The Doctor Who Mid-Week Review: The Crimson Horror

Doctor Who The Crimson Horror Poster

This week’s episode, The Crimson Horror, was a very solid episode; chock full of historical Doctor Who references, period costumes and the Titanic Threesome of the Victorian era.  I have actually had a bit of a hard time figuring out what to say about this episode.  The dialog is spot on.  Clara apparently is now a completely normal companion, despite the trio’s (especially Jenny’s) disbelief and amazement at her being back.  the episode does have a couple of moment that take you out of the moment, and they could have been addressed relatively simply (at least I would think so).

The Scooby Gang

The episode features the trio of Madam Vastra, Jenny and Strax.  As always as the misguided and completely off kilter, even for a Sontoran, Strax had some brilliant lines, and even had a chance to play the part of warrior.   A mystery is brought to the Scooby team of mysterious corpses turning up in the canal, and the latest was an investigator trying to find out the secrets of Sweetville.  They mysterious locale is a factory and community in Yorkshire where only those selected by Mrs. Gillyflower, the co-proprietor along with the mysterious and Mr Sweets.  Jenny and Vastra soon find evidence of the Doctor’s involvement and head out to discover the answers.  And in a moment of classic humor, their poor Victorian client has a weak constitution for the unusual, and Strax meats a most unusually gifted child with a name that seems somewhat whimsically prophetic.

Mrs. Gillyflower – Too nice to be a villain?

I do love the costumes in this half of the season.  Clara is always in something that fits the period, and keeps the look fresh.  Even the Doctor with slightly different threads and a Bowler hat for at least part of the episode.  In another stylistic choice that worked, there is a flashback told out in scenes done in a sepia tone with an “old film” look to it.  The episode also chose to focus on everyone pitching in, and running and one character that aside from being a convenience for a pivotal plot point really didn’t need

Doctoring!

to exist.  The first two thing were good, the third one was a minor annoyance.  Overall it was a normal, none arc related adventure (though as we know from past experience this may be something key to the arc, and we just haven’t been clued onto it yet) that provides an enjoyable 45 odd minutes.  As always it’s now time for the SPOILERS SWEETIE!

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Tut, Tut. Good Heavens!

So not a lot I want to talk about here since there was no apparent arc relation.  I thought at first for sure Mr. Sweets was going to be the GI, but that ended up not panning out.  As for Mr. Sweets, what in the world was going on?  Was he talking to her?  Was it all her?  Why/how was he attached to her but not killing her?  Was she feeding him sugar (the obvious choice) or salt?  The over the shoulder thing is most often associated with salt, but I imagine her juiced supermodel army were too dim to care/notice.  And she dropped it in the completely wrong place, though I suppose he could be moving around.

The biggest thing that bugged me is how did they all not burn up as the rocket shot out of the launch tube?  It’s kinda like

Jenny The ass kicker!

the submarine that is well below the depth a sub should be able to endure.  Are these little fact issues a clue or just silliness?  I am probably thinking about this too hard, but if the Doctor gets set off by where Oswin got the eggs for a souffle, then these could prove that none of this is really happening.  There has been one major issue per episode pretty much….

As much as the episode focused on a team effort, it did somewhat make the episode get lost, and caused the character of Ada get a bit lost.

Ada, not a villain, though she had a pet monster!

And wow Clara, outsmarted by a couple of kids.  For someone who has repeatedly been called clever that was a pretty pathetic performance.  Like their Dad would believe the kids anyway.  Uhg.  PLOT DEVICE!

Anyway that’s about all I can think of for this time around.

DOCTOR IS INCONSISTENTLY FRANKENSTEIN!

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See you all next week for CYBERMEN! (Nightmare in Silver, written by Neil Gaiman (famed author and writer of The Doctor’s Wife))