Doctor Who

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

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  1. 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 so boring. I know that if things keeps so dull, many viewers will only stop watching it...
  2. 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 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.
  3. Xzenor
    Oct 11, 2014
    3
    I was a real fan of the 2005 series up until now.
    The entire season feels like it's gonna be the last one. Like they're not putting any energy into it because they're pulling the plug anyway.
    It's rushed, there's not really a back-story, it's covered with plot-holes and it's insulting the viewers intelligence on more than one occasion. The new doctor is a terribly written selfish    I was a real fan of the 2005 series up until now.
    The entire season feels like it's gonna be the last one. Like they're not putting any energy into it because they're pulling the plug anyway.
    It's rushed, there's not really a back-story, it's covered with plot-holes and it's insulting the viewers intelligence on more than one occasion.
    The new doctor is a terribly written selfish prick, with Alzheimer because he seems to have forgotten everything his previous regenerations learned and stood for..

    So much is wrong about this season. Doctor who has really lost its soul.    … Expand
  4. 1371113
    Sep 19, 2014
    2
    Not liking this season much. Sad, b/c I wanted to. The new Dr is boring and I don't care much what happens to him. The new Tardis interior seems like compensation to try and interest us, knowing that the plot and actors will not. Kind of...hmmm... I guess the word is shallow. The Tennant and Smith seasons seemed to be about complicated men who acted shallow and playful, occasionallyNot liking this season much. Sad, b/c I wanted to. The new Dr is boring and I don't care much what happens to him. The new Tardis interior seems like compensation to try and interest us, knowing that the plot and actors will not. Kind of...hmmm... I guess the word is shallow. The Tennant and Smith seasons seemed to be about complicated men who acted shallow and playful, occasionally showing their (often tragic) depth and power. This season seems like shallow people trying to act deep, in other words, posers or maybe high schoolish, something that would play after Teen Wolf. Not my cup of tea so rather than pursue this season I will wait until I have some time to waste and catch it on Hulu or some such thing.… Expand
  5. LegendofDaniel
    Sep 9, 2014
    3
    Disappointing. It's not even the new doctor. The script was terrible, and even some of the acting was bad. The story was downright confusing; I lost track of it about 20 minutes in, and Capaldi's forced quirkiness was off-putting.
  6. Yokomoko
    Sep 15, 2014
    0
    The new doctor plays this new series well, because the new series is boring, stupid and infantile.

    There is a very vague story line and frankly I wonder how they are going to eek this out for another (however many more likes the doctor has) series.
  7. Dickison
    Oct 6, 2014
    0
    I've been watching Doctor Who since 2005, every episode. Series 8 may break that habit. The writing is terrible, Capaldi's attitude is terrible. Get some writers that know SciFi, not high school dropouts that have been given an assignment to write something they hate. This is not the venue for C class horror stories, it's for SCI-FI. Find writers that know the difference.
  8. AlexanderLuthor
    Oct 4, 2014
    2
    Having watched three episodes so far, I find the writing and the new doctor to be just dreadful. What a bitter disappointment. And I thought season 7 was bad.
  9. Goopler
    Oct 9, 2014
    0
    Series 8 keeps getting worse. It's lame and boring. Many of my friends aren't even watching Doctor Who anymore, and I'm seriously considering stopping watching it too. It's the worst series so far.
    I mean, 7 terribly boring episodes ina row? What are they thinking? Don't they want people to watch it anymore? It used to be such a fun show. I',m definitely HATING this series so far. I have    Series 8 keeps getting worse. It's lame and boring. Many of my friends aren't even watching Doctor Who anymore, and I'm seriously considering stopping watching it too. It's the worst series so far.
    I mean, 7 terribly boring episodes ina row? What are they thinking? Don't they want people to watch it anymore? It used to be such a fun show. I',m definitely HATING this series so far. I have nothing good to say about it. It's like they're just ignoring everything the show and the Doctor stood for.    … Expand
  10. madscientist15
    Oct 16, 2014
    0
    By far the worst Dr. Who series of the new era. I have watched all episodes starting from the 9th on to the 12th doctor, and while the scriptwriting was tanking in Season 7 it has hit rock bottom in Season 8. Coupled with a cantankerous senile doctor that can't seem to remember anything experienced in his past 1500 or more years of existence and a "companion" who takes on the role of theBy far the worst Dr. Who series of the new era. I have watched all episodes starting from the 9th on to the 12th doctor, and while the scriptwriting was tanking in Season 7 it has hit rock bottom in Season 8. Coupled with a cantankerous senile doctor that can't seem to remember anything experienced in his past 1500 or more years of existence and a "companion" who takes on the role of the Time Lord far too often and you have a recipe for complete disaster.

