Christmas Special - Press Reaction

Saturday, 26 December 2015 - Reported by Marcus

The Husbands of River Song (Credit: BBC/Jon Hall)

This item contains spoilers.

Press reaction to the Christmas Special, The Husbands of River Song, mostly centers of the relationship between River Song and The Doctor. The Express loved the return of Alex Kingston. "It's easy to forget what a fantastic character she is but tonight River really makes this festive episode, which could be one of the best Doctor Who Christmas specials in years."

It was a theme picked up by The Guardian "It’s a wonderful Christmas gift from Moffat to see the old River return, with a glimpse of her naughty ways when she’s having adventures without the Doctor. Meanwhile, however bleak things might have got towards the end of the recent series, it’s faintly hilarious now to remember how Peter Capaldi was initially touted as a “dark Doctor”. His bravura form here, dancing between comedy and romance, just fizzes opposite Kingston."

The Metro called it a bittersweet rom-com. "The scene in which the Doctor realises that he gets to pretend to be stepping into the TARDIS for the first time and provide his version of ‘it’s bigger on the inside’ is a joy to behold, snapping him out of his Grinch-like mood. One suspects it’s the first time the Doctor has genuinely had fun since his memories of Clara were wiped."

Radio Times, while admitting they don't like the Christmas specials, found the main duo's interaction the most appealing aspect of the story. "The Doctor is the happiest we’ve known him, even at one point flat on his back laughing – something inconceivable in the last few episodes. He’s all loved up to find River and bemused, cheesed off and, ultimately, delighted that she doesn’t recognise him."

Wales Online also love the pairing. "There were good bits, and bad. But overall, it was lovely to see Alex Kingston back in the Tardis, as River Song". The Los Angeles Times agreed "If The Husbands of River Song is less Christmasy than most of the previous specials, it is a splendid gift to fans nonetheless. River has provided one of the longest and most tantalizing threads of the series"

TV.com had mixed feelings over the meeting between River and the Twelfth Doctor. "The emotional swell I was supposed to feel during that speech and at the moment she realized the Doctor was there—that the Doctor would always be there—fell flat for me. Him cheekily stealing her catchphrase—"Hello, sweetie"—helped however, and once the blindfold came off, everything clicked into place."

AV Club felt the structure odd. "The Husbands Of River Song is one of the strangest hours in television history. For the first 40 or so minutes of its run, it’s a deeply goofy bit of slapstick space opera whimsy. And then, in the final 15 minutes, the episode shifts tones completely, going for a poignant, melancholy send-off that directly calls back and completes a narrative circle that the show began tracing way back in 2008.". However Den of Geek thought the episode was right for its intended slot. "I don't really think that The Husbands Of River Song is Doctor Who on top form, nor do I think it amongst the best Christmas specials since the show introduced them in 2005. But fun? Yes. Enjoyable? Yes. A good, solid piece of telly? Absolutely."

411 Mania was pleased the story had moved away from the more overtly Christmassy specials of the past. "I enjoy the Doctor’s forays into the holiday season as much as anyone, but things got as Christmas-y as they could last year and it was probably a wise move to ease up on that for a bit of variety". And finally IGN felt the episode nicely complemented the recently completed season. "Steven Moffat’s The Husbands of River Song is a nice, fun, wacky change of pace that still manages to touch that sweet spot of emotional resonance that the Twelfth Doctor has done so well this year."

You can read the Doctor Who News review in our reviews section.

FILTER: - Press - Series 9/35

The Husbands of River Song: press interviews

Thursday, 10 December 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Husbands of River Song (Credit: BBC/Simon Ridgway)

The BBC have released interviews with Peter Capaldi, Alex Kingston and Steven Moffat to promote the forthcoming Christmas special, The Husbands of River Song.

What can you tell us about the Doctor Who Christmas special this year?
Well the Christmas special is very Christmassy, which I’m sure everyone will be relieved to hear. It finds the Doctor in a Dickensian kind of world, in a Christmas card sort of world which he’s been brought to in order to do a favour for a king. So there’s quite a festive spirit to the episode. But the favour is more complex and isn’t exclusively for the benefit of the king, but more for the benefit of the king’s consort.

