New to BBC Three is a Doctor Who spin-off show, Class. The Doctor, Peter Capaldi, briefly visited the show in the first episode, but for the most part it follows five ‘unlikely’ teenagers attempting to ward off aliens. It follows the premise of Doctor Who entirely, except for the school setting. With an already prepared fan base, a reasonable budget, and successful author, Patrick Ness, working on the show, it should be a hit, right? So far, it doesn’t seem like it.

I’m yet to decipher whether it’s poorly attempting to be humorous and cynical by not taking itself too seriously, or if it is trying to be serious and failing momentously. There are all the serious topics within in it: death, sexuality, race, disabilities, etc. yet it’s not serious. Or, at least, I can’t take it seriously. Maybe it’s down to acting; the cast are predominately teenagers, and it’s more than possible it’s the lines they’re delivering, not their acting skills, but it feels like the acting you find on a low-budget, amateur sci-fi show.

Speaking of budgets, the graphics for the most part are decent, but not on the level you would expect to find in a Doctor Who show. In episode one, our heroes are warding off shadow creatures; in episode two, it’s their dead relatives trying to steal their souls. It’s not the most imaginative. It is in essence, a carbon copy of Doctor Who; presenting the same sequence of a new antagonistic alien emerging and being put down. It’s a rinse and repeat of what we’ve already seen.

And yet my biggest issue is two of the most pivotal characters Charlie and Miss Quill. They’re aliens, posing as humans. Charlie pretends to ease into school life, while Miss Quill pretends to be a teacher. Both are estranged and I know the fundamentals of their character is to be aloof and misunderstand the simple things, but hasn’t this trope been done to death already? And even worse, I can’t force myself to like them.

The other characters have the potential to be likable; they have the sympathetic qualities needed. But still, their acting is uncomfortable, their parts are forgettable. I couldn’t remember a single name until I looked them up. And isn’t it time we end the ‘unlikely’ hero trope? What school kid is a likely alien fighter?

The best part of the show, so far, is the opening credits song Up All Night by Alex Clare. It’s a bop. I think I’d rather listen to it on repeat than watch another episode.

Maybe it will get better as the season goes on. Then again, maybe it will only get worse. If you’re a fan of Doctor Who it’s worth a watch; you might enjoy it. There’s certainly potential within it, it just needs to work out where it’s going. But, I think it’s safe to say, I’m doubtful that I will continue with it.

 

 

Paige Johnston

(Image: Radio Times)