    Steven Moffat is ovbiously written out at this point. The plots are shallow, insulting, extremely childish, and a great departure from the fine television normally expected when tuning into the BBC. Instead of an old, wise man with some quirks taking his companions (and the audience) to experience the wonders, horrors, and pathos of the universe we get Ms. Frizzle and the Magic School B̶u̶s̶ Box.

    Please, please hand over the show to someone else; all the previous seasons had guest writers yet all we really have had in this series is a steady diet of Moffat's social agenda promoting soap opera. I've quit watching it as of the 5th episode and so have most of the people I know.    … Expand
  11. PCAriza
    Sep 29, 2014
    0
    Really boring season. I'm not at all pleased by it. The episodes make me yawn and the new Doctor is pretty much an idiot. It's been already 6 episodes and until now, it's been lame. Last episode was the best and even so it wasn't fun like doctor Who used to be. I wished Matt haven't left, because Capaldi is not working. He doesn't feel like the Doctor. Just a confused boring guy.
  12. mosconstein
    Nov 12, 2014
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This season is AWFUL! I like the Capaldi's grumpy Doctor but Clara is awfully Mary Poppins-like. The science in most of the episodes is all screwed-up (egg-moon??), there's no continuity with other series (where's River?) and the all Master-Missy issue is just understated.… Expand
  13. blaxout1213
    Nov 16, 2014
    3
    When the doctor opened the TARDIS doors after following the coordinates in the last episode, that's where this season led. Peter did a great job but there was too much drama this season, bring it back to reality.
  14. egg
    Sep 2, 2014
    3
    This is based on the first episode only, and I'd like to say don't listen to the critics. They're just kissing asses. This episode was a struggle to watch because it was so painfully boring, and with extremely dumb and childish concepts, and I know that this show is like that at times but these are just unimaginative. It feels as though Moffat wrote this in a half delirious state on paperThis is based on the first episode only, and I'd like to say don't listen to the critics. They're just kissing asses. This episode was a struggle to watch because it was so painfully boring, and with extremely dumb and childish concepts, and I know that this show is like that at times but these are just unimaginative. It feels as though Moffat wrote this in a half delirious state on paper soggy from his semen produced when he thinks about himself. He needs to go. The new Doctor should bring change but Moffat hasn't moved on, which is why Peter Capaldi doesn't sound like he knows who he's supposed to be. It's because no one knows who he should be. I just feel like he can do so much more but Moffat has given him nothing.… Expand
  15. 22312065
    Oct 4, 2014
    2
    This series is fast becoming a dull outing and I'm sure it's American following will part ways soon at this pace!
    This is how season 8 part 1 has performed.
    Ep 1 average E2 poor E3 dreadful E4 above average E5 best in series E6 dreadful E7 dreadful I would almost say this is the worst season so far since the doctors return. Check back later for season 8 part 2! Will it redeem it's self    This series is fast becoming a dull outing and I'm sure it's American following will part ways soon at this pace!
    This is how season 8 part 1 has performed.
    Ep 1 average E2 poor E3 dreadful E4 above average E5 best in series E6 dreadful E7 dreadful
    I would almost say this is the worst season so far since the doctors return.
    Check back later for season 8 part 2! Will it redeem it's self or crash and burn.    … Expand
  16. donald
    Oct 10, 2014
    0
    Numerous plot holes, Deus Ex Machina at the end, Revolting attempts at moralising. Capaldi's acting is the only thing of any worth so far, that's my impression from 1-8th episodes.
  17. kirkers
    Nov 28, 2014
    0
    The so-called "Finale" to the simply dreadful debut season of the 12th Doctor certainly does nothing to break the mould. The misery just keeps on coming. I can really identify with dead Danny in the Cyberman suit. I am sure my face must look at least a bit like his while slogging through these concluding episodes. I cannot even bear to go over the details, as it simply brings on aThe so-called "Finale" to the simply dreadful debut season of the 12th Doctor certainly does nothing to break the mould. The misery just keeps on coming. I can really identify with dead Danny in the Cyberman suit. I am sure my face must look at least a bit like his while slogging through these concluding episodes. I cannot even bear to go over the details, as it simply brings on a sensation not unlike post-traumatic stress disorder. Suffice it to say that all the potentially meaningful relationships that might have developed over the course of the season (but never really did) have been brutally slagged off and binned. Like the dear departed Danny, I too am dying to get away from the show. If the Mistress (once known as the Master) is lucky, she really has been popped off permanently. As gruesome a character as she was, at least she offered a smidgen of passing entertainment -- but not nearly enough to wish for her regeneration. If I were Clara, I would be thrilled to cut my ties with this Doctor. Peter Capaldi deserves to be left utterly abandoned and alone. Just try living with that awful Scottish accent and attitude all by yourself! The only advantage will be that there will be no one around to whom he can brazenly and pointlessly lie through his teeth about virtually anything of importance. I do not envy Saint Nick figuring out what this very bad boy deserves for Christmas. If the holiday special turns out to be anything beyond a lump of coal, it will be a Christmas miracle indeed.

