The Caretaker

"You have made a boyfriend error."

Writers: Gareth Roberts & Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 27 September 2014

Series: 8.06

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Clara

Synopsis

The terrifying Skovox Blitzer is ready to destroy all humanity – but worse, any any second now, Danny Pink and the Doctor are going to meet.

Verdict

The Caretaker was another very strong episode to continue our way through the modern era with Series 8! I must say that Gemma and I are absolutely loving the humour of the Twelfth Doctor and I'm so glad I am benefiting from this rewatch. I'm almost having to redefine the character as we reach the halfway point of the series because I always felt that he was very dark and distanced in this first series, but I'm finding that being removed from the era by over a decade is really good and I can appreciate the incarnation so much. The comic value he provides with his deadpan humour is just glorious. We were having a genuine discussion about whether he is the funniest Doctor! I think the Eleventh or Thirteenth might just take that position based on my current thoughts, but there's still time for my mind to change! His comment about Clara having a wash was fun but then when Danny thought he was her father his line about them looking the same age was glorious. It was so straight and genuine and that's what makes it work. He's just wonderful. I was taken aback a little by just how little the Skovox Blitzer actually features in the episode and I think that's a good thing. I like the design and I have the figure, but this episode is actually all about the Doctor meeting Danny Pink. His confusion about Clara's boyfriend and thinking it was Adrian because of his similar look to the Eleventh Doctor was great and he was so awkward in following them around as they talked about English literature. I didn't realise that I rewatched these episodes only six months or so after they were broadcast so they were still very familiar on my second blogging, but this time around things are very new and I like that. Danny being a soldier is a bit of a sore point for the Doctor and his inability to accept that he could be a maths teacher was just more marvellous humour. He just couldn't retain that information and could only envisage the former soldier being a PE teacher. Clara was in a tricky position here as the Doctor and Danny got to know each other in very frosty terms to say the least! Using the invisibility watch so Danny could see what Clara was like around the Doctor was good, although I didn't like that she was deceiving him. He knew that Danny was present though and their confrontation in the TARDIS was powerful stuff. Danny tried to undermine the Doctor and show her what he's truly like which I didn't appreciate, but I can also understand that he just wanted the truth from his girlfriend. How could he not? Danny doing his own investigation into the Doctor was amusing because it set the chronodynes wrongly and meant the Blitzer wasn't sent a billion years into the future. Just a few hours instead. The Doctor mimicking being a superior was some good improvisation when the Blitzer was about to return much sooner than expected, and whilst it was pretty simple to just have it into shutdown mode, I didn't need more as this episode was all about Danny and Clara's relationship. I'm still never going to be a fan of the whole hop on-hop off element of her being a companion, but I do love how she can never say no. She's getting comfortable! Danny knowing that he needs to be good enough for Clara in the eyes of the Doctor is good and I was glad they end on somewhat decent terms as his actions helped stop the Blitzer and give the extra distraction required for the Doctor to put his plan in place. Overall, a lot of emotion and powerful moments in an episode with some strong humour. A great little story! 

Rating: 8/10