The first two episodes of this season left me with very mixed reactions, so what about the second story? 'Under The Lake/Before The Flood' isn't quite the step up from the previous story I was hoping for as I ultimately didn't feel anything towards either episode: this two parter was simply a decent base under siege story that didn't throw anything new or particularly interesting into the mix. I find myself unable to muster anything up other than: 'Yeah, these two were alright I guess'. That is why it has taken me three weeks to write this, because for all the flaws in the opening two parter at least there was a lot I could say about it.
So what's the story here? An underwater base set in the year 2119 is being plagued by actual ghosts (for realz this time!) and they've got something to do with mysterious writing inside an abandoned spacecraft that's been recovered by the base's crew. The Doctor and Clara arrive thirsty for another adventure just in time to witness the ghost's immediately turn aggressive and start killing off crew members, adding to their ranks. With half of the clues missing the Doctor travels back in time to 1980 in the second episode to figure out just what is going on. Having a large chunk of the second episode focused on the Doctor uncovering past events is interesting, it's somehow a fresh idea for a show all about time travel and gives veteran Who writer Toby Whithouse a lot of stuff to play with: you can have a great mystery (what happened in 1980?), get all timey wimey in a non linear fashion (the Doctor is going to die, BECAUSE LORD KNOWS WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT ANYWHERE BEFORE HAVE WE HMMM????!) and the possibility for separate threats that increases the drama for both parties. This screams an engaging ghost story for two weeks, right? RIGHT?!
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| The Fisher King has an awesome profile side-on, I mean just look at that! |
Well no, part two was once again a bit of a disappointment. Unfortunately I'm a bit miffed at how simple this story turned out to be. The first episode 'Under The Lake' was full of solid mysteries: Where did the missing power cell go? Who wrote that writing on the wall? How did the ship get there? What is causing the ghosts to exist? Why is the spaceship so...bland looking? Who or what is inside the life support capsule? What's up with ghost Abraham Lincoln? Who is behind all of this? Even the Doctor's ghost had me wanting to see how this would all tie up, with the conceit that these unseen but revelatory events were going to be revealed in the concluding part. While this did happen, the actual answers and resolution given in the end weren't very imaginative or clever, I get the feeling this story needed something a bit more shocking and climactic in the second installment other than the Doctor ranting about Beethoven to the camera, which was another (great) excuse for him to bring out the guitar and play it over the opening theme. If the idea behind two parters is more of a 'bigger, better, deeper' approach then why does this 90 minute story feel so small, budget friendly and unimportant?
The big bad of this story, the ominous sounding Fisher King, doesn't really get to do anything of note. He barely shows up until the last 20 minutes and just talks standard villain talk before he's easily defeated by the Doctor, who simply had to blow up the nearby dam with the missing power cell from Ep 1 and drown him. Sure that works well enough, but couldn't they think of something a bit less bland other than The Fisher King being fooled by a white lie? Even if the actual design of the Fisher King was incredible, literally one of the best looking monsters on the show (albeit one that should really be kept in the shadows and not plodding about clumsily in the sunlight), I expected more from a baddie starring in a two parter that was being held as a 'surprise' for the second part. They also could have given him more of a backstory or motive other than the standard invasion plot, which feels really tired now. In terms of threat the ghosts do a much better job of playing the villains, the first episode was oozing with atmosphere and enough claustrophobia to make you think that these apparitions can do some damage if left unchecked. It's a bit weird seeing DW villains brandishing proper weapons and trying to kill people with them, but I like that added sense of danger. Plus don't forget those creepy hollowed out eyes staring into your soul...goreless visuals that remain scary is another one of Doctor Who's rarely used talents.
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| WHAT'S THIS? A deaf character in DW? Interesting... |
The guest cast for these two episodes ended up being a bit unremarkable as there's not a ton of characterization given by the script. Most of my empathy towards the base crew were due to the actors performances, who all do a commendable job. They still come off as a bit bland though, most telling is the fact that I can't remember any of their names (I had to Wiki them) with the exception of Cass, a surprisingly refreshing character played by deaf actress Sophie Stone who does a stellar job at making you feel for her. I don't think I've seen a deaf character portrayed in film or TV before so for that fact alone I congratulate the DW team at being so inclusive and smartly not making too much of a fuss about her disability, apart from one very tense scene in the second episode where she's not able to hear the ghost creeping up behind her. Unsurprisingly this was one of the few times I genuinely felt tense about a character's fate in this story, which is more than I can say for everyone else.
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| I kept thinking this was going to be a thing, but nope, it was definitely not a thing. |
Thankfully my fears about Capaldi being neutered this series were unfounded, because not only did he return to form this time around he arguably gave one of his best performances as the Doctor! He's so much more interesting when his intentions are bordering on selfish: in 'Before The Flood' the Doctor basically knows O' Donnell is going to die but tells nobody just so he can test out a theory (determining the order of who dies). That's extremely juicy, especially since he goaded the crew into staying earlier, preying on their thirst for knowledge and truth that equally seems to drive him and Clara. While Clara's arc has been treading water for four episodes now (PLEASE GIVE HER SOMETHING INTERESTING TO DO) she manipulates Lunn into grabbing the phone, simply arguing 'It's what has to be done', while refusing to let the Doctor sacrifice himself for supposedly dying 'without her'. I got a constant impression watching this story that the both of them didn't seem to care too much about the crew and were devoted to solving the mystery instead. Even the Doctor is taken aback by Clara's willingness to walk into danger when stepping out of the TARDIS, she has begun aping him in a lot of ways now. If both of them are constantly on the hunt for more death defying adventures to satisfy their addiction with time and space, this can't end well. Doctor Who has already made a case several times that a companion is necessary to ground the Doctor in reality, so when the companion becomes more and more like him this balance is thrown out of the window and they are both susceptible to being put in more harm's way. Why do I feel a guillotine is being placed over Clara's head right now?
So that's everything I have to say about 'Under The Lake/Before The Flood'. I find nothing particularly wrong with it really, but it's inoffensiveness has eaten up two episodes of the season instead of one. Longer stories should mean deeper and better themes but that hasn't been the case with the two stories so far. This is essentially a slightly above average base under siege story where nothing memorable stands out apart from Cass and Capaldi. Oh well, maybe next time we'll finally get to the good stuff?
Positives:
+ Fresh idea for a time travel story
+ Intriguing mystery
+ Capaldi was on fine form
+ Cool atmosphere, freaky ghosts
+ Including a deaf character was surprisingly refreshing
+ The Fisher King has a cool design
Negatives:
- Answers were underwhelming
- Fisher King was wasted as a villain
- Clara wasn't given a lot to do
- Supporting characters weren't memorable
- O' Donnell's stupid actions
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