    This marks the low point of Doctor Who since its revival in 2005. In fact, I don't think things have been quite this bad since the miserable, mean-spirited but mercifully brief 3-season tenure of the 6th Doctor (Colin Baker) in the mid-1980s. At times Mr Capaldi seems to be channeling Mr Baker's negativity, not to mention his penchant for finger-pointing. At least Mr Baker's garb was more colourful; Mr Capaldi's outfit seems perfectly suited to the very up-tight Presbyterian minister role he has settled into.

    Will the 12th Doctor be quickly jettisoned like the 6th? Given the damage currently being done to the franchise, I'm actually rooting against Mr Capaldi & Co. going beyond a single season. Time for another hiatus, perhaps? Let a whole new team emerge in a few years' time to take up the cause once inspiration rather than mere repetition guides the development of Who-ville.    … Expand
  18. lsfdgdhh
    Sep 29, 2014
    0
    Not pleased at all with the season. It's lame. The Doctor has zero charisma. They decided to ignore all the Doctor and Clara had. And the attempts to be funny... Embarassing. Worst 6 episodes I've seen of NW. And they're all from this season.
  19. Trendingfish
    Oct 21, 2014
    0
    Series 8 have been so bad it's even hard to describe it. Ugh... It's definitely the worst series since Doctor Who's revival. The Doctor is now a nasty guy that's rude just for the sake of being rude. People call him dark, but that's not it. He's just sick. Oh, and TV is already saturated with dark toned stuff, so when people say they're doing something new with the show by making itSeries 8 have been so bad it's even hard to describe it. Ugh... It's definitely the worst series since Doctor Who's revival. The Doctor is now a nasty guy that's rude just for the sake of being rude. People call him dark, but that's not it. He's just sick. Oh, and TV is already saturated with dark toned stuff, so when people say they're doing something new with the show by making it darker, it makes me want to laugh.
    The attempts to be funny are so lame it makes me sick
    Too many things that insult our intelligence are happening during series 8.
    The Doctor simply "forgot" who he really is and everything he stood for.
    The episodes are so boring that it's making people give up watching it. My children, for example (who are 8 and 11) used to love watching Doctor Who, but know, they say it's not entertaining anymore. They already stopped watching it.
    The big storyline, or arc, of the show isn't interesting.
    I wished the Doctor regenerated already, and that the writing got better. Otherwise, I'll give up.
    Series 8 makes me sick!!!    … Expand
  20. Lannart
    Oct 21, 2014
    0
    Season 8 has been so bad I just don't care anymore. I don't want to watch it anymore. I don't crave for new episodes as I used to. I just don't care. The Doctor is an idiot, Clara is terrible, the supporting characters are worst than that. If they wanted to make fans just don't care anymore, I congratulate them, because they're succeeding. They revive a series renewing it for the type ofSeason 8 has been so bad I just don't care anymore. I don't want to watch it anymore. I don't crave for new episodes as I used to. I just don't care. The Doctor is an idiot, Clara is terrible, the supporting characters are worst than that. If they wanted to make fans just don't care anymore, I congratulate them, because they're succeeding. They revive a series renewing it for the type of audience we have today, but then they decided to screw up with all work they had over last past 9 years. Because that's what they're doing. Throwing all that happened from season 1 to 7 down at the garbage disposal. And for what? A delusional dream that it's what the fans want? Pathetic.… Expand
  21. vincerus
    Nov 11, 2014
    0
