Previously on Doctor Who: Things get VERY timey-wimey when the Doctor travels back in time to thwart The Fisher King.
Yet another two-parter, huh? At least we got some really interesting developments rather than a typical TBC!
Here We Go Again
The Doctor and Clara find themselves in a Viking village that’s had all it’s warriors stolen by an alien pretending to be Odin. All might have been well had Ashildr (a unique Viking girl) not opened her mouth, but of course she does—which brings on the threat of war. The Doctor comes up with a last-minute plan to win (natch), but that leads to Ashildr’s untimely demise. The Doctor decides to fix the mistake, but immediately regrets the decision.
Fantastic!
My jaw definitely dropped a little when Twelve realized why he’d chosen that face. So much yay for connections to previous regenerations and filling of plot holes!
I was also seriously impressed when Clara straight up told Twelve to stop worrying about her so much. IT’S ABOUT TIME.
Don’t Blink or We’ll Exterminate
The Mire were a nasty-looking bunch (under their helmets), and pretty vicious (harvesting adrenaline and testosterone through killing). But that single-minded quest, and the fact that they were also pretty stupid, was their downfall. Pretty predictable, guys.
We’re All Stories
Winner: Ashildr. Her oddness actually ends up saving the entire village, and they all consider her a hero for it.
Loser: Ashildr. When she dies, the Doctor brings her back. Winner, right? But the way he brings her back makes her functionally immortal. I’ve always thought this would be the worst sort of living, having to outlast all those you love. (See also: Jack Harkness.) I suppose the Doctor considered this when he gave her another repair kit, but still.
Honorable mention: The Sonic Sunglasses (Huzzah!)
Words from the Madman
Doctor: “It’s the best I could do, Clara. I’m not actually the police. It’s just what it says on the box.”
Doctor: “People talk about premonition as if it’s something strange; it’s not. It’s just remembering in the wrong direction.”
Ashildr: “You think they’re all idiots, don’t you.”
Doctor: “What, you mean the rest of the universe? Um, yes, basically, I do.”
Doctor: “Winning is all about looking happier than the other guy.”
Doctor: “One day, the memory of that will hurt so much that I won’t be able to breathe. And I’ll do what I always do, and I’ll get in my box and run. And I’ll run, in case all the pain ever catches up. And every place I go, it will be there.”
Doctor: “I’m the Doctor, and I save people. To anyone who’s listening, if you’ve got a problem with that … To hell with you!”
Honorable mention:
Clara: “The universe is full of testosterone. Trust me. It’s unbearable.”
Keep Moving
I think I’m finally understanding why Clara is so important to Twelve. He’s just. plain. tired. of losing his friends and loved ones. The reveal about why he chose this face was pretty epic, but we’re definitely left with many more questions when it comes to Ashildr’s future. There’s so much opportunity there!
But, what did you think of “The Girl Who Died”? Let’s discuss in the comments.
