Today, we say Thank You to Rachel Talalay, director of World Enough and Time, The Doctor Falls and other Doctor Who episodes.
When we watch an episode of Doctor Who, we often get caught up in the acting, the costuming or the words. We don’t realize how much the direction of the show matters. How, without a good director, things won’t work as well. They won’t be as dramatic or move in sync as well. Most importantly, our favorite scenes would never happen without a director at the helm, like Rachel Talalay.
Basically, without a great director, forget about anything else working. We, the fans of Doctor Who, have the gift of Rachel Talalay. She took ideas of episodes and made them into something unforgettable. Currently, she’s directed the last two episodes of every season in Capaldi’s era and will go on to direct the Christmas episode, Twelve’s regeneration.
How Talalay changed Doctor Who
It’s the director who brings the ideas to life, make deaths so memorable and make scenes so unforgettable. It might not have been their idea in the script, but their input is invaluable. They bring what the writers want life. From Danny’s death to the iconic duo Masters episode, she captivates us all in every episode she directs. To say we’ve seen greatness in Rachel Talalay is an understatement.
Even in the saddest episodes, which we saw this weekend, still come out incredibly well. The scenes are unforgettable and, especially in this episode, everything was crucial. From the way the Masters’ death was filmed to the extremely heartfelt goodbyes, everything was spot on. I don’t know much about directing, but I can imagine that on a show like Doctor Who, with multiple people in costumes, the green screen and CGI that must be used, it has to be difficult to direct. Talalay conquers the what looks to be impossible, which keeping the storyline touching, in every episode she does.
As we watched the last two episodes of Doctor Who, it was Talalay’s work that made them stand out among an already fantastic season. I’ve already been a fan of Talalay watching her episodes of The Flash and Supergirl, two other shows I watch. But she’s truly demonstrated her capabilities in the Doctor Who world. I don’t know much about directing, but I know when something is amazing, and Talalay is amazing.
To say that I hope Chibnall uses her talents is an understatement: Chibnall needs to use her.
Under her direction, three episodes made the Top Ten list on IMDb:
- Heaven Sent (#2)
- World Enough and Time (#4)
- The Doctor Falls (#10) (And in my humble opinion, this is way too low)
To Ms. Talalay, thank you for bringing to life such important moments in the Doctor Who world. It’s easily safe to say that it wouldn’t be the same without you. It’s a testament to you that so many people are still talking about the episode, and how it certain scenes were created. You’ve won our nerd hearts here at Doctor Who Watch, and we’re certainly not alone.
We can’t wait to see more of your brilliant work this Christmas, and we can’t think of anyone better to handle such an iconic episode.