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TARDIS Guide

Review of The Vampires of Venice by 15thDoctor

24 April 2024

This review contains spoilers!

This is the closest to a meh or indistinct story we have had in the 11th Doctor's era so far. A few likable features pull it into the show's mid-table. I do generally feel Toby Whithouse stories (with the exception of his first, School Reunion) lack a "big pull".

Easily the best part of the story is Rory and Amy's romance. Over the first four stories The Doctor and Amy have built up a strong onscreen connection (perhaps too strong?) so it is sincerely funny and sweet seeing bumbling, fusty, funny Rory interrupt this settled dynamic. Seeing someone reduced to third wheeling with their fiancée and a polite, alien stranger is inherently hilarious! I am glad that the show put the inappropriate kiss from the episode before behind it - even if it was the starting point for this story. They style it out well.

My wife loves anything even tangentially connected to vampires (she's from Transylvania) so was a lot warmer on the baddie of the week than I was. I felt I had very little to grab onto. The fact they are almost but not quite vampires makes them a bit muddled in my view.

So the story has to rely on the characters... which luckily for Toby Whithouse make for compelling, charming company.