Clara wants to see "something awesome" in another spectacular blockbuster adventure...It feels like an age has gone by since we were last properly given a companion's first journey in the TARDIS to an alien planet, so The Rings Of Ahkaten is a breath of fresh air for Doctor Who in more ways than one. More than that, though, it succeeds brilliantly thanks not only to its stunning aesthetics, but once again a superb cast of little-known stars rallying together to show why this sci-fi drama is still on BBC1 fifty years after its first episode broadcast.
Luther's Neil Cross is new to the world of Who in terms of his CV, yet his love and passion for the show became plain within moments of the episode's broadcast. From the development of Clara's character arc into something undeniably more tragic than expected with her mother's early death, to references to the Doctor's granddaughter Susan, Omega, the Time War and so much more, this was an episode oozing with nostalgic moments for fans. Crucially, however, Cross didn't let these homages get in the way of a strong narrative fuelled by songs and wonder.
I'm sure that the use of Murray Gold's beautiful soundtrack in an extended manner wasn't to the appetite of every fan, yet for this particular reviewer it was a touch of genius in much the same vein as it was back in 2010's A Christmas Carol. Gold's lyrical pieces here were masterfully handled, and of course huge kudos must be given to Emilia Jones as Merry Gejhel, a brilliant young actress to be sure who pulled off her God songs with absolute aplomb. Indeed, this episode was full of little-known stars such as those who played Clara's parents, but each were perfectly suited to their roles in a brave and innovative storyline.
It would be impossible to go any further, of course, without talking about the sheer staggering aesthetics of this episode. Firstly, the Mill have outdone themselves with some of the greatest visual effects on the show yet, both in terms of the Star Wars-rivalling variety of costumes in the Mos Eisley Cantina-esque opening scene and indeed in terms of the CGI imagery for Ahkaten itself. Certainly, it's a true achievement when our belief in an alien world becomes palpable, so for Ahkaten to seem such a realistic depiction thanks to Cross, the Mill and director Farren Blackburn was very commendable.
Of course, nothing's perfect, and The Rings Of Ahkaten did perhaps possess one or two growing pains at times. Although the Vigil were great new creepy monsters, and their battle with the Doctor's sonic screwdriver through sound waves had a gloriously Harry Potter-esque feel to it, the Mummy on the other hand wasn't nearly so effective on the fear factor front. This new creature's appearance in the 'Coming Soon' trailer at Christmas made it look like a dark and bold new enemy for the Doctor, so its relegance to a B-list villain dealt with in a matter of seconds was something of a shame.
When it comes down to it, this was something of a Marmite episode for the new run. Personally, I had a fantastic time with it, mainly thanks to the intelligence of Neil Cross' first broadcast script for Who (the first script he wrote, Hide, will be shown in two weeks' time) and the beautiful chemistry of Matt and Jenna. Matt's scene as the Eleventh Doctor railing against his planetary antagonist with memories of long-gone races and secrets that must never be told was both intriguing for the series arc and indeed one of the Brit star's best scenes yet in the role. While its flaws perhaps hold it back from being a truly classic episode, Doctor Who: The Rings Of Ahkaten is a superb addition to this brave new season of adventures that once again truly lived up to its blockbuster status. Welcome aboard, Neil!
4.5/5
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