Cold Blood
- Episode aired Jun 19, 2010
- TV-PG
- 46m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
The Silurians are awake, angry, and preparing for war - a war that could decide who gets to live on Earth, the Silurians or the humans.The Silurians are awake, angry, and preparing for war - a war that could decide who gets to live on Earth, the Silurians or the humans.The Silurians are awake, angry, and preparing for war - a war that could decide who gets to live on Earth, the Silurians or the humans.
Samuel Morgan-Davies
- Elliot
- (as Samuel Davies)
Nathalie Cuzner
- Silurian
- (uncredited)
Barbara Fadden
- Silurian Warrior
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Chris Chibnall
- Steven Moffat
- Sydney Newman(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Doctor asks the Silurian scientist if he has any celery. This refers to the habit of the Fifth Doctor, who always wore a sprig of celery. The celery was a cure for several poisons that affect Time Lords.
- GoofsThe Doctor has a respiratory bypass system so he shouldn't have been knocked out by the Silurian's gas gun.
- Quotes
The Doctor: I'm sorry, I didn't know. You have to believe me. They're better than this.
Ambrose: This is our planet!
The Doctor: We had a chance here.
Ambrose: Leave us alone!
The Doctor: In future, when you talk about this, you tell people that there was a chance but you were so much less than the best of humanity.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Culture Show: Me, You and Doctor Who (2013)
- SoundtracksDoctor Who Theme
(uncredited)
Written by Ron Grainer
Arranged by Murray Gold
Performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Featured review
Unispired but not without It's surprises
After last weeks entertaining and promising if flawed opening to this two part story, "Cold Blood" carries on from where "The Hungry Earth" an episode which owed much to the classic B-movie "Invaders from Mars", writer Chris Chibnall continues with the tale to deliver what ultimately culminates in a shockingly powerful and emotional denouement. To some extent a lightweight story with some hairy moments it eventually goes to some very dark places very quickly with a story that neatly exploits the fragility and basic flaws of human nature and the brutality and hatred that prejudice can instill in people.
Starting where the previous episode left, with the Doctor and Nasreen Chaudry, head of the mining expedition seen the previous week, having discovered that all tat consists of the Silurian race is not a mere tribe but a whole civilisation. In an attempt to prevent a potential war the Time Lord intends to exchange a Silurian who he along with the humans had captured in return for the humans in their possession who include Amy. The Silurian's as revealed before want control over the Earth again and plot to exterminate every single human off the face of the planet but the Doctor wishes to broker a deal which would allow both humans and Silurians to share the planet. But achieving such an aim might be more difficult than imagined. Especially when the worst that can happen, does.
"Cold Blood" marks the best script penned by Chibnall thus far when you consider some of his less rewarding work on "Torchwood" for example. It's tightly paced, with sympathetic and likable characters and although it occasionally wallows in sheer cheesiness and arguably relies on the odd plot contrivance to further it's basic yet effective plot, it's never the less a tort and thrilling run around. There are ultimately a number of the predictable clichés which come with a story regarding what is essentially the clash of two cultures who eventually have to fight to find some common ground. The fact that the Silurian prisoner Alaya is actually the sister of Resctac the military commander of the reptilian race seems all too convenient a plot device to provoke further animosity while Restac her self as with her sister are never properly developed and come across as just two angry two-dimensional caricatures who merely spit out venomous bile about humans. And there are of course the requisite, more benign Silurian protagonists although given the plot are more or less a necessity.
It's thank god then that the stories denouement partially makes up for these flaws with a chilling and emotional climax which would hopefully silence detractors who have accused the show as being too sugar coated and aimed at kids. Like "The Waters of Mars" it has an exceedingly grim conclusion although arguably more effectively handled and less heavy handed, utilising the tale to include the cracks in time seen throughout the series beautifully. The episode nicely exploits the callousness and perhaps the ultimate futility of war when understanding and diplomacy would be better used with Smith's Doctor playing mediator or peacemaker. Even the humans and not simply the Silurians are not totally depicted as being entirely good or bad and the shades of grey that consist in every one of us are employed with sublime craftsmanship as with nobility seen on either side.
