The latest in my series of Reviews of the Matt Smith Doctor Who years
Summary: A series of gruesome deaths take place in Yorkshire and in the eye of the latest victim, is the image of the Doctor.
Plot: Madame Vastra is engaged to investigate the murder of a reporter by his brother She Jenny and Strax head north to Yorkshire to Sweetville a new utopia run by a Mrs Gillyflower and her very silent partner Mr. Sweet. In the course of infiltrating the commune that only accepts the very best Jenny discovers not only that the factories are a front but find the Doctor chained and infected by a horrible disease (The crimson horror) After explaining to Jenny what happened (including his adoption by the Mrs. Gilyflower’s blind daughter Ada he then tries to discover Clara but even with Clara, Jenny Vastra and Strax can he stop Mrs. Gillyflower’s plan to purge the earth.
Writing: Mark Gatiss has another winner I suspect this might have been almost a pilot for Vastra, Jenny & Strax For an episode where the Doctor arrives late. It never stops being interesting. It’s a fun episode the really holds up well.
Acting: OK everyone expects me to be complementing Diana Rigg (she was great) but it’s Rachel Stirling her daughter playing, Ada who steals the show and it’s not easy to steal the show when Dan Starkey has it in his pocket and is about to walk away with it.
Anniversary 5th Doctor: Brave Heart Clara
Memorable Moments: We are going to the NORTH, Tom Tom, the wrong hands, my monster, that’s my girl.
Oddities: Vastra’s existence is not all that well known yet are hired off the street
Pet Peeves: Exactly where do those photos the kids found come from?
Great Quote(s):
The Doctor: I’m the Doctor, you’re nuts and I’m going to stop you.
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The Doctor: In the wrong hands that venom could wipe out all life on this planet.
Mrs. Gillyflower: [showing her hands] Do you know what these are? The wrong hands!
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Two clips that go together that can’t be appreciated without being seen: So Jenny
Then Strax
Final Verdict: 5 stars Great Actors + Great Story = Great Episode
Ranking of Season 7 2nd of 13
1. The Bells of St. John
2. The Crimson Horror
3. The Power of three
4. The Snowmen
5. The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe
6. Dinosaurs on a Spaceship
7. Journey to the Centre of the Tardis
8. Cold War
9. A Town Called Mercy
10. Asylum of the Daleks
11. The Rings of Akhaten
12. Hide
13. The Angels Take Manhattan
Ranking in Matt Smith Era to this point (top 10 shown) 9th
1. The Bells of St. John
2. Let’s Kill Hitler
3. The Girl who waited
4. The Doctor’s Wife
5. The Pandorica Opens
6. A Good Man Goes to War
7. The Eleventh Hour
8. The Big Bang
9. The Crimson Horror
10. The Lodger
Update: Left out Hide for some reason, fixed.