Doctor Who (TV Series) Deep Breath (2014) User Reviews

It's just gorgeous, stunning start for Mr Capaldi.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 17 September 2015]

The Doctor lands in Victorian London where a Large dinosaur is on the loose. The Doctor has regenerated into his latest incarnation and is behaving very erratically, fortunately he has friends on hand to help.

I utterly loved Peter Capaldi after this one episode, he has managed to bring a mass of energy and craziness to the role, I found it incredibly infectious. It felt like a true crossover from Classic Who. Interesting conversation with the tramp about his face, possibly a recognition from Pompeii.

I also find this the strongest performance from Jenna Coleman too, a good Clara story. The phone call she does brilliantly.

I don't mind saving I have grown to utterly love Strax, didn't get the appeal at first, now I love the Victorian trio.

I love the Doctor and Clara's scene in the restaurant, it's a really creepy realisation, when they discover the other guests aren't eating.

The opening credits took a bit of getting used to, I didn't like them initially but I grew to love them, reminded me of those used in Tom's last series.

Love Missy at first sight, wasn't that the Garden from the Girl who waited? It was obvious Missy would be something special.

The story itself is truly brilliant. I'm always up for a bit of Victorian drama, and this hits all the right notes, it's a seriously clever, beautiful looking episode. It's also very dark and engaging, such a great opener. 9/10

Deep in the Feels

[SpoodermanDerp · 9/10 · 23 August 2014]

Deep Breath stars the newly regenerated Doctor, Peter Capaldi. This episode will be important for the sole purpose of introducing us to him and evidently, there has been lots of change.

But did these changed work?

They worked remarkably.

Peter Capaldi not only brings new depths to the Doctor, but brings back Classic Doctor Who traits. He reminds me a lot of Tom Baker or sometimes Jon Pertwee. His rough attitude with his companions is quite new for those who haven't watched Classic Who, but fans from way back will love it. The New Doctor brings back the mysterious and serious Doctor which was proved to be shown in the episode. Attitudes and Traits aside, The New Doctor is fantastic and all the fan girls who still miss Tennant and Smith will love Capaldi in this episode. As for Clara, she has become more interesting beside Capaldi, as she misses Matt Smith's Doctor and has to cope with him from now on. But, NO. That episode fixes it with a heart warming ending which will touch the hearts of any Doctor Who fan new or old. Clara with Capaldi's Doctor is quite entertaining to watch Capaldi is like a Father Figure now to Clara just like the previous Doctors as they were to their previous companions. The Paternoster Gang were entertaining as well. The Villains for this episode were not the best, but for an episode centered on the new Doctor, I guess you could say, it was well done.

In the end, Capaldi is a serious, meaner and sometimes rude character. He will bring the Doctor in to new heights and will not be afraid to drop the bow tie and tie, the childishness and the looks. And did I mention how his Scottish accent was great in this episode?

With a Fantasitc Doctor, Entertaining moments with him and Clara, a heartwarming ending and an Overall great introduction to Peter Capaldi.

I'll be marking my calendar for the next episodes already.

Verdict: 8.9/10

Gravitas

[boblipton · 7/10 · 23 August 2014]

It's far too early to draw any conclusions as to how Peter Capaldi and the writers will define the Twelfth Doctor -- but that isn't going to stop me or any fan of the series.

First, the episode is pretty much of a corker. With a new, weird opening sequence, we start out with a story involving a dinosaur, the Paternoster Gang and cyborgs in the Victorian Era. Most of the fun lies in figuring out who the new Doctor is.

Of course, all the Doctors are variations on the basic character laid down half a century ago by William Hartnell. Even so, there is enormous room for variation and the better episodes have taken advantage of the actors' strengths. Capaldi's predecessor, Matt Smith, was brilliant at playing an alien so bizarre that he did not understand how weird he seemed to humans. The comedy would frequently overwhelm the stories. Capaldi is equally adept at comedy, but he is not playing the clown that Matt Smith does. When he babbles, you can hear the confusion that he feels. If show-runner Steven Moffat and Capaldi mean to go on in this way, then we have not just a regenerated Doctor to look forward to; we have a regenerated show.

The new Doctor is an old Doctor

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 24 August 2014]

As this episode opens one could be forgiven for thinking you were watching an episode of 'Primeval' as we see a tyrannosaurus rex rampaging through London… that is until it becomes apparent that this is Victorian London and it coughs up the Tardis! The Doctor who emerges from it is quite a bit older than the one in the previous series and he is having difficulty with the names of people he should know and with his new appearance. The Doctor and Clara are taken to Madame Vastra's house but the Doctor wanders off. It looks as if he and Clara are to be separated but she spots an advert in The Times which could only have come from The Doctor; it leads her to a restaurant where they are reunited and he tells her how he found her advert! Clearly it was a trap; they are in a room full of creepy automata and it would appear they are on the menu!.

The first episode of a new Doctor is always a little difficult to judge; the character is familiar yet also unfamiliar; both for the viewer and the characters who know him. Much of the first half of the episode was given over to getting Clara, and through her the audience, to accept the change… then the real action started. The villain of the story was suitably creepy without showing us what he did in any detail… a family show can't show organ harvesting robots who have made a balloon from human skin! It isn't all scares though; we get a few laughs too, mostly from Strax.

Peter Capaldi got off to a fine start in his first full episode as The Doctor; it certainly looks as though he will be quite different when compared to the other 'new-series' Doctors. He is still somewhat manic, so much so that I feared he'd end up in Bedlam as he wandered around London in a nightshirt! Jenna Coleman continues as assistant Clara Oswald so we don't need to get used to two new protagonists as we did when Matt Smith took over and the presence of Madame Vastra, her wife Jenny and Strax provide more familiar faces. The episode is almost double the usual length but at no point did I think the story was dragging. Overall I found this to be a fairly enjoyable episode and have a feeling I'll like this new Doctor.

