Bonnie could only understand the consequences of her actions after she allowed herself to see the truth of the situation. The empty boxes were metaphors for the futility of her world view. Her capitulation was earned and yet her decision to become another Osgood seemed forced. It was too much too soon though to be fair in the compressed time frame of a TV show quick and convenient resolutions are an unfortunately common occurrence. Its a minor plot point and not enough to derail an otherwise excellent episode. How fitting that a story haunted by the Doctors actions surrounding a certain all-powerful weapon gave us Peter Capaldis defining moment. His imploring of Kate and Bonnie to listen to and learn from his experience was a master class in performance as his Doctor veered from sarcasm and anger to profound grief. It was easy to believe this was a battle-hardened war veteran who had seen way too much and been forever changed. Series nine is shaping up to be one of the greatest of New Who and these two episodes by Peter Harness may well be the highlight of an incredible season of epic story telling. Its a privilege to witness writers, directors, actors and production people all working together to bring us some of the best television has to offer.
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.
