Doctor Who season 10 episode 3 Recap and FAQ

Episode Summary

The Doctor and Bill travel to 1814 London, attending the last great Frost Fair on the Thames. Bill is initially apprehensive about time travel's effects and the era's racial attitudes. They uncover a mystery involving people disappearing under the ice, led to a huge chained creature exploited for fuel. Confronting Lord Sutcliffe, who's behind this scheme, they face a moral dilemma: free the creature at the risk of public safety or leave it in captivity. Bill decides to free it. They manage to save the fairgoers and the creature, significantly impacting history. The episode highlights the weight of their decisions on past events.

Full Episode S10E03 Recap

### Arrival at the Frost Fair - The Doctor and Bill arrive at the 1814 Frost Fair in London. - Bill expresses concerns about traveling to the past as a person of color due to the prevalence of slavery. - The Doctor advises Bill to dress appropriately for the era, directing her to the TARDIS' wardrobe. ### Exploring the Fair - They explore the fair, trying various foods and observing the festivities. - Bill notices a coin trick performed by a vendor and accuses him of cheating. ### Mysterious Disappearance - A young boy, Spider, is drawn towards the lights under the ice and disappears. - The Doctor and Bill, along with two children, Kitty and Dot, discuss the mysterious lights. ### Investigating the Lights - The Doctor hypothesizes the lights are organic and possibly dangerous. - They witness another disappearance, this time a grown man. ### Searching for Answers - The Doctor and Bill start investigating the disappearances, questioning various people at the fair. - They learn about a man with a ship tattoo who is involved in some way. ### Confronting the Creature - The Doctor and Bill don diving suits and go under the ice, discovering a giant creature chained underneath the Thames. - They realize the creature is being exploited and its excretions are being used as a highly efficient fuel. ### Lord Sutcliffe's Involvement - They confront Lord Sutcliffe, who reveals his family has been exploiting the creature for generations. - Sutcliffe plans to collapse the ice at the fair, feeding the creature and covering his tracks. ### The Doctor's Dilemma - The Doctor struggles with the moral implications of freeing the creature versus the potential danger it could pose. - Bill ultimately decides they should free the creature. ### Rescuing the Creature and the People - The Doctor and Bill work to evacuate the fair and sabotage Sutcliffe's plan. - They manage to free the creature, which swims away, presumably to a safer environment. ### Aftermath - Lord Sutcliffe's fortune is passed to the street urchin, Perry, changing history. - The Doctor and Bill reflect on the adventure, with Bill realizing the impact of their actions on history. - The episode ends with the Doctor and Bill returning to their own time, continuing their travels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year does the Doctor and Bill visit in this episode?

1814.

Why is Bill concerned about visiting the past?

Bill is concerned due to the prevalence of slavery and being a person of color.

What event are the Doctor and Bill attending?

The last great Frost Fair on the Thames.

How does the Doctor describe steering the TARDIS?

He says you don't steer the TARDIS but reason with it, usually unsuccessfully.

What mysterious phenomenon are the Doctor and Bill investigating?

Lights under the ice that seem to be causing disappearances.

Who is Lord Sutcliffe?

Lord Sutcliffe is the antagonist exploiting a creature under the Thames for fuel.

What is the creature under the Thames being used for?

Its excretions are being harvested as a highly efficient fuel.

How does the Doctor plan to investigate the creature?

By wearing diving suits and going under the ice.

What moral dilemma does the Doctor face regarding the creature?

Whether to free the creature, risking it could harm people, or leave it chained.

Who makes the decision to free the creature?

Bill makes the final decision to free the creature.

How do the Doctor and Bill save the people on the ice?

They evacuate the fair and disrupt Lord Sutcliffe's plan to collapse the ice.

What happens to Lord Sutcliffe's fortune after his death?

It is passed to a street urchin named Perry.

How does this adventure impact Bill's view on history?

She realizes the impact their actions can have on historical events.

Does the creature cause any harm after being freed?

There is no indication that the creature harms anyone after being freed.

Where does the episode conclude?

The episode concludes with the Doctor and Bill returning to their own time.

Doctor Who season 10 episode 3

Thin Ice