Despite some flaws, a solid and satisfying opener.

[Meven_Stoffat · 8/10 · 23 August 2014]

To say that the latest season of Doctor Who was much anticipated would be one hell of an understatement. With over a year to go before its premiere, a new actor stepped up to the plate: Scottish actor Peter Capaldi, known for his gutter mouthed presence on the BBC Two satirical series The Thick of It. His first appearance was by way of minimalism in the 50th Anniversary Special,- a shot of his hand, and a shot of his eyes. He then filled Matt Smith's clothing in the 2013 Christmas special, with the question that left us hanging: "Do you happen to know how to fly this thing?" And now, he's here. The Twelfth Doctor's opening story isn't exactly a million miles away from what we've seen in previous first episodes in the previous 51 years the show has been on the air- for one, there's the obvious "post-regenerative crisis", the story is rather familiar, and most importantly, it's mostly a set-up episode.

And yet at the same time, it manages to accomplish a lot in the first episode. For one, it's feature length at 87 minutes long, and the episode manages to accomplish setting the tone for Capaldi's less wacky and more grounded portrayal- though that isn't to say he doesn't have his outbursts of zaniness. The plot bears a lot of similarity to the third Doctor's opening episode "Spearhead From Space", with the main threat here being humanoid automaton-type clockwork robots. The threat is established quite late into the episode, but it does work. When we first see the Doctor, he's stuck in something of a daze- he blurts out a lot of nonsensical phrases, mixes people's names up, and, of course, faints. A dinosaur romps through Victorian London and spits up the TARDIS- before continuing to roam through London in a very confused and afraid state. Of course, in a later scene, during The Doctor's post-regenerative crisis, he attempts to tell the dinosaur that he'll get him back to his time, but he dies. He disappears for a while continuing to struggle to accept his latest regeneration, but when he does accept it, it's here where he and his companion Clara get tangled in a dangerous plot- they become prey to murderous automatons.

It's a pretty simple plot, really, and sometimes, simple is what's best. Here, Moffat doesn't delve too much into the techno-babble that has plagued the previous season, and leaves it to The Doctor, Clara, Madam Vastra and Jenny, and our favourite potato-shaped Sontaran Strax to carry the episode with their wit and charm. Capaldi is full of his usual snarky and cynical charm, and you can tell right off the bat that he's going to take the show for quite the walk. Coleman really gives an excellent performance as Clara as per usual- she emotes a lot more and watching her struggle to accept the new Doctor is very powerful. Of course,a s per usual Doctor Who tradition, the imagery is the strongest point- with the special effects really having come a long way, and gorgeous cinematography, it's no wonder Steven Moffat wanted to be seen on the big screen.

Of course, the episode isn't entirely perfect. For one, the new version of the Doctor Who theme is really quite awful- not the episode's fault, obviously, but the new theme's main hook played on a rather off-key sounding synthesizer, it is kind of distracting. The main baddie "Half Face" is quite lame- he isn't in the episode much, and for a reason. He isn't really given much to work with, and while he does shine a bit near the end, it's a bit half baked. Also, a rather gratuitous cameo by Matt Smith near the end felt very unnecessary and gratuitous, seemingly thrown in there to pander. But these faults don't detract from what is an overall solid episode- after all, it's an opener, and it does its job. Let's just hope the next 11 weeks will hold up. And based on the preview shown before the ending credits, it looks like we are in for one hell of a ride.

A strong return to form after a messy previous series

[ryanjmorris · 8/10 · 23 August 2014]

It wasn't perfect, but Deep Breath was a fantastic return for Doctor Who tonight. Following a series that offered more disappointment than wonder, I really feel Doctor Who could be heading in the right direction for the first time since the fifth season's opener back in 2010. Peter Capaldi is nothing short of an absolute triumph. We're still only getting to know his incarnation, but he gave a near faultless performance as a lost Doctor who knows less about himself than he does the people the around him. From his delightful pyjama-wearing horse- riding, to his more sinister moments in the episode's crescendo, he nailed every scene with ease. Matt Smith, for me, won't be an easy act to follow, but Capaldi is certainly on the right tracks.

Also, as surprising as it is satisfying, Clara finally became a character this evening, rather than a mere plot point to allow an episode to cheat its way to a close. She's still considerably weaker than other companions we've been treated to, but this feels like a fresh start for her. Coleman, too, gave a terrific performance. As for the plot? This is where the episode struggled. 75 minutes was far too long anyway (60 would've been perfect), and nothing really happened for the first half an hour. It gave the characters some calm time to talk, but the pacing fell apart early on and struggled to pick itself back up again. That said, the "Deep Breath" sequence was terrifically executed, and the T-Rex was beautifully animated, if fairly irrelevant to the plot.

But when we're being introduced to a new Doctor, plot must come second. Moffat balanced plot and character fairly well throughout the episode, there was just too much filler in a story that didn't need to be as long as it was. The actual standalone plot of the episode wound up as the most uninteresting thing here, but when Capaldi was such a great presence on-screen, that can hardly be criticized. I was hoping for a simpler, yet darker, more assured series of Doctor Who, and if Deep Breath is anything to go by, they may well have done just that.

Great Fun

[pj-bus · 9/10 · 23 August 2014]

Well that was an excellent and fun episode of Doctor Who. I tend to like the ones that are set in historic English settings and I find that trio of characters in London, the reptilian woman, the human woman and the potato like fellow, to be very entertaining.

I've been doing a bit of browsing the web for other perspectives on this Doctor Who and I see that some people like to criticise the script writing of Stephen Moffat. I have not seen every Doctor Who episode by a long way, however I have seen others written by Stephen Moffat and his script writing is excellent as it was in this Deep Breath episode. Stephen Moffat seems to be particularly good at story design. He also sets up rather fine situations. I don't wish to be specific because I prefer not to include any spoilers, however the conclusion to the main drama in this episode really was beautifully done, leaving a great ambiguity about the new Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi.

