Whenever someone mentions Doctor Who, there's always the "hide behind the sofa" subtitle, going as far back as the 1970s when the show was getting a little controversial with its scares. And with the regeneration of the show comes the phrase again - yet the show hasn't pushed itself to live up to the phrase yet. The Empty Child changes that, as the first truly scary story of the new series despite coming close in The Unquiet Dead and Dalek, by opting with a simple yet surprisingly effective approach - have the enemy be a little boy. But a decade on, and with writer Steven Moffat now being a showrunner who can't help but split opinions, was this a good first impression?
When a mysterious metal cylinder is spotted speeding through the time vortex and crashes in 1940s war-torn Britain, the Doctor and Rose Tyler (Christopher Eccleston & Billie Piper) arrive to investigate its sudden appearance and to stop whatever is dangerous about it. When the two split up, Rose ends up holding on for dear life on a barrage balloon until the enigmatic and seductive Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) - a former Time Agent from the 51st century who wishes to sell the cylinder to time travellers - whilst the Doctor comes across a band of misfits who steal food from others during air raids, lead by a young woman called Nancy (Florence Hoath). But it seems there's a mysterious boy wandering the streets of London crying out for his mummy, but whose presence scares the life out of anyone who comes across him. He's not alone though, as there appears to be a whole hospital ward filled with people just like him, and all seem to be linked with the cylinder. What is it, who is the child, and can Jack really be trusted?
As the first 'scary' episode of the season, Moffat does do a strong job at balancing the story with the frights alongside the occasional sprinkle of comedy. Helped by the darker direction and night-time setting, it makes the whole thing all the more atmospheric, while indoor scenes have a interesting feel to them which looks slightly dated yet intentionally so. The comedy does mostly stem from the character of Jack as he attempt to flirt his way into a sell, but even the Doctor has his moments ("I'm looking for a blonde in a Union Jack. A specific one, mind you, I didn't just wake up this morning with a craving"), and oddly enough it still manages to fit in - it still feels like a Doctor Who episode. Sure, earlier superior episodes like Dalek focus more on one angle than the other, but this balance and direction really sells the story and almost makes it more realistic.
Kudos must of course be given to long time comedic actor Richard Wilson, whose brief appearance as elaborator of events leads to one of the better moments of the episode in terms of both emotional turmoil and scares (thanks to that transformation). He's not there very long, but his presence was certainly enjoyable. Hoath as Nancy also makes a strong case for herself, hiding the right amount of detailing from the audience whilst remaining a character - she isn't a mystery first, unlike more recent Moffat creations like Missy. Her protective nature is lovely, and you can see the genuine fear in her eyes when she comes across the Child alone.
Ahh, the Empty Child; a simple yet ingenious creation. Sure, plenty of episodes before and after it copy the "don't let it touch you" motif, but none do it as well as this - well, maybe the Weeping Angels are the exception - because of the innocence that the foe lends itself to. It's still just a kid; you dare not attack it or hurt it emotionally, but you have to in order to protect yourself. It's a smart decision, and lends itself to a truly chilling cliffhanger.
As much as I like to praise this episode, I don't love it. There are moments which tend to drag a little, like the dance next to Big Ben, and it tries to throw too many characters at you who aren't of any major importance (remember the scene in the club? You'd expect it to lead somewhere), and as ever child actors are a little mixed in terms of acting potential. But what features is certainly strong, and does deserve a lot of the praise it receives. One of the best episode this season? Yes. One of the best overall? Pushing it a little. 8/10.
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