Doctor Who Series 1 Episode 10: The Doctor Dances

Director:

James Hawes

(Doctor Who: The Empty Child, Doctor Who: The Doctor Dances, Sea Of Souls, Without Motive)

Screenplay:

(Coupling, Chalk, Murder Most Horrid)

Cast:

Synopsis: The Child’s plague is spreading throughout wartime London, and itszombie army is on the march. The Doctor and Rose form an alliance with theintergalactic con-man, Captain Jack, but find themselves trapped in theabandoned hospital. The answer lies at the bomb site, but time is running out…

“The Doctor Dances”, despites its silly title, is a fine conclusion to theimpressive opening from writer Steven Moffat. The pacing is spot-on, and therelationship between The Doctor, Rose and (love?) rival Captain Harknesscreates an interestingly fresh dynamic. Moffat’s background in comedy alsoprovides some genuinely amusing moments throughout (a running banana gag isa hoot), while never taking away from the inherent drama of the piece.

The actors all continue to bring a light-hearted air of fun to the story,particularly Eccleston – who now seems to have slipped into his roleperfectly. Piper is more redundant in this episode than usual, but still herusual spunk self when called upon, while John Barrowman’s potentiallyembarrassing American cliché action hero becomes a fitting antithesis of TheDoctor.

What really impresses with “The Doctor Dances” is how the variousplot-threads are all pulled together by the finale, meaning a real sense oflogical closure completes the story. Most other Who episodes this seriestend to gallop to their endings by virtue of the 45-minute runtime, so it’sa real pleasure to watch a story that has been given room to breathe – andactually warranted a two-part (unlike Russell T. Davies’ earlier Aliens OfLondon/World War Three silliness.)

As with part one, the production design is exemplary throughout, while thevisual-effects (although less showy than in part one) are more refined andbelievable. Even the incidental music evokes the right sense of menace.However, plaudits mainly have to go to Steven Moffat, whose story is the keyto the episode’s success and brings an exactness of balance betweenadventure, horror and comedy not seen since The Unquiet Dead sevenepisodes ago.

Overall, a wonderful conclusion packed with humorous asides, strong acting,a logical and affecting story, rounded off with some great insights into therelationship between The Doctor and Rose. The scenes when Rose encouragesthe 900 year-old Time Lord to dance could have been awfully cringe-making,but instead it’s perhaps the best comical insight into the characters theseries has produced so far. This was simply fabulous family entertainment.

Next Week: A plan to build a nuclear power station in Cardiff City disguisesan alien plot to rip the world apart. And when The Doctor dines withmonsters, he discovers traps within traps…

DIRECTION
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