Thin Ice

"Plan: let's get eaten." 

Writer: Sarah Dollard
Format: TV
Broadcast: 29th April 2017
Series: 10.03

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill

Synopsis

4 February 1814. The Doctor and Bill chill out at the last great frost fair on the frozen Thames, enjoying the carnival atmosphere and eating pies. But sinister lights are swarming beneath the ice, luring people to their doom in the black depths of the river - and as the Doctor gets on the case, a desperate band of local urchins could provide the clues he needs. Someone powerful and ruthless is plotting to attract as many people to the fair as possible... but why? And what lurks at the bottom of the Thames, waiting implacably for the first ominous cracks in the ice?

Verdict

Thin Ice was a great episode to continue along the tenth series of the revived Doctor Who! After an incredible debut in Face the Raven, Sarah Dollard was back to treat fans with another script and whilst she failed to replicate the astounding success of her first episode, a task that was always going to prove difficult, she still produced a very good story. It was definitely an improvement from last week and I must say I really was a big fan of the historical setting. The last Frost Fair of 1814 is a good place to set a Doctor Who story and I liked that the Doctor's past visits to the event were briefly referenced. The Georgian period is a time that I have studied in quite some depth and although it isn't my favourite I still found it very interesting so a Doctor Who story set there in Regency England is a good thing in my book. The Doctor and Bill certainly dressed for the occasion and I really must say how much I am enjoying the latter as our new companion. She really is a breath of fresh air and I just love how full of questions she is. This was her first trip to the past and her queries about changing it were wonderful. The Doctor dismissed that brilliantly though my mentioning how the decisions she made in her own time would have just as much of an impact on her own personal future. Bill's reaction to seeing Spider die was excellent and the way she challenged the Doctor about death was superb and probably my favourite moment of the episode. The Doctor definitely did care about those that died around him, and those that he had killed, but his way of coping was to move on. And to do it quickly. Bill will soon understand that. I love Pearl Mackie though and there's something about her voice that makes her queries just that more interesting. The mystery of the lights under the ice was intriguing and I loved how the Doctor had noticed them too without even saying a word. He knew the TARDIS had brought them to the fair for a reason but he wasn't too keen to get to work right away. The reveal of the creature under the ice was good and its size was quite extraordinary! How it came to be in chains was never really answered but the secret of the Sutcliffe family was rather sinister and the Doctor wasn't a fan of that. The creature needed people to produce interstellar fuel and at the end of the day, the family had been killing people for a profit. A horrific principal and way of living. I did like that the Doctor made Bill give him an order about what to do in the situation and acknowledged that despite everything he has done for Earth, it was not his planet. Right now, it was Bill's and the decision was hers. She made the right decision of course and the way the Doctor freed the massive creature before Sutcliffe could blow up the ice was great. Bill, along with Kitty and co, evacuated the ice wonderfully and the problem was quickly resolved. The mystery of whatever is in the vault was enhanced further in this story with Nardole's cameo and he wasn't too pleased that the Doctor and Bill had gone off travelling. Just why the Doctor took an oath and what exactly is in the vault is yet to be seen but I do look forward to finding out! Bill's disbelief at no recording of the creature being made in history was wonderful and I love how much she is loving learning from travelling with the Doctor, Overall, a very good episode!

Rating: 8/10