I’ve decided to stop making you, my dear readers, promises. It turns out that I just can’t keep them. Also, this season is now over so I can work on my punctuality for series 9! So here’s my talk about episode 10 and then right away I’ll post my review on the two part finale. Remember that the TARDIS Talks are full of spoilers so let this duct tape K-9 be your final warning.
Episode Ten: In The Forest Of The Night
I’m really torn about this episode. Part of me really liked it while the other part was screaming at the TV asking why it was written so poorly. It started out wonderfully, with Maebh running through the forest to the TARDIS and banging on the door and it was hit and miss from that point on. The episode overall had a very tense vibe to it because unlike previous episodes like Listen, it didn’t jump to a drastically different scene and kill the mood. I really wanted to like In the Forest of the Night’s story line but there were just too many problems I had with it. First though, I’d like to say that the little girl did a good job in the role of Maebh. I didn’t have a problem with her acting. What I did have a problem with was the fact that in the very beginning Clara and Danny had no idea she was even gone until Clara called the Doctor. If the group had been bigger then I may have bought it, but Clara and Danny are pretty bright and their characters have been shown to be good teachers and attentive people throughout the season. So why now did they suddenly not notice a child missing. Not only that but she was a special needs child that EVERYONE knew needed medication.
Secondly, the ending was a bit predictable because they were so heavy handed with the hint in the beginning of the episode. Gee, I wonder why this conveniently placed cross section of a tree has one tree ring which is thick and red? It couldn’t possibly be because the trees saved the Earth from a catastrophe thousands of years ago. What’s this? Trees have sprung up overnight and are covering the Earth. What could it mean? I just expect more from Doctor Who. I’m not used to guessing how a crisis is going to be averted not even 10 minutes into the episode. I’m not saying the show has never been predictable, but this episode was too easy to figure out.
Okay, let’s talk about something positive. I liked the environmental message and the fact that the Doctor seemed to be scolding us, the viewer, as well as Clara and Danny about protecting the forest and treating the earth better. The show wasn’t too forceful about the message either. TV shows take a risk when they want to have a message. It’s a balancing act and I believe Doctor Who did it well. They simply had the Doctor scold us a couple times about cutting down trees and hurting the earth. That’s much more effective than, say, the show Glee. Remember that train wreck? I used to love that show, back in season 1. Then they got preachy. Every single episode just beat us over the head with “don’t be mean to people who are different,” which is a good message but come on, don’t drown us with it. Halfway through season 2 I just stopped watching because the show lost itself in the message. Thankfully for us Whovians, when Doctor Who has a message they get it across but don’t let it take away from the main plot. Say what you want about Steven Moffat’s mistakes, but he keeps Doctor Who from becoming an after school special.
Another thing I liked about the episode was seeing more about the relationship between Clara and Danny. This is fairly new to the Who universe. Usually we don’t see a lot of the private lives of companions. We saw a lot of Amy and Rory but most of it was during their travels with the Doctor. This time around we almost always see them at home with the only exception being when Clara is on an adventure and calling him or the now two times Danny was on the TARDIS. This has really grounded this series on Earth. There have only been two episodes that didn’t take place on Earth or on some Earth ship. Those were Mummy on the Orient Express and Time Heist, two of the best episodes this series.
Back to the negative. Why did we even need the side story of Maebh’s sister? It was only mentioned a few times and so at the end of the episode when that bush disappears and her sister is sitting behind it I’m supposed to have feels? That was also a very cheesy reveal. I know Doctor Who has always had it’s share of cheese, but this scene was a little much. And what about Maebh’s powers? She could speak to plant spirits or Earth spirits? Without looking it up can any of you recall with any certainty what her power even was? Why was it even needed at all? We could have had the same story without it.
Let us end with something positive though. I loved how the Doctor wanted to save Clara and the others but they all decided to stay behind even with the coming massive solar flare that would wipe out humanity. It was touching that the kids just wanted their parents no matter what was on it’s way and it Clara and Danny gave us another example of what makes them fantastic. They were old enough and wise enough to understand what was going to happen but they stayed behind with the kids. They decided to risk their lives just to help their students get home to their parents no matter how futile it seemed. That is why I still enjoyed the episode ever after I’ve spent the past thousand words tearing it apart.
In The Forest Of The Night may fall in the middle of this seasons episode rankings in my opinion but it was worth watching. Stay tuned folks. The Talk for the two part finale is next!