Doctor Who: 9 Most Underrated Episodes Of The Revived Series
4. The Vampires Of Venice (Series 5)
The Vampires of Venice is a story that is often overlooked when it comes to talking about Series 5. Whats really interesting about this episode is that its where Toby Whithouse, who has the potential to be a future showrunner, first gets to really showcase his vision of Doctor Who, exploring the characters morality by contrasting him with the villain. This is something he does again in The God Complex and A Town Called Mercy. Here, the villain is Rosanna, played effortlessly by Helen McCrory. Shes more than a match for Matt Smiths Doctor, causing him to raise his game as a result, leading to some fantastic drama in their confrontations, the first where he threatens to destroy them, and the second where she calls him out on the morality of that decision. Both add an extra layer to the proceedings, making this more than the average Doctor Who episode. And thats not all. Whithouse takes his experience from the cult comedy-drama Being Human and blends the silly with the serious. He crafts some wonderful lines, especially for Matt Smith. Yet the script delves into the serious too, allowing Smith to show off his darker side, but also making sure fans know that this story has consequences. Aliens invade historical Venice through the cracks and people die - people were expecting the Doctor to save. All this makes The Vampires of Venice an intriguing and even thought-provoking episode, and one that definitely deserves more appreciation than it gets.
