Last night’s episode of the show, penned by Wellington based screenwriter Neil Cross, was everything a Doctor Who story should be. It had all the essential ingredients of a cracking episode.
The episode’s title, The Rings of Akhaten, promised an Indiana Jones style romp and had at least two meanings – more on both of those points later.
There was time travel, opening with the Doctor stalking new companion Clara Oswald (Jenna Louise-Coleman) through time.
Having him hide behind The Beano Summer Special of 1981 was a clever way to signal when he was and had me exclaiming ‘‘of course’’ over his choice of reading material.
‘‘She’s not possible’’ will become a catchphrase this season as he learns how Clara was able to live and die as the junior entertainment officer on board the Starship Alaska in the future, a Victorian governess in the past and then join him as a 20th century-born girl, her book 101 Places to See tucked under her arm.
Clearly Clara is as puzzled as the good Doctor about who she is.
Then there’s the main setting for the story, the fantastical Rings of Akhaten, where several small planets revolve around a larger one and the people are enthralled by an entity they think is a god.
The alien bazaar, which forms the backdrop to a good portion of this story, looks truly spectacular and as good as anything George Lucas and his team pulled off in any of the big budget Star Wars films.
Kudos to everyone involved in the visual effects and costumes and makeup here.
Then there’s the Doctor.
In this 50th anniversary year it’s good to see the 11th Doctor go back to his roots. His mention that he has visited the rings before with his granddaughter is a nice nod to the show’s roots as it references first Doctor William Hartnell’s companion Susan Foreman.
Some are even speculating that Clara is somehow linked to Susan, but that seems too obvious a slight of hand for executive producer Steven Moffat to pull.
The Doctor’s donning 19th century glasses for part of this episode reinforces that the 30 year old Smith is playing a 1000 year old Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey.
Smith, who has been in the roll since 2010, has become adept at convincing us that he is an old man in a young man’s body.
Just watch his face closely throughout this episode to see what I am talking about. Little things, like the way he straightens his bow tie, is cool.
The story pivots on the young alien Queen of Years, Merry Gejelh, whose job it is to appease the alien by singing a lullaby to keep him asleep. Merry’s story is one that tugs on the heart strings, and is made all the more real for 11-year-old actress Emilia Jones’s performance. She is the daughter of singer Aled Jones.
