Following the dramatic cliffhanger of The Pandorica Opens, Doctor Who series 5 plunged viewers even deeper into its intricate narrative with The Big Bang. The episode masterfully connected back to The Eleventh Hour, the series’ starting point, immediately establishing itself as a meticulously plotted season, arguably the most complex in Doctor Who history. For fans invested in the overarching storyline, The Big Bang delivered a satisfying payoff, packed with mind-bending puzzles right from its opening moments.
The episode’s beginning cleverly incorporated a Richard Dawkins reference before swiftly moving to young Amelia Pond and her discovery of the Pandorica in the British Museum. The immediate intrigue arose: how could Amelia, seemingly anyone, simply open this legendary prison with a touch? This quickly escalated into an even more astonishing reveal – upon opening, an older, alive Amy Pond was found inside. This breathtaking opening was designed to shock and succeeded spectacularly, leaving viewers desperate to unravel the mystery behind Amy’s impossible predicament and setting the stage for the complex episode ahead within doctor series 5.
Unraveling the Labyrinth of Puzzles
The initial bewilderment surrounding Amy’s presence in the Pandorica, having survived for 2000 years, was addressed relatively early. The Doctor’s explanation of the Pandorica’s stasis field provided a logical, albeit fantastical, solution. However, this explanation was merely the first layer of a multi-layered puzzle box.
The episode then expertly shifted focus to how the Doctor himself escaped the Pandorica and the events leading to Amy’s imprisonment. In a clever temporal maneuver, the narrative transported us back 1894 years to Rory. The Doctor’s sudden appearance, sporting a Fez – a recurring comedic element and a visual marker for time-hopping Doctors – served as a crucial clue. These seemingly random appearances were later revealed to be the result of the Doctor’s resourceful, if somewhat crude, time vortex travel from the British Museum in the future. This non-linear storytelling, a hallmark of doctor series 5, kept viewers engaged and constantly re-evaluating their understanding of events as the episode unfolded.
A Series Defined by Intricacy
The Big Bang‘s opening moments perfectly encapsulate the essence of Doctor Who series 5. It’s a series that thrives on intricate plotting, rewarding attentive viewers with satisfying answers to complex questions while simultaneously layering in new mysteries. The episode’s initial puzzles concerning Amy and the Doctor’s escape are just the tip of the iceberg, setting the tone for a finale that demands careful attention and celebrates the show’s capacity for sophisticated storytelling within the framework of thrilling science fiction adventure.
