10 Doctor Who Episodes That Took Risks And Failed

The episode that was created as something of a teaser for the London 2012 Olympics was also Doctor Who’s attempt to depict domestic abuse and PTSD and despite a valiant effort, the whole affair comes across as a little juvenile at this stage.

Chloe Webber has the power to use her drawings to confine the things she finds frightening, thanks to an alien traveller who only wants to help. Hmm. An alien who has the best of intentions but causes a tremendous amount of pain along the way? No, that’s not familiar at all. The Doctor themselves is trapped in one of these drawings, something that feels a little reductive when one considers the power of the TARDIS as well.

One of Chloe’s drawings is a representation of her abusive father, trapped in an upstairs wardrobe, terrifying her beyond belief. The resolution to this is heart-warming, though it all feels a bit light. Having the Doctor carry the Olympic torch at the episode’s end only serves to show that for all of the talk about dealing with domestic abuse, it really was just about including the franchise in the legacy of the Games themselves.