Was Doctor Who’s Nikola Tesla Just Kevin Kline’s Clone? Let’s Discuss.

I love the “war of the currents” because it’s an interesting time in our technological history. So, watching “Nikola Tesla’s Night of Terror” in the latest season of Doctor Who, I couldn’t help but feel like I was being mansplained at, but in the best possible way? Because a woman wrote the episode, and it was a woman who was explaining Tesla to us all.

While I enjoy that a woman got to explain Tesla for once, I have to say that my entire time watching this episode was spent wondering why Goran Višnjić playing Nikola Tesla just kept reminding me of Kevin Kline. Let me explain: He had a middle part and a mustache.

Višnjić, who I remember from watching E.R. with my mother, is not someone I would typically look at and think, “Wow, just like my favorite man from the past,” but then again, maybe they just used Goran Višnjić as a front and really time traveled to get Soapdish-era Kline to play Tesla. Whatever the truth is, I could not think of anything else but Kevin Kline the entire episode.

At least I’m not alone. No really, a lot of Twitter kept getting Kevin Kline vibes, and honestly, what if Goran Višnjić and Kevin Kline were in a movie together? Hollywood, I’m giving you this idea for free.

This episode of Doctor Who was interesting because I didn’t particularly love feeling like I was being explained at (I know plenty about Nikola Tesla, thanks), but then again, the fact that a woman wrote it and a female Doctor was explaining it made it a little bit better because 9 times out of 10, it’s a man yelling about Tesla at us like we didn’t all also watch The Prestige or, you know, read a history book.

(image: BBC)

Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!

 —The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

Have a tip we should know? tips@themarysue.com

Author

Close

Rachel Leishman

Rachel Leishman (She/Her) is an Assistant Editor at the Mary Sue. She's been a writer professionally since 2016 but was always obsessed with movies and television and writing about them growing up. A lover of Spider-Man and Wanda Maximoff's biggest defender, she has interests in all things nerdy and a cat named Benjamin Wyatt the cat. If you want to talk classic rock music or all things Harrison Ford, she's your girl but her interests span far and wide. Yes, she knows she looks like Florence Pugh. She has multiple podcasts, normally has opinions on any bit of pop culture, and can tell you can actors entire filmography off the top of her head. Her current obsession is Glen Powell's dog, Brisket. Her work at the Mary Sue often includes Star Wars, Marvel, DC, movie reviews, and interviews.

twitter youtube Link to www.themarysue.com