Doctor Who Review: Deep Breath - 10 Ways To Breathe New Life Into An Old Soul
10. Synergy
Synergy, in this instance, is the cooperation of different people or groups to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Deep Breath is more than a new Doctor. It is a subtle shift, a deliberate slide into a new world. Not only does Clara, and by proxy the viewer, need to accept a different Doctor, but the show itself seeks to honor and adapt to a rapidly changing media savvy audience. Some creators are afraid to step beyond the narrow confines of script and stage to brave the depths of fandom but Doctor Who embraces it. Dazzled by the beautiful opening title sequence? It was inspired by an exquisitely crafted fan-made video Billy Hanshaw, an impressive collaboration between creator and audience member. When the Doctor echoes the lament of the Dinosaur he speaks for all outcasts left alone in the dark. The Doctor is an exile, a wanderer in the wilderness. Without his friends and companions he is in danger of losing himself. The Doctors power does not cancel out the need to be accepted for who he is rather than for who other people want him to be. The Doctors band of confederates a lizard woman, a warrior clone, a Victorian maid, a twenty-first century schoolteacher could not be more disparate, yet they all must accept their differences, and in turn the Doctors difference, in order to work effectively together.
Mary Ogle is the author and illustrator of “Orangeroof Zoo” a whimsical tale of magical realism told through the pages of a coloring book for adults. Working as a professional artist in the digital medium, Mary’s commissions have included everything from fine art to fan art, book cover design, illustration and book layout. Find more of Mary’s work at www.maryogle.com. Mary currently finds inspiration in the Ojai Valley, residing in a snug little cottage with a recalcitrant cat.
