I can't say I came into this story with high expectations, even after last week's dramatic ending. The title of this episode suggested a disposable romp. The Mummy monster and the colonial setting also gave the impression of an old Hinchcliffe era tale. Yet by the time I came away from this tale, It had become a new favourite of mine.
It certainly starts off in a traditional manner, with the Doctor and companion simply materialising on the ship and exploring their new environs. In this case, the space version of the Orient Express.
However, there is a slightly less traditional tone to the relationship between Doctor and companion. Clara is treating this like a last hurrah. It's unusual to have this much tension between Doctor and companion going into the story. It's certainly a change in the Moffat era, where Amy's traumatic experience at Demon's Run was brushed under the carpet.
However, the Doctor and Clara soon find themselves busy with the legend of the Foretold. A mummy appears and kills people in sixty seconds. The Mummy itself is a brilliant looking creation, with rotting flesh, missing teeth, a visible ribcage and ragged bandages.
The curse itself takes the form of a 66 second timer that appears on screen. It is an interesting new narrative device to be employed on Doctor Who, similar to Sherlock's on screen text.
One by one, the crew is being killed off by the Foretold. And one of them is responsible. They're not the deepest of characters, but fairly fun. The Professor is amusing. Captain Quale is alright. Frank Skinner is good as Chief Engineer Perkins. There is also Maisy, whose mother was killed by the mummy. She seems like a fairly distraught woman.
Eventually it is revealed that the whole thing is a ruse to get scientists on board to discover the foretold. The train's Computer, Gus, played in a witty deadpan voice by John Sessions, locks down the train and forces the scientists to work.
The Doctor's investigations soon lead him to discover that it is guilt that draws the foretold. He once again tests Clara by bringing Maisy as a test subject, but this time around, throws it around by solving the mystery of the Mummy. It is another riff on the malfunctioning machinery of the Moffat era, but I don't mind.
Peter Capaldi has been good since day one, but his Doctor seemed even more engaging this week. As with Deep Breath, this is a story that taunts you with the idea that the Doctor might be willing to allow everyone to die on board. He might be seen as an angry Doctor, yet he still has quirky moments, l like his awkward body language when he is unsure whether to involve Clara in the mystery.
The Doctor's not the only one who is morally ambiguous in this story. Clara admits to finding Tardis travel an addiction and lies to her boyfriend about returning. The characters are not entirely good this season. This is not always the most fun viewing, but it is compelling.
Kill the Moon was the episode that was touted as the big game changer but was this episode that I ended up enjoying more. It may be a romp, but it's a romp that manages to advance the character arc of the season.
10/10
Next: Another new writer and a another interesting looking premise. A shrunken Tardis and creatures that come out of walls.
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