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Next week in Doctor Who , the Doctor and Clara take a "Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS”
• It’s an okay episode, but a little disappointingly underwhelming for a story with such a deliciously tantalising title. It’s a fairly straightforward action adventure.
• There are a couple of “Wow!” moments, but too much time is spent wandering around corridors – and pretty generic sci-fi corridors to be honest rather than something uniquely TARDISy.
• While we were expecting something mythic, it instead feels a little grungy. At times it’s clearly aiming for an Alien vibe, and there’s more than a little of Danny Boyle’s S unshine in there too. They’re great films to reference (and the episode uses its influences well enough), but you wonder if that’s the right vibe for a story about the TARDIS?
• On the other hand, there are some very effective moments of tension and edgy action scenes.
• Blimey, there are a lot of corridors.
• The monsters look great and they are excellently directed for maximum scare value. There are some pretty strong scenes for “family entertainment” (not that we’re complaining – kids love a good scare).
• We get to see a good few TARDIS rooms and areas, though many of them are just glimpses. The “centre” of the TARDIS is worth waiting for, though, and there’s a striking re-visualisation of another established part of the TARDIS. Oh, and a guest appearance from Avatar ’s Tree Of Souls.
• Lancashire not only gets namechecked a number of times, it actually provides a vital clue.
• Did we mention the corridors?
• The Doctor has an epiphany about Clara.
• Our prediction: Doctor Who forums will be full of people moaning about the resolution.
• There’s a lot of expository dialogue.
• Corridors and more corridors.
• Clara discovers a very interesting book.
• Somebody makes a remarkable recovery (Time Lord regeneration energy is not involved)
• The three guest stars are all uniformly forgettable.
• Rock and roll!
• There’s a great FX shot with the TARDIS looking like a prize in a fairground attraction.
• Clara emits a mighty scream.
• Something returns, unexpectedly and slightly mystifyingly, as if it”s been skulking in the TARDIS waiting patiently for a moment to be of use again. We suspect this may have larger ramifications, but it’s odd to see the Doctor regard it so casually…
• There’s some really effective use of sound.
• No one trips over a sunlounger (sadly)
• Oh yeah, and corridors.
Doctor Who “Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS” airs on BBC One On Saturday 27 April at 6.30pm.
