The Shadow in the Mirror

"I won't say sorry."

Writer: Paul Cornell

Format: Webcast

Released: 24 April 2020

Series: #DoctorWhoLockdown

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor

Synopsis

Someone wants to get out. Someone thinks they should...

Verdict

The Shadow in the Mirror was a very good end to the Shadow trilogy of lockdown adventures to go alongside the watch-along of Human Nature/The Family of Blood! It was a very entertaining little five minutes that had some good animations to go alongside the audio. I thought it was great and actually quite refreshing to have Lor Wilson returning to her role as Daughter of Mine to tell the tale! I very much enjoyed the continuity from and reference to The Shadow Passes with the time the Doctor spent essentially in lockdown for around three weeks allowing her time to reflect and realise what kind of person she was now. It wasn't somebody who trapped little girls in mirrors. The Doctor was here to amend her ways which was very intriguing. This one definitely appeared to be set after Ascension of the Cybermen/The Timeless Children with the Doctor being unsure on everything bar one thing when it came to doctors and she didn't even seem to flinch when this mysterious and yet doubly referenced red-headed Doctor was mentioned. I have no idea if there ever has been an alternative incarnation of the Doctor that was red-headed, but I'd just hope it is a little joke about the Doctor's continued desire to be ginger. Would he/she finally get the wish in the final incarnation? That would be a nice and somewhat humorous thought. Daughter of Mine continuing to refuse to say she was sorry was a little surprising as it seems I definitely got the wrong feeling on her sentiments in Shadow of a Doubt. The arrival of the Thirteenth Doctor was terrific and I liked that she was coming through on her wish from the aforementioned short story that kicked off this little trilogy. Daughter of Mine seemed to have a sickness that needed curing and even when the Doctor coming to visit wasn't a rare occurrence, even if this particular incarnation had never visited before, she still asked to get out despite knowing what it was that would get her released. She had been to every mirror in the universe and scared so many children which was an interesting development as she seemed to be gloating to the Doctor of what she had achieved despite her entrapment. Despite that, the Doctor was contemplating letting her out and she would even be able to resume her life from the point it was suspended. That would be a huge win for Daughter of Mine! The Doctor's talk of mercy and it setting aside fairness was very good and I loved that she just wanted to be kind. She carried through on her wish to rethink things and smashed the mirror into a million pieces and reached out her hand to let Daughter of Mine out. She didn't accept the offering of the hand, but happily stepped out and took her freedom. I thought it was a good development in having the Doctor take her back to her own planet and I'd love for a story exploring that location and the species on it! I'd love to see them in their natural form more fully and wondering around. That would be quite something. I thought it was brilliant to have Daughter of Mine being furious at the power the Doctor held over her despite finally freeing her and taking her home. Of course, she had put her there in the first place so that anger is definitely understandable. Overall, I thought this was an impressive little story with some very good imagery and a fine performance from Lors Wilson reprising her role for the first time in thirteen years! A fantastic little bonus.

Rating: 8/10