‘It Takes You Away’ is the kind of story that will either work for you or not. For some it may be a ridiculous mish mash of different sci-fi and horror concepts that don’t quite fit together. But for others, this penultimate episode of series 11 is a surreal, eccentric adventure that is both 100% classic Doctor Who and utterly unique.
A dreamlike fairytale ambience links each part of this episode, which is set against the backdrop of a beautiful Norwegian fjord. What starts out as a grim Scandinavian monster tale gives way to what is probably the closest we will ever get to a supernatural fantasy setting, and eventually settles on a metaphysical and psychological examination of life, existence, the universe, and grief. The best way to tackle this episode is probably by first nailing down those three acts.
First up we meet Hanne, a blind girl living in a boarded up cottage, left to fend for herself after a monster recently took away her father. Brought to life by blind actress Ellie Wallwork, Hanne is one of the most interesting guest roles this series – and in a series full of wonderful actors, that is saying something. She is stubborn and assertive, and has a strong sense of when she is being lied to. Her blindness is a natural part of the story that adds some obvious hindrances and occasional advantages, but it is the way she is so proactive in regaining her lost agency each time it is taken away from her that makes her so thrilling to watch.
The distant roars of the monster paired with Akinola’s tense score for this episode drives the first act of ‘It Takes You Away’, and the mirror provides an aesthetically consistent portal into the next part – the anti-zone. The location itself seems to be inspired by the Upside Down from Stranger Things or the fantasy world in Pan’s Labyrinth, while Ribbons the orc-like creature takes a leaf out of Gollum’s book from The Lord of the Rings. However it is the gorgeously designed flesh moths that could have easily sprung from the dark recesses of Jim Henson’s imagination that become the real threat here, devouring Ribbons and chasing the TARDIS team onto the final part of their journey.
Ending up back in Norwegian cottage they originally found themselves in, the Doctor quickly realises that something is wrong. Everything is flipped around, in a complete mirror image of their original universe. Hanne’s dad, Erik, is very much alive, as is her long-dead mother. And that’s not all – Grace appears to have returned as well, reuniting with a tearful Graham. Bradley Walsh has been a standout this series, and this episode wraps up his own personal arc dealing with the loss of his wife.
The threat of ‘It Takes You Away’ isn’t any tangible creature, but rather a sentient universe called the Solitract that would disrupt the integrity of our own universe should they ever come into contact. It has complete control over its appearance and form, it can reach deep into our minds to replicate our memories, and as such it becomes an unexpectedly psychological look into what constitutes our very existence. If the Solitract’s version of Grace has all the same memories as her living self, what makes her different? Hanne can apparently tell the difference between her mother and the Solitract’s imitation of her even though she sounds and looks exactly the same, and this distinction suggests that there is something deeper to this question that can’t possibly be answered in a 50 minute television episode.
Just like Erik and Graham, the Solitract is driven by loneliness, and is desperately trying to fill in the emptiness left by a departed loved one. The Doctor sacrifices herself in a last ditch attempt to save the original universe from destruction, trapping herself with the Solitract which now takes the form of a frog. At first this appears farfetched, even for Doctor Who. Why a frog? Why not a lost loved one of the Doctor?
Well, why not? At this point the Solitract isn’t trying to convince the Doctor of anything. It doesn’t need to use imitations anymore, and yet it must choose a physical form of some type. Logically, a frog is as good as any other creature, and the Solitract delights in its simplicity. But tonally, a frog is the perfect embodiment of ‘It Takes You Away’. It bookends a surreal episode that throws the Doctor from one mystery to the next, while capturing the absurdity of an endlessly complex, immortal, wise, and kind entity that it is humble enough to appreciate the simpler things in life. This is also an entity that wants nothing more than to find new companions, while knowing that they pose a threat to their very existence. Now who else do we know like that?
The final coda of ‘It Takes You Away’ allows for some character development between Graham and Ryan that has been built up since ‘The Woman Who Fell to Earth’, finally establishing him as a grandfather figure. Now that this arc has been tied off, we can expect to see them and the rest of the TARDIS team at their peak in next week’s series finale, ‘The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos’.
Ed Hime’s writing debut for Doctor Who is both a profound distillation of the show’s essence and a thrilling adventure that pushes the Whoniverse’s limits of reality. ‘It Takes You Away’ truly sweeps you from one moment to the next without a dull moment, and has become an instant classic in a series that was desperately due for one.
