WATCH ALONG | DOCTOR WHO | 8x1 | Deep Breath
Added 2023-05-12 14:01:02 +0000 UTCA Few Notes:
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Comments
What bugged me on this wasn't that the new Doctor was old, they seemed to need to say it over and over, but the fact they told Clara she was in the wrong by even Vastra. Poor writing.
cbbred
2025-03-07 06:47:36 +0000 UTCI can definitely see that... especially with the type of Doctor 12 ends up becoming.
Britany Felix
2024-02-04 00:30:48 +0000 UTCI think they meant for there to be more to him recognizing his face, more than just the nod to him playing other characters. I took it to mean that the new personality - the bitterness and anger and directness - was something he was familiar with from his past. (And also a clever nod to the previous characters.) If it was just the previous characters thing, I don't think they would have really gone back to that joke multiple times. There was a huge focus on mirrors as a motif in this episode, culminating in that shot near the end where he holds up the platter to show the Half-Face Man himself, but sees his own reflection in the other side. As well as Madame Vastra's whole veil thing, which indicates to me that any talk of faces/appearances is a clue that we need to be thinking about what's happening below the surface. Anyway, that's just my 2 cents.
Brandon Miracle
2024-02-04 00:22:55 +0000 UTCApparently, this file was accidentally deleted instead of 8.2 when I reuploaded that one. So, I'm re-exporting 8.1 now and will update the post with the new link as soon as it's ready. I'll comment again once it's been updated.
Britany Felix
2023-05-24 17:52:41 +0000 UTCI'm a bit late to this one and it says the file was deleted! Are you planning to reupload?
Otso Casey-Stewart
2023-05-24 16:11:36 +0000 UTCI'm so happy you've made it this far. I've been looking forward to this because I like Capaldi's Doctor more than I liked Smith, but that's just my opinion. I also like the stories that are coming, so I'm excited to continue the journey.
David Blau
2023-05-21 18:41:26 +0000 UTCI love Capaldi, so I've been so excited to start his run here. I'm a little biased because he's from the same place as me. 10 is my Childhood favourite, but 12 is the Doctor I enjoy watching the most now. Can't wait to get into the story with Missy, absolutely love her.
Rain
2023-05-19 21:03:55 +0000 UTCHAHA! I got the email notification about your original comment and noticed it had been deleted when I went to respond so I was hoping you had found it. Glad you get a "bonus" reaction this week! :)
Britany Felix
2023-05-19 19:18:07 +0000 UTCOh, wow!!! I didn't realize that. That is a really sweet cameo. Thank you for sharing!
Britany Felix
2023-05-19 19:17:12 +0000 UTCNope, sure haven't. lol
Britany Felix
2023-05-19 19:16:50 +0000 UTCLooking forward to it! :)
Britany Felix
2023-05-19 19:16:42 +0000 UTCWas so confused at this weeks upload until I realised I'd missed this one! Now I feel like I have a bonus episode this week lol
Rain
2023-05-19 19:15:37 +0000 UTCThe homeless man at the beginning is Elizabeth Sladen's (Sara Jane) husband. She had already passed away by this point, so it really was a sweet cameo.
SeeJay
2023-05-16 06:20:37 +0000 UTCIdentical cousins? she says with a scoff. I guess you never heard of Patty Duke :)
Michael T
2023-05-16 00:09:01 +0000 UTCOh, this is where the fun starts!! Although this is my second favorite Doctor, he has the most of my favorite finales... Series 8 finale is amazing :)
Jaycob Mantle
2023-05-14 21:36:13 +0000 UTCThis is such a great analysis of this episode! Totally agree with all of it, especially the Clara stuff. I actually really love Clara’s reaction to the regeneration, even if it’s painful/frustrating. Not every companion will be able to find it easy, and it makes total sense she doesn’t, as you’ve so well explained!
Lyla
2023-05-13 20:04:49 +0000 UTCI think that 800 years going ahead is very important, as is the fact while he spent those 800 years defendng a town against the mightiest armies in the universe he was also accepting and reincorporating all his War Doctor and Time War memories back into himself post the 50th. Thats a rough 800 years! Regards Clara, I think there can be often a stark differences between intellectually knowing something and directly experiencing it. And with Rose you've got to remember she went from an older male figure, who often had more a father type attitude towards her, to a young, handsome dashing flirtly Doctor. Clara had the opposite experience, she had her young, dashing, flirtly Doctor and he turned into an old grumpy Scotsman - thats got to be harder to deal with than the other way round. And I speak as an old grumpy Scotsman and take it from me there are not a lot of beautiful young 20 something year old women out there who would take well to their handsome young partner suddenly turning into me! So I cant say as I blame Clara here, or think it out of character for her.
