You may be expecting something along the lines of School Reunion since almost all of the action takes place at Coal Hill School, but it actually feels more like one of co-writer’s Gareth Robert’s previous episodes, The Lodger, in many ways. For a start it’s a funny episode, probably the most comical one so far, though that’s not to say that it doesn’t have its fair share of scares and more serious moments too. It’s also very character driven, we get to learn a lot more about a couple of the roles, and their relationships with both the Doctor and Clara, which will be important as we enter the second half of the season after this week.
I have to say that I have enjoyed most of the show so far; I love Danny Pink whose introduction was both typically timey wimey and intriguing, I like speculating about Missy as this year’s mysterious female (yes this happens every season, but the payoff is always different and it works for me) and the stories have been as varied and entertaining as ever. The only real problem for me so far has been Capaldi’s Doctor, not that I’ve disliked him in the role, far from it. In fact I have welcomed his darker, grumpy take on it, the way he doesn’t always see what’s right in front of him or mistakes the simplest human interaction is fantastic, and only adds to the alienness of the overall character. The problem that I’ve been having is that I can’t quite seem to forget that it’s Capaldi, the actor, playing the Doctor.
I'm not entirely sure why this is, though I suspect it could be partly down to me missing the previous incarnation still, I had similar trouble with Pertwee and McCoy at first. Matt Smith was one of ‘my Doctors’, and although I’ve long learnt the lesson that your favourite’s face will change before you are ready for it to, it’s still always hard to move on at times. Perhaps it’s also partly down to the Malcolm Tucker effect too; shuttitty up was a funny line last week, but did also bring me out of the moment rather than keep me immersed in the scene. As ever though, there is always a tipping point where the new Doctor just becomes
the Doctor, and for me this is the one is where I have finally fallen for Twelve.
‘John Smith’ episodes are usually fun, the Doctor trying to fit in to a domestic situation and pretend to be human isn’t ever a plan that goes off without a hitch, and that’s before you factor in this incumbent’s complete lack of people skills. He thinks that he is very cleverly playing the part of an undercover caretaker well, when in reality he is being totally detached, mistaken or just plain ignorant to much of what is going on around him in the school. I am a big fan of Robert’s work on Who and Sarah Jane Adventures, his scripts are always full of comedy moments that bring a character to life and, coincidentally, Capaldi is a superb comedian, especially when he plays the straight man feeding those around him the set up to the joke. We saw hints of this in
Robots and
Heist but this time, for me at least, it feels more uniformed and consistent which means that he is able to drive the plot forward more easily as the leading man.
Then of course there are the threats, it wouldn't be Doctor Who without them after all. The most obvious one being the monster of the week, a Skovoz Blitzer, which is a ruthless fighting machine drawn to the area by a concentration of Artron emissions, which are presumably created by the Doctor and Clara’s many trips in the TARDIS. It’s as visually creative as last week’s Teller, and should get children just as excited and on the edge of their seats once it starts scuttling around corridors shooting its laser beams. As usual though there is a second, more personal, conflict brewing too. It’s one that’s been on the cards for some time and will finally come to head now that all three protagonists are all caught up in the same school and bound to come face to face…just how will the Doctor get on with Clara’s ex-soldier boyfriend?
The Caretaker airs on Saturday 27th September at 8.30pm on BBC 1 and BBC 1 HD in the UK, and at 9pm on BBC America. Below are a few dialogue teasers to see you through until then. Don't forget to come back to vote in our poll after the episode and let us know what you thought.
“He’s a bit intense looking, did you see those eyebrows…did he wink at you?”
“Yeah, but last year you said she was a very disruptive influence”
“Don’t mind this old man, you two kids just pop off together”
“The others before me, did they let you get away with this sort of thing?”
“Can I go in space?”
“I trust him, he’s never let me down”
“Go and canoodle, Doctors orders”
“It’s funny, you only really know what someone thinks of you when you know what lies they’ve told you”
“Yes John Smith’s the name, but you know here’s the thing, most people just call me…the Doctor”
“I’m not a P.E. teacher, I’m a Maths teacher”
Trailer Teaser
“Whatever future humanity might have, it depends on the choice that is made right here, right now"
About the Author - Sandi
Sandi is part of the Senior Staff at SpoilerTV having been a contributor from back in the Lost days of DarkUFO, and who now writes previews for Banshee, The Musketeers, Atlantis, and other BBC shows. She also enjoys watching and commenting on other shows such as Sons of Anarchy, Hannibal, Game of Thrones and Elementary.
