Oxygen

Hold your breath!

Doctor Who Series 10 episode 5

This has got to be my favourite episode this series so far! For one that I thought was going to be a typical zombie romp or so based on the trailer (which mind you I didn't genuinely pay attention to) it turned out to be a cracker. I have never found Doctor Who to be scary, but for the first time, there was a scene that did make me fear and want to call out "Get out of there!".

Spoilers!

This episode is commendable for its motifs and statement on capitalism and more specifically corporate business. For naturally occurring resources which we all take for granted such as water, air, sunlight, the concept treating oxygen as a commodity with a price tag is very interesting, and one that if a business model could be created and made feasible I'm sure there will always be a few that would want to take advantage of it with disregard for human rights let alone the value of human life. Oh the negativity, I hear you screech! But the line, "You're fighting the suits" is just so good. They're physically fighting against the AI programmed spacesuits but also the faceless businessman in suits.

I mentioned that this is the first time I've actually been frightened while watching an episode of Doctor Who. The scene which did it was of course the one where the Doctor, Bill and Nardole find themselves in a room with the dead corpse standing or more specifically been propped by the smart-spacesuit. Not knowing what was going to happen at such an early point in the story but knowing that the corpse do move some how was truly terrifying and creepy, as the corpse predictably would animate at any moment!

In this episode we also get to see more of the dynamic between Nardole and the Doctor. Nardole being ever so snarky to the Doctor was so entertaining. I'm sure we can all agree the Doctor needs someone to keep him in check and that job can't be Bills, who's here only to be spoiled with adventure. Of course with adventure, dangers come in suite, and as a price the Doctor pays a hefty one this time. The Doctor loses his sight and the stakes heighten!