This week, it was Doctor Who meets Blade Runner in the first of a two-parter. Our heroes encounter a futuristic industrial acid factory on a small Scottish Island where the workers, in a bid to curb workplace fatalities, use a substance called "Flesh" to create doppelgängers of themselves. The setting of this factory island is claustrophobic and unsettling. After ten minutes of plot exposition, a storm hits the factory and, in the ensuing chaos, the "gangers" break free of their bonds and go walk about. The Doctor informs the workers that the gangers share the memories of the originals, and as such, are technically them, and technically human. However, they are scared and disoriented and will attack when provoked. Throw in a philosophical theme of identity and what it is to be human, a case of mistaken identity and lots of dark tunnels and you have a very enjoyable Doctor Who episode. There's lots of drama built up over the forty five minutes with the Doctor trying, and failing, to have the gangers and the originals reconcile with one another before they are pitted against each other inevitably in stealth guerilla warfare. The gangers are convinced that they are the originals, since they share the memories and personalities of the people, thus making them misunderstood antagonists, another recurring theme this series.
On the subject of the antagonists, I found the "Rebel Flesh" to be unimaginative and boring. The "us and them" kill-or-be-killed mentality was predictable and tedious, the dramatic turning point where the gangers turn against their creators had little impact, but the gangers look scary so I suppose it's okay. It's just after the episodes with The Silence, this episode is unoriginal in comparison, drawing on elements from past episodes to fill out a rather thin plot. I don't mind that the "Flesh" weren't aliens, because it's still set in the future and still a science fiction story. What I've noticed in this series is the lack of imagination in regards to the monsters and villains. The Silence were large, pussy alien heads in suits, and this week the Flesh were white things with no noses and blue eyes. It seems the writers aren't interested in fantastical monsters, which I can understand given the tone of Series Six. While I know the aim of the series is to make the stories more psychological and less about fantasy, I expect more in a Doctor Who in 2011. Or maybe the budget forced the writers to make compromises. The story, which I can tell is influenced by Philip K Dick with the themes of identity, humanity and reality, seemed thin and I can't see how it would stretch over two episodes. We'll just have to wait and see.
The thing I like about this series is that Rory is given plenty to do. His interactions this week with the Jennifer ganger are heartbreaking and give the episode depth and added drama. Rory has really grown into a fully formed, interesting character who I care about. However, the character of Amy has seemed to regress to someone who gets in the way, questions the doctor when other characters do the same and calls after Rory whenever they get separated. It's obviously building towards something in the future and she does serve a purpose, but in the meantime, it's like she isn't needed and is there for decoration. If it wasn't for the "baby" teaser at the beginning of the episode, I would've said she serves no purpose. Ah, well. Have to wait and see, won't we.
Matt Smith, on the other hand, IS the Doctor. Everything about him is so alien and other worldly. Such great acting from him; he's really grown into the role and all his little traits and catchphrases, to me, are synonymous with Doctor Who. Great acting and great writing, especially this series where he's been a real "take-charge" kind of guy. He steals every scene he's in and he commands the room easily. The workers in the factory are all memorable and are some of the better one-off characters this series so far. They were believable and helped make the dramatic scenes all the more absorbing. All in all, a good episode and the twist at the end, while not in the least bit shocking or inventive, will ensure that next week's conclusion to the storyline will be similarly engaging.
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