Review of Doctor Who Episode Blink (BBC Three)

In an Abandoned House the Weeping Angels Wait for their Next Prey

Mar 11, 2009

After two and a half series of well-written family friendly drama the team behind one of TV's best programmes unleash this absolute gem of an episode.

Pictures for the Easter special of Doctor Who are already circling around the internet as fans are, with a heavy heart, counting down the days until David Tennant hangs up his duffle coat for good.

BBC Three has been helpful these last few years by running constant repeats of previous series, giving fans a chance to get another viewing of what is without a doubt the greatest single episode of Doctor Who since the series returned four years ago – Blink – which shown again this week.

A Normal Woman tries to Stop the Weeping Angels

The story of Blink follows a regular 20-something called Sally Sparrow (Carey Mulligan) who discovers that a derelict mansion near her home holds secrets that are somehow related to bizarre hidden extras on certain DVDs which feature an enigmatic bespectacled man spouting warnings about angel statues. Then her friend Kathy (Lucy Gaskell) disappears into thin air and a mysterious letter arrives for Sally from Kathy explaining that she ended up in Hull in the 1920s.

Sally and Kathy’s film obsessed brother Larry (Finlay Robertson) must then decode the messages from the man in the videos, who calls himself The Doctor, and stop the dangerous Weeping Angel statues from getting their hands on the TARDIS.

It’s strange that an episode that has not much more than a glimpse of the title character can be worth watching but this really is a credit to the creative staff behind Doctor Who as they know how to write an engaging story with completely new people. They failed with ‘Love & Monsters’ and its Blue Peter competition alien gimmick but with Blink writer Steven Moffat crafted a story that was moving, scary and compelling. As new head writer the future of the show should be safe in his hands.

Like Lost’s ‘The Constant’ or Heroes’ ‘Five Years Gone’ it follows a theme of being lost in time and is also the best example of showing just how good each series can be. The whole DVD Easter egg video idea is very clever, and as technology gets more advanced and widespread new narrative techniques such as the one employed here will adapt around it.

There's also some fine acting on display. In just mere minutes of screen time Tennant reminds the whole world and his dog just why he is irreplaceable as the eponymous Time Lord and Hotel Babylon’s Michael Obiora threatens to steal the show a slightly smarmy but instantly likeable police detective investigating other disappearances at the mansion.

The episode’s greatest success is that the Weeping Angels are genuinely terrifying, perhaps the scariest villains in the entire Doctor Who universe. They look like ordinary statues with their hands over their eyes but when you turn away or blink they edge closer towards you and have the power to send anyone they touch back in time with no way of return.

Many horror film writers should use Blink as an influence or a reference point because it demonstrates that you don’t need buckets of blood or a killer to be scary; just an enemy that can attack at any time, heart stopping music and a truly frightening hook – “Don’t blink”. And as for the fourth wall demolishing finale? You’ll never look at a gargoyle in the same way ever again.

Doctor Who is repeated on most weekdays at 7pm on BBC Three and a repeat of Blink can be seen on BBC iPlayer while stocks last.

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