Doctor Who returns from its mid-season hiatus with the bestbepisode of the seventh series to date.
Following the lacklustre first half of the season, that seemed to get lost up its own backside trying to impress a new, larger market in America, it was more than reassuring to see a back to basics approach that proves that, to steal a phrase associated with another long running and much loved British franchise, nobody does it better.
After the mess that was the departure of Amy and Rory, or the Ponds as they were more commonly known, all eyes were on newcomer Jenna Louise Coleman. While she’s already been in the series, it’s fair to say this is her proper debut. To say she doesn’t disappoint is an understatement.
The rapport between her character, Clara, and Matt Smith is immediate and infectious. She’s more than a match for The Doctor and provides a nice change of pace for the series as it launches into the 50th anniversary year.
It helps that the story this week is a cracker. The idea of people’s consciousness being stolen and downloaded over wi fi is one that would be just as much at home on Black Mirror or The Twilight Zone as on Doctor Who.
Celia Imrie, no stranger to us nerds following The Phantom Menace, gives good villain as the cold hearted business woman downloading souls for a mysterious boss – whose identity when revealed is bound to please long term fans of the show.
There’s a punchy pace and lightness of touch that reminds you of everything from Sherlock to Spooks. It’s not surprising when you realise it’s directed by Sherlock’s Colm McCarthy. If this is the standard that’s being set for the second half of Season Seven then we are in for a treat.
5 out of 5 Nerds
Marc
Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….
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