Writers: Jamie Mathieson & Steven Moffat
Director: Ed Bazalgette
Cast: Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Maisie Williams, David Schofield
Synopsis: The Doctor and Clara are captured by Viking warriors and taken to their village, but when an alien warlord and a lethal army known as the Mire wipe them out, it falls to the two time travelling heroes to train a group of farmers to defend themselves against an unstoppable alien threat. Meanwhile, the Doctor encounters a young girl who seems strangely familiar…
Verdict:
The Girl Who Died really should have been a letdown. Out of all the episodes this season, it’s the one that has had the most press coverage, the most hype, the most in-depth fan discussions and debates sparking up online. Not just because of guest star Maisie Williams (that girl from that Thrones show, whatever it’s called?!) nor just because of writer Jamie Mathieson, whose track record with Who thus far has been A+++.
If anything, its because of the identity of Williams’ mysterious character. Is she playing River Song? Is she Susan, or Romana, or the Rani? Or is she young Clara? Whoever she is, there’s no denying that hopes are high for this week’s episode, as it’s all the show’s producers can seem to talk about in press interviews!
So come the actual full episode, and one would expect the big reveal to be a massive letdown. But if you believe that for a second, then clearly you’ve forgotten that this is predominantly a Jamie Mathieson Doctor Who episode! Based on all evidence, The Girl Who Died is another feather in the cap for the writer, and an entertaining blast from beginning to end.
After four rather dark episodes, this week the fun factor has certainly been upped. The comedy and sheer barminess of the central plot are superbly executed, and yet the whole affair comes together extremely well, even when the story shifts into a more serious tone towards the end. Yes, the Vikings are hardly the most historically accurate Vikings on telly, but then again, who cares when we’re having such a ball watching giant robot monsters fighting sword-wielding conquerors?
Its also a great step in the development of the Twelfth Doctor. Last season’s version of the character would perhaps not have felt quite at home in this story as he does here. No doubt Peter Capaldi is relishing the chance to show-off his comedy chops, and give us a lighter, more user-friendly version of the Time-Lord. He’s still a rude grump when it suits, but not to the uncomfortable extent of last season.
Likewise, Clara continues to develop, with further subtle dialogue hinting towards her grief and how travelling with the Doctor is her escape. The discussion about how she’s getting more reckless with her life is telling stuff, and no doubt setting things up for the big finale.
As for the reveal surrounding Maisie Williams’ Ashildr, the big narrative crux of both this and next week’s episode…well, its not exactly going to light fandom alight with a huge revelation. What it does do however is set up an interesting moral dilemma for the Doctor next week. Has he just played god with someone’s life, when in the past such behavior on his part has seldom produced good results? Its an interesting set-up, making us very eager to see what happens next when the Time Lord and the immortal viking girl are reunited. Regardless of anything else though, Williams is utterly superb in the part.
The other big moment here is the solution to the mystery regarding why this Doctor looks like Caecilius from The Fires of Pompeii (2008), a poser first set up in 2014’s Deep Breath. Whilst it may lose some of the more casual viewers, the reveal is actually rather brilliant, flawlessly entwined with both the central narrative, this Doctor’s character arc, and most surprisingly, not the big complicated sci-fi conceit we dreaded it would be. Again, we really feel as though the Twelfth Doctor is developing a lot more as the Doctor we know and love, no matter what regeneration he’s in.
For the most part though, The Girl Who Died is breezy fun, chock full of great imaginative ideas and some great comedy set pieces, as well as some real powerful but subtle drama added to the mix. Simple but rewarding, The Girl Who Died certainly lives!
Best Bit:
The Doctor and Clara defeating the alien Mire with, among other things, a wooden sea-monster, intergalactic YouTube and the Benny Hill Theme Tune. Can we just savor how wonderfully barmy that last sentence, as well as that brilliant scene itself, is?
Best Line(s):
The Doctor: “I’m not the police. That’s just what it says on the box.”
Doctor Who returns to BBC One at 8.20pm next Saturday. Be sure to check out our review here at THN straight after.
