In the Forest of the Night

"Do you like the forest being in Trafalgar Square?"

Writer: Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Format: TV

Broadcast: 25 October 2014

Series: 8.10

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Clara 

Synopsis 

One morning in every city and town in the world, the human race wakes up to face the most surprising invasion yet. Everywhere, in every land, a forest has grown overnight and taken back the Earth.

Verdict

In the Forest of the Night was a decent episode to continue our way through the modern era rewatch! I haven't seen this episode in over a decade and yet I just knew before watching that this was the rating I was going to give it. I remember giving it full marks on broadcast and I think I might have been the only one! Whereas a number of stories often benefit from a rewatch with The Aztecs being a particular beneficiary of that from myself, this particular episode unfortunately has seen its rating reduced on each viewing now. I don't foresee a time where I watch this again, but if I do I will be fascinated by the rating I award! I've seen this described as almost a fairytale version of a Doctor Who story but I'm not sure that's something I would quite agree with. I think something like The Snowmen or even The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe more aligns with that statement, but I can certainly see where they're coming from. It is rather fanciful. I think it's good fun to have London covered in trees, but there are some elements that bring things down a tad for me. I don't think it's right that we just have Maebh in the TARDIS for an extended period of time, especially with this Doctor! It was a fun moment though for him to boast to Clara about her missing a student. Danny was also then given the same treatment by Clara. Their relationship is definitely at a heightened level by the point of this episode, although she is still hiding her travels from him and that's not going down well. To be fair, I can't fault him for just wanting honesty! Maebh predicting the events of the trees and the day it would happen was intriguing and learning of her grief with her sister going missing was pretty sad stuff. I do think the whole school trip vibe of the episode was a little naff and there were probably a few too many children, but it was nice for them to cheer for Danny and Clara's kiss. They knew already how in love they were but now they had the proof before their very eyes! The imagery of London covered in greenery was nice and I think it was a missed opportunity to pan out to the planetary wide shot instead of quickly showing other famous concrete jungles now having trees all around! Imagine Times Square or Venice consumed by trees? I liked how they were also fire resistant and that should have been an indicator of their purpose with what was to come at the end of the episode. The idea of a natural defence against a massive solar flare seems a tad far fetched to say the least. I'm not sure it's logical and I think the Doctor was probably a little too confident in it happening, but he trusted Maebh. She was suffering from mental distress and that put her in communication with the trees. It does sound a tad mad now, but there was a semblance of logic. I think it's a little over the top to have Maebh reunited with her missing sister at the end but the fact she wished for it showcased that fairytale feeling in a strong way. I was more interested in Missy looking in on events and setting things up for a finale, one Gemma is very excited for as she claimed to not remember much at all from the next time trailer! And it's been a long old time for me too. I can't wait! Overall, another decent episode before the main event.

Rating: 7/10