Grace Heriegel

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A season with so many incredible hits, eventually had to hit a miss… With so much potential to be one of the best episodes ever, this fell sort of so many things. Tightly wrapped in so much culture, history and meaning – why the hell was there a giant spider?

Okay, I understand the web of stories and the rage of history’s hardest working yet most forgotten… But a spider? Really? I was very disappointed by an episode that was set up so beautiful in the first half. Russell T Davies is a story genius, with his pacing and revelations being beautifully articulated, and THAT’S what makes him the best of the best. But this episode was so many different ideas mushed into one – and it was very, very clunky.

The stories of the barber shop was incredible, and the way they were told in the glass pane was innovative. It was when he told Belinda’s story, as meaningful and reflective of our NHS it was, that’s where the beauty left the building. Then suddenly, we were on a giant spider and running through mazes and I had to check my drink more than once to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating it all. It’s like the strangest dream I ever had.

The idea that it’s canon, Doctor Who and the Marvel cinematic universe, hilarious.

An episode, set up so well, simply fell short of the beauty this season has been so far. I wonder what will come next. Hopefully some more depth, drama and mysteries – just no more random giant spiders… Next time, RTD, keep it simple will you.