    Ok so I created an account to express how bad season 8 was. So I watched all of season 8 in two days. I have a miniature Tardis on my desk at work. I'm a big fan of the creativity, storyline, amazingness of the previous doctors. It was a great show. I forced myself to continue watching the episodes in season 8 because they were boring, sporadic, and did not seem relevant to anything.Ok so I created an account to express how bad season 8 was. So I watched all of season 8 in two days. I have a miniature Tardis on my desk at work. I'm a big fan of the creativity, storyline, amazingness of the previous doctors. It was a great show. I forced myself to continue watching the episodes in season 8 because they were boring, sporadic, and did not seem relevant to anything. So I was really counting on the last 2 episodes to make everything make sense. However the last 2 episodes where poop. hot garbage. liquid feces in a blender, no top. I think the writer never seen a real doctor who episode in his life. Any doctor who fan that says they liked season 8 is lying to themselves. I understand its hard to see such a great show get ruined like this. So we pretend it was good. Its not the end of the world stop pretending. No matter what his face looks like we all know that this WAS NOT the Doctor.… Expand
  22. Swampy
    Nov 9, 2014
    1
    Aside from Mummy On The Orient Express and Flatline, Series 8 has been impressive at how underwhelming and poorly written it has managed to be. The story lines generally lacked any sort of depth and overtly relied on clichéd plot devices.. an example, having established the "guidelines" of the Clara/Doctor relationship... á la "Clara I'm not your boyfriend" they rush in a stand in loveAside from Mummy On The Orient Express and Flatline, Series 8 has been impressive at how underwhelming and poorly written it has managed to be. The story lines generally lacked any sort of depth and overtly relied on clichéd plot devices.. an example, having established the "guidelines" of the Clara/Doctor relationship... á la "Clara I'm not your boyfriend" they rush in a stand in love interest for Clara, and even worse a whiny control freak at that.. just shallow! The stories are so full of plot holes the entire series could fall through them... Then there's the poor sound editing, coupled with Peter Capaldi's strong Glaswegian accent leaves the viewer often wondering "what the hell did he just say?" and probably missing an important plot point! Which in itself is incredibly annoying because actual plot points are few and far between!… Expand
  23. billybob1212
    Oct 2, 2014
    2
    People judge the new doctor for being old, but that is not a problem. What is a problem however, is the writers absolutely slaughtering everything the show ever stood for. The new episodes like "Listen" are full of plot holes, and quite frankly it's becoming a soap opera. The companion: "Clara", is taking centre stage and she certainly isn't as interesting as the 2000 year old Time Lord.People judge the new doctor for being old, but that is not a problem. What is a problem however, is the writers absolutely slaughtering everything the show ever stood for. The new episodes like "Listen" are full of plot holes, and quite frankly it's becoming a soap opera. The companion: "Clara", is taking centre stage and she certainly isn't as interesting as the 2000 year old Time Lord. The humour attempts are as dry as a bone, and we are just not seeing much of the new doctor's personality. The past ones have had a lot of depth of character, and practically none of that has been seen yet. Even the "anger" he is supposed to be famous for is rather weak. It is not Capaldi's fault though, new writers are required because Steven Moffat has well and truly lost his touch, and the show is nothing like classic Doctor Who or the previous modern seasons of the show; it's worse than nearly all of them.… Expand
  24. mag07
    Oct 26, 2014
    0
    I tried for several weeks to give Capaldi a chance. Questionable writing aside, he just does not seem to be fit for the role. It's a bit strange, if you watch him without voice, he seems really good. The moment you turn up the volume, he comes across as dull and awkward. If it wasn't for Clara and the fact that I simply love the Doctor, don't think I would've lasted 8 episodes. As itI tried for several weeks to give Capaldi a chance. Questionable writing aside, he just does not seem to be fit for the role. It's a bit strange, if you watch him without voice, he seems really good. The moment you turn up the volume, he comes across as dull and awkward. If it wasn't for Clara and the fact that I simply love the Doctor, don't think I would've lasted 8 episodes. As it is, doubt I will be making the effort to watch anymore. It's heartbreaking to see what's become of the show. The sense of adventure it always had is gone. He is neither grim nor funny.