What is your favourite scene from this episode?
I have lots of favourite scenes from the Christmas episode, but I think being met by Matt Lucas on a wonderful wintery Dickensian street with the TARDIS covered in snow was delightful, because it was like a Doctor Who Christmas card. Matt is such a fabulously funny person to have around, so I loved that!

Do you like filming Christmas episodes?
Yes I do like them - last year’s was a bit scarier than this one, this is more openly festive. I like the idea of ghost stories at Christmas and frightening things seem to work rather well in the festive environment.

Would you like to see River Song return?
Yes of course, because Alex is fabulous and it’s always lovely to work with her.

Who is Nardole?
The character of Nardole is played by Matt Lucas so you can expect a lot of laughs and pathos. He is, as ever, a hugely loveable personality, a little naïve, a little out of his depth and quite cosmic.

What was it like to come back?
I was quite surprised when I was asked to come back, but I was happy to because I just thought it would be great fun. It’s such a great character, she’s become so beloved by lots of fans and I’ve had them saying it would be so great for her to come back and to see her interacting with Peter Capaldi’s Doctor. I was actually thrilled when Steven decided he wanted to explore that too.

What did you think of the script?
It’s a wonderful slapstick caper. There’s a lot of great laughs, there’s a lot of fabulous River one-liners. The fans are going to love the things she says and there’s a lot of play. They’re also fighting a very interesting alien played by Greg Davies. It’s a really great episode and Steven has done my character proud.

Has this episode been challenging?
I’ve been really lucky in this episode as River gets to do an awful lot. She gets to run around in snow, I’ve been flying and have done harness work against a green screen. She’s got quite a few husbands in this episode and there’s a lot of fabulous quick-fire dialogue between her and the Doctor. She gets to snog the most handsome man in the work, his character name is Ramone. It’s all going on!

What were your favourite moments during filming?
The favourite moment so far for me was stepping back on to the TARDIS, because the interior of it has changed yet again. I’ve been on two different TARDIS incarnations, and to walk into this one and know it’s a familiar space but at the same time it’s different, was great. I love this one - everything works which is really fun, I stand there pressing all the buttons, it’s great!

Can you give us an introduction to the episode you’ve written this year?
The Doctor is an all new man and has been for a while. It may have slipped his mind that out there, in a very tangled and complicated way, is his wife that has never seen this face before and doesn’t even know about this incarnation. We’re about to stand with the Doctor and see what River is like when she doesn’t know he’s looking. We’re about to see what River thinks of Matt Smith turning into Peter Capaldi.

What made you want to write this episode?
River Song meets the Capaldi Doctor, that’s got to be fun - I’d like to write that. That’s what made me want to write. I knew it had to be a big romp for Christmas day and there’s nothing like River Song to make that evident - River brings a whole storm of camp glamour to it.

Is it any different writing a Christmas episode of Doctor Who?
Yes, you need to have a bit of Christmas in it, but that’s never felt to me like a tremendous impediment, it’s a hook to hang it on. Sometimes we go very Christmassy - ‘A Christmas Carol’ was incredibly Christmassy, so was ‘The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe’ and ‘The Snowmen’ had the appearance of Christmas without being very Christmassy. Last Christmas is actually the least Christmassy episode we’ve ever done, except for the fact it actually had Santa Claus in it - I rather loved last Christmas. This year’s episode starts Christmassy and has a comedy romp!

Do you enjoy writing a Christmas episode?
I like Christmas specials - I know some people don’t. Some friends of mine don’t like Christmas specials very much and they’re always complaining about all the tinsel, the goodwill and the twinkly stars, and the lovely snow on the rooftops. I love all that, I love Christmas as a day and as a festival. I love that it’s dark, twinkly and rich red, all those things I adore so it’s no hardship for me at all.

Who is King Hydroflax?
King Hydroflax is a very bad King, who as it turns out is mostly cyborg - in fact only his head has remained. He’s a vicious, terrible and deeply stupid man and a dreadful tyrant.

