‘Doctor Who’ season 8, episode 1 review: ‘Deep Breath,’ and a Matt Smith surprise
After almost nine months since the last episode aired, “Doctor Who” season 8 returned to BBC with new episodes, and also the ambitious arrival of Peter Capaldi.
The irony here is that despite Capaldi being the new star, we feel like this episode was just about as much geared towards Jenna Coleman. Clara is who really pushed the narrative forward in the final twenty minutes, and also learned just who was behind the mysterious dinosaur disappearance. (The fact that a dinosaur appeared in the first place was surprising enough.)
The 12th Doctor, at least so far, has some of the same humor and spirit as the Matt Smith incarnation … though this guy seems to be a little more aloof, a little more awkwardly confrontational, and also a little irritable from time to time. Peter Capaldi plays the character well, but we actually wish there was a little more of him in this episode than there was. We still don’t get enough of a sense of him to say whether or not he is great in the role or not.
Ultimately, where “Deep Breath” failed as an introduction episode was in the plot. It took more than 45 minutes before we started to understand what was really going on, and Steven Moffat at times has a tendency to make things complex to the point where they don’t even make sense. That is what happened here. We’d rather have more of a genuine introduction than a story that could have worked in the middle of the season just fine.
The story did pick up near the end, and as the Doctor faced off against his newest foe (a droid using human / animal remains for his own benefit), we touched on questions of humanity, and the value that comes with knowing and feeling. There was some great action in here, talk on how life matters, and proof that The Doctor does still care about Clara … though his methods are still to be questioned.
The part that really brought us around, and hit us right in the emotional gut, was near the end, when Matt Smith returned for a brief cameo telling Clara that the new Doctor is far more afraid than she is. This was the perfect true send-off for Smith, especially for those who didn’t like what happened in the Christmas Special.
Despite our early issues with the episode, “Deep Breath” brought things around with a fantastic end and set-up for the future. It will not be in our top ten list, but it’s certainly far from the worst. Grade: B.
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Photo: BBC
Equoise
August 23, 2014 @ 8:55 pm
Yes, I agree with pretty much everything said here. The plot was not very good at all, but then again I have come to expect nothing more from Moffat after the catastrophes that were the majority of the Matt Smith episodes. Moffat doesn’t seem to be able to decide whether this show is now aimed at a younger or adult audience, so decided to stick a bit of everything in there. There was slapstick comedy, there were enclosed adult themes, and there was even the very horrifying ‘skin balloon’. Put all these things together, and they don’t work as well as Moffat intended them to.
The episode as a whole was very confusing, with far too many questions left unanswered. This is what happened in the last series as well, with Moffat waiting until the end of the series, and until the audience has forgotten the questions in the first place, to reveal their answers.
The only part that I did really enjoy was the phone call at the end, to be honest. There is so much more I could say about this episode, but really, I’m too tired. I may write a full review later. But for now, let me say this: Moffat, your work on Sherlock was fantastic. Brilliant series, you couldn’t have done a better job. Unfortunately, you seem to be trying to use the same ‘rules’ to write Doctor Who, and it just isn’t working. Doctor Who isn’t supposed to be over complicated, it’s supposed to make you think, yes, but you shouldn’t have to do too much work to get to the conclusion. You’re supposed to be able to look back at the end, and, without having to work it out, just SEE the deeper meaning. That is not what happened in the last few series, and is not what I fear is going to happen in this one.
Thanks for taking the time to read.