    They've insisted on casting an older doctor, yet do everything possible to make him act young. He is supposed to be darker, more ruthless - instead comes across as emotionally unstable, unconvincing, almost ridiculous.

    It's a sad, sad day for Dr Who.

    Bad story, poor acting from Capaldi who simply does not "feel"the role and lack of any vision for the future of the show make the current season a waste of time...and space.    … Expand
  25. Old_Harry
    Nov 8, 2014
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The current series of Doctor Who is a shambles quite frankly, a failure on the likes of similar British TV drama Atlantis and look how that turned out: a truly dreadful eyesore of a programme that disregards the source material, accuracy of the setting and just a half-arsed replacement for the modestly successful Merlin.

    The point I'm trying to make here is that the show has abandoned what made it popular in the first place, the wonder and spectacle of the strange and bizarre thing that is our universe, the show is dumbing down its science fiction elements for practically toddlers who are the most entertained and amused and perhaps on a smaller note, the pacing of the show as I feel which further links back to the dumbing down as it tries to make the Doctor too clever too soon and spoils the thrill of a rescue in the nick of time or other dramatic element placed in an episode plot as well as trying to cram too many ideas in a short space of time with no room for character development (see Tenth Doctor episodes The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit to see what I mean) compared to earlier episodes which reflects the writer's (Steven Moffat's) direction for the show, to have more one episode stories than two parters which delve more into each episode's sub plots and backstory which give the science fiction elements of the show justice.

    The plot lacked any sort of tension, real fear and adrenaline like previous series where any character in any real episode was at risk of death, now it is darkly comical whenever someone dies and I deeply disregard sadism. Now here's the spoiling bit though you're probably not missing much though: in a not particularly inspiring twist at the end of the series, the mysterious woman called Missy taking people who've died to heaven turns out to be the Master in female form with the ambition of turning all life, dead and alive to a cyberman army which she gives to the Doctor? There's a massive glaring plot hole in which how on earth the Master ever escaped Gallifrey if you bother remembering David Tenant's last regular adventure "The End of Time Part Two"and how the Master even got a sex change seeing as it is not acknowledged whether this is even possible and lastly, you know that geeky sidekick to the character of Kate Lethbridge-Stewart? well she gets killed promptly without much care given by the doctor and is forgotten rather quickly about by the end of the episode after his descent sequence to the TARDIS was the most melodramatic action sequence I have ever seen in the show. After a touching moment where Danny Pink or rather mismatched love interest for Clara, has been resurrected as a cyberman (and thinking about it, the cyberman only needs a human brain to function so it didn't need to keep his body whole or even allow for a detachable face plate hmm) and wished to have his emotional inhibitor activated, which it should have in the first place, no real exceptions for him if you think about for a second with that handy little piece of intelligence called "logic". To put icing on the proverbial cake, it doesn't matter either and reverts back giving a rather dreary speech on his army of cybermen to burn up the cyber pollen cloud. The plot quickly loses its drama with it inexplicably cutting foward a fortnight only to have the boy Pink killed in Afghanistan appear before her rather than him coming through a gateway t the supposed "real afterlife" and while all this is happening, the Doctor and Clara just go their separate ways, just like that with the Doctor hitting his TARDIS angrily for wondering why he was ever cast for this show and Clara left with a random afghan kid in her house as a way of saying to the audience we haven't forgotten that place!