BobBob
2023-05-13 11:27:43 +0000 UTCYeah I have mixed feelings about Clara's reaction to the regeneration. On one hand I get it. It would be confusing and scary and 12 is VERY different from 11, but on the other hand, Clara should have been more prepared than that. Not only did she already know about regeneration from previous conversations with the Doctor, but she seems to have memories of all his past forms from her time in his time stream and she even met two other regenerations in person. The comparison is a stark contrast. Rose had no idea about regeneration at all when she saw the man she loved "die" in front of her with basically no warning and turn into someone else. And yet she is able to "see" him after spending approximately 5 minutes with him once he is conscious. I would have preferred to see a very different take on the companion reacting to regeneration with Clara. We already got the rejection and fear with Rose. Instead of retreading that dynamic, I wish Clara would have been the opposite. Where she would be a grounding influence for the new Doctor while he was figuring out who he was. And yeah the 2000+ years old reveal. I think that tells us that he spent at least 800 years on Trenzalore. Almost half his life on single battlefield.
GrissilyBear
2023-05-13 08:21:21 +0000 UTCI'm so glad you like this episode, it really is great. Series 8 is my favourite series of New Who so I can't wait to watch through it with you. 12 and Clara are my favourite TARDIS duo for many reasons, most of which I can't tell you lol. But you've already seen a bit of the banter they have in this episode and you'll see more of their dynamic in the next episode. Peter and Jenna are BFFs in real life and they have amazing natural chemistry, so I'm excited to get into this series with you. Oh and as for Clara's reaction to the regeneration. Her hostility was just fear. Clara comes across strong and brave and egotistical and bossy lol but all of that is actually a front for her fears and insecurities. She's been through a lot in her life and she's terrified of dying too young like her mum did. That's why she said to the droid that she's terrified of dying. The Doctor was the first person she'd ever met who seemed like he'd last forever, she's met his past faces and knew about regenerations, but her Doctor stayed the same. So when he changed she was terrified, she'd lost her Doctor and she'd had another hard reminder that everything ends. And The Doctor knows Clara so well that he knew how scared she'd be and that's why he made that phone call. To snap her out of it and to tell her that he's still there and he's still with her despite looking different and to ask her to stay with him because he needs her too. They're just two people scared of dying and scared of change and scared of the love they have for each other and I think that's beautiful. 😭💕
Siobhan Linehan
2023-05-13 01:56:51 +0000 UTCI love how you tried to hold your breathe too. I try every time. I think the episode does a brilliant job of setting up the themes explored with this doctor. What Vastra says about the doctor’s veil lifting is key, this doctor has dropped a facade and this iteration is beautifully complicated. I do love how this episode stunningly shot this episode is and it’s paced so well. Personally, not necessarily a fan of the phone call as I think it cheapens slightly Clara learning to “see” this doctor for herself but I don’t hate it. The husband of the late, great Elizabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane) plays the tramp whose coat the doctor steals. Glad you enjoyed it, I think you will enjoy the season. PS. They are called the Paternoster Gang.
Carys Barnes
2023-05-12 22:00:35 +0000 UTCAlright everyone. Deep Breath. Side note: 12, to me at least, has the prettiest eyes of any version of the Doctor. The stare he gives to the camera is chilling in the best possible way.
MattyIce777
2023-05-12 20:52:15 +0000 UTCI think it was very smart of Steven Moffat to write the ending with 11 calling Clara and helping her accept the new Doctor after how Tennant's regeneration left a lot of people resentful towards Matt due to 10 comparing regeneration to dying.
Tommy
2023-05-12 19:07:45 +0000 UTCLike the 50th anniversary, episode one of Series 8 was also shown in cinemas & once again it was fabulous to watch Doctor Who on the big screen. It would be fantastic to see it happen again for the 60th this year 😍
Jason
2023-05-12 14:44:49 +0000 UTC
