‘THE GOD COMPLEX’
Please feel free to comment on my review.
Blinded By His Majesty with the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory
I first saw this ‘Doctor Who’ episode by Toby Whitehouse at the ‘Regenerations 2011’ convention in Swansea in September 2011. However, I was distracted by the excitement of attending the convention.
Therefore, I didn’t pay attention to what was happening in the episode and I couldn’t remember what it was about. Now that I’ve seen it a couple of times, I’ve been able to appreciate the story in detail.
‘The God Complex’ is a pretty enjoyable episode from the new TV series with the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory. This is not a classic by any means, but it was tense, as our heroes get trapped inside a 1980s hotel.
The TARDIS trio don’t know how they ended up in this hotel and they soon meet the other guests: Rita, Howie, Gibbis and Joe. They soon discover that the hotel is a trap as they’re lost in a maze.
Or a labyrinth as it turns out, since the corridors of the hotel are being patrolled by a hulking monstrous beast which turns out to be a Minotaur. Or as it seems; a powerful god in Minotaur form.
I enjoyed some of the concepts behind this episode when I re-watched it for a second time. It seems that this Minotaur creature is plucking various people, humans and aliens, out of time into this hotel.
There’s a certain Greek myth atmosphere about this episode, especially with the Minotaur and the labyrinth maze hotel. I did like the connection made with the Minotaur beast and ‘The Horns of Nimon’ here.
The hotel guests, including the Doctor, Amy and Rory are also being preyed by certain fears they have when they go into one of the guest rooms. But it turns out to be more, since it is all about faith.
Once certain characters see their fears in guest rooms, they start to go crazy and say “Praise him!” which alerts the Minotaur to them. They seem to welcome it when the Minotaur advances on them.
Matt Smith as the Doctor gets to balance both the comedic and serious aspects to his character in this episode. I liked it when he calls out to Rita to not give in and he becomes very angry afterwards.
Karen Gillan as Amy and Arthur Darvill as Rory are good in this episode, but this tale doesn’t enhance their characters. It gets pretty tense when Amy says “Praise him!” and the Doctor and Rory realise it.
The guest cast includes Amara Karan as Rita, Dimitri Leonidas as Howie and Daniel Pirrie as Joe. These three characters face their certain fears and soon get it in the neck when saying “Praise him!”
David Walliams guest stars as the alien Gibbis in this episode. For me, David is well-known for his appearances in the comedy series, ‘Little Britain’, and he’s clearly a ‘Doctor Who’ fan from Big Finish.
Caitlin Blackwood makes a special guest appearance as young Amelia Pond when Amy is facing her fears and is about to be taken by the Minotaur. I liked it when the Doctor gets to save her somehow.
The previously deceased guests who attended this hotel include a number of ‘Doctor Who’ monsters from the past. This includes a Sontaran, a Judoon and even the Weeping Angels appear in this story.
The episode ends with the Doctor dropping Amy and Rory back home. The Doctor says an emotional goodbye to Amy as he goes into the TARDIS, leaving her and Rory to live their married lives together.
‘The God Complex’ is a fairly decent episode in the new series of ‘Doctor Who’. I don’t rate it highly, but I enjoyed the hotel setting in this story as well as the Minotaur being a descendant of the Nimon.
The DVD/Blu-ray special features for this episode are as follows. There’s the ‘Doctor Who Confidential’ episode ‘Heartbreak Hotel’.
‘The God Complex’ rating – 6/10
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Again another episode that doesn’t quite fulfill it’s potential but is still an entertaining watch, my favourite scene was the Doctor opening room 11 & seeing his future fate.
Oh & the dummies scared the crap out of me.
Yes this story did have potential, but it just felt lacking in some places in terms of drama. Glad you found this episode entertaining and that you found some scenes and moments pretty enjoyable.
Yes the dummies were pretty scary. I wish we could see more of the Minotaur in full form and it was fun to know it was descended from the Nimon. 😀
Thanks Simon.
Tim. 🙂
Arrrrgggghhhh you just had to go mention the Nimon…..(collapses).