Series 9 - The Zygon Invasion

          Full disclosure, I have always been a big fan of “Terror of the Zygons” and loved that the shapeshifters were included in “The Day of the Doctor”. I had hoped that they would make another return to the series, but in my naiveté, I always thought it would be in another horror episode like the original. Never did I think that there would be a timely political thriller featuring my favorite sucker covered shapeshifters. But that is exactly what we’ve gotten with “The Zygon Invasion”. Refugees, terror attacks, training campgrounds – this is as “ripped from the headlines” as Doctor Who has really ever gotten, and I love it.

          The Zygon/human peace plan begun in “The Day of the Doctor” has been in full force, with over 20 million Zygons living among us in human form. Now a splinter group wants to stop hiding and be themselves, otherwise… well, tell the “Truth” or there will be “Consequences”.  Enter the Doctor. Or Doctor Disco. Or, my favorite, Doctor Funkenstein. Damn, I LOVE Capaldi this season. He’s still edgy, but it’s not meanness – he’s just an aging rocker who still wants to wail, and the universe won’t always let him. Anyway, it’s the Doctor and UNIT and Clara and Kate Stewart! And OSGOOD! One of them, at least. There is a LOT going on in this story, and at the risk of possibly spoiling any of the goodness, I’m really not going to go into plot points.

          What I *will* say, is that Peter Harness has done a smashing job with this story. The international locales (even if they may have been filmed all in one place) work and really give the Zygon threat a global scale. It is very easy to believe that there are millions of Zygons all over the world. More than that, the story FEELS big. This is an invasion of earth on a scale that the series hasn’t really attempted since the Hartnell years. “Terror of the Zygons” had a feeble attempt with only a half dozen Zygons. Twenty million possible sleeper agents are already in place before this episode even starts.

          In honor of those original six Zygons from 1975, here are my top six things about this story:

1)    The Doctor. I said it earlier, but the Doctor is top notch in this episode. He’s Earth’s Alien Protector, and also the authority figure who’s disappointed by all the bombing we humans want to do.

2)    Editing. With at least three different locales and storylines, Harness’ script had to be tight, and it certainly is. Visually, the editing is superb, keeping things moving, somewhat frantically at times, but never leaving the audience lost.

3)    Osgood. The “hybrid” card may be getting overplayed this season, but here it works beautifully. Knowing that the two Osgoods represented the peace, makes the predicament of the remaining Osgood that much more bittersweet. Also, I kinda have a thing for Ingrid Oliver.

4)    Design. It’s ridiculous and completely 70’s TV, but I love the design of the Zygons. The updating of the costumes lets them keep their 1975 vibe, yet still be completely believable as a threatening monster.

5)    Doctor Funkenstein. I’m sorry, it just makes me laugh every time.

6)    Clara. Wow, Clara. Jenna Coleman is a remarkable actress, especially when she gets the chance to DO something. Her use of body language is extraordinary. Remember in the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie, there’s a scene where Lois is in the other room, and Clark has decided to tell her his true identity? Reeve takes off his glasses, drops his voice a bit, and stands up a wee bit straighter.  Right there, Clark Kent became Superman. Watch Jenna Coleman towards the end of this episode.  She does similar things, and is both creepy and effective.

I’ve watched “The Zygon Invasion” twice now, and will probably watch it at least once more before Saturday night. I’m crossing my fingers that part two will really stick the landing. As for now, I’m calling it and saying that “The Zygon Invasion” is the best of Series 9. So far.