12.11: Dark Water

In which death is not the end.

Broadcast: November 2014

Watched: March 2022

“Do you think that I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference?”

Then again: “There are some forms to fill in – might help you relax.”

Or even better: “My heart is maintained by the Doctor.” “Doctor who?” 

Genuinely, properly horrifying: one of those “I’m impressed they went there, I’m not entirely sure that they should have” ones. The rotting skeletons in tanks; the bit where they move; all the existential terror about what death actually means… it all feels out of place in what is still sort of meant to be a kid’s show. The “three words” scene is clearly meant to be softened by the fact the Doctor obviously doesn’t believe it for a moment... the issue is, we keep cutting back to Danny in the Nethersphere, so it *seems like the Doctor’s completely and totally wrong*.

Horrifying in a different way is the set up, the idea of a story that starts with a companion’s lover dying, then has her betray the Doctor to get him back. (Oh, and throws in Danny having accidentally killed a kid for an encore.) The opening sequence remains incredibly painful, and Coleman is great as she slowly realises what’s happened. She’s even better in the scene with her gran when she’s just cold. The implication is that this is Doctor Who doing the Dark Willow story [the one from season 6 of Buffy], with essentially the same trigger, the accidental death of a lover. The assumption that she can’t just ask the Doctor for help, she has to threaten him into it, needs some unpacking.

Except… then it isn’t that story, it’s Orpheus in the Underworld, and they trek off to hell to find Danny and bring him home. LOL at the double meaning of “go to hell”. 

It’s all extremely messed up. But it’s a mindblowingly good set up, there’s a proper build up of dread, and it constantly piles on the twists. Plus, Missy first appearance, pretending to be a computer and snogging the Doctor, is absolutely hilarious, and gets even more so in retrospect when you know who she is.

Other things:

• At the start, “I love you” is the most meaningful thing someone can say. By the end, it could be a computer programme, and proves nothing. Fuuuuck. Although the idea you can talk to the dead provided their wifi doesn't cut out is hilarious.

• “Either you do as you're told or stop threatening me, there really isn't a third option” – That... is really only one option? But a nice character note. Also, later: “This isn't possible, the dead don't come back” – if you believe that why are you here, Doctor?

• The guy who plays Dr Chang is brilliant at being slimy. Also, love the reference to “Dr Skarosa” in a story with no Daleks in it – no idea if that's Moffat trolling fans or Missy trolling the Doctor.

• “Who would harvest dead bodies? Feel like I’m missing something obvious” followed by the two logos on the door forming a cyber-face and the cyber-music kicking in is just brilliant.

The Nethersphere is The Good Place, before The Good Place happened. Huh.