    Peter Capaldi's Doctor lacks any sympathy towards those around him and treats like them as if they were petty children crying over broken toys rather than dead friends unlike his predecessors who were truly more captivating and more believable when it came to themes of remorse over the Doctor's experiences of "the Time War". If Capaldi seriously wants to be the Doctor for a modern audience, he must show a more positive and sympathetic attitude when dealing with vulnerable characters in the numerous sub-plots of the show.

    Jenna-Louise Colman's "Clara" doesn't do much of being a good companion either, instead of being someone who helps the Doctor in his darkest hours, she hinders and contradicts him at every turn and when she's finished being angry with him, she has a bipolar turn and acts as if everything's happy again, compared to previous companions she is the most predictable and unreliable there ever has been. Why the Doctor travels with such an annoying and dishonest creature I'll probably never know.

    With a poor plot with equally poorer characters, this entire rebooted series will eventually need a re-reboot if nothing is done to sack the head writer, change both the Doctor and companion characters and raise the budget    … Expand
  26. TheWaylandSmith
    Nov 11, 2014
    0
    There are a few good things about this series. Capaldi himself is a fine actor, and the cinematography was particularly well done. However, the complete rewrite of Clara's character, the insertion of an insipid love story and the worst line I can remember in quite some time 'Love is not an emotion; love is a promise' as the great white hope for earth is too great to allow me to give itThere are a few good things about this series. Capaldi himself is a fine actor, and the cinematography was particularly well done. However, the complete rewrite of Clara's character, the insertion of an insipid love story and the worst line I can remember in quite some time 'Love is not an emotion; love is a promise' as the great white hope for earth is too great to allow me to give it even a slightly positive review. The constant use of Deus ex Machina devices and poorly conceived 'ethical' questions made this series painful to watch, for me. In the end I fear that I may have to give Doctor Who a break until Moffat is replaced and they find someone who actually understands the art of storytelling to take over.… Expand
  27. elbalk-kev
    Jan 3, 2015
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Moffat's Doctor Who is Prettier on the Outside but Stupider on the Inside.

    I have been watching Doctor Who almost my entire life from the first episode with the first Doctor (William Hartnell – 1963). The original concept of the show was to be a children’s’ science show. As it matured, Doctor Who became the thinking person’s sci-fi show. It had almost no budget and no special effects but it did have incredibly good writing with meticulous internal logic. This is what saved the show from its reliance on tinfoil and toilet plungers.

    Now the show appears to be in the opposite situation. The reboot of Doctor Who (2005 to present) has all the resources of modern CGI technology and a decent budget but the writing for the past four years has been desperately in need of a toilet plunger. Episode after episode, logic is thrown out into the vortex leaving massive plot holes in the fabric of space and time. Situations that could be explained logically in one or two lines are simply left unexplained or attributed to vague miracles, mysteries or happenstance. Characters repeatedly die and come back as if they were soap opera stars. Why the absence of coherent plots? Why the lazy short cuts? Why write the show into crazy corners in the first place? One needs only to go back and watch a few episodes of the Troughton or Pertwee or Tom Baker or Tennant series to appreciate how the writing was mostly consistent with the show’s canon and the characters.

    Under Moffat’s leadership there hasn’t been a single episode that has been free of logical gaps, implausible twists and unbelievable resolutions. The key to good fantasy/science fiction is helping your audience suspend their disbelief. I’ve tried really hard to be carried along by the story and the superb acting performances but the clumsy writing and jarring plot holes keep throwing buckets of water on my suspended disbelief bringing it crashing to the ground. In contrast, the seasons helmed by Russell T. Davies (2005-2010), though not without flaws, were consistently logical. The 9th and 10th Doctors (Christoper Eccelston and David Tennant) explained the science (or imagined science) behind even the most complex and bizarre situations – often at lightening speed. Belief was not only easy to suspend it was positively buoyed up by the combination of well-crafted scripts and brilliant performances. Then Davies left and took his beautiful, logical, lightening prose and gave it to Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes (2010 – 2014). Doctor Who has been a tongue-tied, fumble-footed shadow of its former self ever since.

