Doctor Who Review: Thin Ice (Season 10 Episode 3)

The Doctor and Bill revisit an old Who trope on Doctor Who Season 10 Episode 3, “Thin Ice.”

Many aspects of “Thin Ice” feel familiar. Much like its almost spiritual predecessor, “The Beast Below” (Season 5 Episode 2), the episode’s focus is less on the mechanics of plot and far more about the moral and ethical complications of humanity using and abusing nature for its gain.

The true shame of this episode is that it is in fact just a rehash of “The Beast Below.” However, we got a few beautiful insights into Bill as a character (as we once did with Amy Pond and her quest to save the Star Whale) that elevates the episode nicely.

Here, the stark contrast between Doctors is clear: while Eleven was an avenging god, Twelve has a certain humbleness to him that was not present even as recently as Season 9.

This season’s Doctor is gentler and kinder, and far less condescending than his previous selves. (I love you, Ten, but that one was directed at you. XOXO.)

Having said that, he is still the Doctor. Twelve has a brief moment of arrogance when he informs Bill that he’ll be the one doing the talking to the episode’s mustache-twirling villain, Sutcliffe, as she is too temperamental to be trusted.

Of course, he immediately makes himself a hypocrite when Sutcliffe reveals himself to be incredibly racist and the Doctor proceeds to punch a man in the face. Because let’s be real, you can’t just not have Peter Capaldi punch someone in the face. It just feels right. Feels organic.

BILL: “So the TARDIS has dresses and likes a bit of trouble? Yeah, I think i’m low-key in love with that.”

A key mistake is made in the Doctor’s assumption of Bill, in my opinion. I don’t see Bill as particularly “temperamental” or angry — her passion always comes from a place of empathy for the people around her.

She also has absolutely no filter, which is screamingly delightful. I love her as much as she loves 90’s era clothing.

Bill declares herself in love with the TARDIS (girl, same) and happily sticks her tongue out at the Doctor in order to indicate to him that their disagreement over his attitude towards death is at an end. She is playful, clever, and cheery, and all around completely perfect for the Doctor as a companion.

Two big moments tell us why Bill is the ideal travelling partner — her horror at discovering the Doctor has killed so many people that he can’t keep count of the bodies, and her decision to save the beast under the Thames.

Like companions before her, Bill struggles with the idea that the Doctor has taken lives. She makes her peace with it, but her protestations serve as stark reminders of just how old and how alien the Doctor is, and how necessary people like Bill are to the world.

Without compassion and tenacity, humanity would be nowhere. Bill is a perfect reminder of how brave and selfless humans can be.

I would be remiss if I didn’t address one of the most important aspects of “Thin Ice.” Doctor Who’s diversity problem has been criticized time and time again, to the extent that the show seems to be over-compensating in a big way on trying to correct its past sins. That is not to say that any of this is bad — while heavy-handed, the effort is at least there.

THE DOCTOR: “History is a whitewash.”

Sure, the bar is low. But when Bill pointed out that she is a black woman in 1814 and the Doctor acknowledged her concern (rather than dismissing it), it felt like something of a victory.

And of course, the Doctor straight up punching a racist white man in the face for insulting Bill was a cheer-worthy moment. In the times we live in, some on the nose messages are better than not having any at all.

Also…what the hell is in that vault?

STRAY THOUGHTS:

• Bill’s casual millennial vocabulary is somehow cringe-worthy and borderline effective at the same time. Plus, her casual roasts of the Doctor give me life.
• Seriously. What’s in the vault? I counted four knocks at the very end, but who knows if that’s really a clue or not. If it is though…
• Speaking of the Master: where’s Missy at? I miss her. I hope she’s doing well. Thriving, torturing Daleks, whatever tickles her fancy. Do you, Missy. Do you.

What did you think of this episode of Doctor Who? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Doctor Who airs Saturdays at 9/8c on BBC/BBC America.

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