Peter Capaldi looked to me like a first class Doctor Who. I did like Matt Smith and Tenant but to me Peter Capaldi is the real deal. The first Doctor Who I remember is Pertwee and as a child I loved Tom Baker. However I lost interest in the series after Tom Baker left as I became an older teenager. It was a joy to watch Peter Capaldi in his new role. He is a bit mysterious and dark which I really like. He is so capable, he is able to do the comedy but maintain this slight darkness.

There was one thing which I didn't like about the episode which was the mechanism used to reconcile Clara with the new Doctor near the end. I haven't described it because I don't want to include spoilers. I think Clara should have decided to go with this new strange Doctor all on her own, I think there should have been a scene where she weighed it up, and on balance decided she would join him in his journeying through space and time.

All in all a great episode. Moffat is a great writer and Capaldi is looking like he will be a great Doctor.

The Start of Something New (ever so sorry)

[Alex_Hodgkinson · 23 August 2014]

Not the best of openers, but does it's job. Introduces Twelve in a unique way. I wasn't too fond of the episode as a whole, as it seemed rather silly at times. The humour was on and off, with some jokes being downright hilarious ("Don't look into that mirror; it's furious!") and some being rather cringeworthy (see: Pasternosta scenes). The episode succeeds in being darker, that's for sure, in both the writing and directing. Above average TV, but not impressive by Doctor Who's standards.

The writing was rather up and down, with many unnecessary scenes and bad dialogue, yet many amazing scenes that make way for a great first series for Capaldi (hopefully I won't look back at this in a few months time and realise just how wrong I was). Apparently Moffat started this episode by thinking of a great first scene, the dinosaur scene, and work from there (he said this in the Q&A after the cinema broadcasts). This was apparent in more than one way. The dinosaur was just unnecessary in my opinion, and I do think that was just the result of Moffat writing the first scene first with no idea on the story. But yeah, up and down writing. Very different from before, but still clearly 'Moffat'

The directing is to be hugely complimented. The episode was very atmospheric and dark. Ben Wheatley never ceases to amaze. It seemed quite cinematic, which makes sense given Doctor Who's huge budget now and the length between series, but the directing deserves applause and certainly helped the episode along. You can't help but be impressed by the scale of things in a mere TV show.

The characters and acting were on and off too. I still fail to see the point in the 'Pasternosta Gang', consisting of Vastra, Jenny and Strax, and don't like them. They're very 'Moffat' characters in that he makes them seem like huge, important characters to the show and the Doctor whereas they're just there for comedic affect, bad advice from Vastra and support for homosexuality (which is great if done well). However, Twelve strikes me as a great character, I just hope he stabilises and becomes himself soon, because he feels all over the place. Maybe that's needed right now. Nonetheless, Capaldi's a great actor. I finally like Clara to a degree. She's still annoying to me, but enjoyable a lot of the time.

Murray Gold never ceases to impress either. The 'I Am The Doctor' variations are gone and it's a completely new, different soundtrack. I tried to pick out Twelve's theme, but I didn't know which it was; or even if this Doctor has one. Somehow Gold's music remains gold even now, working for every scene. It doesn't seem to blast out as much in this episode either, unlike before. Aye, the music is possibly just as impressive as the directing.

Smith's cameo was really appreciated by me. Unlike Tennant and Russell, who had Ten say thing like "I'll die and some new guy goes sauntering away" and "I don't wanna go", making many fans hate Moffat and Smith before they'd even started, Smith and Moffat had the Eleventh Doctor openly welcome Twelve. To me, the scene wasn't just speaking to Clara, but to the audience. "It's alright. Help him become him. He's still me. He's the Doctor". That along with Capaldi saying that he remembers saying that made me realise that they are the same person, not that Eleven had died and Twelve is "sauntering away". I think it was needed for this darker Doctor and is possibly my favourite thing about the episode.

The villain is extremely well done. I didn't like many things about it, such as the way the ending was handled, but it looked very well done and I think that some themes surrounding it, such as the skin balloon, were quite dark by Doctor Who's standards. It's stretching the whole 'children's show' thing is originally had. I rather liked the comparisons with the Clockwork droids back in 2006, but I wish they either took that further or just ignored the comparisons, as it felt unnecessary.

Not a fan of where all of these arcs are going. I was hoping that Moffat had ditched that and was going simpler. The whole 'where did I get this face from', 'promised land' and 'woman in the shop/restaurant' thing doesn't become too big and take up lots of time. I have faith, though, as Moffat seems to recognise his flaws and is trying many new things, such as the much darker episodes with more death and implied scenes.

One thing I was looking forward to was the 'breathing room', something series 7B didn't have. We definitely got that, but if don't think it was put to good use. A lot of silly running around scenes and pointless discussions just for the sake of it. But I loved the scenes like the restaurant scene and the TARDIS scene at the end. Much preferred to 7B's story after story with no character development and rushed plots, though. If it continues like this I'll prefer the show to last year.

Overall, isn't an amazing episode by Doctor Who's standards, but is still worthy of a good 6 or 7 out of 10. I'll be nice and go with 7/10. It's definitely not for everyone and is very different to Smith's era. I found myself enjoying it in a very different way to how I enjoyed Smiths' series. I've found most Doctor openers to be fairly average, if not below or slightly above, and this is really no different. Capaldi has potential and I hope I'm not disappointed in the future.

Capaldi is good , but his debut is nothing compared to Matt Smith's

[loyolite · 6/10 · 5 September 2014]

Remember Matt Smith when he came in ? "The Eleventh Hour" !

