Let's Kill Hitler

scottmTue 16/08/11 16:37

Last night, I went to the National Film Theatre to see a special preview of Let's Kill Hitler, the first episode of the second half of the current series of Doctor Who, which is due to hit BBC1 this forthcoming bank holiday weekend. 

At the end of the last episode, a cabal of the Doctor's enemies had absconded with Amy and Rory's new baby, Melody Pond, who they said was to be bred into being a weapon in the war against the Time Lord. And in the final scene, we learned that River Song was indeed Melody, all grown up.

That episode answered many questions, though mostly in part rather than fully, and asked many more. Let's Kill Hitler does the same, pushing the season's story arc on in many new and exciting ways. There are some truly thrilling moments and discoveries which, as Steven Moffat reasoned in the post-airing Q&A, are best experienced as you watch the episode, so I'll endeavour to keep this piece as spoiler-free as possible (although there are plenty of teasers which the more pernickety of fans will insist are spoilers, but which really, really aren't)...

First off, this is probably Steven Moffat's funniest Who script to date, ensuring that no scene is dark enough, thrilling enough or downright twisted enough to be enlivened by a witty rejoinder. Lest that worry anybody that Doctor Who is turning into a sitcom, it's all perfectly judged - producing the world's politest robotic executioners, for example.

We also see flashbacks to Amy and Rory's life in Leadworth, from childhood into adolescence and beyond. Not only does this allow Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill the chance to explore the early romantic days of their characters, it also ensures another glimpse of Caitlin Blackwood as young Amelia – a performance which stole the show in Matt Smith's first episode, The Eleventh Hour, and threatens to do so again here. Also returning is Cardiff's Temple of Peace, which has previously turned up as a space station viewing platform, New Earth's senate, a Silurian debating chamber, and here is a 1930s Berlin restaurant. 

Alex Kingston (River Song) returns, of course – these days she seems to be practically a fourth regular – but this episode gives the actress far more to play with. Exactly why and how would spoil the many aforementioned surprises in the ongoing arc. Speaking of which, we also learn more about the Silence, what "Silence will fall" actually means and what the plans for Melody Song actually are. 

Oh, and Rory gets to punch people. Twice. And ride a motorbike. ("Rory's an action hero," Arthur Darvill explained in the post-show Q&A. "That's why they hired me." He looked most put out when that deadpan comment caused Karen Gillan to double up with laughter...)

References abound to the Doctor's forthcoming demise, as already seen in The Impossible Astronaut – and the preview of the rest of the season (mainly consisting of scenes already included in TV trailers) reinforces that event's importance. Just how the series will continue - and continue it will - despite apparently killing off the central character, I'm sure Steven Moffat will let us know in good time.

And if Let's Kill Hitler is anything to go by, I think we'll all enjoy the way he'll tell us.