    Most recent case in point – the 2014 Christmas special. The mash-up of Alien/the Thing/Inception/Miracle on 34th Street – self-consciously acknowledged in the leaden dialogue – featured face-hugging dream crabs that drink your brain while placing you in a dream state within a dream state within a dream state. There was no effort made to explain the basic premise of the episode: there are dream crabs – only six of them – on earth – on Christmas day. What are these dream crabs? Where did they come from? Why did they suddenly show up on earth and why did they attack only these six people? None of this is ever explained. The season finale before this special saw the grand villain, Missy, revealed as the Master – in the form of a woman (a sop to those disappointed in the casting of yet another white male Doctor) transferring the consciousness of the newly dead into cybermen (the go-to re-hash threat for the uninspired). How the Master survived his/her apparent destruction several seasons back was never explained. He/she apparently was destroyed this time but who knows – maybe it was all a dream-crab induced fantasy.

    The question is why has the show been allowed to disintegrate to this point? The reason Doctor Who became relevant was because the plots were so strong and the premises were airtight. It stood the test of time because the internal logic was respected. What the show has gained in techno-wizardry it has lost in essential good sense and plausible scientific foundations. It is coasting on the fumes of bizarrely uncritical fan adulation.

    Moffat has offered good scripts in the past under the direction of Davies. Is he stretched too thin as the director and show-runner? Is he farming the scripts out? Or has the show been purposely dumbed down to appeal to a more mainstream (i.e. North American) audience? Perhaps Moffat has been attacked by the mysterious dream crabs and is incapable of writing himself out of the dream state.

    Here’s a new year’s resolution for Steven Moffat that I hope he will take to heart: Hire a serious writing team and bring back the science and logic of Doctor Who.    … Expand
  28. themacman33
    Jan 15, 2015
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I had high expectations. I was excited to see Capaldi as a doctor, but the writing is horrendous, and the Doctor has died inside. Ecleston was serious, with plenty of wit an sarcasm. Tenant was emotional, humorous, and a perfect dash of energy and excitement. Smith was quirky, funny, witty, child-like, with moments of emotional rawness. For example, a Town Called Christmas. Capaldi's Doctor is rarely funny, seems unattached to any characters, is dark, grumpy, and occasionally emotionally appealing. Honesty, I grew more attatched to the War Doctor than Capaldi. I could live with Capaldi as an okay doctor, if it weren't for the terrible writing.

    What happened to the writers? The plot in season 8 had very little overarching conflict, unconvincing story, and seems to have been shoddily taped together, like a dinner party of Mad Libs for screenwriters. The plot is simply boring, trying too hard, and alienates viewers by being dark with influences of horror movies, with no humour. Sure, previous seasons had the occasional episode, such as Silence in the Library, but many season 8 episodes are dark, with no humour, and simply shambled together.

    I really hope season 9 is better.    … Expand
  29. MetaRogue
    Nov 11, 2014
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I've been a fan of Doctor Who since 2005, but Season 8 shows me how far it has fallen from grace.

    The first episode is absolutely ridiculous and non-sensical, achieving a vague and dissatisfying resolution. More importantly, how could anyone have allowed it to be written in the FIRST PLACE? Obviously no-one was conducting any brain checks during production. Seriously, the TARDIS getting coughed up by a dinosaur is easily the worst idea since ever. It was so bad that no-one, not even I, saw it coming.

    *Also, Tyrannosauruses were big, but not that big*

    The second episode is no better, resulting in Daleks meets Inner Space/ Fantastic Voyage and an ending that sees us laughing at Capaldi's overbearingly 'dark' nature. The biggest flaw of the episode is that no meaningful context is given to the Human vs.Dalek conflict.

