By James Pearson on
Doctor Who has always been like a box of Celebrations. There are some episodes that are universally loved like a Malteser, some are liked but often a second choice like a Twix or a Snickers and some are normally disliked by most like a Bounty. But what about an episode that at first you weren’t sure about? Then you loved it and saw others agreeing but you watched it again (truthfully I watched it three times) and you began to rethink it. Well that’s how I feel about the most recent episode of Doctor Who: ‘The Well’.
Let’s start by saying I don’t think this episode is a Bounty (sorry to the Bounty fans out there), but it’s not a Malteser either. This episode has the real case of a “Spoilers” Episode -don’t worry I won’t give its secrets away just yet- and I think that drags it down a little. Yet if you ignore that side of it, the episode really works and actually ends up being one of Ncuti Gatwa’s best to date. All the performances are phenomenal and the directing and script writing is top notch. So what is it? Well for that you’ll have to read on. But for those of you who wanted to see my thoughts before watching it yoursef I suppose I could give you my rating? Well since you all asked so nicely, my rating for ‘The Well’ is… 7/10. A middle of the pack episode.
So, are we ready to dive into the well? And discuss “Spoilers”? In my spoiler portion of the review? Last chance to look away… you ready? Ok then let’s go!
So let’s address the elephant in the room. Yes, as many rumours and apparent leaks had alluded to, this episode was indeed an unexpected sequel to ‘Midnight’ the much loved and critically acclaimed adventure from the 10th Doctor’s era, in which the aforementioned hero found himself up against an invisible and seemingly unstoppable foe who has gone down as one of the most enigmatic and terrifying entities in Doctor Who history.
Set 500,000 years in the future, the Doctor and Belinda find themselves in a desolate mining colony where all but one of the personnel have mysteriously died. The lone survivor, Aliss (Rose Ayling-Ellis), is deaf, adding a unique layer to the storytelling as the characters navigate communication barriers while unraveling the mystery. Ellis plays Aliss expertly, making you truly care for her yet still not fully trust her, that added with her amazing line delivery resulted in an outstanding performance. However, as we get to know Aliss the tension builds as the Doctor realizes the planet they are on is Midnight and the entity they are dealing with is the very same unseen force he faced all those years ago. A creature that kills anyone who finds themselves standing behind its host, as well transfers itself to the next closest person upon death, all while it seems to play a game with our characters’ fear and paranoia.
The episode is a masterclass in suspense, with director Amanda Brotchie crafting a superb claustrophobic and eerie atmosphere. The writing, led by Russell T Davies and Sharma Angel Walfall, cleverly avoids over-explaining the creature, maintaining its unsettling ambiguity. The performances are stellar, with Gatwa delivering a nuanced portrayal of the Doctor, balancing his usual charm with genuine fear and desperation upon facing one of the few things that generally terrified him.
Varada Sethu once again is a standout in this episode, continuing to portray Belinda as a kind and caring person. Being the one to figure out the creature’s tactics, she is definitely a perfect addition to the Tardis family and has won me over as one of the top companions to date. The rest of the cast were also brilliant, with a particular shout out to Caoilfhionn Dunne as Shaya Costallion who truly made me sad when she sacrificed herself at the end of the episode.
The Midnight Entity has been one of NewWho’s biggest mysteries. I’m glad Davies continued this, by never showing the entity. Yet, I did love the quick jumpscares we got which added to the mystic and fear factor of knowing yet not knowing. A critique I do have however is the way in which the entity killed. I do appreciate Davies not wanting to simply redo ‘Midnight’. However I did find it slightly commercial everytime characters were thrown across the room to very dramatic music. Yet as much as I’d have loved more gruesome deaths I understand this show is for all ages so we have to keep it ever so slightly PG. But I do wish the fear factor could have been dialled up ever so slightly.
However, like many fans this episode has caused me to ask the question: was it needed? Despite my genuine enjoyment of the episode, I did find myself pondering on the idea of if we really required a sequel to what is in my opinion one of the best of RTD’s original run. I do agree with others that ‘Midnight’ is superior, but very few sequels manage to surpass the original, although it is still a solid episode that doesn’t ruin the original and simply builds on the myth that is the ‘Midnight Entity’.
‘The Well’ is a ruthlessly gripping instalment that shows Belinda the dangerous nature of life in the Tardis as well as expanding on the on going story of Earth’s sudden disappearance. It somewhat expands on the horror elements of ‘Midnight’ but definitely avoids diminishing the original’s impact, making it one of the standout episodes of this new era. If you’re a fan of Doctor Who’s darker, more psychological episodes, this one is a must-watch. But what is this episode? Well that’s easy ‘The Well’ is a Mars in the Doctor Who Celebrations box. A mediocre chocolate that is dark and rich, but not always what you want.
Next week we will be returning to the world of Ruby Sunday as she struggles with life after the Doctor, discovers new love and battles a brand new Monster. See you guys next week for my review of episode 4 ‘Lucky Day’.