Time Heist

"The Teller is never wrong when it comes to guilt."

Writers: Steve Thompson & Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 20 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 Heist was a decent episode to continue our way through the modern era rewatch Series 8! Almost immediately after clicking play on iPlayer my partner Gemma was convinced that we had watched this episode relatively recently and she wasn't all that excited for it. I'm not sure what she was thinking about as a quick blog search confirmed we hadn't watched this one together as my only viewings were on broadcast and then the following year in 2015. A decade later and I did enjoy the episode but seemingly less so than the previous two viewings. I'm not sure what it says about an episode if after three viewings I've now given it three different ratings. I'm going to need it to get novelised at this rate! I was actually surprised at how much I remembered considering the ten year gap between viewings, but it did feel somewhat obvious that the mysterious unknown and unseen architect was always going to be the Doctor. I'm still finding the Doctor's almost criticism or lack of understanding about Clara's face strange because, well, just look at her. The line about her face being coloured in was pretty good though for the Twelfth Doctor and his confusion over heels and if a high shelf was involved in her date was pretty amusing. He genuinely is perplexed by the whole concept of a date, or so I thought! The line at the end after the episode's events as he told himself that nobody could beat robbing a bank for a date! That took me a little by surprise. Is the Doctor trying to impress Clara? I must admit I'm hating that she isn't a permanent resident on the TARDIS but that seems to be a small price to pay for the Moffat era. It happened with Amy and Rory and now it's happening again here. I think the concept of robbing a bank and taking it to the future and to space is a sound concept for an episode and the heist element was really strong. The action was good and for the most part things were exciting, but I never felt like the bank was sold as being impenetrable. Sure, it had defences but the fact there were other intruders inside didn't sell it all that well! The Teller being something that could sense planned guilt was fantastic and the imagery that came from the punishment being dished out as the account closed and turning the would-be criminal's brain into soup was superb. Talk about an image that makes an impact! And there he was in a cell just kept alive with his swashed head. Gory. The addition of Psi and Saibra really helped sell the heist element. It was good for them to have their memories wiped and whilst that scene perhaps went a little long, it was good to get to know the pair and then hunt for their winnings. Psi got the memory of his family back which was lovely and Saibra cured her condition that meant she became anyone she touched. The Doctor and Clara's prize being a rescue mission and reuniting the Teller with its fellow last of its kind was pretty good too. I'm not sure about them just swanning off into the sunset together unprotected, but hey ho. I liked Ms Delphox as an authority figure at the Bank of Karabraxos but for whatever reason I didn't enjoy the whole clone element. She was burning her own clones if they were subservient or inefficient which just feels barmy! How could you do that? I guess with her being so wealthy you have to pay the price, whatever that may be. She was played well though and the Doctor giving her the TARDIS phone number brought the episode around full circle very nicely. Overall, a decent episode to continue the series! 

Rating: 7/10