Doctor Who Review: Deep Breath - 10 Ways To Breathe New Life Into An Old Soul
8. Eyes Wide Open
The cyborg in Deep Breath steals eyeballs but does not see. It is locked into a rigid construct both physical and metal. It caters to a delusion of the Promised Land that prevents it from becoming anything more than a slave to its own need to exist. It cannot learn or adapt or detect anything beyond the constricted path it follows. It is like the wooden boy who yearns to be human but cannot understand what that truly means. The horror lies in its parody of life and its inability to do anything but go through the motions. In contrast, our new Doctor is a scholar he writes formulae on blackboards and surrounds himself with bookshelves. Perhaps this new incarnation was influenced by his companion? Clara is an educator who teaches at the school the first Doctors grandchild attended. She is not restricted by her past. Her confrontation with the cyborg is highlighted by her ability to learn from her mistakes, to challenge her own assumptions. She is not crippled by her missteps but stronger for them.
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.
