The Empty Child

I haven't enjoyed a Doctor Who story this much since The Robots of Death in 1977 when I was 12. What made The Robots Of Death special was that the design was great and it combined horror and science fiction brilliantly. The Empty Child manages to achieve all this and more.

The whole show looked fantastic (I'd better calm down with the superlatives here, I've already used fantastic and great), from Rose hanging from the barrage balloon to the gothic beauty of Albion Hospital. But what about the zombies! The gas masks give them a really freaky appearance and Doctor Constantine's transformation into one of them must be the best special effect I've ever seen on Who.

The two part format has given enough time to flesh out Captain Jack's character a bit and also given us two cliffhangers (Nancy in the house and the rest in the hospital). Superb use of multi layered dialogue gives the show something for adults and children alike. The little boy's reply to the Doctor's question about why they weren't outside London living as evacuees ("There was a man") lent a darker side to the script. So although the special effects were magnificent the script more than matched them, and the acting wasn't bad either.

Richard Wilson gave a fine cameo and keeps up the high standard of guest performances this season. It almost makes up for Beryl Reid in Earthshock (but not quite). The directors have also been able to bring out super performances from the less well known performers. Florence Hoath as Nancy is a moving and believable role. Captain Jack is something of a new direction for male companions on the series and not an unwelcome one. There hasn't been a believable male companion since Troughton's time. Harry Sullivan had all the charisma of a week dead stoat and the only reason that Peter Davidson kept Adric on the Tardis was so that he could slap him if he was feeling bored.

I thought that the director was saving money when Captain Jack explained that his spaceship was invisible (cheap prop) but it looked smart when it actually appeared. There were plenty of nods to popular culture and digs at Star Trek ("Go on do a scan for alien tech") and also some digs at the Doctor's amateurism ("at last a professional"). Rose fell for Captain Jack like a ton of bricks as soon as she saw him, obviously being a war hero and having your own spaceship is something that women find attractive! I will be interested to see how their relationship develops.

Can't wait for the next episode The Doctor Dances, which dance anyway: foxtrot, tango or pogo?

Anyway, enough of this review, I'm off home, Mummy, Mummy, let me in.