Cold War
- Episode aired Apr 13, 2013
- TV-PG
- 41m
The Doctor and Clara find themselves on a Russian submarine that is falling to the bottom of the ocean because of an attack by a rogue Martian warrior that's still on board.The Doctor and Clara find themselves on a Russian submarine that is falling to the bottom of the ocean because of an attack by a rogue Martian warrior that's still on board.The Doctor and Clara find themselves on a Russian submarine that is falling to the bottom of the ocean because of an attack by a rogue Martian warrior that's still on board.
- Clara
- (as Jenna-Louise Coleman)
- Skaldak
- (voice)
- Submariner
- (uncredited)
- Submariner
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaBoth of the two main guest stars have been in the running to play The Doctor. David Warner was suggested by Pip Baker and Jane Baker for the Seventh Doctor prior to the casting of Sylvester McCoy. Liam Cunningham was seriously considered for the Eight Doctor in Doctor Who: The Movie (1996). Warner would later play an alternate universe version of The Doctor called The Unbound Doctor in multiple audio dramas for Big Finish Productions.
- GoofsIt is not possible to launch nuclear missiles at 700 meters as the water pressure would crush them. Normal launch occurs at keel depths of less than 50 meters.
- Quotes
Clara: Am I speaking Russian? How come I'm speaking Russian?
The Doctor: Now? We have to do this now?
Clara: Are THEY speaking Russian?
The Doctor: Seriously? Now? It's the TARDIS translation matrix.
Clara: Are they?
The Doctor: Yes! They're Russians!
- ConnectionsReferenced in Doctor Who: Hell Bent (2015)
- SoundtracksHungry Like The Wolf
Written by Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, Andy Taylor , John Taylor, and Roger Taylor
Performed by Jenna Coleman and David Warner
Cold War is written by Mark Gatiss who loves to hark back to horror themes and try to bring scares of the past to new audiences. He succeeds in using ideas from horror greats like The Thing and Alien and marrying them in a way that works and provides scary thrills for a new, family audience as well as a satisfying entertainment for established science fiction fans.
The story has an Ice Warrior brought unknowingly on board a Russian nuclear submarine during the Cold War in 1983. This setting is claustrophobic, exciting and well presented. The themes of the war and of decisions between negotiation or aggression are thoughtful and appropriately used. The TARDIS translation idea is used well here too as is the traditional aim of the Doctor to avoid loss of life. Altogether the story is thrilling, absorbing and thought provoking.
The cast is tremendous: Movie veteran (and Big Finish contributor) David Warner is as wonderful as he usually is and is a fantastic coup to attract as a cast member. His acting in the role of Professor Grisenko is faultless and adds huge gravitas and quality.
Liam Cunningham, another superb actor who later became widely known for his role as Ser Davos in Game of Thrones, is marvelous as Captain Zhukov.
Another future Game of Thrones actor Tobias menzies is also great as Lieutenant Stepashin. Ironically he went on to play a middle-aged Prince Phillip in The Crown after Matt Smith had played the young Prince Phillip.
James Norton who would later become a brilliant star of many big TV productions such as War and Peace as well as the brilliant Happy Valley, is excellent in an early role as crew member Onegin.
Even a small role of a crew member Piotr is impressively played by future star of such big shows as The Crown and BBC's Les Miserables, Josh O'Connor.
Matt Smith and Jenna Louise Coleman play their regular roles suitably enjoyably and skillfully. The whole cast is magnificent and makes this as perfectly acted as it could be.
The story may be subtle and not as dramatic in the end as some might hope but for me the ideas and themes of avoiding conflict, the nicely intelligent script, the awesome cast and the effective thrills of a creature lurking in a submarine picking off victims then threatening nuclear annihilation make this a top class adventure.
One of the best of the Moffatt/Smith era in my opinion.
My Rating: 10/10.
My Series 7 Episode Ranking: 1st out of 14.
- A_Kind_Of_CineMagic
- Feb 19, 2019
Details
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- Country of origin
- Official sites
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime41 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD