Doctor Who Series 6 Episode 4: The Doctor's Wife

Neil Gaiman's long awaited episode if here, and the TARDIS was the star of this aptly named chapter of series 6! A gallifreyan distress box knocks on the TARDIS door, leading the doctor to a bubble world, actually inhabited deep inside by a creature known as "house." There are only a few inhabitants on this little world. Auntie and uncle are a hodgepodge of biological parts, including a gallifreyan friend of the doctor. Nephew is an ood, and to my knowledge, the first original creation from the RTD era to make it's way into Moffat's realm. And then there's Idriss, a young woman who becomes the living embodiment of the TARDIS.

The story didn't really touch on the overall arc this season. But it gave us a glimpse of things we haven't seen before: a TARDIS junkyard, the corridors of the new TARDIS, a return to the old TARDIS console, and of course, the doctor's wife. Who else but the TARDIS would be an ideal partner for the doctor? She borrowed him just as much as he borrowed her, and together they're able to explore the universe together. It also explained, to me, how the doctor always seems to land in the right place. I don't know if it was ever clearly expressed that the TARDIS had a living soul, but the TARDIS Idriss stated that she took him where he needed to go.

The only thing really disappointing to me in this episode was that a lot of the intriguing scenes from the previous trailers, namely the old TARDIS console and the creepy "I killed hundreds of time lords" voice were in this story. I suppose Moffat wouldn't want to give away his big bad this season, but I thought these two things were clues to something bigger.

Nevertheless, this was an insightful episode, and one that adds new information to the core of DW. It was interesting how sad the doctor was the Idriss died; it's as if he as able to talk to a silent love for the first and last time. The corridors of the TARDIS were somewhat bland; then again, we only saw the same set of corridors. I hope we get to explore more of the TARDIS in the future.

Oh, and "The only water in the forest is the river"? Curious, using the word river. And forest, reminiscent of series 4's "Forest of the Dead." This is probably like River's tease in "The Time of Angels," when she mentioned the pandorica opening. I have a feeling that line has nothing to do with River Song.... seems too obvious.

Next week: rebellious flesh? Let's hope we get back on the arc's track!