Doctor Who TV: Third Episode of Doctor Who Thin Ice Review
Thin Ice aired tonight, giving us a great episode with the same charm of Bill and the Doctor.
Thin Ice Review
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Well, the third episode of Doctor Who, Thin Ice. And I have to say, this was probably one of the best episodes I’ve seen come out of twelve. I know I said that last week, and it was true — in a different way. Last week’s episode was fun and light and silly. Here is our ‘Thin Ice’ review.
This week’s episode had a more serious sense to it, a more Moffat-y sense to it. I don’t know if it’ only me, but I always equate the episodes in Victorian times to him, even though it wasn’t written by him at all. The wonderful Sarah Dollard wrote this episode and did an amazing job writing the perfect Doctor Who story.
Pearl Mackie did a brilliant job as Bill from the beginning, throwing fun around at the Doctor — it’s always good to see Capaldi smile. The chemistry from the two flies off of them so easily, it’s hard not to enjoy watching them. It has the same feeling of Amy and Eleven, only there’s no hinting at a relationship.
Capaldi also did a great job, throwing out witty lines about Bill’s worry about setting off a chain of events in the past. I personally love the dry sense of humor that he has, and it had me laughing minutes into the show.
Throughout the episode, there is a distinct lack of, well, whitewashing. There are people of all different races in a time that is mostly portrayed as all white. The Doctor makes a comment about it, but that’s about it. Kudos to the producers for using more people, but I wouldn’t call it tackling the issue. More like, poked it.
Recap
Slowly things became more serious, as two kids stole the sonic screwdriver (*enter more sonic screwdriver jokes here*). They followed the kids into a patch of the Thames called…thin ice, and suddenly fish came up for attack, pulling the boy who was holding the screwdriver down. Just in time, the doctor pulled the screwdriver out of his hand, leaving him to die.
This is where the episode inevitably took the turn of what has the doctor done before me? a question that all companions face. Bill asks the Doctor if he’d killed someone, and he gave an honestly brilliant response, and Capaldi showed an emotion I haven’t seen from him.
"“I’m 2000 years old, and I’ve never had the time, or the luxury for outrage.” (about people dying because of him)"
The two go to see the children, where they tell them that someone with a ship tattoo on his hand is recruiting them to steal from people. Capaldi got another great scene in the episode, showing a side of the Doctor that is caring. Again, a striking difference from saying that Clara does the caring for him. You can see him reading to those children, the very ones that trick and rob people. I always like those small parts in the background.
Bill seems to get over her anger relatively quickly and is back on the Doctor’s team as eventually, he decides to go see what is hiding under the frozen Thames. They find a large alien fish (?) that is eating people if it garners their attention.
After they figure out where to (hopefully) find the man with the tattoo. Using the psychic paper, they figure out that someone is controlling the use of the monster under the Thames, and they go to see him, only to find out that he is completely racist, unlike the rest of the episode. Then, if you really didn’t believe that the Doctor and Bill had good chemistry, and in a surprise twist, the doctor punches the man in the face. I haven’t seen the Doctor that protective for someone since…Donna? Rory and Amy?
In this scene, the Doctor also gives an amazing speech,
"“What makes you so sure your life is worth more than those people out there on the ice. Is it the money? The accidental birth that put you inside this house? Human progress isn’t measured by industry. It’s measured by the value you place on a life. An important life. A life without privilege. The boy who died on the river, his value is your value. That’s what defines our age, that’s what defines our species.”"
And as always, the Doctor turns everything around he said in the beginning and his two hearts are still in there, no matter how cross.
As the episode wraps up, the Doctor uses the sonic screwdriver to change where the bombs that the man has hidden to set the animal free, and even gives the homeless children a way to stay out of harm — by changing his will.
The Doctor and Bill arrive home, and Matt Lucas does an amazing job as Nardole in just the few minutes that he has. Then we see the vault, and hear the knocking. What’s inside? (I will say the episode ends with a fourth knock)
Questions that were answered:
Yesterday, I wrote three questions I wanted to be answered in this episode:
Whitewashing/Racism – It was touched on, I’ll give you that. The casting director certainly did the most job taking it on. I wouldn’t necessarily say it was talked about or took it on. But there was definitely a try? I guess? I still think Russel T Davies did better in Human Nature.
Bill’s reaction to the Doctor’s past – I have to say, I was surprised that there was little backlash to this. But I suppose it’s better than a companion being upset all episode.
Next: Thin Ice Questions We Need Answered