The first human manned base on Mars comes under threat as crew members start to become 'infected' turning them into humanoid creatures with bodies that gush water... and the Doctor seems unwilling or unable to help as this is a pivotal point in time and the future must be allowed to run its course...
Despite some very occasional fun moments (the high speed robot) and Tennant’s occasional (though suitably subdued) quips, the themes of body horror, possession and a seemingly unstoppable enemy makes this one of the darkest Doctor Who episodes ever; add in that the outcome is apparently ordained and and the darkness becomes even gloomier. Even when the Doctor decides he can and will break the "rules of time" to change the final result, and however much you will him to succeed, you always get the feeling time time and fate will somehow ensure he will at most only partly accomplish in this sincere desire.
Water has never been so scary and the Doctor has rarely been so helpless than in this fantastic episode which balances a tremendous will to succeed, a seemingly inevitable, predetermined result and fantastic finalé showing that sometimes to win you must fail... and if the Doctor doesn't respect this then he will have to be shown...
It was a nice premise and the inevitability of it all was an interesting viewpoint on the real power of a time lord. I did like the quip about bikes/buildings so far apart. Of course Dr Who "requires" running.
ReplyDeleteSome nice variations on body-snatching and possession. It is good but not the best.