Series 7, Episode 8 | 1 part | First broadcast: 13 April 2013 | Writer: Mark Gatiss | Director: Douglas Mackinnon
Cast
- Matt Smith as the Doctor
- Jenna-Louise Coleman as Clara Oswald
- Liam Cunningham as Captain Zhukov
- Spencer Wilding as Skaldak (physical performance)
- Nicholas Briggs as Skaldak (voice)
Summary
The TARDIS lands aboard a Soviet nuclear submarine in 1983 just as its crew accidentally thaws out a frozen Ice Warrior found buried deep in the Arctic ice. Freed from its armoured shell and convinced humanity is under threat, the ancient warrior Skaldak threatens to trigger a nuclear war unless the Doctor can find a way to reach the being beneath the armour before the submarine’s own missiles are launched.
Interesting Facts
- This story marks the return of the Ice Warriors to the series after a decades-long absence from television.
- The claustrophobic submarine setting, confined almost entirely to a single vessel, gives the episode a tense, thriller-like atmosphere distinct from much of the series.
- The reveal that Ice Warriors can leave their armoured shells was a significant addition to decades of established monster lore.
- Liam Cunningham’s Captain Zhukov anchors much of the human drama as the crew debates whether to trust the Doctor’s warnings.
No Responses