For my very first review I will be reviewing the Doctor Who episode Cold War which debuted on this past Saturday April, 13th, 2013. Again I will state that there may be some minor spoilers as I will discuss some plot points.
This was a good setup for the episode. Cold War, Russian Sub, and returning Monster. But did it deliver on that promising setup? I believe it did. The episode included enough plot and tension to make it worth watching. The main characters played their parts superbly. Matt Smith played the Doctor as well as he ever has before. Jenna Louise-Coleman seems to be really coming into her own as Clara. Guest Star Liam Cunningham gave a great performance as the subs' Captain.
This episode featured the return of Classic series monster, the Ice Warriors. After a nearly 40 year absence, they made their debut in the New series. Did their return work? Absolutely yes! The look of the Ice Warrior was modernized, but also stayed mostly true to the original look. The look and feel was very intimidating. The confined space of the submarine only added to the luster of the Ice Warrior. The story made the Ice Warrior something to be feared and taken seriously. I really enjoyed seeing this enemy. The ending also added a nice conclusion and an opportunity for them to make a return at some point.
Cold War was definitely Clara's coming out party as a Doctor Who companion. She actually had to act like a true companion. Tasked with talking to the Ice Warrior when the Doctor was unable and also was counted on to keep the Doctor in check. The season so far has followed the established Doctor Who story arc for companions. First episode was meeting the Doctor (3 times in Clara's instance ha). Second episode was the fantastic time travel demonstration. And then this, the Third episode, was the one where the companion becomes the companion. Clara was actually in a truly dangerous situation for the first time. She did freak out when she became aware that things were starting to get real, but by the end of the episode she gained her footing and is on her way to becoming a really amazing companion (even without her secret background).
Just some other quick notes: I think that there may be more to the disappearance of the TARDIS then just the Doctor's explanation of the HADS activating. The Doctor was carrying a doll with him when he was searched by the Russian crew. Why did he have the doll? Was it another token from Clara's past or something else? I did notice that the doll bared a striking resemblance to Rose, which only continued the Clara's connections/references to Rose and other companions. Next week's episode looks very interesting and looks like we are going to a little deeper into the Clara mystery.
I feel like this was the best episode that Mark Gatiss has written. He has had an up and down history when it comes to writing for Doctor Who, having written the stories The Unquiet Dead, The Idiot's Lantern, Victory of the Daleks, and Night Terrors. Not the best of histories, but Steven Moffat must see something in him if he keeps giving him scripts. Gatiss will have another episode during this half season, The Crimson Horror, and I hope he has written that in the style of Cold War and not fallen back into his previous stories.
Overall this was a fine episode. It had great suspense, a great monster, the Doctor being the Doctor, and the companion fulfilling her role. 8 out of 10.
Feel free to post your comments below with your own feelings and thoughts. I will be posting reviews of The Bells of St. John and The Rings of Akhaten at a later time.
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