The Empty Child

The preview promised thrills galore, with SFX coming into their own with stunning imagery. The Blitz backdrop just had to work В– as it is such an extreme time for all involved. BBC would get the period feel spot on. Captain Jack looked sufficiently heroic in an old fashioned way (Doctor Who acknowledging its adventuring roots?). Looked brilliant, expectations very high.

Upon first view those expectations went through the ceiling! What a magnificent episode!

What struck me throughout was mood В– the attention to detail in creating the atmosphere of War torn London. All aspects of production clicked into place to produce excellence. From the shadowy lighting to the SFX blitz bombers В– this just reeked of the period. You felt right there, and as the bombs dropped, you really had no idea who and where would be hit.

Christopher Ecclestons Doctor, in his U-Boat outfit (liked that line) was brilliant here, even though so much was happening all around him. I like this Doctor more and more В– and even though he is only with us for 13 episodes, I look forward to the extra stories that feature him.

Billie Piper was charming as Rose, again! Her lovely attraction to Captain Jack was delightfully played. Captain Jack also put all his credentials on the table, and I for one am intrigued where this new regular Character takes us. The story is also blessed with wondrous supporting players. The lovely Florence Hoath, as Nancy, as especially good В– and it was great to see Child Acting of the highest calibre. Richard Wilson had a fairly brief role, as Dr Constantine, but itВ’s also great to see actors of his calibre joining the fold.

Steven Moffatt has written a peach of a script here, with the assistance of Russell T Davies. Bubbling with humour, yet profoundly horrific too. It is by turns the scariest script, and also the wittiest. The wonderful scene around the dinner table, when Nancy finds a dinner ready and waiting В– and then invites the homeless children in В– was a real stand-out. What a delightful, yet daring, idea! A fully cooked meal mixed with the possibility of devastation any moment. I canВ’t think of one thing wrong with this script В– and the most wonderful thing about is that we get more next week! Out of all the episodes this year this is the one I wanted more of В– and thatВ’s exactly what we are going to get.

How authentic did it all look? Extremely authentic. From Bomb Shelters through to dining room/kitchen utensils, this was totally World War Two. Then thereВ’s the magnificent contrast with the TARDIS and Captain Jacks ship. Both time ships are lovely designed pieces of technology.

Where this story panned out was glorious. The dark alleyways the Doctor and Nancy roamed. The smoky nightclub where the Doctor puts his foot in it. Captain Jacks time ship attached to Big Ben В– how iconic are the images being used in this series В– how British is this series turning out to be! I also loved the gloomy Albion Hospital В– a marvellously creepy place.

Of all the different aspects of production though, it has to be the SFX that stands top of the pile here. How brilliant was the scene where Rose is carried on a rope from the dirigible! How brilliant was Captain Jacks and Rose smooching near Big Ben! How fascinating was Dr Constantines change! How scary were the Gas-Masked people/aliens (we still donВ’t know).

There are a good many questions here too, particularly concerning Captain Jack. I donВ’t recall many Time Agents in Doctor Who before, they usually pop up in Star Trek. Typical of DW to knock Star Trek to the floor, in making this Time Agent so fascinating and personable. We donВ’t really see how the Doctor will react to this fellow Time Traveller, and just what is Jacks agenda? Who are the gas-masked creatures В– they appear human, yet I reckon they are something very different. The line that has stuck with me is fascinating В“They just donВ’t dieВ”.

I really thought Unquiet Dead couldnВ’t be bettered, I said as much in my review of that story. I was wrong, gloriously wrong В– Empty Child is the best episode this series has produced. Right up there with the very best Who has ever produced. I canВ’t wait for next Saturday! 10/10