Doctor Who Review: ‘Empress of Mars’ back to the way Who should be
The Empress of Mars was almost surprisingly good, but what parts made it the solid episode it is?
Normally, when I write a review of an episode, I find key parts of the episode that were better than the others and I write about those specific points. (Acting, funny moments etc.) In this episode, I can’t do that. It was a solid episode about was surprisingly good about a storyline that had the potential to be incredibly boring.
Writing
Mark Gattis‘s episodes are always met with criticism, and some of them understandably so. As much as I love him as a writer, many of his episodes aren’t my favorites. But this episode did a great job at bringing back a storyline of what the Doctor does and always has done. He found a way to bring together two races, and even through hardship, they worked together.
I’m not gonna lie, the trip to Mars as a whole was partly overdone and flat at times. Though it was a strong episode for the Ice Warriors. We learned about their history as a race and overall did much better than Cold War in season seven.
Gatiss was able to bring us a classic episode (filled with Classic cameos…more on that later), that made us remember who the Doctor is, and what he does best. If this truly is his last episode as a writer for Doctor Who, Gatiss came out on a strong note.
I still have questions as to why Victorian Englishmen were on Mars in the beginning, but I guess not all questions can be answered in the hour that the episode is.
(C) BBC/BBC Worldwide – Photographer: Simon Ridgway
An episode for the Classic Whovian
For people who watch Classic Who, this was definitely the episode for you. Not only did you have a Classic Villain essentially starting anew, I bet none of you expected the cameo. Alpha Centauri, who answered a call that the Doctor put out to help the Ice Warriors, was a brilliant addition. It’s important to note that the same actress who voiced Centauri has voiced her on the two occasions she’s been in the series including Classic episodes. Truly, we had a legend in the episode!
If you’re interested in learning even more about the Ice Warriors, you can read our Ice Warrior lesson article.
But, basically, if you want to learn about the Ice Warriors without watching Classic Who, this episode gave much stronger information that Cold War. (Ironically, also written by Gatiss)
(C) BBC/BBC Worldwide – Photographer: Jon Hall
Missy!?!??!?!
For an episode that wasn’t supposed to have Nardole in it, he had the most surprising parts. I mentioned I thought it was odd that there were pictures of the vault, and to be fair – our questions were answered. In the most surprising way.
Somehow, Missy made her way out of the vault (Nardole couldn’t have let her out…could he?), and was on the TARDIS at the end of the episode. However, it is worth noting she says the most peculiar thing. How does Michelle Gomez always steal the spotlight, even when she’s not supposed to be there?
“But Doctor, please, tell me, are you alright?” That sounds like it could be a loaded question…is something going on?
Overall
A great episode with fantastic parts. It might not have been a standout episode (until the end), but it reminded us what Doctor Who is about. Merging of races, a classic reference, and a stellar ending.