Class: Episode 7 Advance Review

Note: Doctor Who TV’s pre-air reviews aim to be as detail-free as we reasonably can while still offering a critique, but as everyone’s spoiler sensibilities are different, we advise you read on at your own discretion.

Last week’s episode saw the Coal Hill classmates stuck in a nightmarish detention by Miss Quill, who promptly left the scene of the crime. “The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did” takes us back to that moment, and as the title suggests this time picks things up from Quill’s perspective and follows the dangerous journey she went on to remove the Arn from her head.

Unsurprisingly this is a real showpiece for Katherine Kelly. She was already the show’s strongest talent, but has at times been limited by the characterisation often allowing her to only really play things one way. However this goes far deeper and sees some very welcome dimensions added. Kelly’s two co-stars, Pooky Quesnel and Chike Okonkwo (Dorothea and Ballon, respectively), are very good too, essentially Quill’s only on screen “companions” for almost the entire story.

This week’s instalment also clearly shows where the money went from last week’s budget saving outing. Events here take place across several alien landscapes and it has a sense of scope missing from the show thus far. In fact the episode is closer to feeling like an episode of Doctor Who than anything else (there’s even a couple of connective elements fans will love, and a travelling device that is essentially a TARDIS in all but name.)

All in all, this is probably Class’ strongest episode so far. It’s another one with a heavy emphasis on character, it also contains enough action to keep things moving along, and manages to keep you guessing about how things will reach their inevitable end.

One final word of warning: it contains one of the most gruesome scenes in the Whoniverse in a long time. A strong stomach may be required!