If Cold War derived its strength from mining historical tension, big themes and conflicted characters, Dinosaurs On A Spaceship is Who at its nuttiest and most unashamedly enjoyable. You'd be hard pressed to find any meaning to it, but it's difficult to complain when presented with so many barmy ideas crammed into a brisk 45 minutes. The most memorable of these is the introduction of Brian, Rory's dad, played with the same avuncular daffiness star Mark Williams brought to the role of Arthur Weasley in the Harry Potter movies. Fully formed from the start, he serves not only as the episode's comic relief (delivering one of Who's riskier laughs - "Only my balls" - with a straight face matched only by Smith's bewildered reaction) but its heart as well, sweetly showing where Rory inherited his deep reserves of empathy. Let's also not forget his trowel, or sweetly humble request upon discovering the TARDIS' ability to travel through space. Beyond Brian, the Doctor also brings along two one-shot companions in Queen Nefertiti and John Riddell, a big game hunter from colonial Africa. Though it's questionable whether the Doctor would happily ally himself with someone who kills animals for sport, the two characters are vivid enough to justify their presence and bring new dynamics to the established TARDIS team. Amy's respect for Nefartiti's queenly righteousness, and vice-versa, gives her a fellow female to spar with for a change, while Riddell's gung-ho attitude brings a confrontational spirit which adds a spikier edge to the series' usual pacifist leanings. The dinosaurs themselves play a relatively small part in proceedings, though considering that part includes being ridden by a delighted Matt Smith as two frustrated robots give chase, it's difficult to argue that their prominence in the title isn't deserved. Writer Chris Chibnall also uses the series' history well, with the Silurian origins of the eponymous spaceship giving the fans a nice little nod. In an episode rich with bold visuals and ideas, there was always likely to be one or two elements which didn't quite work, and villain Solomon - played by David Bradley, who would go on to portray William Hartnell in 50th Anniversary docudrama An Adventure In Space and Time - is a little too cruel for an episode this lighthearted. His robot assistants, voiced by Peep Show stars David Mitchell and Robert Webb, also aren't as funny as they should be, but on a ride this gleefully entertaining, such hitches feel relatively minor when there's so much else to enjoy.
28-year old English writer with a borderline obsessive passion for films, videogames, Chelsea FC, incomprehensible words and indefensible puns. Follow me on Twitter if you like infrequent outbursts of absolute drivel.