The performances as has more or less been seen to be through out the fifth series are uniformly excellent with both Smith and Gillan once again proving to be as ever dependable in their respective roles with Gillan in-particular worthy of note giving it her all in the stories shocking climax. As is the same can be said for Arthur Darvill as Rory who proves to be growing to be more and more endearing. Inspired support as displayed in THE from Meera Syal, Robert Pugh, Nia Roberts et al while Samuel Davies as young Elliot may very well be an up and coming name to look out for in future. And It's largely due not only Davies likable performance but Chibnalls characterisation that Elliot doesn't slip in to the usual pitfall of an irritating, contrived child protagonist.
A solid then if not overwhelming classic episode which neatly concludes this two parter CB highlights the upward spiral of the Moffat era. Enjoyable, intelligent although perhaps hardly inspired or original it's never the less without it's surprises and with hints that the best and most shocking might be yet to come I can only hope Moffat delivers on his promise.
Starting where the previous episode left, with the Doctor and Nasreen Chaudry, head of the mining expedition seen the previous week, having discovered that all tat consists of the Silurian race is not a mere tribe but a whole civilisation. In an attempt to prevent a potential war the Time Lord intends to exchange a Silurian who he along with the humans had captured in return for the humans in their possession who include Amy. The Silurian's as revealed before want control over the Earth again and plot to exterminate every single human off the face of the planet but the Doctor wishes to broker a deal which would allow both humans and Silurians to share the planet. But achieving such an aim might be more difficult than imagined. Especially when the worst that can happen, does.
"Cold Blood" marks the best script penned by Chibnall thus far when you consider some of his less rewarding work on "Torchwood" for example. It's tightly paced, with sympathetic and likable characters and although it occasionally wallows in sheer cheesiness and arguably relies on the odd plot contrivance to further it's basic yet effective plot, it's never the less a tort and thrilling run around. There are ultimately a number of the predictable clichés which come with a story regarding what is essentially the clash of two cultures who eventually have to fight to find some common ground. The fact that the Silurian prisoner Alaya is actually the sister of Resctac the military commander of the reptilian race seems all too convenient a plot device to provoke further animosity while Restac her self as with her sister are never properly developed and come across as just two angry two-dimensional caricatures who merely spit out venomous bile about humans. And there are of course the requisite, more benign Silurian protagonists although given the plot are more or less a necessity.
It's thank god then that the stories denouement partially makes up for these flaws with a chilling and emotional climax which would hopefully silence detractors who have accused the show as being too sugar coated and aimed at kids. Like "The Waters of Mars" it has an exceedingly grim conclusion although arguably more effectively handled and less heavy handed, utilising the tale to include the cracks in time seen throughout the series beautifully. The episode nicely exploits the callousness and perhaps the ultimate futility of war when understanding and diplomacy would be better used with Smith's Doctor playing mediator or peacemaker. Even the humans and not simply the Silurians are not totally depicted as being entirely good or bad and the shades of grey that consist in every one of us are employed with sublime craftsmanship as with nobility seen on either side.
The performances as has more or less been seen to be through out the fifth series are uniformly excellent with both Smith and Gillan once again proving to be as ever dependable in their respective roles with Gillan in-particular worthy of note giving it her all in the stories shocking climax. As is the same can be said for Arthur Darvill as Rory who proves to be growing to be more and more endearing. Inspired support as displayed in THE from Meera Syal, Robert Pugh, Nia Roberts et al while Samuel Davies as young Elliot may very well be an up and coming name to look out for in future. And It's largely due not only Davies likable performance but Chibnalls characterisation that Elliot doesn't slip in to the usual pitfall of an irritating, contrived child protagonist.
A solid then if not overwhelming classic episode which neatly concludes this two parter CB highlights the upward spiral of the Moffat era. Enjoyable, intelligent although perhaps hardly inspired or original it's never the less without it's surprises and with hints that the best and most shocking might be yet to come I can only hope Moffat delivers on his promise.
helpful•2715
- The-Last-Prydonian
- May 29, 2010
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Filming locations
- Hensol Castle, Pontyclun, Wales, UK(Church crypt)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime46 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content