FILTER: - Peter Capaldi - Press - Series Specials - Steven Moffat

Hell Bent - Press Reaction

Sunday, 6 December 2015 - Reported by Marcus

Press reaction to Hell Bent is in and Radio Times thought the episode a definite hit. "If I was left unmoved by the predictable and, to my mind, tedious events of Face the Raven, episode 12 certainly does push my buttons. It touches me in unexpected ways; it convincingly opens up a well of sorrow and, yes, several times I had a tear in my eye. The first being when the Doctor strums “a sad song” on his guitar, a blues version of a familiar Murray Gold theme. “What’s it called?” “I think that it’s called Clara...” That really got me."

The Guardian called the episode "A psychedelic, head-spinning finale that piled twist upon revelation on top of rug pull." It highlighted the way the story treated the Doctor's home planet. "Moffat’s take on Gallifrey grows richer and more intriguing. We’d always presumed the place to be a fusty, ceremonial place, sort of a sci-fi House of Lords, watching over the universe from a considered distance. And as long as they’ve featured in the show, they’ve always been liable for corruption. But this Gallifrey is an altogether darker construction."

Digital spy however, thought the conclusion to Clara's story misfired. "'Hell Bent' is at points thrilling and affecting - and as ever is blessed by two sensational lead performances from Capaldi and Coleman, who not only anchor but pretty much carry the entire hour. But given that it brings Coleman's time on the series to a close, it's the shaky climax that people will remember, and unfortunately that could end up overshadowing the episode's (many and various) good points."

The reaction in Mashable was also mixed "The show gives us several vague answers to the question of who the hybrid is. We'll get to that. But the finale itself is a hybrid — both brilliant and unfocused, neat in some ways and messy in others. It manages to simultaneously build on and undo the finer points of the two near faultless episodes that proceeded it."

MTV disagreed "Doctor Who gave Jenna Coleman’s Clara not only the best Companion exit in the long history of the series, but one of the most unabashedly gleeful lady power moments on television". Den of Geek thought the final scenes of Clara were firmly aimed at the fans. "Moffat's almost winking at people here. Some haven't liked how Clara became more like the Doctor. Now she's nicked a TARDIS from Gallifrey, and is running in her own way from the Time Lords. Doesn't sound familiar at all, that."

io9 believed the ending saved the episode. "The plot of the episode (and the season) felt severely half-baked, to say the least, and great moments intermingled freely with a certain amount of WTF. But that ending? Was the greatest. That ending retroactively made the whole thing great." Meanwhile IGN called it "a great finish for the character. "

Finally Tv.com said it was "a very satisfying ending to a season that featured a few minor hiccups, but was an otherwise enjoyable and strong season in the TARDIS"

You can read the Doctor Who News review in our reviews section.

FILTER: - Press - Series 9/35

Heaven Sent - Press Reaction

Sunday, 29 November 2015 - Reported by Marcus

Heaven Sent: The Doctor, as played by Peter Capaldi (Credit: BBC/Simon Ridgway)

This item Contains Plot Spoilers

Press reaction to the latest Doctor Who episode, Heaven Sent mainly highlights the solo aspect of the story and the acting ability of the show's main star. An instant classic was the verdict of Radio Times. "This is Peter Capaldi’s hour and he has earned it. OK, the running time is five minutes shy of one hour, but this brilliant, bold, extended episode is a one-man show – a tour de force from the magnificent Capaldi."

The Express agreed. "As a concept it actually worked surprisingly well and Peter Capaldi managed to carry off the whole thing without it feeling too weird. He led us through this adventure, which was an exploration of grief and the fear of death"

The Metro calls the episode an epic one man show. "Capaldi delivers 100%, carrying every scene and showing every facet of his Doctor: anger, terror, playfulness, intensity, resignation and, finally, a fierce refusal to do anything other than do what he has always done: find a way to win."

A mind bending masterpiece is how Digital Spy sums up the story. "One thing's for certain - even after 5 years in the job, showrunner Moffat is refusing to rest on his laurels, switching up not just the show's style but its substance. He's out to prove that you can still do something new with a character that's been around for half a century."

The writing was picked up by AV Club who thought it a perfect episode. "It’s a tour de force for writer Steven Moffat, director Rachel Talalay, and star Peter Capaldi, who is by himself for a good 95 percent of the episode’s running time."

