The Rings of Akhaten (Series 7, Episode 7)

Series 7, Episode 7 | 1 part | First broadcast: 6 April 2013 | Writer: Neil Cross | Director: Farren Blackburn

Cast

  • Matt Smith as the Doctor
  • Jenna-Louise Coleman as Clara Oswald

Summary

Taking Clara on her first real trip through time and space, the Doctor brings her to a bustling alien marketplace built around a system of moons orbiting a slumbering, god-like being called the Old God. When a young alien girl chosen for an ancient ceremonial sacrifice is threatened by the awakening deity, the Doctor and Clara must find a way to satisfy its endless hunger without anyone paying the ultimate price.

Interesting Facts

  • This episode marks Clara’s first deliberate trip in the TARDIS as a companion, following the more chaotic circumstances of her introduction.
  • The story leans heavily on visual world-building, depicting a densely populated alien bazaar filled with dozens of unique creature designs.
  • The Doctor’s climactic offer to the Old God, his own memories and stories rather than a life, underscores a recurring theme of storytelling as a source of power in the series.
  • A trinket belonging to Clara’s deceased mother plays a pivotal emotional role in resolving the story’s central threat.

References

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