Time Heist (TV story)

Time Heist was the fifth episode of series 8 of Doctor Who.

Set around a time travel-based bank robbery, Moffat had thought of the concept some years earlier before handing it over to Steve Thompson when he found a way to utilise it. Writing his third story for Doctor Who, Thompson borrowed concepts from the "classic heist movie", adapting them for science fiction. The Teller came from this notion as "the ultimate CCTV system" alongside Psi and Saibra as the motley crew, endowed with specialist skills. Thompson also made a different approach to his "monster". In The Curse of the Black Spot, he found that a CGI monster used up the entire special effects budget. For Time Heist, prosthetics were used, leaving room for CGI to create an alien world.

Written before the Twelfth Doctor was cast, Thompson expressed delight at being able to write for this new Doctor, scripting him, per Capaldi's description, as "less user-friendly". (DWM 478)

Synopsis
The Doctor and Clara receive a mysterious phone call, and find themselves in a maximum security bank, memories wiped clean and two more recruited strangers to accompany them. Their mission: to rob from a bank that lives up to the reputation of impregnability, but will they be able to find out what they've been recruited to steal and why before they get captured?

Plot
The Twelfth Doctor tries to convince Clara to come with him for a day sightseeing via the TARDIS, but she is about to go on a date with Danny Pink. As she is about to leave, the TARDIS phone rings, despite both knowing that very few beings in the universe have access to that. The Doctor goes to answer the phone, and suddenly the two find themselves in a strange chamber suffering from memory loss along with two others, an augmented human, Psi, and a mutant human, Saibra. Both have also suffered memory loss, with the likely culprit — memory worms — wiggling around on the table. As the four wake up, audio recordings start playing where each member of the group confirms that they have consented to the memory wipe willingly. A briefcase on the table opens to reveal plans by "The Architect", who instructs them to rob the Bank of Karabraxos, the most impregnable bank vault in the universe with numerous levels of security. There's no chance of backing out either — they're already in the bank and guards are trying to break into the room. When Psi initially refuses to follow the Doctor, he is reminded that he consented to the memory wipe; his reward must be something he considered more important than the risk he's taking. Finally agreeing, Psi downloads the instructions into his head as the group flees. The pursuit is slowed when the guards handle the memory worms, unaware of their abilities.

They work their way back into the main floor of the bank, with Saibra — whose mutation allows her to shapeshift into any living thing she touches — using the identity of a bank customer whose DNA had been included in the case to get them in. As they walk, the Doctor wonders why they haven't been left the TARDIS, as breaking into any vault would be quick and simple with it. Clara points out they also don't know where the TARDIS is right now. The group then witness another customer, accused by the bank head of security, Ms Delphox, of intending to steal from the bank, having his brain scanned and then turned to "soup" by the Teller, an alien with powerful psychic abilities that's said to be the last of its kind.

The Doctor, Clara, Psi, and Saibra continue to follow the Architect's plan, finding more cases with useful items left by their mysterious boss as they get closer to the main vaults. At one point, they collect six devices whose purpose the Doctor claims he does not know, but Saibra points out he's lying - having had so many faces, she knows how to read people better than most. The Doctor is forced to admit the devices are an "exit strategy".

Part of the plan requires them to pass through the cage where the Teller is kept in near-hibernation, but it picks up on Clara's brainwaves. The Doctor helps Clara break out of the Teller's scan and has the group flee the room, but Saibra is caught in the scan. The Doctor gives her one of the devices, telling her it is an atomic shredder, a more humane way to die than the Teller's brain scan. She activates the device and disappears.