Den of Geek also praised the writer "This is Steven Moffat on very good form. He's being confident and clever with time, without zipping backwards and forwards and asking us to hold on. There’s an inherent trust that the audience is on board with what he’s doing, and – in a recurring theme this series – there's a genuine gamble with format and story.". The Register agreed "It's a terrific episode penned by showrunner Steven Moffat. Season 9 has veered off course once or twice, but over all it's been thoroughly entertaining. And I say this even though those damn sonic sunnies are still being worn by the Doctor."

IGN thought the episode showed the Doctor needed Clara. "It’s telling how empty he is now without her. He’s lost without her, and I’m sure this notion will play into next week’s season finale as well where it looks like the Doctor is out for blood.". While TV.com thought the return to Gallifrey had been underplayed. "The fact that the BBC carelessly revealed in the logline for "Heaven Sent" that the Doctor would be returning to Gallifrey tells me that the folks involved with the show don't think the Time Lords' return was particularly noteworthy. But to me as a fan, it feels a bit like we've been cheated out of a really great story"

Indewire praised the production values "This is a "bottle episode," an episode that takes place entirely in one small space the characters -- or in this case, character - can't get out of. Normally slotted into a series for budget constraints, that's probably not the case here, with a glorious CGI'd castle straight out of "Game of Thrones" and some incredible special effects, but it's deeply claustrophobic and unsettling."

Gamesradar thought it showed the 52 year old series could still have fresh ideas. "Heaven Sent” proves there’s still virgin territory to be explored. It’s refreshingly unlike any episode we’ve seen before."

You can read the Doctor Who News review in our reviews section.

FILTER: - Press - Series 9/35

Face the Raven - Press Reaction

Sunday, 22 November 2015 - Reported by Marcus

Face the Raven: Clara, as played by Jenna Coleman (Credit: BBC/Simon Ridgway)

This item Contains Plot Spoilers

Press reaction to the latest Doctor Who episode, Face the Raven dwells mainly on the tragic demise of Clara Oswald. The most dramatic for over 30 years is how The Telegraph described the event, praising the performance of the actors. "The final farewell between the Doctor and Clara may have teetered onto the wrong side of overwrought, but the story was beautifully played out with yet another stand-out performance from Capaldi."

The Independent thinks the episode will leave the fans reeling. "While writer Sarah Dollard’s influences are clearly on show, this feels like an episode of television you could only ever see on Doctor Who. A heady mixture of science fiction, Gothic whodunnit and emotional rollercoaster, it doesn’t just leave you breathless – it leaves you wanting more."

The Guardian thought the ending was fitting for Clara. "It was a canny move to bring back Rigsy for her exit; remember that the cheeky graffiti artist served as her proxy-companion when she turned proxy-Doctor in last year’s Flatline. In taking on his quantum shade, it was the combination of schoolteachery pastoral instinct and reckless abandon that finally did for her."

Supurb is how Digital Spy classifies the episode. "The execution is fast-paced and energetic without losing any coherence. The dialogue is sparkling and Justin Molotnikov directs with a great deal of verve, drawing animated and emotional performances from the entire cast."

While many will mourn the departure of Clara, Radio Times thinks it was time for a change. "Jenna Coleman and Peter Capaldi perform her farewell with conviction, all the more effective for their restraint. Several young viewers I know will be inconsolable. I didn’t shed one tear. I will miss Clara/Jenna but am ready for a shake-up; it’s time for a gear change in what Steven Moffat terms the co-leads."

IGN felt the end was missing something. "Did Clara’s death feel lacking in some way? I love the character; I really do. But I wasn’t quite as moved by the events of this episode as I was when, say, the Eleventh Doctor regenerated, or when Rose left."

However Games Radar disagreed. "Doctor Who was back on blistering, series-best, form with “Face The Raven”. Even more impressive: it’s writer Sarah Dollard’s first script for the show."

Finally Den of Geek had no doubt about the triumph of the episode suggesting you go back and rewatch the ending. "With superb audio accompaniment from Murray Gold (and it really was something special), as the episode clocked past the 35 minute mark, both Jenna Coleman and Peter Capaldi earnt every penny of their fee. Look how they act this sequence out, with Capaldi’s eyes instantly filled with sorrow as he sees what Clara's done, and Coleman’s gradually changing as the realisation hits her. Never mind the excellent dialogue for a second: just watch them."

