If this week’s episode of Doctor Who felt a bit like it would belong in the classic era of the program, that’s because that’s what writer Matthew Graham was shooting for.
Graham tells SFX that he structured the story simply so that it could have featured the second Doctor Patrick Troughton.
“There didn’t seem to be any point in telling the story backwards, or throwing structural curveballs at the audience. It’s a big enough challenge for writers to just tell a good solid story in real time. Everything is in right the right order. I’m drawing more Troughtonesque references. I’m tapping into my inner Patrick,” he says.
Graham says that the inspiration for the story came from producer Steven Moffat detailing what shouldn’t be done in the story.
“He said… ‘I think it should be something to do with avatars that rebel.’ That was it. My first reaction was, ‘Avatar, well, isn’t it going to be a bit like we’re just ripping off the big movie of the moment?’ And he said, ‘Well, that’s your problem. Go away and don’t do that,”” says Graham.
The second half of the story airs on BBC1 Saturday.
It definitely felt that way, which may have been why the episode felt a bit mediocre and out of place. It was all a bit too predictable.
I liked how old school it felt and how specific it was in the known timeline. Not everything has to happen out of order, be timey-whimey, or the embodiment of the Tardis. I am rewatching Ark In Space and The Sontaren Experiment as companions to it. Can’t be bad then, aye?
Nice to know that was deliberate. It felt like the most old-school story since “Planet of the Ood” in season 4. 25 minutes in, I was expecting the end credits and a big Doctor’s face in a starfield. And I liked that tone, though other parts of the episode were a bit weak.
I loved the episode for the humanity it showed with many of the characters as well as turning into your basic, fun “monster-of-the-week” story.
I also enjoyed the set up it gave for the mid-season finale!!!