**Spoilers** Series 8, Episode 1 - "Deep Breath"

pixelburp

I'm bored, so figured on getting the episode threads started early - sure there's less than 3 weeks 'til kick-off

Usually with these threads, I add some trailers for the episode, but as there are none specific to this one just yet, I'll stick up the teaser / flavour trailers released.

Honestly, part of me is excited about a new season and new Doctor, while the other part is worried the quoted 'darker' direction this new incarnation will take might alienate or jar too much with the hitherto ... jauntier portrayals. Smith and Tennant had their dark moments but generally had a playful edge as well, so I hope Capaldi's Doc isn't entirely grump & moodiness.

I'm also curious to see what Ben Wheatley brings to the direction, I think he's the first 'proper' cinema director to take charge of a New-Who story, and is nothing if not an eclectic choice given some of the material he has helmed (last thing of his I watched was A Field in England, which was ... curious, shall we say)

Roll on the 23rd: what are others' thoughts?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TivqZTq5u6Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwhWDnff1sk

Doctor DooM

Mainly, I'm happy it looks like something different. I'm worried how the more... er... casual fans may interpret the new direction though.

WomanSkirtFan8

Doctor DooM wrote: »

Mainly, I'm happy it looks like something different. I'm worried how the more... er... casual fans may interpret the new direction though.

yes. I'm really looking forwards to seeing this as well. Peter Capaldi's doctor is going to be so different from all the other doctors so I can't wait to see how this pans out.

Series 8 from what I've seen and heard from elsewhere on in is apparently going to be similar in style to classic Doctor Who. Also, Series 8, Episode 1, "Deep Breath" is apparently going to be a feature-length episode too!

I really really can't wait!

Roll on August 23rd!

pixelburp

There's an episode-specific trailer out, see below! I think I spot where the budget went anyway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAyng4TNFdM

Mr Bloat

I wonder will the phrase "Deep Breath" be this Doctor's catch phrase: "Fantastic!", "Allons-Y!", "Geronimo!" "Deep Breath!" It wouldn't be half bad, IMO.

WomanSkirtFan8

Mr Bloat wrote: »

I wonder will the phrase "Deep Breath" be this Doctor's catch phrase: "Fantastic!", "Allons-Y!", "Geronimo!" "Deep Breath!" It wouldn't be half bad, IMO.

Maybe. We'll just have to wait and see. Apparently the theme of Series 8 is going to be "Doctor Who: Into Darkness," (i.e. more to do with the darker side of the doctor).

pixelburp

This is pretty neat: apparently the official titles for the new series will be a spruced-up version of a sequence created by a fan of the show.

http://www.avclub.com/article/new-doctor-who-title-sequence-was-originally-desig-208190

Billy Hanshaw is a freelance motion-graphics designer [...] After Capaldi’s casting as the new Doctor Who star was announced in 2013, Hanshaw was inspired to spend a month putting together a mockup of a new title sequence “to challenge myself,” he said on his website. After he posted it to YouTube, it quickly went viral, garnering more than 700,000 hits and writeups from Radio Times, Huffington Post, and other media sites. It eventually attracted the notice of showrunner Steven Moffat, who liked it well enough to ask the BBC’s graphics department to make an official version based on Hanshaw’s work.

And here's the sequence made by Hanshaw:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXOBHnWiinY

Basq

Tempted to go see it in the cinema... but think I marginally more excited for the 50th.

Probably will though tbh!

Doctor DooM

Yay tomorrow! I

Hashtag_HEEL

Ready to rock!

eyeball kid

I watched that youtube fan made sequence yesterday but last night had a dream where the new opening credits for Dr Who was just like the opening credits for Home and Away circa '97 with the same cheesy music. I was thinking that this isn't going to go down well with the fans. Maybe too much cheese before bed last night.

Anyway looking forward to it tomorrow.

How many episodes in this series?

Wibbs

pixelburp wrote: »

This is pretty neat: apparently the official titles for the new series will be a spruced-up version of a sequence created by a fan of the show.

And here's the sequence made by Hanshaw:

Well just speaking for myself, I hope they use the same or similar theme music. IMH the Ecclestone and Tennant theme music really nailed it and improved upon the original, but the Smith theme was decidedly lacklustre musically.

Mycroft H

eyeball kid wrote: »

I watched that youtube fan made sequence yesterday but last night had a dream where the new opening credits for Dr Who was just like the opening credits for Home and Away circa '97 with the same cheesy music. I was thinking that this isn't going to go down well with the fans. Maybe too much cheese before bed last night.

Anyway looking forward to it tomorrow.

How many episodes in this series?

1\12 according to the sky planner

Tempted to go to the cinema tonight. I'll be on my tod though.

Angron

"It just laid an egg."

He's a bright one, isn't he :pac:

Frank Lee Midere

Very quiet in here. Is everybody at the cinema or is it pants?

Angron

I assumed most have gone to the cinema. I'm enjoying the episode at any rate.

Angron

Well, I didn't see that one coming.

Lord TSC

That was all levels of awesome.

Blue_Dabadee

I didn't really like the episode to be honest,

Matt Smith's cameo appearance at the end

was the best part of the episode. I'm not entirely sold on Peter Capaldi as new doctor just yet but I am willing to give him a chance and I hope this season will get a lot better.

Manach

Rather Meh. Whilst nice to see the Victorian era yet again, the plot progression seem to be fairly uneven and the new Dr. seemed to be unsure what sort of initial impression to create. It did not have the same impact of the Matt Smith intro.

stevenmu

That was interesting. I really don't know if I like the new Doctor or not. But I guess that's mostly because he was pretty out of it for the whole episode, it's still very hard to know what he'll actually be like. He had some brilliant lines though, so it's looking kind of promising.

I'm not sure about the new opening credits either, but I think they could grow on me too.

Some new mysteries raised as well. I'm guessing that he gave himself that face to lead him back to Pompeii for some reason. And then there's the Doctor's girlfriend in "Heaven" at the end, which I don't think we've had any other clues about yet?

Wibbs

I liked his first outing. Different tone anyway. Like a weird cross between Baker and Ecclestones docs with extra moral ambiguity. I found him a bit frenzied, finding his voice, but it'll be interesting to see him grow into the part.

Sonics2k

Interesting episode. Peter is new to the role, so I have little issue with him being a bit sluggish.

Nobody really liked the new Doctors when they start, Matt Smith being a fine example, thousands of people hated him at first but he really grew into the role, Peter should too.

Nice to see hunts at a new big plot in the works, curious who the new girlfriend could be.

ixoy

I enjoyed that. Way too early to judge Capaldi's Doctor as the Doctor himself is trying to establish who he is (see what I did there?). He needs to ground himself. I like the glimpses we've seen, including the darker side (pushing someone out to their apparent death).

The clock work robots are reprised from "The Girl in the Fireplace", from Season 26 (Season 2 to some here). There he flirted with Madame de Pompadour, who gets mentioned here. She seemed to have fallen in love with him so I'm guessing that's her at the end.

Wibbs

Manach wrote: »

It did not have the same impact of the Matt Smith intro.

Funny how peeps differ. I found it way more solid than Smiths intro. I really didn't dig the latter until well into it and even though he got way better in my eyes I never really got a sense of gravitas from him. Then again my fave docs of all were the ones with an undercurrent of real ambiguity to them. The dangerous ones.

nuttyboy79

I'm kind of in the meh camp here they stretched it out to be feature length while the story was only episode length if you get my drift.

Smiths

cameo was to me a message from the writers to all the little "he's too old" fan girls to give it a chance maybe though I'm reading to much into it.

misslt

ixoy wrote: »

I enjoyed that. Way too early to judge Capaldi's Doctor as the Doctor himself is trying to establish who he is (see what I did there?). He needs to ground himself. I like the glimpses we've seen, including the darker side (pushing someone out to their apparent death).

The clock work robots are reprised from "The Girl in the Fireplace", from Season 26 (Season 2 to some here). There he flirted with Madame de Pompadour, who gets mentioned here. She seemed to have fallen in love with him so I'm guessing that's her at the end.

Didn't cop the madame du pompadour thing until it was mentioned. I sat up and himself just said "how didn't you see that coming??"

Really enjoyed it, some very funny lines. Loved the reference to Amy!

Will be interesting to see how it continues but I really liked that ep.

ebbsy

Delivered the goods for me. Always helps to have a good actor.

Wibbs

I liked the whole exchange:

Doc; I'm not your boyfriend. Clara; I never said you were. Doc; I didn't say it was your mistake. [paraphrasing]

That said I was surprised the director picked that take as his response was very muffled and rushed. Needed to be slowed down IMH.

tommy2bad

Loved the ambiguity in the doctors speech to the robot at the end. Ahem cross out ambiguity and replace with duality, it was clearly intended to be applicable to both of them.

Some good lines, I'll be using 'these are attack eyebrows' myself. Some poor plotting but I suppose they are setting the Capaldi story arch up as well as trying to introduce a new Dr and tell tonight's story so I'll let it go.
I got the robots from 'girl in the fireplace' early on and I'm wondering if the 'promised land' is the place Amy grew old in, in The Girl Who Waited?
We shall see!

Ginny

"My captain my captain" was very apt.

I liked the episode, I liked the nods to the Pompeii appearance, the mdme pomp. Reference, the questioning stuff fans have questions for ages. As for the end, had me sobbing again.

Tom baker was my first Dr., but surprisingly Matt was MY Dr. No matter how skeptical I was at first.

Mr Rhode Island Red

I agree with anyone who says there was only enough plot there to comfortably fill a normal episode length.

It was OK of an episode. Plot sagged a bit. Some great lines though (Tom Baker and Amy Pond references, hints at the upcoming Scottish independence referendum with the eyebrows:D). Also loved Strax throwing the newspaper, found it really unexpected and humorous.

Capaldi will grow into the role, but it might take a while; he's a great actor but I'm not completely sold on him being a great doctor just yet.

WomanSkirtFan8

tommy2bad wrote: »

Loved the ambiguity in the doctors speech to the robot at the end. Ahem cross out ambiguity and replace with duality, it was clearly intended to be applicable to both of them.

Some good lines, I'll be using 'these are attack eyebrows' myself. Some poor plotting but I suppose they are setting the Capaldi story arch up as well as trying to introduce a new Dr and tell tonight's story so I'll let it go.
I got the robots from 'girl in the fireplace' early on and I'm wondering if the 'promised land' is the place Amy grew old in, in The Girl Who Waited?
We shall see!

yes. I also enjoyed the episode. I think Peter Capaldi will be an excellent doctor given time. the start of the episode is very reminiscant of Tom Baker's first doctor who 'Robot' where he deat with the post-regeneration trauma brilliantly. Also loved Matt Smith's cameo at the end.

can't wait for next week's episode!

Spon Farmer

Capaldi was great - as usual - and Coleman too.

However, the majority of that episode was just pap.

Nearly 30 minutes before the story actually began and the ridiculous lizard detective. Again.

:P

Sonics2k

ixoy wrote: »

The clock work robots are reprised from "The Girl in the Fireplace", from Season 26 (Season 2 to some here). There he flirted with Madame de Pompadour, who gets mentioned here. She seemed to have fallen in love with him so I'm guessing that's her at the end.

I picked up on them being the clockwork robots from the Girl in Fireplace quite quick, and I did like he couldn't quite remember them or Madame de Pompadour too, but it couldn't be here. He returns to France later in the episode to find she's already died (which made me really sad as I thought the actress was great, and frankly gorgeous), so I don't see how or why it would be her.

As long as it's not River Song, who I am so bloody sick of.

WomanSkirtFan8

[QUOTE=As long as it's not River Song, who I am so bloody sick of.[/QUOTE]

yes i absolutely agree. don't want to see her again. Her arc is done

Ginny

Or Rose and the teeth, although she is hamming it up in Penny Dreadful.

zanador

Really enjoyed it - I think Capaldi will be great and very dark (and morally ambiguous). An interesting Doctor!

Frank Lee Midere

Why the spoiler tags?

CastorTroy

Sonics2k wrote: »

As long as it's not River Song, who I am so bloody sick of.

You don't think she'll show up to confront The Doctor's "girlfriend"?

So is Victorian London the new modern day London? They seem to go to one as much as the other these days.

Felt sorry for the poor dinosaur.

Wonder why he couldn't remember Madame de Pompadour. Did it mean something or was that just him not being all there yet?

Really liked the cameo.

Did have trouble hearing some of the dialogue at times. May just have been due to it being rambling, but I did need to rewind and turn on the subtitles.