The one liners, the funny eccentric Matt Smith, lovely Amy Pond, and of course, the showdown in the end of that episode. That showdown was excellent with the Doctor calling the alien back. Lines like "The doctor is in" , "Basically... run !" were delivered so well. The holographic images of all the doctors, through which Matt Smith walks out in the end !!!

Well, absolutely none of that cleverness was there in this episode. It was quite a simple one. Looks like Moffat ran out of ideas for a story and for showcasing a Doctor.

A simple story about a dinosaur who combusts and the Doctor searches for the serial killer. Clara was as good as always. No difference there.

One neat thing was the way they set up this Doctor's personality really well. they make it quite clear that he is not like Matt Smith and not a pseudo boyfriend to Clara.

Nevertheless, if you are as big a fan as I , you need to see it !

Update: I saw the second episode "Into the Dalek" and still not impressed.

"Deep Breath" takes your breath away...

[dkiliane · 9/10 · 9 April 2019]

...well, at least in the third act. The beginning starts off rather exciting when an oversized T-Rex appears in 1800s London and spits out the TARDIS. But after that things slow way down as Moffat takes his time to flesh out Peter Capaldi's 12th Doctor. To a large degree it does help us get to know this new Doctor better but it does tend to drag a little. He does a lot of sleeping (somewhat similar to Tennant's introduction actually) while Vastra and Jenny help Clara come to terms with the Doctor's regeneration, somewhat pointedly.

The second act for the most part is the Doctor, escaped from his bedroom, unintentionally terrorizing the homeless as he investigates a series of murders reminiscent of the dinosaur's complete incineration. While there is some humor, the Doctor's aberrant behavior is a bit unnerving, but we are treated to some good scenes with Vastra and company. So while the first two acts are a bit slow they still work as a whole.

The third act is when things pick up. Clara and the Doctor reunite having received a mysterious invitation to a restaurant which is actually a front for an alien ship harvesting human (and apparently dinosaur) organs in an attempt to repair itself. So the plot is a bit rehashed from season two, but the atmosphere of this episode, along with the brilliant direction, give the episode a different tone entirely. And the confrontation with the clockwork droids is hauntingly beautiful, suspenseful, and chilling, with a bit of well directed action mixed in as well. So whether you like Capaldi's Doctor or not, it is still a strongly crafted episode and definitely sets the darker tone that inhabits Capaldi's tenure as the Doctor. 9/10

Surprisingly good episode

[ianweech · 7/10 · 16 January 2021]

11th doctor was great, don't get me wrong, but I like the 12th doctor better so far. This was a very good season opener. I'm looking forward to more.

A Great Start for the Twelfth Doctor!

[NineTenElevenTwelve · 9/10 · 25 September 2014]

Peter Capaldi certainly starts his era on a high note with "Deep Breath"! While the new Doctor's personality hasn't been fully defined yet, he's still a joy to watch and is a wonderfully sharp change from Matt Smith's kinder and more welcoming Doctor. Capaldi brings a vibe of unpredictability to the role that shrouds this new Doctor in a veil of mystery. How far will he go? Where does he cross the line? I don't know and I can't wait to see how his role develops!

Jenna Coleman absolutely shines in this episode as Clara Oswald. In fact, this episode is as much Clara's as it is the Doctor's. Clara's reactions to the new Doctor and the situations she finds herself in feel very believable. Her conflicted feelings about the Doctor's change bring an emotional punch to the episode and she really starts to come into her own as one of the best companions the show could ask for. As with Capaldi's Doctor, I can't wait to see how Jenna's Clara continues to develop!

I've always loved the Paternoster Gang and it was a delight to see them make a reappearance for Capaldi's debut episode. All of them get a fitting amount of screen time as well as flat out awesome moments of action and dialogue.

The main villains of the episode, not to give anything away, are intimidating and very interesting. They also act as a very nice reference to a previous episode (and I won't say any more than that).

Overall, "Deep Breath" is just a great start for the Twelfth Doctor's era with nice emotional moments, welcome development for its characters, and several interesting surprises.

Suffocating...

[Xstal · 6/10 · 28 December 2021]

Don't start as you mean to go on, this opener felt ever so slightly wrong, a new incarnation should go off like a bomb, with an episode twice as strong as King Kong. But it's still early days for this Doctor, not so fresh is the series concocter, Who must conjure original characters (and stories), if he wants to avoid all the barrackers. So we'll take this one square on the chin, put away our premature violin, develop some depth and thick skin, knowing Clara will be our linchpin (fingers crossed).

I liked the Doctor. Loathed the episode.

[Cricketthecat · 3/10 · 26 August 2014]

I was vastly let down with the bulk of "Deep Breath." I feel this episode, all 120 minutes of it, only communicated two ideas: 1)"Please don't hate 12th Doctor." and 2)"Clara is much tougher and brighter than you think." That's it really! An hour and a half's worth of dialog and action summed up. The episode seemed without a core plot but rather snippets patched together. I can imagine a meeting of the head writers: "Okay team, the BBC gave us a content quota: dinosaurs, creepy Victorian era, a crying scene, and lesbian action*. I don't care how you wanna include it, fellas, just make sure it gets in the episode. Oh, and make sure the tone seems darker than last season..." I wanted to get to know this Doctor better and start on a new story arc. But I got a bunch of Madame Vastra/Jenny romance, Strax slapstick, and a villain heavy on macabre but light on actual cunning.

What is really disappointing is that I actually DO like the new Doctor, and Clara rose several notches in my esteem. I'm afraid I simply don't feel like having to sit through the poor storytelling and cheap thrills to enjoy them. Sorry Mr. Moffat, I just don't like it.

*I felt the suffocation/holding breath scene was a blatant excuse to have two females kiss. "Let me share my lungs with you" Oh. Come. On!

Super and very funny!

