear Her utile I read your comment ! xD
ReplyDeleteI don't know it just felt like old Doctor Who I think. (Well rather ol' Doctor Who 2.0 since the show is 50 years old) I had a similar feeling about the Caretaker.
As for Kill The Moon, even if we learn he did it for Courtneyat the end(The Doctor and his logic really...), even for the Doctor that was messed-up. Courtney president of the Earth... D'oh !
Well, I guess everybody grow up... I am still not convince.
You'll notice he said that it was human business therefore it had nothing to do with him.
Except he is pro at sticking his nose in somebody else's business especially when somebody else is human. He could have find a better excuse.