‘Doctor Who’ season 8, episode 6 preview: What’s the Doctor doing in Clara’s school?

This weekend’s all-new “Doctor Who” will be more than a little bit different than every other that we’ve seen over the season, mostly because the entire premise is different. Rather than The Doctor taking Clara on some mission in another time or place, he is entering Clara’s world … and her school.

For the time being, the reasons for this are unknown. Peter Capaldi’s character does tell her in the sneak peek below that children are not currently safe, but thanks to his presence there and some of his actions, they would be. Therefore, he has to go undercover, which for him is really just him being a caretaker with a different jacket on. There is a ton of comedy to be had here, especially since Twelve, in the words of Jenna Coleman’s companion, really has no idea of how to act as a proper human being.

Also, there’s the added wrinkle of Danny Pink being an employee at the school, which in turn raises another interesting question: Will Clara start to think about if all of this is really worth it? It may have been when she was traveling with Eleven, a Doctor who she could crush after and not feel nearly so afraid of. However, this is a very different man, and that dictates a very different sort of relationship.

If nothing else, we at least appreciate that “Doctor Who” is heading in a very new direction following “Listen,” which is in our mind an instant classic. At least they are not trying to just regurgitate that time and time again.

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Photo: BBC