Doctor Who

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Season 8
Season #: 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
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Critic Reviews

  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Aug 21, 2014
    100
    The episode is about making Clara, and the audience, feel at home with the new Doctor. She does, and we do.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Mary McNamara
    Aug 25, 2014
    80
    For a program known for its harum-scarum pace and keep-up-or-shut-up iconography, the Season 8 Saturday premiere of BBC America's Doctor Who opens slowly--even with the T. rex--and radiates a newly modern self-consciousness, albeit dressed in Victorian garb.
  3. The Huffington Post
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    Aug 22, 2014
    80
    There is a welcome weighty quality to this week's adventure tale, but its sense of substance comes from embracing the rich potential of the character's depth, not from overstuffing the hour with an excess of "clever" meta-commentary.
  5. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Aug 22, 2014
    80
    No complaints from this corner after attending an advance screening a week ago of the gorgeously entertaining premiere.
  6. Variety
    Reviewed by: Geoff Berkshire
    Aug 22, 2014
    80
    What Capaldi lacks in youthful energy, he more than makes up for in gravitas and wry eccentricity.... Everyone involved can take particular pride in the centerpiece restaurant tiff between Clara and the Doctor, which cements their new relationship and showcases the instant chemistry between Coleman and Capaldi.
  7. RedEye
    Reviewed by: Curt Wagner
    Aug 22, 2014
    75
    Coleman's rich performance matches Capaldi's as Clara struggles with the regeneration of her Doctor.... The Doctor may be different, but he's as entertaining as ever.
  8. Under The Radar
    Reviewed by: Cody Ray Shafer
    Aug 26, 2014
    70
    The story serves as little more than set pieces to the real conflict here, which is Clara's relationship with The Doctor.
  9. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    Aug 22, 2014
    70
    Capaldi's Doctor is not just older but looks to be drier in his humor, more reticent, more coldblooded and dangerous. From a critic’s point of view, that’s interesting and potentially an improvement.... In other ways, the season premiere is a bit of a space holder, a middling story that’s concerned mainly with introducing Mr. Capaldi and establishing the relationship between the new Doctor and his sidekick, Clara.

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best TV Season of 2014
15
#15 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
72
#72 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 346 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 232 out of 346
  2. Mixed: 55 out of 346
  3. Negative: 59 out of 346
  1. Maeta
    Aug 23, 2014
    3
    Promising a serious version of the Doctor, all we got was a body of random eccentricity, fan service and awful slapstick wrapped around a fewPromising a serious version of the Doctor, all we got was a body of random eccentricity, fan service and awful slapstick wrapped around a few seconds of character development at a point when the episode was beyond redemption. There was no real plot, though that can be given a bit of a let off as an intro for Mr Capaldi's Doctor, but the attempts at comedy came across as insulting.… Full Review »
  2. Grato
    Sep 29, 2014
    0
    Oh my,this is definitely the worst season since new Doctor Who started. I don't know what they're thinking by turning this amazing series soOh my,this is definitely the worst season since new Doctor Who started. I don't know what they're thinking by turning this amazing series so boring. I know that if things keeps so dull, many viewers will only stop watching it...… Full Review »
  3. thetvreviewman
    Nov 4, 2014
    10
    Its always tough to get used to a new doctor, but Peter Capaldi does a good job of showing us how he is ready to take on the role. This seasonIts always tough to get used to a new doctor, but Peter Capaldi does a good job of showing us how he is ready to take on the role. This season of Doctor Who continues to give the audience great science fiction action and just the right amount of weirdness that we are used to seeing in Doctor who.… Full Review »
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