ANDREW'S
DOCTOR WHO REVIEWS 
After a few episodes of confusing River Song continuity
heavy stuff, it’s a relief to get a story that just tells a story! This feels a
bit like someone watched Fear Her and said ‘there’s a good idea hiding amongst
all this nonsense, I’m going to rewrite it my way’ as there are a lot of
similarities in the set up. However, whereas Fear Her is pretty awful, this is
generally good stuff and quite scary at times.
The Doctor receives a message on his psychic paper from
George (Jamie Oram), an 8 year old boy living in a flat, who is terrified of
the monsters in his bedroom. The Doctor, Amy and Rory split up to try to locate
George and it is the Doctor who finds him, with his father Alex (Daniel Mays).
Posing as a social worker, the Doctor discovers that George has been terrified
all his life, the Doctor also discovers that George’s Mother cannot have
children, so he wonders where George came from.
Meanwhile, Amy and Rory, whilst travelling in an elevator
find themselves in what appears to be an 18th Century house,
although all the furnishings seem to be wooden props. The house is occupied by
wooden dolls who turn you into a doll when they touch you. Amy is caught by one
such doll and transformed.
The Doctor meanwhile finds out that George’s fears are
usually banished into the wardrobe and in it he finds a dolls house.
Information begins to make it clear that George is not human at all. He is, in
fact, a child of the Tenza a timid race that assimilates itself into any local
culture. George is constantly terrified that his mother and father will reject
him if they find out he is not their biological child. The Doctor, George and
Alex are pulled into the dolls house where they find Rory. Alex rescues George
from the dolls and convinces him that they will never abandon him.
They then all find themselves back in Alex’s flat.
This story has a very small cast and is not showy at all. It
makes the most of its claustrophobic setting both in the flat and in the dolls
house, and the wooden dolls are suitably scary and unnerving. Both George and
Alex are well portrayed and this is what helps make the story convincing.
Once again Matt Smith demonstrates how well he works with
children, and his relationship with George is very well realised.
It all does end with a rather sickly sweet conclusion but
after the heavier stories that we’ve had that is a blessing. An enjoyable
little story.
NEXT UP: THE GIRL WHO WAITED
© Text copyright - Raving Loony
Productions and
Andrew J. Müller,
Roy Barton
and Shaun Runham
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller
© Web Design and Layout - Andrew J. Müller
2022
