by Ken Parker
I will start this review with
information that each of my reviews this season have been written
after watching each episode more than once. I have done this for a
few reasons. The first is that I am finding the quality of these
episodes to be of a significant higher quality than in previous
seasons, especially when compared to season 5 and 6. I also have had
the time to sit back and watch them twice and I have found that I
definitely get more out of the second viewing in some cases. This
may be unfair to episodes I have reviewed in the past of course.
The reason I mention this is because my
first viewing of "Time Heist" did not go that well. I actually nodded
off a few times and saw a lot of negative things about the story and
so on. After watching it again I was able to focus more on the story
and I saw things I hadn't before. Hopefully this results in a fair
review on my part.
Spoilers
I have always been fascinated with the
memory when it comes to it being used as a plot device. Movies like
Memento and various TV series like Star Trek and Buffy the Vampire
Slayer have used memory as a way to put viewers in the middle of a
story and tell the tale in a unique way. While we are figuring out
the story, generally from the middle outward, so are our characters.
It gives the writers a chance to take an otherwise basic plot and
present it in a fashion that can be much more enjoyable and
suspenseful. "Time Heist fits" this perfectly because if it was told
linearly it wouldn't have been nearly as interesting. The suspense
is shared by both the viewers and characters.
The writing for this story is fairly
well done. We have a mystery and an adventure with a few characters
we do not know anything about and a situation that at any time could
be something it isn't. The story allows minimum about of time to
develop these characters including the Doctor and Clara and does an
okay job with it. I wish there was just a few more down moments to
bolster these characters just a little bit, especially Ms Karabraxos
who basically comes off as a typical baddie. For her to become to
instigator of this entire plot, it would have been better to get to
know her a little more and perhaps so a hint of regret in the present
day that could grow to her old age, making the decision that much
more realistic.
It is hard to sell the memory wipe idea
and marry it with the potential escape strategy and a number of
happenings to occur as they did. It all works well together in the
end, reminding me of some of Moffat's best stories. One could
probably poke holes in this story but often the plot fixes these
holes with a quick explanation. If the Doctor and crew entered the
bank with the memory of saving the Teller and his mate, why wouldn't
the Teller just allow them to get along with it? Because the Teller
is mentally linked with Ms. Delphox and or Ms. Karabraxos and she
would not allow it. In the end she was gone and in turn allows the
Teller to act on his own free will.
Despite some of these minor shaky
points, the story works well and is supported by a pretty good cast
of characters, good effects and nice designs. The only thing off
hand that I remember bothering me during both viewings was the
editing. I disliked some of the close ups and establishing shots.
There were a few that felt awkward. The phone ringing in the TARDIS
used a jump cut which seemed more of a mistake than planned.
There were also a number of odd edits
that seemed to focus on a few character moments that led to nothing.
Saibra explains her face changing right at the start as her touching
the time worm but her face seemed to suggest there was more and she
had a few “up to something” looks that will no doubt get some
fans thinking she is an important part of this entire season or that
she could be the Rani or something. Or it could be just me looking
for those types of moments.
After my second viewing I really
appreciated the plot and ideas of this story. I felt the story was
well structured and worked well with all the elements of production.
I believe this is the least controversial story of the season yet and
should not garner any heightened opinions like previous stories have.
It does not over use humor, does not have connections to the
Doctor's distant past and so on. It is just a good tale of intrigue
and adventure.
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