S8. EP2 Into The Dalek

[Rassilon]

What did you think?

[misterharry]

I have to say I was a bit dubious about this one beforehand - the concept of the Doctor and Clara being miniaturised and injected into a Dalek sounded naff. But I thought it worked well - though the Dalek interior was curiously hollow, a lot more than I thought it should be. Overall, another good episode, and the introduction of Danny Pink is promising.

[Catsmate]

Fairly classic filler episode. Rather tacked on nod to series continuity. Some good bits though; "You are a good Dalek". The "Trust me!.........He has dead already" was reminscent (to me) of Doctor¹

A little heavy handed with the military parallels (and how would anyone survive long against Daleks with such a poor grasp of tactics?). And very Impossible Voyage.

[ninjaconor]

Capaldi is turning out very First Doctor and I really like it. It's a very interesting change of pace for the show.

[jennysfan]

I'm seeing a fair wack of 7 in him too.

[Catsmate]

Yes rather manipulative and callous. I like that in a Time Lord.

[jeffrywith1e]

in my opinion, the answer is "no"

Not a good man.

On the account of showing absolutely no forgiveness with Blue's request to join. Yes she was a soldier. And perhaps she is one with a change of heart. But the Doctor shut her down. I felt bad for her.

Therefore, not a good man.

[Escher]

Aug 31, 2014 20:40:24 GMT jeffrywith1e said:

in my opinion, the answer is "no"

Not a good man.

On the account of showing absolutely no forgiveness with Blue's request to join. Yes she was a soldier. And perhaps she is one with a change of heart. But the Doctor shut her down. I felt bad for her.

Therefore, not a good man.

I agree. Not only is it quite dark, certainly VERY 1st Doctor, Moffat doesn't do 'obvious' and I think he's letting us know in no uncertain terms that Capadi's Doctor is a cold one for a reason and it might lead to something special. It might be shocking or catastrophic but I think there will be consequences of his coldness this season.

Also, this season is reminiscent of very classic Doctor Who. I saw him channelling Tom Baker, Pertwee, Troughton and Hartnell. That scene where they crossed the boundary of the Dalek's eye stalk in distorted slow motion was very eerie indeed. Worthy of an early Pertwee episode brought right up to date with the special effects and music. Very alien and uncanny. Which is essentially what Classic Doctor Who was in the best bits. I'm not warming to the Doctor as yet, because, and pardon my language, so far he's a bastard ("he's the layer on top -say a few words?") but I do think he is *brilliant*.

[jeffrywith1e]

I'm with you on your opinions here.

So what about this woman receiving some of these episodes' casualties? She tells them they're in Heaven. Pours them a cup a tea. Interesting foundations for a story arc finale, probably.

[Rel Fexive]

Interesting, I thought, that both the Doctor and 'Missy' saved someone just moments before they were about to die... or possibly just after for Gretchen.

[Hedgewick]

Aug 31, 2014 22:11:49 GMT Rel Fexive said:

Interesting, I thought, that both the Doctor and 'Missy' saved someone just moments before they were about to die... or possibly just after for Gretchen.

Indeed. This may not be a coincidence. This may be a hint of just what sort of technology makes "heaven" possible.

[Catsmate]

Aug 31, 2014 22:26:36 GMT Hedgewick said:

Aug 31, 2014 22:11:49 GMT Rel Fexive said:

Interesting, I thought, that both the Doctor and 'Missy' saved someone just moments before they were about to die... or possibly just after for Gretchen.

Indeed. This may not be a coincidence. This may be a hint of just what sort of technology makes "heaven" possible.

Exactly. I found the parallel quite striking; grabbing people who were supposed to die is a classic recruitment method for time travel fiction, right back to Leiber's The Big Time.

So I wonder what and why Missy is recruiting?

[Stormcrow]

Aug 31, 2014 21:00:30 GMT Escher said:

Moffat doesn't do 'obvious'

Eh? Moffat doesn't do anything BUT obvious, and then he makes up lies and red herrings to disguise the fact.

I'm thinking that some of Moffat's nonsense is being corrected by the new executive producer, Brian Minchin. I don't know if this is the case. In my opinion Moffat is a great writer, but not such a great producer. He needs someone to tell him when he's being stupid.

[thereviewer]

You know, I think I'm starting to get Capaldi's Doctor's personality a bit more now. I think is Doctor's trying to be a good man even though the logic of the universe tells him otherwise. I think I can get behind that.

In terms of this episode, it was good. I liked it a lot. Reminded me a bit of 'The Invisible Enemy,' which is one of my favorite 4th Doctor episodes (my fave being 'Genesis of The Daleks.') Capaldi's joyous cry of 'whee!' while traveling down the Dalek also made me laugh. Cool to see him use the sonic as a sort-of blowtorch again like he did during the Screwdriver's first appearance. Also, can't wait for Robin Hood. Hope Danny Pink joins the TARDIS crew soon.