    Episode 3 is another prime example of how lost DW has become, introducing fictional folk character, Robin Hood as a 'real person'. The episode further demonstrates how inflexible Capaldi's Doctor is and does him no favourable credit.

    'Listen' felt like an episode that could have achieved Blink-esque status, but yielded nothing because it followed the mis-direction ploy.

    Episode 5 was another dose of mis-direction, stupidly titled 'Time Heist'.

    The following episode 'The Caretaker' felt like deja vu mixed with stupidity. Capaldi meets Danny 'Questionably Surnamed' Pink and the two, obviously, don't get along. *Cue some meaningless character development*

    'Kill The Moon' looked scary in the teaser trailer, but largely resulted in procrastination and even a Twitter reference (yay social media), showing how hip and with it our 'new' Doctor is despite his horrid shortcomings.

    Next up was 'Mummy on the Orient Express', an episode with a title that sounded more like an idea that had been scribbled down and left to rot much like it's decaying antagonist. The whole episode felt as though it had been deliberately constructed to manipulate the audience's emotions, ultimately showing how weak the series has become by resorting to said manipulative techniques. Evident in the episode was the Doctor's general lack of empathy, and when imperilled by the Mummy was (predictably) saved by the writers. GUS was also horrible as a character and even more horribly voice acted.

    'Flatline' was by far the best offering of Season 8 (though not the best episode ever). It showed some sign of originality, being the Blink episode of Capaldi's debut series. That said, the most annoying feature was Clara's impersonation of the Doctor and, possibly, Capaldi's end speech.

    'In the Forest of the Night' sounded like a dark spin-off to 'In the Night Garden' and in all honesty yielded nothing, but filler-dialogue, filler-plotline, and a sing-songy voiced girl in a red coat with a dark overlay voice.

    The 'epic', but predictable two-part ending ('Darkwater & 'Death In Heaven') resulted in a double surprise reveal, a manipulative procrastinating plotline, questionable plot-twists, and ultimately, a disappointing conclusion to a disappointing season. There were also a few easter egg moments for fans, but none of which could redeem the series.

    From start to finish, there were questionable decisions made during this season.

    Why did Capaldi's Doctor need a Scottish accent? Tennant was Scottish, but was a good enough actor to do a convincing English accent. Was it for variation or distinction? Why bother when you have Capaldi's ever grumpy face.

    Who allowed the first episode to be written? Steven Moffat has written better and has been busy on other projects, but that doesn't excuse the lack of quality to the episodes that he wrote.

    What surprises me more than the series overall 'badness' is how the fan base has readily accepted the calamity that is known as Season 8. Sure Capaldi could do better, but why go older and grumpier when you could get younger and happier? This is a family show after all. Also what happened to the interior of the TARDIS? If the Doctor is so old, then how does he expect to see anything in that dark cave around the centre console?

    The first episode really felt like a sales pitch: 'Like this new Doctor'. Why did we need Matt Smith calling Clara to convince her to like the new Doctor? Why did we have a whole episode that felt like a collage of badly scripted, poorly acted sequences that had a story in it somewhere?

    Don't get me wrong because I am a true Doctor Who fan, but are they deliberately trying to blacken Doctor Who's name back into obscurity?

    For me, I'm glad Season 8 is over. I can rest easy without worrying about Doctor Who for the rest of the year.

    Oh...wait...there's the Christmas Special.    … Expand
  30. Cofmontecristo
    Oct 26, 2014
    2
    Terribly disappointing, and bordering insulting. It's clear that the show is at its lowest point since the reboot. The Doctor's character manages to be awkward without the charm, character relations are weak across the board, certain sound effects made me cringe, dialogue is boring and appears to be written by mediocre high-school students, attempts at comedy fail 90% of the time, andTerribly disappointing, and bordering insulting. It's clear that the show is at its lowest point since the reboot. The Doctor's character manages to be awkward without the charm, character relations are weak across the board, certain sound effects made me cringe, dialogue is boring and appears to be written by mediocre high-school students, attempts at comedy fail 90% of the time, and themes are being repeated ad nauseam at this point.… Expand
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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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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
  1. 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.
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  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.
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  3. 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.
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