You rang?
Even in recent years there have been several occasions where a creature has been tacked onto the episode, presumably just in case it makes a good action figure.
Not they always actually get as far as making them.
So in Listen we have something rather unique and interesting. Because it's not often you get a whole story that turns around the idea that, just possibly, there ISN'T actually a monster. Apart from that one bit in The Power Of Kroll obviously.
I was pleasantly surprised by this episode. After the disappointing Into The Dalek, and last minute dive into unbearable nonsense of Robot Of Sherwood I was frankly set for yet another retread of all the standard Steven Moffat tropes. And to be fair, that is pretty much what we got. But what we also got was plenty of atmosphere and style with an interesting plot.
The idea of a menacing SOMETHING that's always just of sight is something Moffat keeps coming back to. Indeed, it's the whole point of his two most succesful monsters, the Weeping Angels and The Silence.
Hell, we could even throw in the Crooked Man from Hide, although I guess he's been disqualified for stealing the episode title this one probably wanted. And then there's the big invisible turkey monster from Vincent & The Doctor. And the Spiridons from Planet Of The Daleks. And probably one or two other creatures I'm forgetting about. So, baring all that in mind the whole opening segment of the episode in which the Doctor postulates on perfect hiding should really come across as a bit daft. That it doesn't just goes to show how effective the episode is at building atmosphere.
It's got good direction and effective use of lighting that manages to make a blanket the scariest thing seen on screen this series. W ether or not whatever was under the blanket was a Silent playing silly buggers or something else entirely is something I hope will never be answered. The most effective narrative weapon deployed here is, after all, ambiguity.
Really, the only problem I can find with the episode at all is that it really scuppers my ongoing conspiracy theory about remaking poorly regarded stories from the classic series. It's still a rehash of of a past episode, but one from the new series. It's going over a lot of ground from Day Of The Moon. Creepy childrens home in the middle of the night, scary unseen things lurking just out of sight... This is the sort of thing I'm talking about when I say how much repetition is creeping into the scripts these days. One can hardly have too much of a go at Doctor Who for shamelessly cribbing from a variety of sources. But whilst various witticisms about stealing from the best can get you so far, when you're stealing from yourself it just makes you come across as a conceited tosspot.
Another interesting thing about the episode is Clara. They really have decided to try and make up for her doing basically nothing last series haven't they? What makes it interesting is that they've largely decided to do this through making her a total bitch. She's apparently really good with kids, but with other adults? Not so much. The simple fact that her and Mr Pink couldn't actually get as far as ordering dinner without somebody stropping off into the distance TWICE doesn't really bode well for any potential romance that's being set up. I mean, shouldn't you at least try and complete ONE conversation with someone before jumping into bed with them? Or am I just being old fashioned?
Old fashioned in this case meaning having NO conversations first.
Still, that aside it's nice to start seeing the 12th Doctor begin to establish himself a little more. Self destructive curiosity being a rather Doctorish trait. And I personally love the way he's always insulting Clara. It makes her alleged hero worship thing a bit wierd, but it's funny as hell and a welcome change from all the enforced sexual tension bollocks we've had to put up with before this. I'd say that things are staring to look up for this season.
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