Writer(s): Gareth Roberts and Steven Moffat
Director: Paul Murphy
Starring: Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Samuel Anderson, Chris Addison
The Story: The terrifying Skovox Blitzer is ready to destroy all humanity – but worse, and any second now, Danny Pink and the Doctor are going to meet.
The Verdict:
After last week’s first serious low with the mess of Time Heist, we’re almost instantaneously returned to Doctor Who normality with charisma, quips and – most importantly – something exciting and original.
Opening with the Doctor and Clara stuck in locked chains on a two-Sun planet, the conversational free flow is back with a bang as they seek a way to escape. From here, we cut to Clara’s life between the ‘real world’ and the TARDIS, as she runs from place to place in-between adventures and dates with Danny Pink. We’ve gradually been introduced to Danny and Clara’s relationship and it’s lack of perfection is refreshing.
There’s something else coming through, as The Caretaker holds the moment where the Doctor and Danny finally meet. After being mysterious to Clara, the 12th tells us he’s due to do a ‘thing’ (which I’m sure has been said in every episode now) by going deep undercover. Obviously, she doesn’t trust him but lets him be his usual mad self until that is, he turns up as John Smith at Coal Hill School and is now the Caretaker. Initially confused, she works out he must be there for something to do with Aliens and so the adventure begins.
What you wouldn’t have expected from this episode is the deep human level we discover with Clara and Danny’s relationship. What could be considered a slow-paced storyline turns in a character study that shows us intelligent how people are in real-life. Samuel Anderson’s Danny is a fine addition to the cast and brings a level of honesty that was unknowingly missed. I also love Clara’s madness now, she’s gone from heading along for the ride to reflecting the Doctor’s off-kilter and unpredictable nature – especially present when she pretends they were rehearsing a secret school play, when they were in fact trying to get rid of a dangerous new baddie in the deathly Skovox Blitzer, down a vortex, using time distortion…as you do. It’s a genuinely terrifying killing machine as well, but is a side note to bigger things and for some reason, it really works.
This episode is also a highly humorous outing that nods towards the Doctor’s narcissism when he thinks Clara is dating a Matt Smith-lookalike. It also shows us the flipside and his unquestionable strength in both mind and influence. The scene between Danny and the Doctor on the TARDIS is powerful, where Mr Pink is effortlessly pulling out his darker character as they have an argument and it’s sincerely intimating – compelling stuff. But, it’s also important to note that beyond all the bravado, this episode is truly about the Doctor’s compassion. His love for all things human, for saving the world (again) and his addiction to making sure the people he cares deeply for, get the good things they deserve.
The first fifteen minutes is effortless and beats the previous episode hands down, the next half hour is a joy to watch and throws away the minor shackles of doubt. I’ve enjoyed the progression of Capaldi’s reign and we finally start to get a deeper look at the edges of his personality, who he truly is. There’s also another intriguing look at Missy and the surprise introduction of Chris Addison’s character, who is a part of the Nethersphere/The Promised Land or whatever you’d like to call it. I believe we’ll see him again in the two-part finale.
If there’s doubt over Capaldi’s credentials and the writing, then I’m not sure what the casual viewer wants anymore. Series 8 has given us great scripts, tight production and direction and I never know what’s coming next. Long may the 12th hour strike!
Best Bit:
There’s so many! The Doctor pushing Clara out the door at the beginning saying ‘Deep Cooover’, or when he whistles ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ when she’s telling a pupil off – Inspired.
But for me, the winner is the intense argument between Danny and the Doctor in the TARDIS, which is something to behold; it’s unnerving yet utterly appropriate.
Best line(s)
Clara: We’re going to starve to death out here…
The Doctor: …of course we won’t starve, the sand piranhas will get us long before that.
And:
Danny Pink: Oh my god, you’re from space, you’re a space woman, you said you were from Blackpool… and he’s your Dad, your space Dad!
[usr=4] THN’s Doctor Who Series 8 Blog returns next Saturday.