[Aerzyk]

Totally reminded me of Hartnell's Doctor here. Wasn't too impressed w/the episode overall, but Capaldi was great.

Also, glad these are more like the classic Daleks, not the new-car-Pixar-color-coded ones =P

[Stormcrow]

Sept 3, 2014 10:45:09 GMT Aerzyk said:

glad these are more like the classic Daleks, not the new-car-Pixar-color-coded ones =P

It looks like the memo that reads Everyone hates them! finally got through to Moffat's desk.

[Hedgewick]

I was surprised that the New Paradigm Daleks didn't even make a cameo in this one. You'd figure there would be one running the control center on the mothership, but no! Not a hint of rainbow colors. Yes, there's definitely been a memo.

[Curufea]

Sept 1, 2014 11:27:27 GMT Catsmate said:

Aug 31, 2014 22:26:36 GMT Hedgewick said:

Indeed. This may not be a coincidence. This may be a hint of just what sort of technology makes "heaven" possible.

Exactly. I found the parallel quite striking; grabbing people who were supposed to die is a classic recruitment method for time travel fiction, right back to Leiber's The Big Time.

So I wonder what and why Missy is recruiting?

Maybe she's just the introduction liaison officer for The City of the Saved?

[Catsmate]

Sept 4, 2014 12:05:30 GMT Curufea said:

Sept 1, 2014 11:27:27 GMT Catsmate said:

Exactly. I found the parallel quite striking; grabbing people who were supposed to die is a classic recruitment method for time travel fiction, right back to Leiber's The Big Time.

So I wonder what and why Missy is recruiting?

Maybe she's just the introduction liaison officer for The City of the Saved?

Hmmm, she's very specific about whom she greets.

[Stormcrow]

Sept 4, 2014 12:21:48 GMT Catsmate said:

Hmmm, she's very specific about whom she greets.

Probably, but we don't actually KNOW that. For all we know, she's really St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. (I don't expect this, of course.)

[thereviewer]

Sept 4, 2014 13:55:45 GMT Stormcrow said:

Sept 4, 2014 12:21:48 GMT Catsmate said:

Hmmm, she's very specific about whom she greets.

Probably, but we don't actually KNOW that. For all we know, she's really St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. (I don't expect this, of course.)

My best guess is that the people who have 'died' have actually been teleported via a vortex manipulator or some kind of de-matt technology. I suppose this is the case since when the Half-Face bot woke up in 'The Promised Lands,' he lost that gaping hole in his chest. Also take into account that we never saw Gretchen actually die, so this might support my theory unless we actually see a real human die and then wake up there. (Though I suppose she could also have some medical tools where she is.)

[Aerzyk]

A BBC article called the character, Missy, the Gatekeeper of the Nethersphere. I think.

I remember back when 11 was trying to reboot the universe w/Amy or whatever, & River said something about the Doctor going into Netherspace, the place between worlds.

Related?

EDIT: Just thinking "aloud" here. She seems to be recruiting people the Doctor (got) killed. I wonder if she's like building some kind of force to take on the Doctor? Maybe she's getting their "data" & creating Flesh people of them? That's kinda out there, I guess..

[zebaroth]

dose anyone else think that the dalek is now a humanized dalek like in the Evil of the daleks with Patrick thorgten as the 2nd doctor

[Catsmate]

Sept 5, 2014 2:17:56 GMT zebaroth said:

dose anyone else think that the dalek is now a humanized dalek like in the Evil of the daleks with Patrick thorgten as the 2nd doctor

Those Daleks were more stable, less violent and more individualistic; Rusty seems to have just changed his focus from killing all non-Daleks to all Daleks.

Of course you could go with the idea that some of the humanised Daleks survived the first (?) Dalek civil war and perpetuated themselves...

[zebaroth]

Sept 5, 2014 9:38:27 GMT Catsmate said:

Sept 5, 2014 2:17:56 GMT zebaroth said:

dose anyone else think that the dalek is now a humanized dalek like in the Evil of the daleks with Patrick thorgten as the 2nd doctor

Those Daleks were more stable, less violent and more individualistic; Rusty seems to have just changed his focus from killing all non-Daleks to all Daleks.

Of course you could go with the idea that some of the humanised Daleks survived the first (?) Dalek civil war and perpetuated themselves...

i have came up with an idea for a character years ago that is humanised Dalek that survived
he go's by the name Stanly and he is a pacifist he uses a perception filter to look like a guy
in a wheel chair with voice box

[Eryx]

Really enjoyed this one. Reminded me a lot of the 4th Doctor story The Invisible Enemy but a lot better.

[hobbitfan]

I liked it.
But...it suffered from a serious lack of originality. And it looked downright cheap in some spots.