As a long-time Doctor Who fan who cut their teeth on classic base-under-siege stories, I have to admit I got genuinely excited when I first realized what “Under the Lake” was doing. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching the show return to one of its most reliable formats while adding new twists that keep it feeling fresh and relevant.
The Setup: Ghosts, Water, and Corporate Greed
The Drum, our underwater base for this adventure, immediately reminded me of the claustrophobic atmosphere we got in “The Waters of Mars”, but with its own distinct personality. The production design team deserves serious kudos here – from the corporate logos to the safety protocols plastered on the walls, everything feels authentic in a way that reminds me of the lived-in quality of Alien’s Nostromo.
As someone who grew up devouring both ghost stories and science fiction, I can’t help but appreciate how perfectly this episode marries the two genres. What starts as a classic haunted house setup gradually transforms into something more complex and science-fiction oriented, much like what we saw in “The Impossible Planet”. It’s this blend that keeps me coming back to Doctor Who – no other show manages to mix genres quite so effectively.
Character Evolution and Performance
I’ve watched Peter Capaldi’s Doctor evolve since “Deep Breath”, and it’s fascinating to see how much more comfortable he’s become in the role by this point. His childlike excitement at the prospect of ghosts (while simultaneously trying to debunk them) perfectly encapsulates what makes this incarnation so special. When he whips out those index cards to communicate with Cass, I couldn’t help but smile – it’s such a perfect character moment that shows how far he’s come from his more abrasive early episodes.
Having followed Clara’s journey since “The Bells of Saint John”, I find her character development here particularly intriguing. There’s something both exciting and worrying about watching her become more Doctor-like in her approach to danger. As a fan who remembers how Ace’s similar trajectory played out in the classic series, I can’t help but feel a sense of foreboding about where this might be heading.
The supporting cast shines particularly bright in this episode. Sophie Stone’s portrayal of Cass breaks new ground for the series, and as someone who’s watched science fiction for decades, it’s refreshing to see disability represented in a way that feels natural rather than forced. The scenes from her perspective, where the sound drops out entirely, create some of the most effective moments of tension I’ve experienced in recent Who.
Creating Effective Horror in Science Fiction
Having watched my fair share of ghost stories, I appreciate how this episode manages to make its spectres feel unique. The hollow-eyed apparitions suspended in water create images that I’d rank right up there with the gas mask zombies from “The Empty Child” in terms of memorable Who monsters. The rules governing their behavior feel well thought out and consistent – something that’s crucial for good science fiction horror.
The careful world-building reminds me of classic Who stories like “The Moonbase”, where the environment itself becomes a character. The underwater setting adds an extra layer of isolation and claustrophobia that even the best base-under-siege stories sometimes lack. When combined with the ghost story elements, it creates a unique atmosphere that had me on the edge of my seat.
As someone who grew up watching classic Who, I have a special appreciation for a good cliffhanger, and this episode delivers one of the best I’ve seen in recent years. The sight of the Doctor apparently becoming a ghost himself hit me with the same sort of shock I felt watching “The Stolen Earth” cliffhanger. It’s the kind of moment that had me counting the days until the next episode.
What impresses me most about “Under the Lake” is how it manages to feel both classic and contemporary at the same time. As someone who’s watched Doctor Who evolve over the years, I appreciate how it honors the show’s traditions while finding new ways to tell stories. The base-under-siege format might be as old as the program itself, but episodes like this prove there’s still plenty of life in the old formula.
For me, “Under the Lake” represents everything I love about Doctor Who – its ability to blend genres, its commitment to character development, and its talent for making the familiar feel strange and new again. While some viewers might prefer the faster-paced style of episodes like “The Eleventh Hour”, I find myself increasingly appreciating these slower, more atmospheric stories that give us time to really sink into their world. As the first part of a two-parter, it left me exactly where I wanted to be: desperately eager to see what happens next.
