Here is the second part of my re-visit of Doctor Who Series 8. Part One can be found here. In the run up to the Series 10 premiere, I am re-watching all of Peter Capaldi's era. So without further ado, here we go!
Is 'shut up!' the Twelfth Doctors catch phrase or are there too many pudding-brains everywhere?
'Kill the Moon' is a difficult story to pin down my thoughts on. I get that it's a kind of parable or exploration of morality but I don't feel it fairly weighs up the moral dilemma nor the enormity of the choices people have to make. I get that Capaldi's Doctor isn't going to hand-hold Clara or anyone through things but he also comes across as particularly cold and unfeeling for the majority of the story. It's atmospheric, to it's credit, in places. The supporting cast amount to a basically redundant cypher to argue against. On a side note, this retroactively means past stories set after 2049 involving the moon are now retroactively located on this new 'moon'.
'Mummy on the Orient Express' is possibly one of the best traditional Doctor Who stories in the modern series while also being a brilliant new series story. Atmospheric, fun, scary, built upon previous character moments. Capaldi really works in this episode, curious, bold, condescending but not uncaring, focused. Perkins deserves a special mention as the best would-be companion ever. Clara's appearance here is likely limited due to the filming schedules time constraints. Under the circumstances and this being a last hurrah, it works well to see her obviously question her decision to part ways with the Doctor.
'Flatline' is a great sci-fi concept executed well. Last episode was the Clara-lite episode and this is the Doctor-lite episode, though you really wouldn't know it. Capaldi's scenes are confined to the TARDIS interior and he is clearly having a ball playing the Doctor encountering a new unknown and very bizarre alien species from a two-dimensional universe. Clara stepping into the Doctor's role in this episode isn't unexpected, unprecedented nor the last time we'll see this development. Actually....despite the common criticism that Clara's characterisation is inconsistent I think it's actually fair to say she always lied (poorly) to those around her, desired adventure possibly moreso than any companion in the modern series to date, had a strong connection with children, a half-hearted wish for a normal life that conflicted with her overriding yearning for adventure. The reason she so easily slipped into the role of the Doctor was because deep down she wanted it more than anything else. And it will be the death of her. This story is one of my favourite New-Who standalone episodes. The Doctor's comment at the end of the episode about Clara acting in his place having nothing to do with being 'good' sum it up well.
'In the Forest of the Night' is certainly not one of my favourites. I'll try to be mostly positive. The concept is interesting even if the execution and visuals let it down. Capaldi demonstrates again that he plays well opposite children. Clara's clear inability to be honest is once again prominent....not sure that's a positive but it is surprisingly consistent. Contrast her failure to confide in Danny without being forced to with previous companion Amy. Before, we had an odd yet somehow functional relationship-come-family unit. Here, Clara is completely incapable of this. She's shown it time and time again. One bit of serious criticism though: that bit about the girls sister coming back...from a tree? I mean....come on. Could we please lend just a little gravity to what is a very real situation.
Side thought: the seemingly intelligent trees in this story could be linked to the Forest of Cheem from 'The End of the World'.
Oh, okay! One final positive for this episode: the scene between Clara and the Doctor which calls back to 'Kill the Moon' is actually very affecting.
The opening of 'Dark Water' is probably the most brutal piece of drama I've ever seen on Doctor Who. Removing any science fiction elements from the show makes the phone call Clara makes to Danny all the more stirring. Powerful stuff, truly. Somehow the mundane seems more surreal and the surreal science fiction seems more grounded and painful. The scenes that immediately follow between the Doctor and Clara are some of Capaldi and Coleman's best together. This kind of dynamic is something we rarely see in the show, and thank goodness because it really ratchets things up to a whole new level and it's terrifying. These two people are fundamentally incapable of being 100% honest. With each other. With others. With themselves. Manipulative both, but truly the best of friends. No wonder things turned out the way they did. They are absolutely the best and worst for one another. The Doctor offering to literally go to hell to help Clara even though she betrayed him is probably the point where I realized Capaldi was one of the best actors ever to portray the Doctor. Oh and there are Cybermen and Missy is revealed as the big bad and yadda yadda. But that's all window dressing, isn't it? Don't get me wrong, Gomez is fantastically bonkers and thoroughly entertaining but that really isn't the point of the series arc, is it? Besides, we'll see her again. We always do. Danny's out of body (for lack of a better phrase) experiences touch on his characters guilt. I'm not entirely sure it's satisfying as a payoff but it works to flesh him out somewhat. The majority of the episode's length is dedicated to convincing both the audience and our protagonists of the series conceit....only to pull the rug out from under us. Not sure how to feel about that. The Doctor's advice about remaining skeptical and critical were never more true.
