Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS

"Don't get into a spaceship with a madman. Didn't anyone ever teach you that?"

Writer: Steve Thompson

Format: TV

Broadcast: 27th April 2014

Series: 7.10

Featuring: Eleventh Doctor, Clara

Synopsis 

The Doctor's TARDIS captured by brothers running a salvage company in space. In the process, Clara gets lost inside the time machine. To save her, the Doctor promises the brothers they can have the TARDIS it they'll help search for his missing companion. They agree, only to find that what lies at the centre of the TARDIS could kill them all...

Verdict 

Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS was an absolutely brilliant episode to continue the second part of the seventh series and now the arc and mystery of Clara really is kicking in. I loved the title despite its unusually long length and its similarities to the film (you can guess which one, I'm sure) were great! I loved the idea of exploring more of the TARDIS, more specifically heading towards the centre. We saw a lot of the TARDIS interior during The Invasion of Time but our only real look into the heart or centre of the TARDIS was in The Movie. Here, what we saw was sublime. I loved the irony in the way the TARDIS was subjected to damage. Just as the Doctor reverts the TARDIS to basic mode so Clara can fly her, the magno-grab reaches out and inflicts serious damage on the ship. I adored how the Doctor so wanted his ship and companion to get along (what a sentence!) and his reactions when Clara was a bit skeptical was magnificent. Had Clara been companion in The Doctor's Wife then maybe she'd have understood. The Van Baalen brothers were good additions to the story and just like its predecessor I liked how effective the small cast was. And again, it didn't need to be any bigger. I really envied Clara in that she was left alone in the TARDIS! What Doctor Who fan wouldn't want free passage inside the TARDIS? Seeing the numerous things the Doctor has inside his ship was marvellous with the swimming pool, endless corridors and impressive library! I'd love to know what Clara read in the book about the Time War and an intriguing thought came to my mind. Seeing as the Doctor was the sole survivor, surely he's the author? I found that amazingly interesting especially when Clara found out his real name, only to later forget. I loved how on the point of death, the Doctor angrily confronted Clara about her identity! How could she have died twice? It was wonderful seeing the fear in Clara's eyes. Then it was relief for them both as Clara received a hug and the Doctor ultimately knew she was just normal, ordinary Clara. The Time Zombies were fascinating enemies and the concept was quite frightening when it was revealed that the potential future was also leaking through the rupture, and the fate of Clara was quite horrifying! How could the beautiful companion end up like that? Speaking of beauty, Jenna Coleman looked absolutely sensational in this episode with that stunning and gorgeous red dress. I wouldn't be opposed if she wore that every episode! The way the Doctor resolved the problem, from the stunning heart of the TARDIS, was very clever. I loved the design of the heart of the TARDIS, frozen in destruction, it really wasn't what you'd expect and I liked that. The message of 'big friendly button' on the device (and Clara's hand) was fantastic and despite the clear font error, the idea of the Doctor changing the future by going back to the point in the console room that set the episode up was excellent. Clara would forget the confrontation about having died twice, and the relationship would be back to its wonderfulness. Overall, a great episode! 

Rating: 9/10