[masonbingley2000 · 9/10 · 24 August 2014]

I didn't know what to expect at first but I was very shocked to see Clara not wanting to be a part with the Doctor. Her and Strax are hilarious together which gives lot's of laugh out loud moments. The episode is very chilling and frightening. A great start to Peter Capaldi's era. The Clockwork Droids were super and scary but not like old times. Great CGI. Sometimes it can become long winded but the script is fierce and frightening! Overall, it is a must see episode but the title song is quite weak for Doctor Who. And a good look into future episodes. Clara is fantastic and portrayed very well by Jenna. Super skills!

Good start

[doctor-934-207111 · 9/10 · 31 August 2014]

Spoilers alert! 9/10 ! What an introduction!! The TARDIS out of a dinosaur and the 3 that help comes along.

So how does a dinosaur combusts , and what is a mechanical man doing in 1800 London? Surprise is what Moffat is an expert at! SS MArie Antoinette! Whoops robots that managed to time travel.

Maniacs are on the loose.

How to stop them? Hopefully put the Doctor in the trap.

And don't breathe or the droid will react.

All right so these robots murder for spare organic parts.

THe Doctor is still going through a regeneration crisis.

He could not recall the repair droids gone mad.

Worth watching if you are into minor complex plots and surprises.

The old Doctor coming back and encouraging Clara to help his new self. What a whooper.

After all while in London, Clara was going is this the same person? And the machine getting to Heaven? Hmm.

I look forward to next week.

A slow start that improves later on.

[Marco_b · 23 August 2014]

The first episode proves to be a more darker story as capaldi is introduced. Once again we meet Strax, Vastra and that other woman who start off the episode quite slowly with unnecessary and long scenes ( e.g. when strax examines Clara). The first 30 minutes turn out to be pretty boring with nothing really leading anywhere, apart from capaldi trying to come to turns with his new appearance. As the episode progresses, things pick up pace and we get introduced to a new villain, who wants to get human skin for his ship (not sure why). It's interesting how the scenes develop, especially the underground confrontation, as Jenna Louise Coleman (Clara) tries to vent the confusion and anger she has about the doctor on the cyborgs. Her acting has definitely improved - giving emotive performances during intense scenes - however I still feel some of the lines she says feel unnatural, especially during scenes where they are in danger. The best way to describe it is you wouldn't talk in a slightly cheerful tone when you are being pointed at with a sword.

Capaldi however certainly feels different to previous doctors. I really enjoyed his darker scenes, as we can see the tone at which then series will progress with. His facial expressions and overall reactions to situations feels a lot more natural and believable.

To the technical side, I think some things need to improve as this has been happening for a while. Story wise, it was okay. That's probably my best description for it. No real plot apart from some cyborgs trying go reach some promised land. I didn't really connect with the villain and his plans, meaning I didn't care for him at all. The setting in Victorian times has been done so many times before in doctor who, I was hoping for something more exciting for an opener. E.g the opening episode for series 6 and 7. Victorian London felt bland and done before. In terms of CGI, I understand the budget issues with the show, but some of the scenes felt off And unnatural. I always see this with doctor who - when there is a CGI heavy scene, they tend to have the scene motionless - ie camera on a tripod. Even adding some camera shake in post production would have made the scene feel natural and I wouldn't have noticed the off CGI. The lighting was also off with the CGI, giving it a 'soft' unusual look. Obviously, with the budget they have, it still looks acceptable and not a major problem - however a bit more refinement with the CGI and the overall feel of the episode would have been more positive.

In terms of the music and the score, I'm still pretty disappointed they still use orchestra music in many of the scenes. I understand this is to make the doctor look ' magical ' and amazing, but with capaldi we are transitioning to a darker doctor, meaning this type of music doesn't really work in most of the scenes. I constantly felt annoyed by the fact that almost cheerful string music was being played during scenes with a different tone. Something a bit more ambient and 'sci-fi' ish would have suited better in my opinion - something that better suited the events happening in scenes. However, I did notice some different music during capaldi scenes, definitely more mysterious, which I enjoyed.

Overall, the first episode proves to be a decent episode, despite the usual comedic side that doesn't fit during darker scenes. It interrupts the flow and makes me wonder what tone the show is trying to establish. A slightly boring story which doesn't lead anywhere and a villain who you don't really care for in the end. A mixed bag of acting - capaldi and Clara doing well to show their emotions about this change, but characters like strax who don't really add anything to the episode apart from adding a bit of unnecessary comedy ( well I guess its the writing not the actors themselves).

I hope the next episode will be better (but seeing as they spoiled the villain during the next time preview I probably won't be that excited).

6/10

Come In Number Twelve

[timdalton007 · 8/10 · 26 August 2014]

For over a year now, when we first learned that Matt Smith would soon be leaving Doctor Who and that Scottish actor Peter Capaldi would be his replacement, fans have been waiting to see a new Doctor in action. With the Series Eight premiere episode Deep Breath, that wish has been granted. So does Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor live up to expectations and what about the episode itself?

Much of the attention being focused on the episode was in regards to Capaldi's new Doctor. What would this older Doctor be like? Would fans and the public accept him after the two younger Doctors that proceeded him? If Deep Breath is anything to judge by, any worries were unfounded. Capaldi's Doctor does something essential for any successful Doctor: calling back to the old while also being something new as well. There's a strong sense of familiarity to this Doctor who, with his occasional irascibility and physicality, brings to mind Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor in particular. There's also a cerebral quality to him as well but also a darker edge at times, with a sense of uncertainty regarding how far this Doctor might go. Despite that darker edge, there is still a warm and friendly side to this Doctor as well. What the episode presents us with isn't just the beginning of Capaldi's Doctor but the sheer range he has as well.

