Nightmare in Silver Review
Review of Doctor Who 7X12: Nightmare in Silver. Spoilers of course
Overview
The last time we had an episode from Neil Gaiman it was the fantastic, show defining The Doctors Wife. So a lot was expected from this episode. While it wasn't quite as brilliant, it was still good in it's own way.
Episode Summary
If we were to compare this episode to the aforementioned The Doctor's Wife we would be doing ourselves a disservice. While this episode was not as fan pleasingly brilliant as that one, it was still a good episode, both solid and entertaining and did a great job of introducing a new breed of scary Cybermen.
The set up was pretty good as well. The whole base under siege, at the far edge of the earth empire was a call back to classic Who, which fits in with the theme of this season, all of which has been pointing towards the fiftieth anniversary. Though correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think I saw a reference to the Sixth Doctor in this episode.
The interaction between the Doctor, Clara and the Cyberplanner was interesting as well. It's clear that the Doctor has been keeping secrets from his companion - for good reason of course - and it makes you wonder about his motives. If he is genuinely interested in finding out about her and what her secret is, wouldn't it be better to bring her into the loop, rather than keep her out of it.
I will also admit I didn't see the revelation that Porridge was the Emperor coming. Maybe I should have done, but it clearly wasn't as obvious to me as it was to Angie.
The Doctor
I liked watching the Doctor in this episode. Because despite all that was going on, this was very much the Doctor's episode. The last time Mr Gaiman scripted an episode we explored the nature of the Doctor's relationship with the TARDIS. This week we explored the Doctor's relationship with himself, with his very nature.
The scenes where the Doctor went head to head - no pun intended - with the Cyberplanner within the Doctor's mind were if you ask me some of the best of the episode. It was interesting and engaging to see him at war with himself. And if half the time he was the Cyberplanner, it was still the Doctor's voice and the Doctor's mind being used, showing how easily he can turn from happy go lucky to evil.
But just as ever, it also showed that whatever the situation the Doctor is usually two - or in this case three - steps ahead.
The Companion
Having Artie and Angie along for the ride this week helped us to see a different side to Clara, the protective, motherly side. I'm not sure if Clara would have acted in the same way had she the kids not been in danger, but it was certainly interesting to see her take on a command role, despite her lack of training. An example of what happens when you start travelling with the Doctor.
Plus she took on the Cybermen with a morning star. That's on a par with Ace taking on the Daleks with a baseball bat if you ask me.
As for the kids, they didn't really bring much to the story - other than plot impetus - but they were interesting none the less. Angie kinda showed us what it would have been like if the Sarah Jane Adventures had kept Kesley Hooper around.
Bad Guys
O the Cybermen. As others have said, the Cybermen are good, but on their own - just a faceless army - they are scary, but can't hold a plot up on their own. Hence the introduction of the Cyberplanner
As mentioned above, it was good to see him possessing the Doctor (and it certainly added a lot of tension to the episode) but he also served as a prime example of why emotions and the abilities they confer such as being able to bluff are useful. Logic is good, but it doesn't solve everything.
Conclusion
A solid episode that stands up well on it's own. The Cybermen were a bit underused, but that's a small niggle.
Next Week: The Fall of the Eleventh.
Overview
The last time we had an episode from Neil Gaiman it was the fantastic, show defining The Doctors Wife. So a lot was expected from this episode. While it wasn't quite as brilliant, it was still good in it's own way.
Episode Summary
If we were to compare this episode to the aforementioned The Doctor's Wife we would be doing ourselves a disservice. While this episode was not as fan pleasingly brilliant as that one, it was still a good episode, both solid and entertaining and did a great job of introducing a new breed of scary Cybermen.
The set up was pretty good as well. The whole base under siege, at the far edge of the earth empire was a call back to classic Who, which fits in with the theme of this season, all of which has been pointing towards the fiftieth anniversary. Though correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think I saw a reference to the Sixth Doctor in this episode.
The interaction between the Doctor, Clara and the Cyberplanner was interesting as well. It's clear that the Doctor has been keeping secrets from his companion - for good reason of course - and it makes you wonder about his motives. If he is genuinely interested in finding out about her and what her secret is, wouldn't it be better to bring her into the loop, rather than keep her out of it.
I will also admit I didn't see the revelation that Porridge was the Emperor coming. Maybe I should have done, but it clearly wasn't as obvious to me as it was to Angie.
The Doctor
I liked watching the Doctor in this episode. Because despite all that was going on, this was very much the Doctor's episode. The last time Mr Gaiman scripted an episode we explored the nature of the Doctor's relationship with the TARDIS. This week we explored the Doctor's relationship with himself, with his very nature.
The scenes where the Doctor went head to head - no pun intended - with the Cyberplanner within the Doctor's mind were if you ask me some of the best of the episode. It was interesting and engaging to see him at war with himself. And if half the time he was the Cyberplanner, it was still the Doctor's voice and the Doctor's mind being used, showing how easily he can turn from happy go lucky to evil.
But just as ever, it also showed that whatever the situation the Doctor is usually two - or in this case three - steps ahead.
The Companion
Having Artie and Angie along for the ride this week helped us to see a different side to Clara, the protective, motherly side. I'm not sure if Clara would have acted in the same way had she the kids not been in danger, but it was certainly interesting to see her take on a command role, despite her lack of training. An example of what happens when you start travelling with the Doctor.
Plus she took on the Cybermen with a morning star. That's on a par with Ace taking on the Daleks with a baseball bat if you ask me.
As for the kids, they didn't really bring much to the story - other than plot impetus - but they were interesting none the less. Angie kinda showed us what it would have been like if the Sarah Jane Adventures had kept Kesley Hooper around.
Bad Guys
O the Cybermen. As others have said, the Cybermen are good, but on their own - just a faceless army - they are scary, but can't hold a plot up on their own. Hence the introduction of the Cyberplanner
As mentioned above, it was good to see him possessing the Doctor (and it certainly added a lot of tension to the episode) but he also served as a prime example of why emotions and the abilities they confer such as being able to bluff are useful. Logic is good, but it doesn't solve everything.
Conclusion
A solid episode that stands up well on it's own. The Cybermen were a bit underused, but that's a small niggle.
Next Week: The Fall of the Eleventh.