Previously on Doctor Who: The Doctor thwarts (another?) war between the humans and Zygons, and lays down some heavy Truths while doing so.
Excuse me while I go scrub my eyes repeatedly.
Here We Go Again
The TARDIS deposits the Doctor and Clara on a nearly abandoned space station, where they meet up with a rescue mission. The group soon finds themselves being hunted by creatures, who are, apparently, made of the “sand” that builds up at the corner of your eyes while you sleep. The only surviving member of the space station crew, one Professor Rassmussen, claims he knows nothing about them, but it’s eventually revealed that he’s their creator. His technology, Morpheus, which makes it possible for people to not have to sleep, somehow turned that avoided sleep into sentient, dangerous creatures. The Doctor, Clara, and the last living member of the rescue crew make it off the station, but it’s unclear if the day was actually saved.
Fantastic!
I certainly didn’t expect that ending. Or, rather, quasi-ending? Are we all totally screwed now, or what?
Don’t Blink or We’ll Exterminate
The Sandmen were a pretty brutal bunch. Although you might have thought that something made out of sleep “sand” wouldn’t be so scary, they certainly were. Those gaping maws? NIGHTMARE stuff.
We’re All Stories
Winner: 474. Way to be more than anyone expected you to be, 474. Even Chopra realized the hero you were, in the end.
Loser: Gagun Rassmussen. Not only was he totally deluded that his way was the right way, when it was actually totally bonkers, but also his way created a new form of life whose favorite thing to do was eat people. Good going, Gagun.
Words from the Madman
Doctor: “People never do that, you know. They never put the word “space” in front of something just because something’s sort of high-tech and futurey. It’s never “space restaurant” or “space champagne” or “space hat.” It’s just restaurant or champagne or hat.”
Doctor: “Hold my hand.”
Clara: “I’m OK.”
Doctor: “I’m not.”
Doctor: “Shakespeare. He really knew his stuff.”
Keep Moving
Just when I’d gotten used to a TBC every other episode, they go and throw us a single story episode. (According to Mark Gatiss, however, it was supposed to be?) I’m also a little unsure of that ending. But, hey, I’m not going to be alive in the 38th century to deal with the aftermath. (Please know that I’m just being cheeky; I’m really not that callous.) The “found footage” style was an interesting choice; maybe this would have been better to air at the end of last month?
… I’m not sure what it says that I have more thoughts about the style of the episode rather than the actual story.
But, what did you think of “Sleep No More”? Let’s discuss in the comments.