Jenna Coleman's Clara, having been freed from the "impossible girl" element that so dominated the character during Series Seven, is given quite a bit of development in this single episode. Clara firmly becomes the audience identification figure here with her uncertainty and questioned faith in the Doctor presumably reflecting that of the audience. Coleman and Capaldi share some excellent chemistry together that indicates a friendship that gradually builds between them and will presumably continue to do as this season progresses. Elsewhere, Deep Breath might well be the episode where Coleman really comes into her own as Clara as demonstrated by her confrontation with the Half-Face Man about two-thirds of the way through the episode. As a result, this might well be Coleman and Clara's best episode to date.

The supporting cast is strong as well. The Paternoster Gang of Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh), Jenny (Catrin Stewart), and Strax (Dan Starkey) makes a welcomed return with Strax continuing with his obligatory scene stealing. Peter Ferdinando's Half-Face Man, the episode's villain, is wonderfully sinister and menacing while also finding sympathy towards the episode's end as well. Rounding off the supporting cast for mostly comedic purposes are Paul Hickey's Inspector Gregson, Tony Way's Alf and Brian Miller (the actor husband of the late Elisabeth Sladen) in a delightful scene as a tramp that the Doctor encounters.

What about the rest of the episode though? Well of particular note is the excellent direction of Ben Wheatley who brings strong sense of atmosphere and tension to some of the best scenes and moments of the episode. There's of course the strong sense of period settings and costumes which is a hallmark of the BBC. The score from Murray Gold introduces some new musical themes for the new Doctor as well as a new arrangement of the show's iconic theme tune of which I for one am still undecided about (though the new credit sequence it accompanies is perhaps the best we've had since the show returned nearly a decade ago). So in terms of production values then, the episode is fairly strong as well.

What the episode builds from though is the script by show-runner Steven Moffat. Having already deftly handled Matt Smith's debut in The Eleventh Hour, Moffat does things differently here. While of course handling the introduction of the new Doctor, it also tries to be a fairly traditional Doctor Who story as well. The results on the whole are fantastic with some wonderful scenes, often between just the Doctor and Clara effectively having to become friends all over again (something meant perhaps to be symbolic of the show's audience with the series itself). The episode contains some nice ties back to the show's past both in its dialogue (with one moment calling back to the exit and entrance of two iconic Doctors four decades ago) and in terms of plot elements as well. Where the script, and by extension the episode itself, falters a bit is in striking the balance between the introduction, the scenes that tie into that and the more traditional plot with does mean that the episode is at times oddly paced. On the whole though, Moffat's script works though it isn't his best or worst by means.

So while perhaps being a more traditional story does mean that isn't as original or as brilliant as some previous Doctor entrances, Deep Breath stands up rather nicely. Capaldi's Doctor hits the ground running, Clara gets a new direction, the supporting cast is good while the production values and script support the entire production on the whole. Twelve's hour has come and the clock is running...

Peter Capaldi is THE definitive Doctor and this debut is a great way to start!

[zacpetch · 9/10 · 19 January 2015]

The 11th Doctor is dead. Long live the 12th Doctor! That's not the way Clara sees it though: She's upset that the young man Matt Smith that she'd been best friends with had vanished and been replaced with the older Scottish fellow Peter Capaldi and that's understandable.

The main complaint people had about the casting decision of the 12th Doctor had been his age (had people forgotten William Hartnell's 1st Doctor or John Hurt's war Doctor?) and it seems Clara is present to help people with this issue make the transition. Madame Vastra is on hand to address the complaint head-on: Did you think he was young?! She asks it with an air of condemnation upon all who had a problem with the age difference and Neve Mackintosh delivers it well, but that's to be expected if her past appearances are anything to go by.

It takes all of about five seconds to believe Peter Capaldi is the Doctor; I'm not sure what it is about him but whatever it is he has it. He plays the part as if he was younger and more youthful than he actually appears and comes across as if he were a naughty child who knows he'll be in trouble later but does what he wants anyway while he still can. This is a bold move but it works well thanks to the combination of the excellent writing and acting by all involved. His Doctor is much less trustworthy too: At one point he leaves Clara trapped in a room of evil robots with not even a hint of advice for her except something he said earlier, leaving her to her own devices.

But it's here we see that we can still trust him as he arrives in time to save her. Ben Wheatley's direction is superb here and cannot be flawed as he calls upon his past experience to create a real sense of horror that goes on long enough that you'll probably cross the edge of your seat and fall onto the floor. His direction is great throughout actually and he may be the best director Doctor Who had ever had at this point.

Moffat's script is a good one too, with dinosaurs and robots showing up in Victorian London to wreck havoc and generally be nasty and unpleasant. He works in the new Doctor in no time at all and sets up for the series 8 story arc nicely with a brilliant tease to end the episode all while allowing for Clara to actually become a proper character. While it's not perfect it does come pretty darn close and Matt Smith's closing cameo is a nice way to end, totally what the 11th Doctor would do. 9/10

Doctor Who - Deep Breath

[Scarecrow-88 · 7/10 · 3 January 2015]

