Face the Raven Advance Review
Note: Doctor Who TV’s pre-air reviews aim to be as detail-free as we reasonably can while still offering a critique, but as everyone’s spoiler sensibilities are different, we advise you read on at your own discretion.
What a joyful, lighthearted romp that filled my heart with hope. I’m going to adopt some puppies…
…Are words you absolutely won’t be saying after you’ve finished watching Face the Raven. Yes, this one ends on another huge cliffhanger, and it’s one that sets-up what promises to be an epic final two episodes. However, whilst it’s easy to get caught up in the final minutes of this episode we mustn’t forget everything that came before. So allow us to backtrack a little.
What kicks-off this story is a surprise call to the TARDIS from Rigsy (as seen in last year’s Flatline). He has discovered a tattoo on his back and it’s counting down. He can’t remember anything about it, so it’s up to the Doctor and Clara to try and get to the bottom of it. What they get is far more than they ever bargained for when they find themselves in a Trap Street hidden in London where old friends and enemies await.
Writer Sarah Dollard certainly begins her Doctor Who career with an episode that won’t be forgotten in a hurry. Whilst the story starts off as something of a sci-fi Whodunnit with quite a fun tone, things escalate quickly and the tension ramps up as things go from bad to worse (in a good way). Like with this year’s Zygon two-parter it also has some political undertones with its exploration of asylum-seeking aliens (and an excuse for some old monster cameos).
Clara really is at the heart of the episode and Jenna Coleman is utterly fantastic. With Rigsy’s return (more on that below) it works as something of a pseudo-sequel to Flatline, mostly in terms of Clara’s characterisation as she attempts to take on the mantle of the Doctor believing she has it completely down now. However, the Doctor is not left out this time. He is a witness to what he has essentially created, from her recklessly hanging out of the TARDIS early on, until the denouement where her decisions change everything. This all culminates in a scene and a performance from Capaldi that is chilling…
The guest cast is made up of two notable returning characters this week. Joivan Wade’s likeable character Rigsy is afforded a little more depth than last time around – now a young father. Unfortunately as the story progresses the character does tend to fall more and more into the background as an inevitable consequence of bigger events happening.
Ashildr/Me/[New name embargoed] is also back, played once again superbly by Maisie Williams. While The Woman Who Lived explored the character skirting the lines between good and bad, what we have here is something more compelling. “So are we enemies now?” the Doctor asked last time around and despite her apparent assurances then, you’re never quite sure whose side she is really on here. It makes for a more captivating watch.
The only other guest star of any other note is Letitia Wright who plays Anahson. It’s a short role, but she does well with the limited time she is given.
Director Justin Molotnikov brings over his experience from Merlin with a very visually distinct episode. It has quite a fantasy/magical feel at times. Harry Potter fans of course will also be keen to point out the Diagon Alley comparisons. There’s an appropriate soundtrack from Murray Gold too, with familiar themes becoming hauntingly relevant.
Ultimately Face the Raven is one that will be remembered for its ending, but it’s also a fine episode in its own right, and a promising debut from Sarah Dollard. And one last thing, make sure you stick around after the credits…
