WARNING! SPOILERS: This post contains spoilers and speculation for the Doctor Who series nine episode The Zygon Invasion. The Zygon Invasion is a jam packed action thriller infused with not-so-subtle commentary on current global politics. A plot including insurgents based in the Middle East (the country is fictitious but the allusion obvious) and facing drone attacks is about as contemporary as you can get. While the message may be a bit heavy handed at times the fact that writer Peter Harness is willing to explore such touchy and complicated subjects is laudable. Hes turned the Zygons into a mirror of a younger generation alienated from their refugee parents and resentful of attempts to force them to assimilate into a society that strips them of their cultural identity and its fantastic to watch. The Zygon Invasion does not work as a standalone story. That is not at all to say that it is a bad episode only that it is mostly setup for what is come and so harder to judge on its own merits. While the Doctor is present he doesnt do much, acting more as a spectator to the events flowing around him. Its interesting that Harness chose to keep the Doctor in the background as the same thing occurred in his previous script Kill the Moon. Clara or rather her proxy is once again front and center in this thrilling game of truth or consequences.
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.