Our first real episode with Peter Capaldi is a nice introduction to him, I think. I think the episode itself is merely okay (in Victorian London, a cyborg who has taken so many human parts since its construction it is now more human than robot could be a threat to the Doctor and Clara), but it does a wonderful job, I believe, of commenting on the backlash that might have resulted in an older actor's casting of a treasured sci-fi character that had been portrayed previously by three much younger actors. Clara is (obviously, and why wouldn't she?) having a hard time adjusting to the new face (and age?) of the new Doctor that has "replaced" Matt Smith. She just doesn't know if she can get used to Capaldi's Doctor. I felt that this episode does a swell job of showing a "babe introduced to a new world out of the womb" in how frenetic and confused Capaldi acts to his surroundings right after his regeneration change. I think a regeneration is a traumatic event that truly changes the Doctor as he behaves, looks, and reacts differently with each transformation; it takes time (and why wouldn't it?) to adjust to such a change. So we see the Doctor gradually become more comfortable in his new skin while Clara herself must slowly embrace who this man now is. Who could expect that any companion can just brush aside the man they have become so fond of and close to for this new man with such a different face and disposition? There's a scene where it appears Capaldi leaves Clara to be killed by the lead cyborg harvesting human organs (it even kills a dinosaur that had caught the Tardis in its mouth, which stuck in its throat bringing it in time with the Doctor to Victorian London!), and she must orchestrate a means of protecting herself in dialogue with it. The banter between Doctor and companion has always been a thing of value I place on this long-lasting show. Chemistry between them can make or break the series. Sometimes casting is great and other times perhaps not so. I think the 80s was a down decade in that regard. But I think the 2000s (Piper, Gillan, and Coleman) certainly hit it out of the ballpark. Matt Smith's era was especially worthwhile in the relationships of Doctor and companion. I loved seeing how the companions became often so vital in how the Doctor succeeds against his foes, and their rapport during trouble enhances the excitement of scenes where the adversaries (and dangers that come with them) come close to vanquishing them. "Deep Breath" brings back characters seen previously in Victorian London: the lizard-alien, Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh), her wife, Jenny (Catrin Stewart), and butler, Strax (Dan Starkey). They all help the Doctor against the lead cyborg's army of unemotional robots in form of Victorian humans in an old ship that has been disguised as a restaurant. Missy, later to be determined as the female version of The Master (an old Who adversary), has welcomed the lead cyborg to her "paradise" for "him". The Doctor kept mentioning how the cyborgs remind him of something else (cybermen?) and knowing that really is telling due to how both Missy and the cybermen later factor greatly in a key episode towards the end of this season with Capaldi's version of the "man in the blue box". Neat makeup effects for Peter Ferdinando's half-human/half-robot as half his face is human while the other half shows all the mechanics working within him/it. Smith's call to Clara from Trenzalore, appealing to her virtuous nature regarding helping Capaldi, is a sweet, emotionally potent moment that allows her closure and a renewed interest in continuing on despite the regeneration taking away the man she cared for so much.

Deep Breath

[MrFilmAndTelevisionShow · 8/10 · 15 April 2021]

The first part doesn't have much Peter Capaldi in it, he's just kind of asleep and this is definitely the weakest part of the story, However once he an Clara go to the restaurant that is when the plot really gets going. So in conclusion the episode in my view is a solid eight, why was it so long? This could definitely have been improved by making it normal length.

Deep Characterisation from Capaldi but Deep Disappointment from Moffatt's story.

[A_Kind_Of_CineMagic · 7/10 · 29 September 2014]

This episode has a storyline where our newly regenerated Doctor (Peter Capaldi) arrives in Victorian England having brought with him a giant dinosaur. The TARDIS was in fact stuck in the dinosaur's throat! The Doctor and Clara then meet up with the Doctor's friends the 'Paternoster Gang'. Clara and the Doctor both struggle with his new and as yet unresolved transformation. Meanwhile, there is a spate of 'spontaneous combustions' which the Doctor and his friends seek to investigate. There is also a half faced man lurking around.

Capaldi is impressive in his full debut with excellent acting and personality on show. Moffatt's writing of many of the scenes based around introducing Capaldi's characterisation is extremely well executed. Judged purely for the introduction of the new Doctor this episode is incredibly good. It has a strong script for Capaldi which he exploits fully. It is funny, references the show's history and has intelligent and thoughtful dialogue based around the Doctor struggling with regeneration and starting to establish his personality.

The story itself if you take out the new Doctor introduction part of the plot is quite fun and entertaining at times but has issues which spoil it for me:

Firstly the giant dinosaur was an issue for me. Why did Moffatt have to make it a GIANT dinosaur?! It is about 8 or 10 times the size of known Tyrannosaurus Rex fossils if you measure it against the Houses of Parliament! It is thereby discarding all we know in science about dinosaurs purely to add spectacle. It would have worked MUCH better with a regular sized dinosaur biting rather than swallowing the TARDIS. That would have been clearly far more credible scientifically as well as in terms of being less visible to so much of the public. As it is we are meant to believe a minor police detective is allowed to handle what would have been the most crazy and important event witnessed at the time with news not spreading all that much considering a giant dinosaur is marauding down the Thames in plain sight for miles. It is rather dumb I think.

Secondly, why would the half faced man not have a finished face or at least a mask as some means of making his appearance not stand out so obviously? They have had the time and resources to build all sorts of things and finish many other faces and yet he does not finish his own face and roams around London without anyone noticing his obvious missing human features. I think it would have been more credible and more exciting if he approached people when he was masked by a scarf or something and then removed the scarf to reveal he is mechanised.

Thirdly, why does Clara react so badly to the Doctor's change to an older man?! Of all companions she has even less excuse for this having met all the other incarnations before, including the 1st Doctor and the War Doctor, and coped perfectly well. Even if she had 'forgotten' these encounters with other versions of the Doctor it would still make her a remarkably shallow character to react so badly. It would have been much better if she accepted his new appearance but found his new abrasive personality hard to accept and started to get more uncomfortable before getting used to him maybe a few episodes later.

In addition, I find the idea these mechanical men have been on Earth since the time of the dinosaurs and are still no further forward as well as never being noticed another silly thing thrown into the mix. Plus some of the humour in the episode is a bit overly silly for my taste.

I had been greatly looking forward to a rumoured return to a more thoughtful, slow burning drama in this series and was hoping for great things from lifelong Who fan Peter Capaldi as the Doctor. I think they met those expectations with the filming style in this episode and I was very, very happy with Capaldi who showed potential to be creating one of the better characterisations of the Doctor. I just wish Moffatt could have curbed his tendency to throw every zany idea in without enough care.

My Rating: 6.5/10.

My Series 8 Episode Ranking: 7th out of 12.

The new Doctor!

