A surprisingly effective episode. Much like Night Terrors, one that’s not spoken about much but delivers something unique and interesting to the cannon. A year after Toby Whithouse’s slightly dodgy fish-vampire tale he returns with something a little more thoughtful and even a little intellectual.

The Doctor and friends are stuck in a liminal space, an ageing hotel, which changes shape forming a maze. Behind each hotel door is a fear calling out for a lost soul wandering around the maze.

We get a proto-companion who’s ripped from The Doctor before she can see the world (another Lorna Bucket!) a cowardly alien and a nerdy conspiracy theorist. Tonnes of memorable guest cast members wander around a striking set which looks nothing like anything else we’ve seen in the show despite literally being corridors!

The idea of faith being stolen to feed the maze’s monitor is reminiscent of a clever idea from Big Finish’s 8th Doctor audio Faith Stealer, likely a coincidence. It’s a striking concept which leaves pretty much anyone vulnerable, but in an individual and personal way.

Before watching this episode, I remembered that Amy and Rory were left by The Doctor at this point in the series and it slightly annoyed me. But seeing it play out was actually quite beautiful. The Doctor is saving his companions in the only way he knows how.

Very good episode for the most part. Quite creepy and the faith stuff was pretty interesting.

There were a couple of interesting additions to The Doctor's character, such as the stuff about him taking companions with him because he wants to show off and how he's leaving Amy and Rory because it's better than them being killed. I like how this version of The Doctor has a good bit of depth, he's not just a superhero that can do no wrong.

In the hotel of fears, my room might contain an episode I once thought brilliant actually turning out to be mid. Alas, I need not wait for the march of the minotaur to witness such horrors.

Coming off of a rewatch of the Girl Who Waited (astonishing, magical, heart-wrenching storytelling), I was expecting a brilliant time with this fan-favourite too. But God Complex is honestly pretty trite and convoluted; all of the "Praise Him" fluff has more than a hint of "Bad Analog Horror web series" about it, and very few of the emotional beats feel especially earned - even the Doctor leaving Amy and Rory at home feels like it would have been better-suited at the end of the previous episode. Pity!

New Who Review #85

The God Complex

This story was interesting. I liked the idea behind the creature that feeds on faith and belief and how Amy nearly got killed because of her belief in the doctor I thought that was really nice and it makes for a nice speech from 11. The hotel itself is so eerie and has a unique atmosphere to it. It almost feels like the backrooms itself because it's so liminal. I thought the design of the minotaur was very interesting it looked cool and it was wearing like some medieval armor thing I liked it. Rita Should've been a companion because this is the mini departure of Amy & Rory I think Rita Should've taken their place she was good enough to be a companion but sadly she died. The ending with the doctor saying "what's the alternative I Stand over your grave" was so sad because it's exactly what happens in the next series it's a sad bit of foreshadowing. Overall a brilliant story with a unique vibe and a nice mix of creepy and belief. 10/10