The opening scenes showed the Doctor explaining the question that the episode would be based on. But when the Doctor was sat on the TARDIS roof, what about the lamp? Where did that go? The Doctor goes far to see if he is right, including opening an airlock! You can tell by his smile that he finds the whole thing so much fun. The Doctor showed a real humorous side of himself this episode, such as asking why Clara needed 3 mirrors and bringing this up with Orson later and deciding that she had a wide head. The humour acted as a tension breaker throughout this dark episode. For example there is the Coffee going missing and the Doctor casually sipping it as he walks off, and the fact he searched for Wally in every book, believing them to be a Where's Wally? book. |
A fair chunk of this episode centres on Clara and Danny's date. The way this was done out of sequence showed us the date was doomed from the start until time travel got involved. The interactions between the two were still awkward, but less so than in 'Into the Dalek'. Past Danny's, or Rupert's time period is where the Doctor and Clara end up after Clara is distracted while in the TARDIS telepathic systems. Things get especially awkward when Clara calls Danny 'Rupert', which she should no to be wrong, especially as a seasoned time traveller, |
Quite a lot of this episode is Timey Wimey with Rupert and Orson. The small soldier figure with no gun was obvious symbolism for the Doctor, and the Doctor giving Rupert the dream of 'Dan the Solider Man' shows that the Doctor shaped his life. Orson's existence, and his mention of time travelling running in the family tells us that Danny and Clara will most likely end up together anyway. The basic fear of the dark is brought up as Orson keeps his room locked despite no one being there, as just a primitive urge to survive. |
But what about the monster? Was there even a monster? Well, the creature in the bed is never revealed. Everything can be explained other than this though. The TV could just be broken, the noises could just be the fact the house is old and we know what happened to the Coffee cup. And could the dream just be a sub-conscious call from the Doctor's past.This leave the choice to us, and makes us question everything in the episode. |
And then there was the Barn. The reveal that the crying child was a young Doctor was a huge shock, and one I did not see coming. The references to Hartnell's Doctor, such as the ''fear is a constant companion'' quote were great. And the fact the Barn is the same as seen in 'The Day of the Doctor' just adds more weight and importance for the War Doctor's choice of location to use The Moment. |
Overall, I loved this episode, and is definitely the best of Series 8 so far. In fact, I would go as far to say its up there with some of the best. I loved the Timey Wimey-ness of it all, and the revelations about the Doctor's past were brilliant. Next time the Doctor will be robbing a bank because...reasons? I know Steve Thompson has a lot to answer for since JTTCOTT so it better be good!
Until then,
See Ya!
Until then,
See Ya!