[kikkapi20 · 9/10 · 29 August 2014]

I've watched every single episode of Doctor Who since the very first episode, those episodes that were lost, I listened to the audio and looked at the still photos of the scenes. So, with that preamble, I must say I'm glad they finally went back to an 'older' Doctor. I get it that a lot of people like to see romance in every TV series they watch, but honestly, Doctor Who was never about that. The whole innuendo thing was sporadic (if that) in the old series, while the new series almost all companions and Doctors had something going on. So, that's over for now and I for one am glad. Now, as for the episode itself, I loved the setting, the characters, the story, the actors. It was funny (maybe too funny? nah, I like funny). Only thing I didn't like was that even considering the "don't try to make sense of Doctor Who" world, this one made even less sense ... (slight spoilers ahead) ... The Tardis brought a dinosaur? And a spontaneous combustions? Droids doing combustions to hide corpses, so they took the eye of a dinosaur and then imploded it? seriously? how where LOL wut? I'm all for outlandish scenarios but at least try to make some sense of them! Anyway, regardless of the non-sensical parts, I still give it a 9 since I just loved the new Doctor, and the episode was well made.

Not as good as expected.

[talha-masood40 · 7/10 · 25 August 2014]

-------------Contains Spoilers------------ Let me just say, I can't believe the same person who wrote amazing stories like Blink, Forest of the Death, Day of the Doctor etc wrote this same episode. The pacing was not good it felt like a 40 minutes story dragged to 1 hour 15 minutes. Everyone was wanting to see the Doctor in action but the episode focused more and gave more screen time on Vastra, Jenny and Clara for some reason. As compared to the Eleventh Hour (eleventh doctor's first episode) this wasn't as good as that one because the Eleventh Hour focused on how the doctor is gonna be and 10 minutes after watching Eleventh Hour I was like I love this guy. But here after 10 minutes the Doctor had gotten only 2 minutes of screen time oh and then he fainted. My biggest disappointment from this episode was that THERE WAS NO RUNNING. Since the past 8 years we have been seeing the Doctor run. When he starts running the epic music starts playing you know things are gonna get epic and something awesome is happening. I guess because of Peter Capaldi's age there's no running but usually when you think about the Doctor you think about a very energetic, fun always running around person and Peter Capaldi's Doctor is not that yes he's fun and he tries to act energetic but his face looks worn out and tired like he just wants to go home and finally rest but I guess thats what they are trying to show that The Doctor is tired of running around and just wants to go home and settle in Galafry. Thats something I don't really like. The directing was done brilliantly, the special effects were amazing and the music was good too but I guess it will take us time to get used to the new theme but the writing and the pacing were not very good at all and the opening theme felt like a step backwards. I have a little Doctor Who wish which I really want Steven Moffat to do as this is his last season. Moffat sir you're an amazing writer some of your episodes like The wedding of River Song, Girl in Fireplace, Blink and the day of the Doctor are my all time favorite Doctor Who episodes but Deep Breath wasn't one of your best work. Since this is your last season as show runner you're probably gonna tie up all ends so I guess that means the end of River song. In River Song's first episode she says "You looked different there, and new haircut and a suit we went to see the singing towers the towers sang and you started crying and you gave me your screw driver I guess you knew it was my time to come to the library" please make this happen, i guess by a new haircut and a suit she meant a new doctor it will be the perfect end to River Song so in the end or during this season The Doctor should meet River Song and they should see the singing tower and then the Doctor gives her his old screw driver and says its time for you to go to the library and then we all know that this is the end of River's Run.

Hamfisted writing, although Capaldi's cool

[lebedeff-27-786848 · 5/10 · 30 August 2014]

It's insulting when a TV show episode tells me how I should think about its characters by using weak, expository dialog. It's even worse when a plot isn't really a plot, rather a "vehicle" that makes some sponsored points but few impressions.

This episode starts with an excellent setting/premise: a Victorian steam-punk mystery starring Vastra et al. and a new Doctor, plus throws a Tyrannosaur into the heart of London! You've got a smashing episode, right?

Nah, sorry. Basically, all this episode does is repeatedly stuff certain concepts down one's brain through limp dialog, while failing to deliver on the plot side. The best I could describe it is "fun, I guess."

Vastra/Jenny, with their proved character potential, are all but wasted in this episode. Moffat, instead of writing Vastra some of the cool investigative intricacies of Sherlock, just throws her a "game is afoot" line (duh, got it), some moralistic posturing at Clara, with tons of tweenishly awkward interpretations of an interspecies lesbian relationship which verge on adolescent slashfic. Look, we get it already.

Straxx? As always, a great job at comic relief. It's just that in this episode, there's nothing really heavy to get comically "relieved" from.

Clara, with her whole "OMG, the Doctor's old!" thing, is one of the most slighted characters in this episode. Do we really think that Clara loved the 11th Doctor because he was "young and hot?" All of the sudden a faithful Who companion is turned into a person who thinks mainly with her hormones (her subconscious full of young men having sex, per Straxx's exam), and requires a knock on the head from 3+ characters to "finally" hug an "old" man. If he were, say, made of rotting green bacon, then this whole subplot would've made sense. But no, the new doctor's just an older-looking guy. It's not like he's asking her on a date, after all. What're the writers so insecure about?

The villain in this episode could have been so much cooler. I mean, multiply steam-punk by millions of years... a sci-fi writer's dream! At least, he could have been relevant and/or made logical sense. But no, robots who only know you're not a robot if you breathe, and will hack at you with swords until you decide to hold your breath. And if they can make a blimp out of skins, how come El Honcho's missing half his face?

Capaldi? Yeah, he's good. I appreciated the occasional tributes he did to previous doctors, but most importantly, by taking the crappy script he got this time and making it OK, he's gonna carry the role well.

In all, an entertaining episode, though with insulting writing aimed at the LCD. I hope they don't saddle Capaldi with having to save every episode.