4 Days with the Doctor

So, it's been 2 episodes since my last look at the new Doctor, and honestly I still have no opinion on him at all - that seems to be the most apt description of my feelings towards him so far.

Robot of Sherwood:

This episode had me say one thing afterwards that I never thought I would about a TV show - it was FUN. I've always loved Robin Hood as a character, so seeing him played as a small screen equivalent of Cary Elwes' Men In Tights Robin was brilliant.

I was a bit eh coming into this due to it being the stereotypical Doctor Who filler episode like that cowboy one that are usually bad, but way too quick for my liking I found myself laughing at everything and hoping for more Robin and Doctor scenes. The arguments between the two were hilarious and for once I got a true Doctor feeling from Capaldi.

The story has some ridiculous points and the Doctor's doubt grated on me a bit, but that's how he is and it felt well performed. Some scenes were brilliant, and the script is pretty great making it truly fun, exciting and a little cheesy - what I really miss from the Russell T. Davies era.

Even for it being the second episode in four to feature robots for some reason, this has by far been my favourite episode since the Day of the Moon or A Good Man Goes To War  episodes of Season 6.

Listen:

Following up the brilliance that was Robot of Sherwood would be a big act, and Listen did pretty damn well considering. Now, while it didn't interest me much, it did have a bit more of an insight into Danny Pink's life and the way it was written felt really Timey-Wimey Travelly-Wavelly - even if the TARDIS can be powered by anyone's thoughts now..

I felt the story is a bit too slow to start to really drag you in, but the implications could be HUGE! The episode begins with a monologue about the thing listening to you when you talk alone that you only see in the corner of your eye - remind you of any certain The Scream lookalikes eh? And thank GOD for once this story actually completes itself in a neat little loop - it felt pretty fantastic!

I feel Capaldi took a step back from his performance in Robot of Sherwood with this, he wasn't particularly funny or interesting, more of the attempt at menacing he's been trying since Enter the Dalek. However, Carla was pretty sassy (for want of a better word), recalling why I loved later Amy - taking no messing from anyone INCLUDING the Doctor.

2 Days with the Doctor

So, after two episodes of Season 8 of Doctor Who I've decided I've had time to really think on my impression so far and it's a resounding 'meh' - I'm also starting to understand people's aversion to Moffat as a Doctor Who writer.

Deep Breath:

Deep Breath (S8E1) properly introduced Peter Capaldi as 12, and it left me with the feeling that the writing tried very hard to make him the silly-yet-dark Doctor that Matt Smith was, but ultimately it just seemed like he was cutting his lines off and speaking in short, sharp bursts.

While the premise of the episode (a t-rex and robots that aren't cybermen) was shaky at best, the writing itself felt awful and extremely tryhard to be 'progressive'. Madame Vastra (green lizard detective lady) is married to Jenny Flint (cockney Black Widow with no guns) and has been since their first appearance Season 6, but for some stupid reason in this episode they had to be SO IN LOVE LOOK AT THEM FLIRT LOOK AT THEM KISS LOOK HOW FORWARD THINKING WE ARE WITH LESBIANS LOVE US! 

Mr. Moffat listen closely, I appear to be the demographic age you're aiming for with the show and guess what - WE DON'T CARE. We've seen lesbian couples in shows/movies/games before so no, you're not progressive and no, it had no shock factor to have them kiss.

Into the Dalek:

Now this episode was LIGHTYEARS better than the first. It introduces Danny Pink - a fellow teacher and love interest of Clara, who happens to be an ex-soldier, I'm interested to see how The Doctor reacts to that. 

Now the story was totally Moffat, meet characters who could be interesting but NOPE - they either die or are told to shove it by The Doctor; but I digress. It did have me wide-eyed at the announcement that Clara would be miniaturised (with Himself) and put inside a dalek - considering how she was introduced. It was also pretty great to learn about the inner workings of a Dalek, until the end that is. It gets so cheesy that it eliminates all cool ideas built up to be just a rehashed idea when you enter another's body in a movie/show. 

It also seems that Capaldi's Doctor is meant to be funny solely through insulting poor Clara - look at this adorable face and delightful smile and tell me you don't feel anything other than sorry for her when he does:

Take a DEEP BREATH, The Doctor returns soon!

Yes, that was an awesome pun involving the name of the first episode of Doctor Who season 8, and HELL YES AM I EXCITED.

Having recently gone back to trying to catch up with everyone's favourite Timelord, I fell in love with him and the show again (which you can totally blame for my irrational infatuation with Karen Gillan). 

Matt Smith - The Doctor Who Forgets - is out (almost as sad as Tennant leaving, ALMOST) and in comes Peter Capaldi (of The Thick of It fame), who from the looks of his stance and expression will be more of an serious and action-orientated Doctor than the latest murderous Doctor himself was. Clara is back with her delightful cheery nature and smile which might melt the man's hearts ala Rose did to Eccleston's Doctor, we just have to wait and see!

So, do we think Capaldi will be able to take the reigns and continue to make the show an America-invading success, or will it be a Season 26-esque push too far into the dark side - tell me what you think in the comments! 

Doctor Who Season 8  Episode 1 (Deep Breath) is releasing in cinemas on the 23rd of August and will of course be on BBC worldwide on the same date.