New Who Review for "The Empty Child"

[puppetmaker]

The title reminds me of the first episode "The Unearthly Child" but that is really beside the point. This is one of the episodes that Caroline has not seen nor shall she for a while since it is about children in danger during the blitz in London not only from the bombs but this mysterious figure that is a child in a gas mask asking people if they are his Mommy. This is also the introduction of Captain Jack who will be around in the Doctor Who mythos for a while. This episode to me throws back to the spooky episodes of Doctor in which you really don't have the truth until close to the end of the 4th act which in this case is this coming Friday. The dialogue is snappy for the most part and there is some good "Why can't a companion just stay put" moments. It was also fun seeing the Doctor slip into his Sherlock Holmes mode to find out what is going on.

Spoilers behind the cut.

I am grateful that Caroline has not seen this episode. It really creeps me out.



Maybe it is because I am a parent now that this episode gives me the heebe-jeebes where as if I weren't it wouldn't effect me as much. Rose hanging from a blimp was hilarious even in context of the danger. Captain Jack to the rescue! Yeah he does seem to come onto everyone. We find out some interesting stuff about galactic politics and time travel in the course of this and the next episode. There is a Bad Wolf reference in this and the next episode. Over all it is a pretty good one but when match with the next one "The Doctor Dances" it becomes even better as one mystery is solved and another is created.

Comments

[auryn29a.livejournal.com]

Yes, this episode is incredibly creepy! I remember closing my eyes in fear a couple of times. But, mmm...Captain Jack Harkness!

[popfiend.livejournal.com]

My wife isn't a fan, but she saw that the repeat was on yesterday and she pointed it out to me. She's very tolerant of my nerdness.

I explained the episode to my wife, and I was creeped out just by the explanation. I love the show and it's a well written episode, but...

*shudder*

CREEEEEEEEEE-PEEEEEEEEEE!!!

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

It is my opinion that "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances" is the best of the first season episodes. Yes, it's amazingly creepy, but some of the best Doctor Who over the years has been.

Interestinly, the best episode of the new season to date was this past weekends "The Girl In The Mirror", which was also written by Stephan Moffat.