For me, THIN ICE was a series of interesting scenes or moments that just didn't quite add up to a cohesive and convincing serial. Nearly... but not quite. There are "pillar" serials and there are "filler" serials... And this one wasn't a "pillar".
The fact that a warning flashed up on the screen just after the time travellers had left the console room reminded me of part four of AN UNEARTHLY CHILD, when the radiation warning began just after the time travellers left the console room to clean up, after the TARDIS had arrived on Skaro for the very first time. I find it mildly amusing that the Doctor now uses his sonic screwdriver as a torch - which reflects what I've been using mine as during all the power blackouts over the course of the last few years. I did rather enjoy the sequence concerning the non-existent "Peter", but I'm now wondering if Homer Simpson plans to sue when he gets back to the present with his time travelling toaster. I enjoyed the Doctor's punch very much and I hope this might inspire the next show-runner to introduce a new Doctor who is a bit more violent, like William Hartnell, Jon Pertwee, early Tom Baker and Colin Baker.
However, I found it difficult to buy into the gigantic aquatic CGI effect. I thought it was a nice idea, but it was a bit of a shame about the reality. It also seemed like another space whale concept, similar to the idea featured in THE BEAST BELOW. Meanwhile, Bill still irritates me with some of her questions, not to mention most of her expectations concerning the Doctor. And is it just me, or is this series of DOCTOR WHO being particularly rough on little kids? All in all, I didn't enjoy this serial quite as much as SMILE.
By the way, when are they going to start giving some of these serials some decent bloody titles?
THE CREATURE FROM BENEATH THE ICE...
