After the darkness of last week’s Into the Dalek, Doctor Who embraces a fun and more whimsical outing in Robot of Sherwood. Tasked with picking anywhere in time and space for an adventure, Clara expresses a desire to meet Robin Hood, in spite of the Doctor’s protestations that he isn’t real. Arriving in Sherwood Forest in medieval England, an arrow shot at the TARDIS suggests the Doctor may be incorrect in his assumption. The time traveling pair are soon caught up in adventure with the merry band of outlaws against the Sheriff of Nottingham and his mechanical knights.
The Doctor going head to head with a figure from history is a seasonal tradition now and usually a treat of an episode. From Charles Dickens in The Unquiet Dead, Queen Victoria in Tooth and Claw, Shakespeare in The Shakespeare Code, or Van Gogh in Vincent and the Doctor, we see entertaining and often rather touching slices of Who. Robot of Sherwood is fun but fails to land an emotional connection like those I mention. Entertainment and laughs seem placed above the actual plot, to the episode’s detriment at times. It’s a bit all over the place, but fun with a very “off the cuff” feel; even the Doctor seems to be making it up as he goes along. Two legends of British history together, Doctor Who and Robin Hood are both aspects of our culture that deal heavily with heroism and myth, so their collision was perhaps inevitable?
There is a romanticism about the episode, about heroes and legends, themes explored in both Who and Hood but here addressed largely on the surface. Colorful and garish, verging on farcical at times, and lacking in true substance. There is a lot to deal with in recapping the legend and setting up the threat, and it juggles these things well but leaves little time to effect a more resonant message. While Clara is the focus here, her words and actions seem more about reassuring the Doctor of his place in the galaxy. Skeptical about a heroic figure, she directly or indirectly shows how she is inspired by the Doctor. He is still piecing together who he is after his last regeneration, and she is guiding him more actively than any companion has in recent memory.
Capaldi continues to impress, more so in the quieter moments or one on one exchanges rather than the larger showier pieces. Some of the quirkier dialogue doesn’t seem to flow as well as the more acerbic; his exasperation with the heroic antics of Robin Hood and his Merry Men is the probably the best thing about the episode. However, his determined sentiment to NOT believe in Robin Hood seems at odds with his character, to be honest. Again, Jenna Louise-Coleman does great work as Clara, aided by the greatly improved writing; her assertiveness and action — notably in taking on the negotiations with the Sheriff herself — are traits that greatly endear her to the audience. Clara’s faith in Robin Hood and the Doctor is a theme here; she has faith in him, a quality he seems to have lost somewhat. It is a interesting dynamic, as she is inspired by these figures to assume the mantle of a hero even though these men are too busy arguing to actually do anything. Tom Riley and Ben Miller are good in their respective roles as Robin and the Sheriff; both ham it up in their respective roles to give the episode a pantomime feel at times, which works well with the overall approach.
No mention of “Missy” this week, but there are connections to the Half-faced man from back in Deep Breath. Moffat is clearly developing some season-long arc, with the second mention of “The Promised Land,” a reference to Gallifrey perhaps?
Overall, Robot of Sherwood is a fun (and at times farcical) outing that provides a nice slice of whimsy after a few darker episodes. What seems intentionally unfocused is actually a great platform to see the continued development of Clara, again probably the best thing about this new season of Doctor Who. The Doctor continues to find his feet, with moments of brilliance amidst others of uncertainty, but with Clara taking the lead he loses some focus here. Things are coming together nicely, and I feel the season is poised to hit its stride; positive advance reviews on next week’s Listen suggest that may be the case.
Next Week: Listen — When ghosts of past and future crowd into their lives, the Doctor and Clara are thrown into an adventure that takes them to the very end of the universe. What happens when the Doctor is alone? And what scares the grand old man of Time and Space? Listen!