Series 9 - The Zygon Inversion

          I don’t even know where to start with this story. “Fantastic” seems almost cliché at this point, but it truly was. I was worried that the second part wouldn’t live up to the first, but those worries were unfounded. Consider the landing *stuck*.

First off, that script! Tight, superbly paced, and full of those moments where you just smile and say “THIS is why I love this show!” I just loved so much about it. The truth behind the “Osgood Box” was clever yet so bleeding obvious after the fact. “Five rounds, rapid” is a salute to the Brigadier that was nowhere near as forced as Cyber-Brig last season. The Zygon forced to normalize against his will? What a heart wrenching character! In an episode without much guest cast, this nameless Zygon was a scene stealer. I’m curious as to what Steven Moffatt contributed to this, as he wasn’t credited on “Invasion”, but was on “Inversion”. Maybe adding some more touches from “Day of the Doctor”? Regardless, the script for this story was simply amazing.

Of course there are two standout moments in this standout episode. Jenna Coleman’s interplay with herself as both Bonnie and Clara was so very, very well done. Both characters had to run through a series of emotions – anger, confusion, self-satisfaction – and both characters were pitched so differently that there were moments where I legitimately forgot it was only one performer. Jenna Coleman has left some big shoes to fill for her eventual replacement.

The second stand out moment? It is of course when the name “Basil” is spoken, thus answering the biggest question… Oh, alright, it’s the Doctor’s speech in the Black Archive. As if there was any doubt. THIS is the Capaldi I’ve been dying to see, the DOCTOR I’ve been dying to see. I know that Matt Smith could have delivered this speech, maybe Tennant could have, and I’d love to see what Christopher Eccleston would do with it. In the end, though, it’s Peter Capaldi, and it’s a thing of beauty. He has the gravitas, the world-weariness that it takes to make a speech like this work. His Doctor, even with the knowledge that he didn’t blow up Gallifrey (um, spoilers, I suppose for the two of you who haven’t seen “The Day of the Doctor”) still remembers the day he made that decision, still feels that decision weighing on him. Still remembers his actions throughout the Time War, ones we have NO idea about. His frustration with the Zygons and humans inability to simply talk things out is palpable. I’ve heard and read a few different people saying that this is the big clip they’ll show whenever talking about Capaldi’s Doctor, and I couldn’t agree more.

Osgood. Oh, be still my beating heart, but Petronella Osgood is such a lovely character, I am so glad they didn’t kill her off. Again. Also, is it just me or do we in fact know which Osgood is which by the end of the story. They’ll be mixed up again in any future appearances, but really. “Question Mark Collar” Osgood has been with the Doctor the whole time, “Seventh Doctor Jumper” Osgood is a shape-shifted Bonnie. There has to be one human, one Zygon for the whole plan to work, so ta-da! “Question Mark Collar” Osgood MUST have been the human the whole time. Also, if she was the Zygon, could they duplicate a Zygon from another Zygon? Wouldn’t that be like a VHS copy of a VHS copy, prone to some serious degradation? If you don’t know what VHS is, then A) go ask your parents and B) I’m old.

“The Zygon Inversion” is a great episode of Doctor Who. Even more, I think it’s a great episode of TV drama, full stop. With this two-parter, Peter Harness has written a story that, and I use this word knowing what it means to Who fans, is sure to be a classic. Five stars. Ten out of Ten. Just magnificent.

PS. This weekend is Long Island Who 3, THE Doctor Who convention on the East Coast. I have gone the two previous years and am looking ridiculously forward to this one. Paul McGann, Katy Manning, Janet Fielding, Camille Coduri, Noel Clarke, and a TON more guests will be there. I’m not sure what the ticket situation is at this point, but if you can make it there, I can’t recommend it enough. Their website is: http://longislanddoctorwho.com  Let me know if you’re coming, I’d love to meet you!

PPS: I've neglected to mention that I've been illustrating these posts with the posters designed by Stuart Manning.  They are perfectly fabulous. You can find him here:  https://www.facebook.com/stuartmdesign/