‘Doctor Who’ | ‘Thin Ice’ S10E03 Overview
The TARDIS has a habit of taking the Doctor where he needs to be, rather than strictly where he aims to go. In this episode, she re-routes Bill and the Doctor to the last frost fair of 1814, when the Thames froze over and a festival was held on the ice.
Strangely, something is lurking beneath the surface, and swallowing revellers. Bill and the Doctor quickly stumble upon a nasty operation to create fuel using the monster below…
‘Thin Ice’ is an exciting adventure into the world of Regency London and the famous frost fairs. Featuring sideshows, acrobats, and roasted ox and fish pies, the setting is evocative and might well leave you feeling chilly.
‘Doctor Who’ has long incorporated a diverse cast - from the show’s leads to the extras on distant planets. The script rarely makes reference to it, but in this case, the Doctor and Bill make a pointed remark about the white-washing of history in books and films. Then fittingly, Bill soon finds that she fits into the Regency period with more ease than she expected.
Then there’s the Doctor’s speech to Lord Sutcliffe. Every now and then the Doctor makes a perfect and timely speech, and in this episode he delivers a corker on the value of a life. With a child having just lost its life to the monster under the Thames, it’s a reminder of the suffering of innocents at the whims of those in power.
However, the speech isn’t the only awesome moment to occur in this episode. Featuring one of the most satisfying punches in the show’s long history (it’s a close call with Rory punching Hitler back in Series 6), when the Doctor clocks Lord Sutcliffe for being horrible towards Bill, viewers can’t help but revel in his glory. People really did have licence to be nasty back then, didn't they?
Somewhere during the action, though, Bill realises that the Doctor is much darker than the kindly teacher he first appeared to be. He says he “serves at the pleasure of the human race”, but then he reveals that he has seen countless people die, and even killed some himself. It is in this moment that Bill discovers just how old the Doctor is, and gets a rare glimpse of some well-hidden scars.
Written by Sarah Dollard, ‘Thin Ice’ is the best episode of the series so far, with the perfect mixture of heavy subject matter and lighter wit. The dialogue between Bill and the Doctor sparkles once again; the Regency London setting is beautifully snowy and detailed; and the monster effects were convincing – well, right up until the last scenes with the thawed river, at least.
Next week, prepare to be creeped out when Bill and the Doctor return in ‘Knock Knock’.
Watch ‘Doctor Who’ every Saturday night at 7:20pm on BBC One; 9pm on BBC America; and Sundays at 7:30pm on the ABC and iView in Australia.
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