So, was the cold opening of 'Death in Heaven' meant to bait the fans? Because while I like it, I never bought it for a second. The scene with UNIT showing up was nice, especially the Invasion-style Cyber-head. Cyber-pollen is a great concept, as is resurrecting the dead as Cybermen. As a huge fan of the big metal men, it's a real shame they are nothing more than foot soldiers for the real antagonist, Missy. It bothers me every time; they say they got the TARDIS out and locked down St Paul's....yet no one saw Clara only a few metre's away hanging with some Cybermen? And how did Cyber-Danny get in then? Is it a TARDIS or not? Probably enough nitpicking for now. The colours are muted and the tone of the episode is sombre and morbid. I quite like that. The Cybermen attacking the plane like gremlins was a nice idea and so were the Cybermen rising from their graves. Missy was decidedly nasty and watchable yet somehow kind of likable. Danny will bring you to tears if you aren't prepared. When Clara tries to help Danny it's a very real look at how monstrous the process is. The Doctor's turn when Danny offers him a tactical advantage is beautiful and brings up a mountain of questions. The blood-soaked general. Clara telling Danny she wasn't very good at it, but she did love him is a perfect illustration. The real crux of the series arc is in the Doctor questioning who he is and it's amazing. He's not a good man, nor a bad man, nor a hero, not a president or an officer. No, he's an idiot. Brilliant. Goodbye, Danny. I love the turmoil and hypocrisy of the Doctor potentially letting Missy go. The Brigadier steals one more scene and I have to admit it got me in. The final scenes with Clara and the Doctor lying to each other for the others sake is one of my favourite things about this pair. It's a hallmark of their complex relationship that I think people miss. Capaldi smashing the console in anger before collapsing in despair is powerful imagery. What a great way to end things. All things considered, a great first series. Now, onward to Christmas!
'Last Christmas' is an entertaining and solid story. Santa showing up in any other show means you are in for a whimsical, cheery story. Not so much here, though...a little bit? The references to 'Alien' were appreciated by me as a hug fan. The Dream Crabs are an interesting concept that lets the episode play with our perceptions. Question and interrogate everything, the Doctor said. Comedy elves who complain about racist comments are amusing. The horror elements work well when jammed up against the more comic elements. Clara visiting Danny in her dream was bitter sweet, particularly when she can't even enjoy the lie. The Doctor and Clara admitting they both lied for the others benefit was a nice but short scene. 'Nobody likes the tangerines' is possibly one of my favourite put-downs delivered by Capaldi to-date. These notes aren't in any particular order. The chalkboard motif continues and I must say I really enjoy seeing it again. The board is present in basically every episode and plays a part in many stories. Will it be one of Capaldi's fondly remembered motifs? I hope so. The Doctor willingly entering Clara's dream via Dream Crab facehug is one of his many subtle and not so subtle heroic moments that I feel many people miss under his grumpy exterior. Dream-Danny saying he died saving Clara, not the whole world was a nice touch. While I know processing guilt and grief and loss doesn't happen in such a brief time as it is presented here, I think this is a nice way to encompass some of those emotions. I'm glad the Christmas Special didn't shy away from it. Waking up in another dream was a great rug-pull moment. Santa-as-subconscious is lovely and bonkers. The Doctor objecting to being considered a figment of imagination because of how out of place he seems was wonderfully self-aware. The dream within a dream within a dream reveal is even better when you re-watch it and notice the clues. Capaldi is fantastic at delivering long monologues full of emotion and, in this case, dread. Clara saying she's always believed in Santa Claus before hugging the Doctor is sweet. The Doctor's glee at being offered the reigns despite being fully aware he's in a dream is absolutely brilliant. Capaldi can play all facets of the Doctor with verve. The scenes of everyone waking up is lovely until Shona wakes up and you get a sense she didn't want to wake up and all the movie references makes sense. When the Doctor 'awakens' and finds Clara as a much older woman, his comment about not seeing her any different was a nice call back to 'Deep Breath'. Yet another dream within a dream! Finally, at the conclusion of the story we have to friends who have made amends. I quite like it. A nice ending considering the series proper closed out on such a sombre note. Next time: The Magician's Apprentice!
Hopefully all the rambling and out of order business made some semblance of sense to you, dear reader. Until I find a better show in this universe, I remain
frogoat