If you could save the one who brought you into this world wouldn't you [protect them]? (pause) Your silence is confirmation." Even in its tenth series (thirty-sixth season overall), Doctor Who is still on fine form. Knock Knock is a traditionally spooky episode, encapsulating all the Scooby-Doo-type horror that many Doctor Who stories have had in the past (Hide, Tooth and Claw, Ghost Light, Horror of Fang Rock, etc.) As the youngest writing contributor ever, Mike Bartlett has written a rather neat episode. Whilst it may seem repetitive to have the monster-of-the-week be misinterpreted every time, this week's had a more meaningful revelation.
Now that Bill has had a couple of adventures with the Doctor, she's almost a pro, and the fact that she's naturally watchable shows how suited she is to the role and she's comfortably a part of the Whovian Universe. In this episode, she's searching for a house to live with her new friends - this is very difficult, as many students around the UK know, due to the housing crisis. So, inevitably, when a Landlord comes along offering a massive house at an incredibly low price, they jump at the chance. Unbeknownst to them, however, living in this rather creaky building will cost their lives. All the characters are great to watch, Mandeep Dhillon and Colin Ryan were brilliant in their roles and incredibly believable as students. But it is David Suchet who, in professional form, steals the show. In every scene, he suggests an evil aura with his expression-filled smiles and is candid tone - it was enough to really terrify the audience. The reveal toward the end may have undermined his evil character, but the emotion that Suchet brings with the revelation is stunning. It's such an engaging performance that even if this was a terrible story, he and Capaldi could carry it all by themselves. With regards to the creatures in the story, Bartlett has created some rather effective monsters in the woodlice or "Dryads" as the Doctor calls them. The idea that they manipulate the wood to consume unsuspecting victims is a wonderful, albeit, unsettling idea that merits mention in the pantheon of Doctor Who monsters. Also, I would like to note the effectiveness of the make-up for Eliza, who is possibly the most interesting monstrous creation in a while. How she came to develop this appearance is explained well and the back story behind the Landlord's relationship with her is very mature and tearful, something that Doctor Who has always been good at. I've praised this story to the roof so far, but it is not without its faults. The ending, unfortunately, is once again plagued by an unsatisfactory conclusion. Bringing back all the characters who had been consumed by the house undid the terror and brutality of the story that preceded it, and was also a little lazy on the writer's part. Considering this deus ex machina-style conclusion has been a common occurrence in the last two episodes as well is jarring. The writers should always have a clear and authentic end to their story if it's going to round up the plot tidily. Finally, I have to mention it - the Vault. We are now another step closer to finding out, and according to news last week from Doctor Who Magazine, Steven Moffat will be revealing who or what is inside it in the sixth episode - Extremis. So only two episodes to go! But the hint in Knock Knock makes me think that they may have already revealed. Or it could be Moffat's way of chucking in a few cruel hints to distract us from the truth. We can only wait and see. 8/10
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AuthorA very passionate Welsh nerd... Archives
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