Whole series have come and gone and packed in less content and meaning and sheer joy than this single "Dr Who" episode, which hardly features the Doctor or companion Martha at all! An extremely daring strategy and one that pays off handsomely thanks to the decision to hand this one over to (then still-budding) star actress Carey Mulligan, who as the character Sally Sparrow is little short of a force of nature. As is noted by Detective Inspector Billy Shipton (played with huge pizazz, but also extremely movingly, by both Michael Obiora and Louis Mahoney), "life is short and you are hot" - by which he means Sally, and the truth of his statement (in both aspects) cannot be denied. Yet Sally is also witty and bright and simply "nice", and Mulligan delivers her lines with such accomplished skill and aplomb that it is an utter treat to watch. Each of her interactions with the other characters rings true and leaves one with an extremely specific if not-quite-tangible "warm feeling inside". The satisfying meticulousness, genius, taut emotion and complexity of the plot are also breathtaking, and the viewer is somehow aware - even as the thing unfolds - that he/she is rarely privileged to be watching something so perfect. This gives a sense of anticipation about each next scene which - remarkably - goes fully rewarded. It's rare indeed to encounter faultlessness on the TV ... but here it is!
Review of Blink
Possibly the most compact, satisfying and meaningful 43 minutes of watching you'll ever have!
10 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers