Review: Doctor Who "Deep Breath"

Doctor Who

"Deep Breath"

On August 23, the new Doctor revealed himself to the world in the first episode of the 8th Season entitled "Deep Breath." An appropriate title, as much of the world was holding its collective breath until this day. "Who?" was the question we were all asking. Well, that and "why? what? costume? etc."

A giant T-Rex, as tall or taller than Big Ben, has appeared in London, brought by none other than the Doctor. When we first see the Doctor he acts a lot like what we have come to expect from the Eleventh - fast-talking, lots of great hand gestures, and an occasion flirt, in this case with a dinosaur. It's fun to see the new Doctor thrown right into the thick of it. After a quick resolution to the dinosaur, a meeting with Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax (whom the Doctor gives descriptive names), the Doctor faints. 

Without doing a play-by-play of the episode, we get to see the Doctor and his allies defeat an army of murdering cyborgs. But while this is happening, we spend some time getting to know the new Doctor.

I enjoyed the Doctors struggle. For the first time, we get to see him truly grasp with his, for lack of better words, humanity. He has an appearance that he doesn't understand, that Clara doesn't understand, and it creates an interesting situation. The Doctor has to come to terms with the idea that he has changed to a new form that perhaps he was not ready to deal with, a form that is old, with a frown and wrinkles, and eyebrows that tell a story of furrowing and rather than surprise or enjoyment. He is old, something the Doctor has not been for a long time. 

Clara has to come to terms with it, too. No one explained regeneration to her. She has a really hard time believing this is the Doctor, until a call from an old friend and some pushing from Madame Vastra.

I think the most interesting part of the whole episode was the finale. Seeing Clara and the Doctor in a new Tardis (which clearly reflects the new Doctor, dark and foreboding, somewhat menacing colors, and not too much shiny) having a discussion helped me understand the Doctor more than the whole episode.

The end also clearly sets-up another story-arc, this time having to do with heaven, the eventual fate of those the Doctor thwarts, and a mysterious woman who seems to run the place.

Final Thoughts:

It's too early to judge this new Doctor. Will he win our hearts sooner rather than later, that is yet to be told. But it seems like we'll see a darker Doctor who needs to deal with realities more often. Good luck, Peter Capaldi!