In the last story of the 50th Anniversary Collection, we take a look at the 12th Doctor in Holly Black’s “Lights Out”.
Holly Black had her work cut out for her in “Lights Out”. With the 12th Doctor’s first season premiering last August, there couldn’t have been a lot of time between the season airing and the writing and publication of this story. So, it’s really an accomplishment that Black is able to capture the 12th Doctor’s grumpy personality so well.
Taking place between “Deep Breath” and “Into the Dalek”, the Doctor is getting Clara her coffee at the Intergalactic Coffee Roasting Station (ICRS, for short), the universe’s premiere coffee shop. He meets up with 78351, a genetic experiment who the Doctor rescued from captivity during some previous adventure. Unfortunately before the two have a chance to catch up, the customers of ICRS start getting killed off one by one. It’s now up to the Doctor and 78351 to save not only the day but also the coffee.
“Lights Out” is a story that starts out creepy and gets creepier as it goes along. First, there is 78351’s paranoia concerning the dark. Then, you have the scenes in the ICRS. Funnily enough, I don’t mind the deaths; it’s the customers actions at the coffee shop that really skewed me out. From the one character licking up spilled coffee off the floor to the one that just starts eating used coffee grounds after they run out, I’m not entirely sure if this was supposed to be funny or disturbing. Though, this probably could be due to the fact that I prefer tea.
It’s also a very self-contained story, bouncing between ICRS and 78351’s space ship. This works in “Lights Out” favor because with the immediacy of the plot and 78351’s complicated backstory, there’s not a lot of time for the Doctor to start planet hopping. I did feel it could have been a little longer as a lot of the drama and creepiness is rushed along to make the page count.
78351 is another companion that can only be done in the pages of a book. He’s not human, or at least, he’s been so genetically modified that it’s hard to tell. As someone who has previously been in contact with the Doctor, 78351 has actually turned out pretty OK. Sure, he may have a genuine fear of the dark and is a bit of coffee addiction, but for a companion on Doctor Who, that’s not to shabby. Plus, he’s a space truck driver! Not too shabby indeed. Even if, the ending does leave his fate up in the air.
“Lights Out” is a fun, creepy little story and a great way to end the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Collection.
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