Having watched the latest episodes of A Touch of Cloth, Capaldi reminded me so much of John Hannah.

tommy2bad

Sonics2k wrote: »

As long as it's not River Song, who I am so bloody sick of.

Spoilers Sweetie!

Also Starring LeVar Burton

As a standalone episode it was fairly lackluster, but as a setup for Capaldi and for Clara dealing with the regeneration it did the trick.

Some fantastic lines throughout.

scream

Wibbs wrote: »

[...]I found him a bit frenzied, finding his voice, but it'll be interesting to see him grow into the part.

Yeah, I agree. I hope that was just a case of confusion due to the regeneration rather than 'the way it's going to be'. When Peter Capaldi was announced as the new Doctor I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I didn't dislike the manic characteristics of the last two Doctors, but I was really looking forward to a bit more seriousness from this one.

doctorwhogirl

Wibbs wrote: »

I liked his first outing. Different tone anyway. Like a weird cross between Baker and Ecclestones docs with extra moral ambiguity. I found him a bit frenzied, finding his voice, but it'll be interesting to see him grow into the part.

I think you've nailed him with the Baker/Ecclestone comparison.

Love how he's embracing the scottishness. I think it isn't as solid a start as Smith in terms of laying out on the table who this Doctor is. With Smith, the overt "wackiness" was made clear the minute he dipped fish fingers in custard.

I like how he's building it up (hopefully). To me it was somewhat similar to Ecclestone's start in that there's room to grow with him.

I agree, the storyline was a bit wishy-washy but I too clocked on (pun intended) to the clockwork droids early enough, most likely due to the sound engineer!

I haven't particularly liked Coleman yet I like the opposition between her and Capaldi. She grew on me significantly during the episode!

Smith at the end completely unnecessary. Agree with another poster in that it was such an obvious "calm down, we know he's old" to the fan girl arena.

All in all, pleased, looking forward to the episodes!

Think I saw Vod from Fresh Meat making an appearance and I LOVED the highly subtly Only Fools and Horses reference regarding the broom. That was a fabulous nod to Trigger who himself appeared in Victorian London in Who!

Spon Farmer

Sonics2k wrote: »

As long as it's not River Song, who I am so bloody sick of.

I hope she is out for good.

Worst character in anything ever.

T-Bird

First thought it was parody of "Doctors wife". Then obviously changed to "Girl in fireplace". However, at end have kind of mixed the two, Paradise might be TARDIS Land with fountain being main console in the TARDIS. Probably stupid, but not if am right at end :P...

Basq

Watched in the cinema and I enjoyed it to be honest.

I will say one thing, I was more impressed at Capaldi's first outing than Smith's (and I was a huge fan of Smiths Doctor).. definitely something a bit more off-kilter with Capaldi's Doctor - he's got the presence and comedic ability (when needed) but clearly troubled!

Onwards and upwards from here.. I'm hugely looking forward to Capaldi mature into the character from here.

Screen at the cinema was far more packed than the 50th but great atmosphere (despite cringey applause and hollers at various moments).

EDIT: It was brave of Moffat to clearly make this episode more about Clara's conflict with the new Doctor than the Doctor himself. And Jenna Coleman thrived!

Wibbs

Basq wrote: »

It was brave of Moffat to clearly make this episode more about Clara's conflict with the new Doctor than the Doctor himself. And Jenna Coleman thrived!

Reminded me of the very first episode of the reboots, where pretty much the entire point of view was from Billie pipers angle. Who is this guy, what is he doing to my world and what comes next kinda vibe.

off.the.walls

Only thing! We didn't get to see the wardrobe picking scene! We didn't really get to see the moment where he steps in to being the doctor yaknow? With smith it was the roof top with tennant it was on the ship when he came out. They really needed that moment to just be like this is the doctor!

doctorwhogirl

off.the.walls wrote: »

Only thing! We didn't get to see the wardrobe picking scene! We didn't really get to see the moment where he steps in to being the doctor yaknow? With smith it was the roof top with tennant it was on the ship when he came out. They really needed that moment to just be like this is the doctor!

That could be part of his doctor though, not into all the trimmings?

Thoughts on the new tardis? I liked his high back chair! And the round things.

Mycroft H

Strax is great.

Flinging the Times at clara was a bit unexpected.