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The Black Archive #20
Face the Raven
‘Let me be brave. Let me be brave …’
In a series where violent death is prevalent but the regular characters generally immune, Face the Raven (2015) is a rarity in featuring the demise of the 12th Doctor’s longstanding companion Clara Oswald. While Doctor Who’s basis as a time-travel series means that the audience will see Clara again, everything after her death here is borrowed time.
The figures reintroduced by Face the Raven all play unexpected parts: Ashildr, a Viking woman made immortal by the Doctor, is a mayor; Rigsy, a graffiti artist befriended by Clara, is a murder suspect; and numerous monsters from the series’ past have become refugees. Scripted by Sarah Dollard, an Australian living in the UK, the story uses the tropes and imagery of Doctor Who to comment on real-world issues of immigration, asylum and the penal system, its narrative leading directly to the Doctor’s own incarceration in the following episode.
This Black Archive draws on the history of London and its presentation in fantasy, on queer and feminist theory and on the mythic and folkloric symbolism of ravens to examine this haunting story. It is the first of three books dealing with the final episodes of the 2015 season of Doctor Who.
Sarah Groenewegen is the author of the novel Daughters of Earth, and of numerous essays on Doctor Who, gaming, and being queer. In 2016 she was awarded a British Empire Medal for her services to law enforcement and LGBT+ diversity.
In a series where violent death is prevalent but the regular characters generally immune, Face the Raven (2015) is a rarity in featuring the demise of the 12th Doctor’s longstanding companion Clara Oswald. While Doctor Who’s basis as a time-travel series means that the audience will see Clara again, everything after her death here is borrowed time.
The figures reintroduced by Face the Raven all play unexpected parts: Ashildr, a Viking woman made immortal by the Doctor, is a mayor; Rigsy, a graffiti artist befriended by Clara, is a murder suspect; and numerous monsters from the series’ past have become refugees. Scripted by Sarah Dollard, an Australian living in the UK, the story uses the tropes and imagery of Doctor Who to comment on real-world issues of immigration, asylum and the penal system, its narrative leading directly to the Doctor’s own incarceration in the following episode.
This Black Archive draws on the history of London and its presentation in fantasy, on queer and feminist theory and on the mythic and folkloric symbolism of ravens to examine this haunting story. It is the first of three books dealing with the final episodes of the 2015 season of Doctor Who.
Sarah Groenewegen is the author of the novel Daughters of Earth, and of numerous essays on Doctor Who, gaming, and being queer. In 2016 she was awarded a British Empire Medal for her services to law enforcement and LGBT+ diversity.
- GenresDoctor WhoNonfiction
110 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2018
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 29, 2020
When I first requested a reviewer’s copy of this book I wasn’t sure what to expect; I knew it wasn’t a written version of the episode & that it was more of an analytical essay about it but I really had no idea how interesting & in-depth it would be. The writing in this is on the same level as that of the papers I read as part of my Masters degree & having that level of analysis about one of my favourite episodes of my favourite show was such a great experience. I am desperate to own every single book in this collection & I recommend them to anyone who loves the show like I do. These books are a hidden treasure & I am so glad I discovered The Black Archive website!
I was sent a digital copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.
⚠️ This book includes spoilers for the episode Face the Raven, as well as episodes shown before & after ⚠️
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-38v
I was sent a digital copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.
⚠️ This book includes spoilers for the episode Face the Raven, as well as episodes shown before & after ⚠️
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-38v
July 23, 2022
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/face-the-raven-by-sarah-groenewegen/
Sarah Groenewegen is a friend of mine anyway, and I’ve enjoyed her Who fiction. Here she brings a close analytical lens to the story, pulling up all kinds of things that I had not really thought of; the Black Archive at its best produces books that you like more than their subject episodes. This has a short introduction and four long chapters.
The first chapter looks in depth at the character of Clara. Groenewegen starts by pointing out that Clara was basically invented to satisfy the needs of the 50th anniversary in 2013, and Coleman actually appeared and got killed off twice before becoming established as Clara Oswald, twenty-first century schoolteacher. She looks at the role of companions and how this worked out in this particular case. Sometimes fans invest more in the emotional dynamics of a show than is really there, but I was convinced by the argument here.
The second chapter looks at Ashildr and Rigsy as returning characters, and reflects on how the show interrogates time and change, and the Doctor being held accountable for his actions. There’s a brief but fascinating exploration of the Ashildr/Clara relationship.
The third chapter looks at geography, London and refuge, and the way in which Doctor Who interacts with the real universe (there is a real London; there was a real refugee crisis at the time the story was made). Lots of other writers are invoked, in particular Paul Cornell and Ben Aaronovitch.
The final chapter looks briefly at the symbolism of ravens, reminding us that they actually have something of a history in Doctor Who, and in more depth at the subject of death, which I think Face the Raven handles rather better than Dark Water / Death in Heaven.
It’s a rare case where I wished I had read the book first before rewatching the story; I would have got a bit more out of the latter.
Sarah Groenewegen is a friend of mine anyway, and I’ve enjoyed her Who fiction. Here she brings a close analytical lens to the story, pulling up all kinds of things that I had not really thought of; the Black Archive at its best produces books that you like more than their subject episodes. This has a short introduction and four long chapters.
The first chapter looks in depth at the character of Clara. Groenewegen starts by pointing out that Clara was basically invented to satisfy the needs of the 50th anniversary in 2013, and Coleman actually appeared and got killed off twice before becoming established as Clara Oswald, twenty-first century schoolteacher. She looks at the role of companions and how this worked out in this particular case. Sometimes fans invest more in the emotional dynamics of a show than is really there, but I was convinced by the argument here.
The second chapter looks at Ashildr and Rigsy as returning characters, and reflects on how the show interrogates time and change, and the Doctor being held accountable for his actions. There’s a brief but fascinating exploration of the Ashildr/Clara relationship.
The third chapter looks at geography, London and refuge, and the way in which Doctor Who interacts with the real universe (there is a real London; there was a real refugee crisis at the time the story was made). Lots of other writers are invoked, in particular Paul Cornell and Ben Aaronovitch.
The final chapter looks briefly at the symbolism of ravens, reminding us that they actually have something of a history in Doctor Who, and in more depth at the subject of death, which I think Face the Raven handles rather better than Dark Water / Death in Heaven.
It’s a rare case where I wished I had read the book first before rewatching the story; I would have got a bit more out of the latter.
April 2, 2021
Interesting but probably too cerebral for my taste.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews