It's been over a week since Peter Capaldi first full series of Doctor Who finished. Giving everyone time to catch up on the full series and us to talk about it without fear of spoilers. The Doctor asks Clara "Is he a good man?" But that was just one question of many series 8 asks. Before it aired on BBC1 fandom was a buzz with questions, which continued and multiplied right through the series. "Was Capaldi going to be a good Doctor?" "Was he too old?" "Was he too frightening for children?" "What's Danny Pinks story?" "Who is Missy?"
Well after twelve action packed episodes all those questions have been answered, so let's ask one more question, "Was series 8 any good?" I don't think anyone really doubted that Capaldi would be anything but great. His first full episode "Deep Breath" showcased his talent, as a Doctor in the making for over fifty years. With a little bit of Hartnell, a splash of Troughton, buckets full of Pertwee and a TARDIS full of Baker. In the "Caretaker" he channeled Pertwee from the "Green Death", in "Kill the Moon" it felt like he cherry picked bits from "Frontier in Space" and "Planet of the Spiders", while "Robot of Sherwood" was his homage to "The Time Warrior". Capaldi did his best Baker in "Mummy on the Orient Express" but with each performance it became less of an impression and more just the same old Doctor we all love. The same but always different.
Through the early epsiodes I wished we could see the Doctor interact with some kids, to reassure young viewers that this was their same fun loving hero, the sword fight with a spoon helped, but my wish came true quite late on with "Kill the Moon" and "In the Forest of the Night" with their young cast members. But in "Listen" we got the best sign that this Doctor was great with kids, as kids of all ages learned that fear is our super power.
"Was he too old and grumpy?" No not for a two thousand year old alien, Capaldi was as youthful as Matt Smith with his wit, mannerisms, falling out of planes, he even runs like a camp giraffe. The grumpy old man routine was brilliant, kids love it when adults are cheeky to other adults. Anyway Clara is his career, so he doesn't have to care.
I thought "Listen" was the scariest, "Kill the Moon", "Mummy on the Orient Express" and "Flatline" where also scary too, but I would imagine that the terror didn't put many kids off. Even "Dark Water" and "Death in Heaven" with themes about death, the afterlife, losing our humanity, dark tales representing mans deepest fears, even Clara's imagined betrayal of the Doctor can be seen as horror element. But with the Moff's writing the action breaks in to reassure the watcher.
Danny Pinks story never really got going to tell you the truth, but it all made sense when you watched the last episode. I imagine that with second viewing of this series it will feel more fulfilling. It's not Samuel Anderson fault, he filled the roll with impeccable skill. The shortness of his appearances where crafted to create the impression that there was more to come from Danny. So when his sudden death came it was seen as a major shock as intended.
As for the Missy question, that got me in a good way. I didn't go looking for the answer on the internet. Better to find out as I watched, but I loved the clues and the red herrings. When the Doctor goes into the Nethersphere you see the tanks on top of tanks I thought that looks like "The Tomb of the Cybermen". I thought the skeletons in those tanks where Cybermen before their armoured shell was grafted on, Dark Water is a more sci fi cooler answer. I missed the Random Access Neural Interface Rani joke. Missy wasn't going to be the Rani anyway. St. Paul's - bigger on the inside- of course Missy was going to be a Time Lord and when she said the Doctor left her I quickly imagined she was Romana, Susan or Jenny. Even some new villianess from Gallifrey. Missy short for Mistress just like K9 would call Romana, it's got to be her gone bad. No wait a minute, she can't call herself Master anymore? Oh! She's the Master! Totally brilliant! She's the same old Master but totally different. People are creating havoc about it, but that's just over reacting to sex change Time Lords. Michelle Gomez is proper crazy in every way, making the Doctor look in every way the hero we know and love.
Was the series any good? Well some of the stories weren't spectacular by any imagination, but all were very watchable and had their moments. "In the Forest of the Night" was possibly the weakest, but still clever. "Flatline" felt like a remake of "Fear Her" with the Doctor missing from most of the action, the companion taking the lead, but with better effects and an improved sci fi central script. The "Caretaker" seemed like a CBBC Sarah Jane Adventures idea with a cheep monster, but it became an enjoyable romp full of brilliant character interaction. "Into the Dalek" may have been a classic concept (Fantastic Voyage/ The Invisible Enermy) but it felt very fresh, Capaldi was having so much fun. I've already mentioned "Robots of Sherwood" being like "The Time Warrior", it could have been a disaster of an idea, but for a fantastic cast playing with a witty and creative script. Strong scripts and fantastic acting from the regulars and guests have been a constant. Supporting actors like Dan Starkey, Neve McIntosh, Cartin Stewart, Jemma Redgrave, Ingrid Oliver where brilliant as ever, guest stars Chris Addison, Joivan Wade, Frank Skinner, David Bamber, Hermione Norris, Tom Riley, Ben Miller and of course "Missy" Gomaz played their parts beautifully. Samuel Anderson, Jenna Coleman and Peter all give amazing performances. My favourite episodes have to be "Listen" and "Mummy on the Orient Express" they're just incredible. So it's been a Doctor debut series to remember, better than Matt Smiths first, maybe better than David Tenants first. A fitting salute to the Brigadier. It's been great!
I can't wait for Christmas now! Could Nick Frost really be Father Christmas? Probably not, maybe an alien, or a leader of a base under siege who just happens to be dressing up for Christmas, or something else, but I can't wait to find out, so don't tell me any spoilers till after I've watched it on Christmas Day.
The answer to the Doctors question, of course he's a good man, I never had any doubts. He's Peter Capaldi, he's the Doctor and he's a good man.
Doctor? Doctor Who?