You can read the Doctor Who News review in our reviews section.

FILTER: - Press - Series 9/35

Sleep No More - Press Reaction

Sunday, 15 November 2015 - Reported by Marcus

This item Contains Plot Spoilers

Press reaction to the latest Doctor Who episode, Sleep No More is varied with The Guardian calling the episode one of the scariest of the series. "There’s a terrifically chilling premise underpinning this political satire. A corporate efficiency drive pushed to disastrous extremes by a mad scientist might have come over heavy-handed, but for all the technical accomplishment (and it is very accomplished), the exquisite beats of Gatiss’s imagination see him deliver Doctor Who at its most Doctor Who-like. Monsters made out of sleep in your eyes? That is good."

The Telegraph enjoyed the performance of Reece Shearsmith as the perfect horror villain. "The part as written was somewhat hammy, with the deranged Rassmussen variously hyperventilating to camera and outlining his plan, evil-genius fashion, to the Doctor. Shearsmith, however, introduced a note of creepy understatement. Rather than portray Rassmussen as a lunatic in a lab-coat , he brought a chilling whiff of true-life psychosis."

In contrast The Express found the episode puzzling with a disappointing monster. "The adventure, penned by seasoned Doctor Who writer and Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss, made sure the questions kept coming but without answering any of them. While keeping us in the dark was probably the intention, it grew increasingly infuriating as the episode went on and even more so because of the Doctor's speculative theories about what on earth was going on. He's the Time Lord, he's supposed to know everything. If the Doctor doesn't know what's going on then we're in trouble."

Radio Times called it the spookiest episode yet. "The found footage format works extremely well. I imagine this was incredibly time-consuming to plan, shoot and edit, so full marks to director Justin Molotnikov, making his Doctor Who debut"

Metro also found the episode scary, praising the unusual nature of the story. "Sleep No More may be this year’s second base-under-siege story but it represents a first for Doctor Who. With its first-person point of view and lack of incidental music – and, for the first time in the series’s history, no opening titles – it feels more like The Blair Witch Project than a traditional Who adventure. Combining the characters’ point of view with CCTV footage creates a more intimate and visceral experience, with its jerky movement and tighter field of vision. There are no wide-angle or tracking shots, which only adds to the sense of claustrophobic paranoia".

Digital Spy found much to like in the story, even if it felt the premise didn't quite work. "This outing delivers some effective monsters. The explanation for the rise of the Sandmen may be seriously wonky - even by Doctor Who's flimsy scientific standards. But the found footage conceit makes for a chilling portrayal, only allowing us brief, shadowy glimpses of this week's threat."

Den of Geek was disappointed with the story. "Probably the biggest criticism I have though was that Sleep No More wasn't, for me, that entertaining to watch. It's a brave and bold move to commit to found footage for 45 minutes of Doctor Who, and I love that the show took such a risk. Yet it never gelled, and ultimately felt longer than its 45 minute running time. I found myself warming to some of its moments, but really not to its whole."

TV.com felt the style of the story half worked. "It was all an interesting departure from what we've been seeing from Doctor Who for the last 50-plus years, and in that regard, I applaud the ambition. But I think it could have been done better. Justin Molotnikov, who directed the episode, did a fine enough job framing the shots tightly to lend an air of claustrophobia to the proceedings, but the result of this filming style also meant it was often difficult to see what was going on."

This theme was echoed by Games Radar. "The experimental format comes at the expense of clarity, with the murky lighting and erratic shifts in point of view making the action a struggle to follow. It doesn’t stick to its own rules either, abandoning the desaturated CCTV effect of the “eye in the sky” footage on a whim, while the camera is frequently placed in improbable positions even for the dust – inside the Tardis as it dematerialises, for example. It lacks the necessary rigour that makes The Blair Witch Project and its ilk so effective."

Mashable felt Reece Shearsmith was the best thing in the episode, but disliked the concept of the Sandmen. "Eye booger monsters? We're really scraping the bottom of the mundanity barrel here. What next? Demons composed entirely of snot? It's possible that the monsters were more ethereal and ghost-like in earlier drafts, which would explain why the soldiers never once shoot at them. (If they're composed of mucus, maybe just fire some Kleenex in their direction, guys?) "

TV Fanatic called the episode overambitious and morned the loss of the opening title sequence, missing from the episode for the first time in its history. "While I enjoyed the “found footage” approach, I must confess I missed the Doctor Who theme/intro terribly."

