In Deep Breath, you had to stop exhaling to avoid detection. In Blink, closing your eyes would bring the weeping Angels of old ever closer, in Smile, your survival rides on maintaining a grin. It’s a self-contained episode that feels like something out of the Classic era, notably The Happiness Patrol where the Seventh Doctor visited a planet where sadness was outlawed. Surprisingly it’s a tale not from showrunner Steven Moffat, but writer Frank Cottrell Boyce thankfully turns in a tale that is a big step up from his first script for the show, In the Forest of the Night.
SMILE Synopsis:
In the far future, at the edge of the galaxy, there is a gleaming, perfect city. This brand new human settlement is said to hold the secret of human happiness — but the only smiles the Doctor and Bill can find are on a pile of grinning skulls. Something is alive in the walls, and the emojibots are watching from the shadows, as the Doctor and Bill trying to unravel a terrifying mystery…
This first off-world trip for new companion Bill takes the her to a future human colony, a glistening structure surrounded by crop fields, populated by a horde of helper robots determined to keep morale high. When the colonists started to feel down, they eliminated them, which obviously sent the mood in something of a downward spiral. Gradually finding out about the fate of these advance colonists, the Doctor is intent on destroy the site to prevent any more arrivals falling victim, but he discovers those destined to arrive are already there and another solution must be found.
Partly shot at the City of Arts & Science Museum in Valencia, it offers stunning visuals for this far flung colony in the future. Enhanced with some fine practical and CGI effects, and laced with plenty of haunting moments, it’s fine work from director Lawrence Gough. The episode spends much of it’s time allowing banter between the Doctor and Bill that is not just enjoyable, it serves a really great purpose, not just investigating this mystery, but each other too. The larger part of the tale is rather predictable, but forgivable because it allows these exchanges between the Doctor and Bill, and also because of final act reveal that offers plenty of scrutiny for some of the lesser traits of mankind. Also warnings of putting our lives in the hands of technology, shades of Black Mirror are present for sure. The ending is a little hurried and takes a more complex route to resolution than maybe is needed but gets the job done. The supporting characters do take a backseat, which probably harms the main plot a little, but it’s hard to argue the focus should be taken away from our new TARDIS pairing.
Pearl Mackie continues to be a breath of fresh air. Her enthusiasm, questioning, empathy, all drawing great responses from Capaldi’s Doctor. Its also nice to just enjoy her, rather than be questioning her purpose/mystery, as you did with Clara. The audience surrogate is definitely back on board the TARDIS. It’s compelling, sweet and rather invigorating to have this sense of wonder put front and center once again with the dynamic between them once again reinforced as one of teacher and pupil. Although that gets flipped a little as the Doctor makes a mistake, or misinterprets the situation as he does on the rare occasion. It’s always nice to see him be reminded he’s fallible and even bask in the fact that the Universe can still surprise him.
Again with the new companion on board, it’s like a little refresher for the series and plenty of trivia about the Doctor is peppered through the episode. Stealing the TARDIS, two hearts (really high blood pressure), his self-imposed duty to blow things up when necessary. Capaldi has done great work the past few seasons but this year his refinement of the Time Lord is better than ever, helped by having a foil such as Bill no doubt. And is it just me, or is Capaldi intentionally channeling Tom Baker’s voice now?
Vault Watch:
Despite limited screen-time, it seems Nardole (“mum”) is some kind of reminder as to the Doctor’s duty, an “oath to keep”, to watch over this vault and not go off-world. Obviously with a time machine he can get back before he even left but the odds of some hitch stopping his return at some point is pretty much a given. What’s in the vault? Well the trailers for the season ahead hint at the return of the Master as well as the Cybermen of old, so likely one of them, or perhaps something tied to the upcoming Regeneration. We’ll probably have to wait 10 more episodes to find out. It’s a nicer season long puzzle to have so far than the previous “menace looming in the shadows” that’s been deployed so often.
Smile continues the revitalized energy imbued into the show by The Pilot. The story is entertaining enough, married to some wonderful visuals, but the most enjoyable aspect of the show is this burgeoning relationship between the Doctor and Bill, and how the it has allowed the show to return to some of it’s more traditional roots in regards to this pairing. It bodes well for the season ahead.