As the three continue to the vault, they find that Ms Delphox has released the Teller to chase them down. Psi stays behind to help cover their tracks and open the vault; he, too, opts to use one of the disintegrators when he is caught by the Teller. The Doctor and Clara eventually reach the main vaults, however Psi's hacking has failed to open the last lock. Just as the two prepare to be arrested, a solar storm begins to strike the surface of the planet The Doctor realises this wasn't just a bank heist, but a time heist — the Architect is from the future, and planned to bring them to the vault at this moment when the storm's activity would cause the main vault to automatically open. The storm's presence also explains why they weren't allowed to use the TARDIS, as the interference would prevent it from locking on. They locate two safe boxes indicated by a note from the Architect, one containing a neophyte circuit that can restore Psi's deleted memories, and the other a gene suppressant to stabilise Saibra's uncontrollable shapechanging. The Doctor and Clara realise these were Psi and Saibra's 'fees' for the heist, and wonder what they were offered. However, as they look for the final safe box location in the Private Vault, they are caught by the Teller and taken to Ms Delphox's office. Ms Delphox leaves to put the Teller back into hibernation to protect him from the worsening solar storm, ordering her guards to kill the intruders. The Doctor and Clara are surprised when the guards turn out to be Saibra and Psi - the disintegrators were really teleporters linked to a ship in orbit. The Doctor gives them the items from the vault as their payment but realises they still need to find the Private Vault. Psi leads them into the depths of the bank as the storm intensifies on the surface.

At the Private Vault, they find that it is the quarters of Ms. Karabraxos, surrounded by treasures from around the galaxy. The Doctor realises Ms Delphox is just a clone of Karabraxos, and she has no problem sending her clone to be incinerated for failure. Witnessing such self-loathing, inspiration strikes the Doctor, and he writes the number to the TARDIS telephone, and that he is a time traveller, on a piece of paper and gives it to Karabraxos, who is hastily packing her treasures before the storm wipes out the bank. She departs from the vault, but the Doctor reminds her to give him a call one day if she has any regrets. Shortly after she leaves, the Teller arrives, and the Doctor convinces him to scan his mind to find the memories that were blocked.

In a flashback, an elderly and dying Ms Karabraxos — now no longer the richest person in the universe — calls the Doctor on the TARDIS in Clara's flat, and tells him of her regret. The Doctor is then shown preparing all the elements of the time heist, revealing that he himself was the Architect. Because much of the bank's security was based on sensing a criminal's guilt, wiping the recent memories of the heist participants would reduce their chances of being caught. The ultimate goal of the plan was to bring the Teller, who was telepathically linked to Karabraxos, to the Private Vault after she left, so as to allow him to unlock a combination safe. Inside, they find another alien of the same species as the Teller, chained within the safe. The Doctor points out that they have six teleport devices, allowing them all to escape the bank before it is wiped out. The Doctor takes the creatures to an isolated planet to live out their lives free of telepathic "noise" and then returns Saibra and Psi to their respective times and places after having lunch. Finally, the Doctor returns them to Clara's flat moments after they have left to allow Clara to continue on her date. Right after she departs, he declares with a smug grin, "Ha! Robbing a bank! Robbing a whole bank. Beat that for a date..."

Cast

 * The Doctor - Peter Capaldi
 * Clara - Jenna Coleman
 * Ms Delphox - Keeley Hawes
 * Psi - Jonathan Bailey
 * Saibra - Pippa Bennett-Warner
 * Guard - Mark Ebulue
 * Mr Porrima - Trevor Sellers
 * Suited Customer - Junior Laniyan
 * The Teller - Ross Mullan

Uncredited cast

 * Danny Pink - Samuel Anderson
 * Madame Karabraxos - Keeley Hawes
 * Vault security voice - Kevan Brighting
 * Bank customer - Clem So

Milk VFX

 * VFX Supervisor - Murray Barber

Millennium FX

 * Prosthetics Designers - Neill Gorton, Rob Mayor
 * Creature Supervisor - Dave Bonneywell
 * Animatronic Designer - Adrian Parish
 * Animatronic Assistants - Matt MacMurray, Nico Zarcone
 * Sculptor - Gary Pollard
 * Prosthetics Concept Artist - Chris Goodman
 * Prosthetic Make-up Artist - Dave Bonneywell

Individuals

 * The bank has computer files on a Sensorite, Androvax, Kahler-Tek, a Terileptil, John Hart, Abslom Daak, an Ice Warrior, the Slitheen family, a Weevil and the Trickster.
 * When telling The Teller about his memories, the Doctor alludes to the Fourth Doctor and the Eleventh Doctor by their scarf and bowties respectively.

