Beautiful! Without a doubt my favourite episode of the season, and one of my favourite episodes of all time. Virtually everything about it worked: from the domestic drama between Clara and Danny, to the timey-wimey shenanigans, to the ambiguity of the monster story. Was there ever anything there? Will we ever find out?
I loved that everything started with Clara. We've known for some time now that her relationship with the Doctor is unique. She's the only companion to have met thirteen of the Doctor's incarnations and saved them all. She is the Impossible Girl. What we didn't know is that she met his first incarnation twice: once when he was about to steal the TARDIS, and once when he was a small boy. By attempting to prevent the potentially catastrophic consequences of the Doctor meeting himself, Clara in effect kicked off his fear of evolution-honed invisible adversaries. It's good to know that the Moffat-loop is still alive and kicking.
Clara was the monster under his bed. Whether the mythical monster under the bed exists was very much left open to interpretation. For every unusual event, Moffat offered up a perfectly plausible explanation: from power switching, to temperature differentials, to banging pipes. Was the figure beneath the blanket really just a mischievous child? Was the writing on the chalkboard the Doctor's or someone (thing?) else's? Each mystery was set up with atmospheric perfection, loaded with vagueness, and then executed to maximum effect.
What did the Doctor really see on Orson Pink's ship? Just as he was about to explain, in came Clara and cut him off. Fantastic decision to have Orson's freshly washed clothes hanging around the ship—when the door opened and the TARDIS' monitors started to go haywire, they looked just like wraiths. Was there anything significant about the Doctor trying to find Wally in Rupert Pink's book? Was he trying to use Martin Handford's fictional character to tell us something about the nature of monsters—that, although they aren't under every bed, that doesn't mean they're not under some?
Doctor: '“Where are we? Have we moved? Where have we landed?'
Clara: 'Don't look where we are. Take off and promise me you will never look where we've been.'
Doctor: 'Why?'
Clara: 'Just take off. Don't ask questions.'
Doctor: 'I don't take orders, Clara.'
Clara: 'Do as you're told.'
I loved that dialogue. The Doctor and Clara really gelled this week. Both are fiercely independent characters who share a unique trust. For a while, particularly after the Doctor's regeneration, it seemed as though that trust might be irrevocably damaged. But that's all firmly in the past. Earlier in the episode, the Doctor ordered Clara back to the TARDIS in the sternest way imaginable, resulting in Clara calling him an idiot. The Doctor was similarly less than impressed by Clara telling him to do as he was told. Yet both obeyed. Despite the frowns and lingering stares, both did what was asked of them, even though they had no idea why they were doing it.
Clara was right to listen to the Doctor. Less than a minute after leaving for the safety of the TARDIS, the Doctor was almost sucked out through a breach in the air-shell to his death. And, as a seasoned time-traveller, the Doctor knows that there are some things he's better off not knowing—particularly when they pertain to his own history. Thankfully, at this juncture, Clara's smart enough to know what those things are, and how best to work the Doctor. Abruptness is Twelve's way. He dishes it out, understands it, and responds to it. He's not deliberately rude, he's just economical with words.
That's why 'do as you're told' worked. It was short and to the point. Clara being a teacher is the perfect antidote to the Doctor's peculiar brand of harsh truth. The Doctor's really struggling to see Clara as a sexual being, which is resulting in frequent lapses in social etiquette. He also almost scared Rupert half to death with his honesty about monsters. If Clara hadn't been there, I'm not sure he'd have ever slept again. The introduction of Soldier Dan was an inspired piece of writing which served to calm Rupert's frayed nerves, explain why he changed his name to Danny, and provide a touching memento for the Doctor during the closing moments. And don't get me started on the irony of Clara being indirectly responsible for making Danny a soldier. What a different life he could have had. Of course, bearing in mind how his life's about to change, maybe it's a sacrifice we'd all make.
But despite the Doctor's many shortcomings, he's becoming something of a father-figure to Clara. He even offered to vet Danny Pink for her. Whatever Pink's secret, both he and Clara seem destined to be together. I like that they're playing Danny and Clara's relationship with a degree of seriousness. Yes, it's whizzing along a little too fast, but I'm really starting to warm to Danny. I like the awkwardness between him and Clara. I like that they have secrets, too. And I loved that Clara abused her TARDIS privileges to turn their date around. Sometimes, who we at first appear to be, isn't necessarily who we are. Time travel is all about second chances, and Clara and Danny finally appear to be over their awkward first date. How long before he learns about the Doctor, I wonder? And how long before he becomes Orson Pink's time-travelling great-grandfather?
I thought the restaurant scenes fitted perfectly alongside the more futuristic elements. Clara completely owned this episode. She was perfect in it. Her words to the young Doctor were not only the catalyst which helped him overcome his fears and become a Time Lord, they were also the inspirational seeds which would bring the War Doctor back to the barn in 'The Day of the Doctor'. I know the John Hurt images were just reused footage, but they had such an emotional impact. Of course, in traditional fashion, the Twittersphere exploded over the ending. Some were screaming 'ret-con', whilst other were wetting their pants with unbridled joy at the continuity. (I was in the latter camp... a generally happier, if moister, environment.) News flash: the show's continuity has been screwed for years. Don't sweat it. The answer to everything is time travel. If they haven't fixed it yet, they'll fix it later. Probably.
Other Thoughts:
—I always crap myself when I hear the cloister bell ringing.
—Rather than being a message from a hidden species, was 'Listen' instead a reminder for the Doctor to listen to Clara?
—I haven't mentioned Capaldi much, not because he was bad, but because I can only reiterate what I've said in past reviews. He's brilliant. From the first episode, he knew exactly who his Doctor was going to be, and he hasn't put a foot wrong since. Ditto, Jenna. Before the season started I was afraid they'd have no chemistry. Now I'm worried they have too much and I won't want them to leave.
—An episode very much in the vein of 'Midnight' and 'Blink'. And just as good.
—Clara's 'Fear makes companions of us all' line was a direct quote from the Hartnell-era serial 'An Unearthly Child'.
—How many times has the Doctor used chalk this season? It feels like every episode.
—Despite being told that Orson Pink pioneered time travel in the 22nd century, 'The Talons of Weng-Chiang' informs us that time travel was still experimental in the 51st century. See? The continuity is screwed. Don't worry—time travel!
Quotes:
Doctor: 'Why do
you have three mirrors? Why don't you just turn your head?'
Clara: 'How long
have you been travelling alone?'
Doctor: 'Perhaps I
never have.'
Doctor: 'People
don't need to be lied to.'
Clara: 'People don't need to
be scared by a big, grey-haired stick insect, but here you are.'
Doctor: 'Once upon a time... the
end.'
Clara: 'Is that what I look
like from the back?'
Doctor: 'It's fine.'
Clara: 'I was thinking it
was good.'
Doctor: 'Really?'
Doctor: 'What's
going on with your face. It's all eyes. Why are you all eyes? Get
them under control.'
Clara: 'Do you have you're own
mood lighting now because, frankly, the accent is enough.'
Clara: 'You're an idiot.'
Doctor: 'I know.'
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