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| A victim of Rosanna Calvieri's girls' school |
1 episode. Approx. 47 minutes. Written by: Toby Whithouse. Directed by: Jonny Campbell. Produced by: Tracie Simpson, Patrick Schweitzer.
THE PLOT
Disturbed by Amy's advances, the Doctor decides it's time to find Rory, her fiancee, and send them off on a proper date - a romantic getaway. And what better place for romance than Venice, 1580?
There is something dark lurking in the city, though. A prestigious girls' school, run by the aristocratic Rosanna Calvieri (Helen McCrory), is not what it appears to be. Girls go into the school, and are transformed into something inhuman. When the Doctor investigates, he discovers what appears to be vampires. But he suspects that the real truth is even worse...
CHARACTERS
The Doctor: He does feel for Rosanna, when he learns exactly why she has hatched her plans. There's something almost friendly, and more than a little sensual, about their confrontation at the 30 minute mark. But he still determines to stop her, for the simple reason that one's right to survive and expand ends when it tramples on someone else's right to life. She also shows herself to be lacking in any compassion for her victims. After executing a girl who helped the Doctor, she cannot even remember her name - something which sets off this Doctor's cold anger, though it doesn't stop him from trying to save Rosanna herself.
Amy: Her reaction to vampires in Venice is pretty much the same as Rose's reaction to a werewolf in Victorian-era Scotland: "Cool!" Somehow - maybe because I just like Amy better than I liked Rose, though just as likely because there are no obnoxious running gags along the lines of "We are not amused" - it comes across as charming rather than annoying. Amy is willing to put herself in danger to help the Doctor. Perhaps too willing, which certainly seems to be Rory's reaction. Her loyalty to the Doctor doesn't seem to conflict with her fondness for Rory, though, and she is very happy at the prospect of continuing her travels with both of "her boys" in tow.
Rory: Though he's clearly the submissive one in the relationship with Amy, he does have a spine. He sees the Doctor's flaws and isn't at all shy about calling him on them. The scene in which he lays out exactly how dangerous the Doctor makes people to themselves is the perfect counterpoint to "the Doctor makes people better" statement of the Eccleston season. Sure, he makes them do things they'd never otherwise do - but that comes at the price of putting them in danger they would otherwise never be in. The good first impression Arthur Darvill made in The Eleventh Hour is delivered on here. He's able to be quite funny, such as in the amusingly inept swordfight with Francesco (Alex Price), while still maintaining his dignity. He does very much fill the same role as Mickey - but thankfully, without the cartoonish moments that marred Mickey's early appearances.
THOUGHTS
Another entertaining episode, one which expands the ominous nature of the crack in the universe while at the same time telling a fun, fast-paced adventure story. Adding Rory to the mix had the potential to interfere with the Doctor/Amy dynamic. Instead, it creates a whole new dynamic, one that's even more interesting to watch.
The episode is very atmospheric, with some excellent production design. The period architecture and the low lighting of several sets really heightens the tension - and, oddly, the humor. This season has been more atmospheric than past seasons, with each episode seeming to do better at maintaining a consistent tone than has previously been the case. Even the Dalek story, horrible though it was, maintaned a consistent comic book tone. I don't know whether to credit that to Steven Moffat or to the new producers, but that ability to make even the more frenetic episodes feel like unified pieces is something that's distinguished Series Five thus far, and I hope it continues.
Rating: 7/10.
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