Empress Of Mars (2017) Review

"Because we're busy protecting the Empress."

Empress Of Mars is a spectacular addition to the Ice Warrior mythos and proves that traditional doesn't always have to mean boring and derivative.

WRITTEN BY

Mark Gatiss. He's a bit up and down when it comes to writing, but this is easily his best story.

PLOT

After discovering a man-made sign on Mars, the TARDIS crew travel back in time to find why and how did Victorian soldiers enter the hive of the sleeping Ice Warriors on another planet. Soon after, the TARDIS goes beyond Nardole's control and he's forced to cooperate with a very dangerous enemy to return to the Doctor...

ANALYSIS

What a refreshing, sensible episode! It's lovely to have a Capaldi story where you don't have to cringe or try and work around plot holes or get disappointed about a hurried resolution. The pacing is steady, the story is concise and straightforward, the characters are enjoyable and well-written, and we're not treading old ground. It's an adventure that you can sink your teeth into.

For fans, this is also an important chapter in Ice Warrior history, as we finally get to see what transformed them from aggressive villains in the Troughton era to the honorable, friendly race we meet in The Curse Of Peladon. I can't imagine a better tribute for their 50th anniversary!!

CHARACTERS

Peter Capaldi takes a distinctly Third Doctor role in this story, having to try and negotiate a treaty between the soldiers and the warriors. Admittedly, Twelve's characterisation is a bit bland here, but at least he isn't a buffoon again.

Pearl Mackie's Bill does a good job trying to stand on her own two feet as the Empress takes a special interest in her as the only female from the human side. Having to try and represent her whole species is something new to her(let's just forget the Monk rubbish) and though she herself doesn't succeed, it's great to see Bill tax her brain a little.

Matt Lucas doesn't have an awful lot to do here as Nardole, but I must admit, him letting Missy drive the TARDIS is a huuuuge departure from the previous episodes. Couldn't he find anyone else on Earth who could do it? Contact UNIT or something?

Anthony Calf(whose acting career began in 1982's The Visitation) brings out the humanity of Colonel Godsacre extremely well. His cowardice comes across as natural and completely without malevolence, as he is a man with a good heart who truly needs something worth fighting for(the men who would die without him) to bring out his bravery.

Ferdinand Kingsley's Neville Catchlove is a great villain. Although he's basically as over-the-top evil as Thin Ice's Sutcliffe, the story gives him more to do and I think his military background makes him more memorable and fun to watch as he messes everything up for everyone out of pure selfishness.

The rest of the British soldiers were all well portrayed and distinctive, their relationship to one another coming across as genuine. I especially liked the lone black soldier, Vincey(played by Bayo Gbadamosi).

Adele Lynch was wonderful as the eponymous Empress Iraxxa, coming across as extremely proud, but smart and respectful in her own way.

Michelle Gomez had a surprise appereance as Missy... the ending is quite intriguing, but she seemed peculiarly amiable in this episode. It's weird seeing her submit to the Doctor's will and I hope the finale explains this, because I just want to see the Master doing his/her thing again.

And finally, welcome back Ysanne Churchman as the lovable Alpha Centauri! I can't thank Gatiss enough for this. Let this stand as an example of how to do classic tie-ins right!

NOTES

*What actual reason did the TARDIS crew have to visit NASA? A whim?

*Why did the TARDIS return to Earth on its own accord? Is it under Missy's control somehow? This better be explained at some point, because it was very abnormal.

*The production team have generally done a superb job of updating the Ice Warriors, but their enthusiastic stomping(particularly as Friday approaches the Doctor at the beginning) looks really goofy. Also, whilst the new effect their guns have is very cool, I kind of miss the wibbly 60s guns.

*How exactly did Godsacre go from a hanged deserter to leading a platoon with only Catchlove knowing, I wonder?

*As much as Iraxxa's focus on her helped Bill's character, I'm a little tired of all the manhate jokes. Yes, we get it, men were chauvinistic, but can't we all be equal and nice now? It works fine in this episode, but men are mocked way too often in this show.

*The recurring gag about the Doctor and Bill's choice in films was funny, but a little forced. Also, is Frozen even still relevant?

*Speaking of Frozen, I was really let down by the fact that we didn't get a single reference to The Waters Of Mars. All that talk of snow and ice crashing down on the Ice Warriors and no mention of the Flood?

*How did the Ice Warriors end up frozen anyway? A devastating war is mentioned, but who was the enemy?

*I realise that Catchlove didn't trust the Doctor, but in this situation, would you go with the old man who might be double-crossing you, or a tough as nails giant reptilian as your pilot?

CONTINUITY ADVISOR

1) The soldiers' portrait of Queen Victoria is actually that of Pauline Collins, who played the part in Tooth And Claw. A nice subtle callback, I like it.

2) Alpha Centauri invites the Ice Warriors to the Galactic Federation, as seen in The Curse Of Peladon and The Monster Of Peladon. Brilliant, just brilliant.

3) The Doctor insists that he and Missy "did not agree to this" and that she must return to the Vault, presumably to continue her rehabilitation, as established in The Lie Of The Land. Fair enough, although so far, I've really not cared for this season's story arc.

BEST QUOTE

"This is Alpha Centauri. Welcome to the universe."

CONCLUSION

A marvellously simple, unpretentious story of two opposing sides(Victorian soldiers and Martians for that touch of Doctor Who eccentricity) overcoming the odds and moving forward in peace.