NuWho Review: Series 8 Episode 10 "In The Forest of the Night"

By: Frank Cottrell-Boyce

**Spoilers**
If you have not yet seen this episode, please go and do so before proceeding.

     This episode felt like something out of a modern Red Riding Hood tale...and it was AWESOME! Easily my favorite episode of this new series and newly one of my favorite Doctor Who episodes of ALL TIME! Now everyone who has read on this site for a while knows that I am a sucker for fairytales...especially fairytale references or fairytales retold in a new and exciting way. So, needless to say, this episode was right up my alley.

      But that doesn't guarantee that I would like it. Remember, I close to loathed the Robin Hood episode and that is one I should have LOVED. This episode, though, had great atmosphere that, along with beautiful cinematography and fun characters, just made for a fun, fun ride. The imagery alone of London covered in a thick layer of trees is interesting and the story kept us all guessing as to who the real culprit (or villain was) but was gripping enough to keep attention on the screen. I'll also say that the kids in this episode were what made it. Giving Clara a job as a teacher was probably the best thing ever done for her character as it seems to be the catalyst for pushing her forward as an actual person rather than just eye-candy there to make 'witty' remarks. I actually spent quite a bit of time squeeing over Clara in this episode, which is something I NEVER thought I would get the chance to say.


Favorite Moments & Random Thoughts:

- The Doctor and children is something that is always perfectly adorable. The kids in this episode are written WORLDS better than Courtney the Annoying Brat.

- "That's the problem with being the last of your species...no one to ask whenever your TARDIS won't start." Or, y'know, it could be because you threw the manual into a supernova, Doctor.

- I didn't know that having a sleepover at a museum was an option. I'm also disappointed at the lack of Night at the Museum jokes!

- What I want to know is why, whenever Danny, Clara, and the kids are wandering around, why don't they run into dozens of other people wandering around and staring at the Sleeping Beauty-esque forest? Huh.

- "The government emergency program, Cobra..." Why do I suddenly feel the urge to scream 'COBRAAAA!' and start singing the GI Joe theme song?

- This episode is great because it's a forest and the Sonic doesn't do wood.

- "Farewell to the Ice Age, say hello to the Tree Age." 

- I'll bet Sexy is laughing at The Doctor's distress over the band of 'rugrats' that are now inside the TARDIS.

- What exactly was the purpose of having Maeve's mother going about looking for her? I get that this was supposed to be emotional and all that, but she literally added nothing to the plot. It was just kind of pointless.

- OH MY GOSH THE FAIRYTALE REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE WERE EPIC!!!!!!!!!!


- Danny fending off the tiger with a torch like it's a gigantic kitty was the best.

- "Class project: save the earth."

- Clara keeping on her game face and smiling as she walks with Danny and the children to the picnic she thinks will be their last on Earth just so they wouldn't be scared and would have a good final memory...that made me want to cry. I am officially in love with Clara. That was one of the sweetest and bravest things a companion has ever done.

- MISSY! *shakes fist* WHAT IS UP WITH YOU?! Not that I'm interested...it's just nagging at me. If she's going to be at the end of almost every episode, then surely she serves some kind of purpose? One would hope?

         In case you couldn't tell, I really, REALLY liked this episode. It had a kind of magical feel to it that calls to mind Blink or The Doctor's Wife and the characters were all a lot of fun. The kids were adorable, Clara and Danny finally got caught kissing, Danny figured out that Clara was lying but was perceptive enough not to fall into the typical romance clichés about it, and The Doctor was absolutely brilliant. I know I didn't say a whole lot about this one...but you really have to see it to understand. My words will not do justice. In The Forest of the Night is a 5/5.




What did you think? Do you agree with my rating? If not - what would you say differently?