Time Heist

"Picture the thing you want most in the universe... and decide how badly you want it."

Writers: Stephen Thompson & Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 20th September 2014

Series: 8.05

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Clara

Synopsis 

The Doctor turns bank robber when he is given a task he cannot refuse - steal from the most dangerous bank in the cosmos.

Verdict 

Time Wise was a very good episode to continue the strong eighth series of Doctor Who with our brand new Twelfth Doctor, and once again Peter Capaldi gave a stellar performance in his new role. He really has taken no time at all to settle and after reading Silhouette and The Blood Cell since watching Listen, novels of which both feature the current TARDIS pairing, I'm more than familiar with this combination now and I'm loving the contrast between them. Jenna Coleman once again looked absolutely sensational as Clara in her stylish look, something similar I'd imagine the Doctor might wear if he became a gorgeous women after a regeneration. The scene in Clara's house when she was getting ready for date number two with Danny was outstanding humour. The Doctor didn't understand, or seem to ackowledge, the whole dating concept. The reference to Clara's "filled in" face and his failure to notice her lovely hair for the evening was wonderful. But the moment that had me howling was the reference to Clara needing high heels to reach a shelf. Capaldi said it so seriously which made the comedic value from it just ooze. The continuation from The Bells of Saint John with the phone ringing was good and I'm sure that the whole Missy arc, which has been rather quiet since Into the Dalek to my surprise, will reveal all about the enigmatic women in the shop. After reading the preview for this episode in DWM this morning I was intrigued by co-writer Stephen Thompson's comments. The plot sounded good, robbing the most secure bank in the universe with an added dose of time travel. It wasn't all too dissimilar to the aforementioned latter of the novels I'd read this week with the Doctor having to break out of the most secure prison in the cosmos. The idea of a telepathic creature searching for guilt in the mind was very good. It takes the whole meaning of mens rea to a new level! The Teller looked quite weird, that's how I'd describe it. It wasn't a frightening or menacing creature and seemed to border on the line of looking a bit silly. Ms Delphox was a brilliant character and she really was cold and callous and seemed to be the true villain in the story. Psi and Saibra were good additions to the Doctor and Clara in trying to break into the bank and I liked how the memory worm made another appearance after the humorous scene with Strax in The Snowmen. It was an intriguing dynamic having a shapeshifter and an augmented human teaming up with the Doctor and Clara but it provided some superb dialogue. The traces being left by 'the architect' of the robbery was fascinating and I loved how things played out with it turning out to be the Doctor himself who set up the robbery using the TARDIS. The surprise revelation regarding Karabraxos herself was very intriguing and led to the Doctor knowing who the architect was very well. She was the wealthiest person in the universe and would destroy her own clones. Quite horrifying if you ask me! The rewards of Psi and Saibra were very nice with their heroic turns after they were thought dead but I wasn't too impressed by the Doctor and Clara's. It was too similar to Hide. I like the fact that it was rather a rescue mission than a robbery, but we did we really need the scene with them walking off home? But anyway, another very good episode! Cinematic plot, wonderful comedy and even a throwback to The Leisure Hive! Those flashbacks were of mass intrigue and the performance of Capaldi, especially in the climax, was outstanding. 

Rating: 8/10