Who View (5) : S8 E10 - In the Forest of the Night + Missy Dominance

Title: In the Forest of the Night

Written by: Frank Cottrell Boyce 

Directed by: Sheree Folkson

Air Date (UK): 10/25/14

One morning in every city and town in the world, the human race wakes up to face the most surprising invasion yet. Everywhere, in every land, a forest has grown overnight and taken back the Earth. It doesn't take the Doctor long to discover that the final days of humanity have arrived.

BEWARE! THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS AS TO IN THE FOREST OF THE NIGHT (S8 E10). DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE YET TO SEE THE EPISODE!

No hate, please because I'm intending to be honest, sharing my candid opinion. I do not mean to be degrading, however, I do think the script writing's getting weaker and weaker. It started with the first episode which was, the way I see it, one of the meh-est openings of New Who. (I've never seen Classic Doctor Who therefore I can't talk about that.) Afterwards, it seemed to be clambering upwards a bit, only to head in the opposite direction again. I'm not saying I hate these episodes and into the dumpsters with all of them, but they don't get me as thrilled as the previous seasons. I don't feel this overwhelming urge to watch the episodes over and over again. It's not even the new Doctor. It's true his not my favorite - or at least not yet -, however, it's just my taste and at the same time, I do respect him and enjoy seeing him as the Doctor. He is a great actor and his quirkiness is brilliant.

On the other hand, besides the numerous deaths and a tad more "violence" in certain episodes, season 8 is shredding some controversial, yet rather relevant topics of real life. And it's doing it well! Trust - one of the main issues of the season - is important to people and Clara and the Doctor get a sample from every side of it - even betrayal. I've seen not one pretty wise views of theirs.

In this last episode, we had Maebh, a little girl whose sister had gone missing the year before and it inflicted a type of post-traumatic stress disorder on her; she had heard voices until she was given medication and the voices stopped. She appeared to be seeing things as well. I loved how the Doctor paid closer attention to her than anybody had the past year. That the tempered Doctor, who doesn't believe in fairy tales and such sillinesses is the single person who actually listens to Maebh. I also found the idea of the trees protecting us from the Sun Flares entertaining. It was a great one!

It was exciting to see Clara and Danny work together. We hadn't seen much of them over the past few weeks before In the Forest of the Night and I was curious where they stood. I'm beginning to agree with the people who say they are cute together. They really are. Moreover, Danny is not as crude or stupid and not even as weak as I used to think first. With Clara, I'm also starting to get him and his motives, but I'm still waiting for the big bum when we find out what action precisely made him quit the army and later cry. (Okay, crying is a bit of an exaggeration. Rather let a tear slip.)

Moffat also entertained the idea of Clara leaving the Doctor. I very much hope it's not an innuendo!

Overall, it was an okay episode for me. I enjoyed it, but nothing special.

And now, let's move on to Missy and the shocking next time trailer.

Missy graced the episode and to my astonishment, she seemed surprised! She always seems to be in control as if she's arranged everything ages ago. Maybe she has. And maybe this is what induces her advancement after so much time? That things have gone astray for her?

But here's an even bigger question: who the hell is Missy? Who? Who is she?

I've seen numerous theories since she first appeared on the show. Too many to type out all of them now, or even to search them back. However, fundamentally, there are people that think she's a female Master, there are people that believe she's the Valeyard (my personal opinion until Flatline), there are people that say she's a Time Lady or the Rani, and there are people that say Missy is Clara in some form. It varies whether it's a one of her "clones" when she became torn apart in the Eleventh Doctor's time vortex or Clara in the future. The only undivided opinion is that she gave Clara the Doctor's number back in the Bells of St. John. Personally, out of these hypothesis, I'm inclining towards her being a Time Lady. Who else would call the Doctor her boyfriend? Surely not the Valeyard a.k.a himself and it's unlikely that the Master thinks of him as such. Clara could do so if it one of her other selves or if it's her future self who has broken up with Danny at some point, but for some reason that doesn't seem very probable to me. In fact, I would say none of these. Or at least not entirely.


As for Clara's sudden change of heart, it's a common presumption that - again - it's one of her selves. Or that she's always been just a puppet for Missy. Here, my theory deviates completely. In the next time trailer, Clara mentions that time can be rewritten. What if Missy rewritten time and with it, she caused something in the past that affected Clara in this way? We know that Missy is quite out of ordinary, many think she has special powers hence it could be possible. The problem (with my own theory, what's that? o.O) is that it has nothing to do with the whole season's Missy-related actions.

Anyway, maybe I'm simply reading too much into nothing, but don't the flames and the color of the whole place look so similar to the ones in the Eleventh Doctor's time vortex? Even the smoke...

I would love to hear about YOUR Missy & Clara theories so let me know about them in the comments! ;)

Who View (4) : S8 E8 - Mummy on the Orient Express

Title: Mummy on the Orient Express
Written by: Jamie Mathieson
Directed by: Paul Wilmshurst
Air Date (UK): 10/11/14


The Doctor is on the most beautiful train in history, speeding among the stars of the future. But a deadly creature is stalking the passengers.

Once you see the horrifying Mummy you only have 66 seconds to live. No exceptions, no reprieve. As the Doctor races against the clock he’s seen at his deadliest and most ruthless. Will he work out how to defeat the Mummy? Start the clock!

BEWARE! THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS AS TO MUMMY ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (S8 E8). DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE YET TO SEE THE EPISODE!

After last week's atrocious...Okay, okay, not atrocious. Let's say quite less impressive episode, I enjoyed Mummy on the Orient Express a lot. Being the most anticipated episode of the season, it wasn't that terrific, but still, it was great. 

Are you my mummy?

I've always loved mummies, but all of what I've seen so far, Doctor Who's concept of a mummy won me over the most. It was deadly, suspenseful and interesting. Far away from the usual dead person resurrection story. I mean, who would have expected it to be a former soldier who never got the luxury of passing away in peace? I for sure did not, although the Doctor's method of solving the mystery seemed a bit wobbly to me. Taking away another person's weakness to inject himself with it then have a mere 66 seconds to build up the solution from scratch was a very long shot. Maybe he's willing to die for other people (which is not what has come through with him so far), but without him, they would have been busted. All of them. So yeah, it was luck. A bit of luck overload.

Am I a good person?

No. Episodes ago, Clara didn't know if the Doctor was a good person. Though in the end, she said he was trying to be. Well, as things are right now, not only is he not a good person, but he's not even trying. Or at least, I can't see it. If you do, please let me know, I would love to think he is making endevours in that direction. However, for now, I stick with my opinion as in Mummy on the Orient Express, he was utterly ruthless. In the beginning, it looked as if he cared, but as the episode progressed, he was becoming more and more cruel. Lying is one thing. I could have overlooked that for him. But ensnaring someone to use her for scientific purposes is untolerable. It might have been their only option, and he might not have been able to help her so might as well exploit the opportunity, but he did all of it without a hint of compassions and that astonished me. Instead of heading toward being a decent alien, what he seemed to be aspiring, he's heading toward the bowels of the dark side and I don't like it. Yeah, be dark, but don't be a brute.

All's well that ends well

If you've ever read a review of mine, you may know how much of a Clara fan I am. She's the first companion I could accept let alone be fond of since Rose. (You could say I wasn't up to the clouds when she left.) Hence, you may guess how I felt when Clara started ramble about her wobble. That single act made the rest of my day, 

I'd dreaded it wouldn't happen, because despite knowing Jenna Coleman is not going to leave until Christmas, they was so not on terms. Yes, the Doctor ran at once when Clara told him she was in trouble, but she could hardly got the words out, he was rambling on and on, not letting her speak. However, from the beach part, I loved what I saw in the aspect of the two of them.

Overall

It most likely won't be my favorte episode of the season or of the who, but it was a grand relief after Kill the Moon and it was a dandy one as it is, So yaay! :D

B-

Are you happy that Clara is "back"? Do you think it will case problems for her with Danny? Let me know, I'm very curious what your ideas are.

Who View (3) : S8 E7 - Kill the Moon

Title: Kill the Moon
Written by: Peter Harness
Directed by: Paul Wilmshurst
Air Date (UK): 10/04/14


In the near future, the Doctor and Clara find themselves on a space shuttle, making a suicide mission to the Moon.

Crash-landing on the lunar surface, they find a mining base full of corpses, vicious spider-like creatures poised to attack, and a terrible dilemma.

When Clara turns to the Doctor for help, she gets the shock of her life.

BEWARE! THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS AS TO KILL THE MOON (S8 E7). DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE YET TO SEE THE EPISODE!

No, no, no, no, no...no

This is officially the first episode in this season, but maybe ever, I straightly disliked. Not only did it not make me as excited as it usually does, I found both the Doctor out of character and Courtney and the spiders merely a filling thread. In fact, I think the only thing that I considered - though this was very much it - entertaining or brilliant is the Moon being an egg. That was quite the idea.

Courtney - sorry, not sorry

To me Courtney felt like she was only there so that she could have an adventure. She spent a big part of the show in the TARDIS and even when she went along with the Doctor and Clara she did not add anything to propel the plot forward. As a person she was okay. Nothing outstanding; big pants when in fact she was not quite so brave, but have a soft spot for the egg as it was a kid, too, which was sweet.

Not a crescent, but an egg!

So the Moon is an egg about to hatch. Wow. That was just so unexpected and brilliant, it shell-shocked me a bit in a positive way.

Characters out of character

The first point when I shouted out no was when the Doctor left. Simply sauntered into the TARDIS without a second thought, saying it's their decision not his. Solve it. For me it didn't work for more than one reasons. Firstly, there have been numerous kindred situations, when it wouldn't have been his task to solve, but he did for the sake of humankind or for his companion in some cases. He is the Doctor because he helps. It's part of his personality, his promise as he said in the Name of the Doctor. I understand that he's more unpredictable than his previous incarnations, but the aid aspect had been mutual before and in my opinion, it needs to stay that way.

Still, let's suppose this time it really was not his place to decide - though it still doesn't sit well with me. He should not have left Clara there. I totally get why she was so upset. He basically left her in the middle of a life-threatening situation to solve something bigger than she's used to all of a sudden - all of it on purpose. If I didn't know better I would think he doesn't care.

I get that you are making a point of the Doctor being more of an alien and Clara being more capable, Moffat, but this is not how you do it, okay? Just no.

Overall

It was a dramatic episode, however, it had a quite of the century. This blew my mind:

Who View (2) : S8 E6 - The Caretaker

Title: The Caretaker
Written by: Gareth Roberts and Steven Moffat
Directed by: Paul Murphy
Air Date (UK): 09/27/14


When terrifying events threaten Coal Hill School, the Doctor decides to go undercover. The Skovox Blitzer is ready to destroy all humanity - and worse, any second now, Danny Pink and the Doctor are going to meet.

BEWARE! THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS AS TO THE CARETAKER (S8 E6). DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE YET TO SEE THE EPISODE!


Wow, wow, wow, that was a wicked episode. Wow. It was freakish, suspenseful and action-packed with just enough personal detail input and wit. Also, easter egg galore!!

Danny finally won me over! Well, kind of.

It was a great improvement for me in this last episode. I hadn't been fond of him very much so far. He had seemed way too whiny and easy to offend and not treating Clara as she would have deserved. However, in The Caretaker, it was almost as if a different person were dating her. He was tough - he got over the fact that the Doctor was an alien quicker than I would have given him credit for, he even stood up to him not a bit - and was very protective of Clara. And let's admit it, he was pretty damn amazing flipping over that monster about to blow up half of Earth. I'm not saying he made me all swoony and doting on him, but I found him decent for a change.

Yet another new villain

I really appreciate all these new, quite dandy monsters we get this season. First the Teller, who became one of my favorite villains despite its short appearance. Then now, the Skovox Blitzer, a.k.a one of the deadliest killing machines created ever. (A little cybermen-nostalgia somebody?) I've got to say, it lived up to the title. In spite of its not-so-grandiose appearance even the Doctor seemed to be a tad bit scared in an up-close face off. Who could blame him? The thing had laser guns on the end of both of its arms. And when its eyes lit up for the first time and it said 'destroy', the scene that was showed in the trailer, too, that was creepy as hell.

For more information on the Blitzer click here.

The Promised Land

After a few episodes off, the Promised Land is back! In a whole different perspective. This time, we didn't see Missy welcoming the newcomer, it was a man who heard out the cop's last story. The landscape had changed as well. We weren't at a nice, lush garden, having tea, or sitting in a comfy chair, we were in the middle of a long white corridor. It didn't look like Heaven at all. The cop's face proves that when he looks out the window.

At a point, we did get a glimpse of Missy though. She didn't seem very happy. I wonder what made her upset. I'd guess it was related to something big, the arc of the season, and I'd also say, it wasn't something like a dog peed on her shoes. No. We're getting closer to the big revelations. And I'm so. Freaking. Excited.

Courtney

Courtney was another newbie to the show. She looked alright, however, I feel like we didn't get enough of her to indeed judge her. In the view we did get of her, she seemed a bit obnoxious, the kind who talks more bluntly than she is for real. But she's going to be in the next episode, too, and I am looking forward to learning more about her.

See what others think:

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/27/doctor-who-the-caretaker-review
http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/the-caretaker-review-67208.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoVwGOl7laE&list=UUDiFRMQWpcp8_KD4vwIVicw

Who View (2) : S8 E5 - Time Heist

Title: Time Heist
Written by: Stephen Thompson and Steven Moffat
Directed by: Douglas Mackinnon
Air Date (UK): 09/19/14



The Doctor turns bank robber when he is given a task he cannot refuse – to steal from the most dangerous bank in the cosmos.

With the help of a beautiful shape-shifter and cyber-augmented gamer, the Doctor and Clara must fight their way past deadly security and come face to face with the fearsome Teller: a creature of terrifying power that can detect guilt…

BEWARE! THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS AS TO TIME HEIST (S8 E5). DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE YET TO SEE THE EPISODE!

Let's Rob a Bank!

The concept of Time Heist was never seen before in the history of Doctor Who. The Doctor robbed a bank! Along with Clara. They heisted the safest bank of the universe and not for the reason you'd think.

First off, I loved how the episode lead us on until the very end. Due to them not remembering how they got their or for what purpose, we had to sit and wait until they figured it out for themselves and us. Initially, I thought they had some reason to indeed rob the bank even if it was a despicable thing to do. Then the Doctor told them to imagine what they wanted most in the universe and how badly they wanted it so I went on to think they needed whatever they wanted for some mission. I had a ton of other theories and speculations throughout the episode, the only thing I hadn't expected was what was behind the robbery for real. And boy did I adore it. I would have liked it if the Doctor did something so humanly morally wrong for once, but that it turned out to be the straight opposite that I found truly entertaining.

Mirrors and Reflections

Besides the Doctor and Clara, this week we got Psi, a hacker and bank robber, half robot, and Saibra, a woman who dons your appearance if she touches you. She clicked with the Doctor well right away and that's because she was somewhat like him; the only one like her/him in the universe. There's nobody else like Saibra, nobody who could change into someone else like this, just as there's no more Time Lords left. Well, it's not really accurate since the Day of the Doctor, but I believe it was repeated so many times for a long while that it stuck in people's heads and in a way, he's still a loner. After all, nobody know where the other Time Lords are right now. It went so far, she told him he was a good man. It's a big question of season 8, whether the Doctor's a good man, he even asked Clara about it in Into the Dalek and she said she didn't know. Since then, he's found himself up to a degree and became a person who cares, even if only under a thick mask of expressionlessness. And now, Saibra told him he was.

Psi was a little Clara's other half. Or at least somebody who she could learn a lesson from. He erased all his memories about his loved ones for safety reasons. While Clara has so many people around her who love her. When Psi tells her about his state, she answers that she's got a few memories she could lose. Later, when he helps Clara out in a nasty predicament caused by the Teller, he says people see their family and friends when they die, but he sees no one. Basically, he implies he's more than willing to sacrifice himself, without relations he's life worth less than hers. And I think that makes Clara value her family and friends more.

As you might have noticed, in season 8 the Doctor's character plays an important role. His morals and where he stands on the scale of good and bad is featured in every episode in one way or another. My guess is that Capaldi's Doctor is so complex and different, Moffat wants us to get to know him as much as he does.

Love of the Monsters

In Time Heist, we got a new villain; the Teller. I found it very intriguing from its appearance to its abilities, it was all very original and fascinating. It being able to detect your guilt and turn your brain into soup was hilarious and intimidating at the same time. The best combination.

The Teller was also the last one of its people, or at least we believed so until the end, and I wonder if it is a coincidence or more. Perhaps I simply think too much into it, but it could be an innuendo that the Doctor would find his, too.

Also, the memory worm was back! Awesome recurrence!

Where are you? Huh?

While the ship under the bank was a fair enough solution, when they stepped on board for the second time I was a little confused. And in general about that time. They were shifting places and times and I needed some time to figure out what was going on. I never experienced that in Doctor Who before, and I hope never to again. I can be really gruff about it. It's one of my pet peeves you could say...

Overall

Though it was less action-packed and it didn't send me high-rocketing into fan-girl mode, I did enjoy Time Heist. Also, I believe it's a relevant episode in the aspect of character development as well as the arc of the season.



How did you enjoy Time Heist? Do you think the Teller will be a recurring monster? Would you want to see Psi and Saibra back in the Christmas Special (or any other episodes)? 



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Who View (1): S8 E4 - Listen

Top Ten Tuesday (3) - Top Ten Books If You Like Doctor Who

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. It features a different topic every week, when you can share your Top Ten Books in the certain aspect.