Comment down below your problems with the series premiere of the eighth series of Doctor Who.
Comment down below your problems with the series premiere of the eighth series of Doctor Who.
Too long an episode with not enough Capaldi. While Smith is the drive in his first episode, this one feels like Moffat cared much more about Clara, which is similar to The Christmas Invasion, which is also boring on rewatch. All of Clara’s stuff is good though, it just doesn’t make me see Capaldi’s era start with him hitting the ground running. Adding Matt Smith also detracts from Capaldi; there’s a reason no one has chose to have the previous Doctor cameo before, because it just reminds you how much liked them before getting to know the good actor.
Also one of my favorite parts of The Girl in the Fireplace was the Doctor never finding out why the clockwork droids chose Madame de Pompadour, but I guess Moffat forgot about that since 12 seems to know all about now. Even if you say “He somehow found out about the ship’s name in between these stories” it still makes the former episode retroactively worse to me. Unecessary connection🤷♂️
When I first saw this in 2014 I thought it was one of the best things ever. And...I still like it, but have cooled to it dramatically. It simply isn't that interesting. The robots aren't anywhere near as scary as in The Girl in the Fireplace with their creepy masks, and to be honest apart from the scene in the restaurant, they're not a particularly memorable presence.
What I'm in two minds about, and perhaps the biggest thing about this episode to me, is the length. On the one hand I like that Moffat isn't limiting himself to introducing a new Doctor and telling a good story in 45 minutes. But on the other hand, it's simply way too long as a regular, non-special episode of TV, and it's in desperate need of some cliffhangers. I'd rather have a Doctor who I can—somewhat implausibly—warm to instantly, than spend this long with one I'm not sure about. It's not bad writing, but it's not right for this show.
Overall it's probably the first of many episodes to come that I'll say this about. I don't dislike it, but I could never imagine caring enough about it to pick it off the shelf to watch again.
Nothing about the episode, but it always bugs me how "fans" are always like "but Clara knows about regeneration!!11!!1!!!1!!"
Yes, in theory, sure, but she has never experienced it first hand, she has never lost "a" Doctor and had to get to know the "new" Doctor. Meeting past Doctors isn't gonna prepare her for him suddenly becoming a completely different guy. I think it was handled great.
@CaptainKaibyo I agree with you there, and I think the drastic difference between Capaldi and Smith was meant to display that clearly.
What do you think?