Races and species

 * Psi and Saibra identify as human variants: augmented human and mutant human respectively.

Locations

 * The Doctor suggests the Satanic Nebula, the Lagoon of Lost Stars, and Brighton as possible places to visit.

Technology

 * Saibra wears a hologram shell to replicate clothing.

Story notes

 * This is the second episode, after TV: Robot of Sherwood to capitalise its title during the opening credits. Also, it shares the same pre-opening theme sting with TV: Robot of Sherwood which, interestingly, is from Series 1 to 4's.
 * This episode features the first in-narrative use of the new Time Vortex.
 * The script and rough-cut of this episode were leaked online before it was broadcast.
 * Keeley Hawes (Ms Delphox) is not credited as Karabraxos.
 * Mr Porrima, the bank customer copied by Saibra to gain access to the safety deposit boxes, is only identified in the credits, not in dialogue.
 * The episode contains an image of Abslom Daak, a character who originated in comic stories. This is one of the few examples of a TV episode referencing a character who originated outside of the TV series itself. Daak's image appears among a number of other characters from past seasons of Doctor Who. There are also images of Captain John Hart from Torchwood and Androvax and the Trickster from The Sarah Jane Adventures.
 * The episode opens with imagery taken from the opening credits sequence that segues into the Doctor peering into a washing machine. It is the only episode of Series 8 to make use of the SFX footage.

Ratings

 * 6.99 million (DWM 479)

Filming locations

 * George Street, Bridgend
 * Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff
 * Hadyn Ellis Building, Cardiff University
 * Bute Park, N. Road
 * Uskmouth Power Station, West Nash Road

Production errors

 * The "atomic shedder" is said to be painless, but Psi screams after he uses it.

Continuity

 * When the TARDIS phone rings, the Doctor notes that Clara got his phone number from "a woman in a shop", wondering if the call is from that mystery woman. (TV: The Bells of Saint John, Deep Breath)
 * The Doctor, Clara and Saibra have their memories wiped by a memory worm. (TV: The Snowmen)
 * Seeing the Teller, the Doctor says he doesn't know what it is. And he hates not knowing things. His previous incarnation said the same thing. (TV: The Power of Three) Instead, the Tenth Doctor said knowing everything would be boring. (TV: The Fires of Pompeii)
 * The Doctor claims his eyebrows are why he is automatically made the leader. He has previously commented on how peculiar his eyebrows are. (TV: Deep Breath)
 * The Doctor shows no concern about Saibra's apparent death. He says to Clara; "[she's] dead, we are alive. Priorities, if you want to stay that way". This is similar to what he said to Journey Blue about her brother's death. (TV: Into the Dalek)
 * The TARDIS cannot be piloted properly in the wake of a solar storm. (TV: The Rebel Flesh)
 * The Doctor makes a remark that implies some ongoing degree of self-hatred. (TV: Amy's Choice)
 * The Doctor calls Clara his "boss," but unlike his previous self, does so sarcastically. (TV: The Crimson Horror)
 * A bank staffed by clones of its owner was encountered by the Doctor's former companion Bernice Summerfield, who, like the Doctor, came there to steal something. (AUDIO: Glory Days)
 * The Ninth Doctor encountered an atomic disintegrator which was actually a teleporter. (TV: Bad Wolf)

DVD releases

 * Doctor Who: Series 8 Boxset

Blu-ray releases

 * Doctor Who: Series 8 Blu-ray Boxset

Digital releases

 * The episode was released on Google Play, iTunes and Amazon Instant Video in HD or SD, also available as part of the Series 8 digital boxset. The digital boxset contains various features: trailer, interviews, The Ultimate Companion, The Ultimate Time Lord, Inside the World Tour and Doctor Who Extra episodes for each episode.
 * In the US, the series was released through digital streaming services Hulu and Netflix with a subscription.