The Register felt the episode was darkly comic. "Much of this ep is a pleasing monster-chasing romp high up above Neptune, but it's a mystery, too: like having something puzzling on your mind that keeps you awake all night."

Finally IGN called the episode a good standalone horror story. "The moment that is sure to give nightmares is in that last shot, as Rassmussen reveals the true nature of his, or rather the Sandmen’s, plan. As he cleans the sand out of his eye and half his face collapses, the Doctor’s suspicion that none of this has made any sense is confirmed. And frankly, I’m still trying to unpack what it all means".

You can read the Doctor Who News review in our reviews section.

FILTER: - Press - Series 9/35

The Zygon Inversion - Press Reaction

Sunday, 8 November 2015 - Reported by Marcus

This item Contains Plot Spoilers

Press reaction for the The Zygon Inversion is mostly positive with many reviewers picking up on the performance of the lead actor. Peter Capaldi's finest hour is how The Express describes the episode. "Peter gives a powerful performance as a Doctor trying to maintain a fragile ceasefire, opting for diplomacy over militancy. Throughout his speech, he never loses his flow or passion. At times it feels as if the television screen falls away and we're watching a stage production, such is the strength of his acting."

The Guardian felt the episode finally cemented Capaldi as The Doctor. "As he delivered his passionate, eloquent takedown of Zygon rebel Bonnie, this version of the Doctor was comprehensively nailed, skewering perfectly who this man is.....This Doctor has never been written better, Capaldi has never channelled Tom Baker more, that sequence is cemented instantly as the “Capaldi moment” in clip shows for the rest of time."

Digital Spy agreed. "Peter Capaldi is absolutely spectacular.His emotional, grandiose confrontation with both Kate and 'Zygella' is spellbinding. A breathless, breathtaking lecture on the futility of war, this sequence is easily Capaldi's finest moment as the Doctor since he took up the reins last year."

Radio Times thought the bunker scenes between The Doctor and the two protagonists were spectacular. "An incredible piece of writing and acting. The scene lasts a full ten minutes as the Doctor runs the gamut of emotions in his effort to make Clara/Bonnie/Zygella stand down and “break the cycle” of cruelty and war. The Time Lord and the writers (Peter Harness and Steven Moffat) are wearing their hearts and political colours on their sleeves. It’s wonderful to watch and absorb."

The Metro also loved the Doctor's speech. "The use of the Osgood boxes – mere McGuffins to force both sides to think and talk for long enough to defuse the conflict – is a typically elegant Doctor-style resolution. They are no more than empty vessels that allow him to channel his preferred weapon: the power of words." The paper felt the episode so nearly a classic. "The story lacked the visible large-scale threat – it was all implied and never seen – and an iconic moment that, say, an army of Zygons marching across London would have provided."

The Telegraph thought the episode over complicated "Putting paid to the threat involved negotiating over an "Osgood Box" which would either do away with all the humans on Earth or all the Zygons. But the box turned out to be two boxes… and each box contained two buttons. In other hands this might have been a deft sequence of plot switcheroos, but here it felt like stage business to pad out a slightly threadbare symposium on terrorist ideology"

Online Den Of Geek joined in the praise for the show's lead actor and the themes pursued in the story. "Doctor Who has just blasted a 45 minute lesson in tolerance, the state of the world, war and the futility of conflict straight into people's living rooms while The X-Factor was on the other side."

The themes of conflict were picked up by AV Club. "The climax of The Zygon Inversion makes explicit something that the best anti-war Doctor Who stories have always understood. Depicting the madness of war doesn’t require an epic scale. If anything, narrowing the focus to a single conflict or moral dilemma clarifies the essential futility of violent conflict."

IGN concurred "It takes the Doctor’s painful recollection of the war he fought in -- the ultimate war -- to convince Evil Clara, to get her to start to see things his way. “When I close my eyes, I hear more screams than anyone could ever be able to count,” he says. And suddenly Evil Clara isn’t so evil anymore, as she realizes her and the Doctor are more alike than they are different."

TV.com enjoyed the darker tone of the episode. "The magic of Doctor Who is that it's constantly able to reinvent itself, and so it has. I wish that I could sit back and just enjoy the innate silliness of some of the show's lighter episodes, but given the darkness that permeates much of the Capaldi era, I find myself drawn to the episodes that have deeper meanings, that touch on the more serious subject matter at hand."

gamesRadar felt the highlight of the story, and even the series, was the interaction between Clara and Bonnie. "Jenna Coleman manages to make them feel like subtly distinct characters, and has a blast playing against herself in one (or should that be two?) of her best performances of the series" Mashable also praised the performance of both of the lead actors. "Jenna Coleman manages to thoroughly convince as both sides in the Clara-Bonnie battle of wits. A showdown conducted over a television could have easily looked laughable, and Coleman deserves the credit for making it work."

TVFanatic preferred the first episode of this double parter. "Bonnie forcing that Zygon out of his human form was freaky, but the morphing was not smooth at all. It would have been preferable for the man to stay in that inbetween state, which was fairly disturbing. True, the point was for the alien footage to go viral. Still, I'm just not a fan of the Zygons" The Register also felt the episode to slow "The Zygon Inversion feels a little too laboured, overly-wordy and lacking in action, and that's despite a tremendous performance from Peter Capaldi. A pity, too, to see such a brisk demise of the excellent Bonnie."

Finally Radio Times loved the past references in the story. "A punch-the-air moment for the Doctor Who fan. In case you don’t know, Kate’s dad, the Brigadier, issued the command “Chap with the wings there. Five rounds rapid!” in the 1971 classic The Dæmons"

You can read the Doctor Who News review in our reviews section.

FILTER: - Press - Series 9/35

The Zygon Invasion - Press Reaction

Sunday, 1 November 2015 - Reported by Marcus

Peter Capaldi as The Doctor (Credit: BBC / Simon Ridgway)

This item Contains Plot Spoilers

Press reaction to The Zygon Invasion is in with Digital Spy calling the episode a superb sci-fi fable. "It's a funny, scary, fast-paced, globe-trotting thriller, with sparkling performances from the leads and a great guest cast. Harness offers up some wonderful fuel for kids' imaginations, realising everything from their wildest dreams - an alien command centre hidden under a school - to their worst nightmares - parents replaced by sinister duplicates."

The Independent felt the episode was the strongest episode so far in a very good season. "It’s an episode that’s very much of the moment and raises some interesting questions for what’s ostensibly a children’s show. The fact that it’s all wrapped around a tense and effective horror story with some genuinely chilling moments and you’re not just looking at some good Doctor Who, but some genuinely great TV."

Many reviewers picked up on the political aspects of the story, with The Express praising the real world parallels. "Doctor Who just grew up. With analogies to Islamic State, radicalisation and foreign policy strategy, tonight proved to be a serious discussion of the biggest news story in the world without once mentioning IS."

The Telegraph felt the political message was less than subtle. "Rogue Zygons release execution videos, in which captives are made to read lists of demands before being zapped into crackling heaps of dust and hair. They have a base somewhere called "Turmezistan". The problem is "a radicalisation of the younger brood," we're told, but - as the Doctor hissed to Lethbridge-Stewart - "if you start bombing you'll radicalise the lot!" I have the haunting feeling there was an analogy somewhere here, if we could only figure it out."

The Guardian also remarked on the political aspects of the story. "It’s always been the job of sci-fi to hold a mirror up to society, but returning writer Peter Harness goes considerably further than Doctor Who has in recent years. Lines like “They’ll think you’re gonna pinch their benefits,” raise a laugh, but repeated use of the word “radicalisation” in the script is a bravely emotive move in what is still perceived by many as a children’s show."

The Metro praised the international aspects of the story. "With the action taking place in three different locations – London, New Mexico and a Zygon training camp in the fictional nation of Turmezistan – and the threat of a war with 20 million shape-shifting Zygons, there’s a sense of scale and a genuine global threat to mankind that has been lacking in previous stories so far this series."

The return of everyone's favourite shape shifters was picked up by Dan of Geek. The Zygons return for their first full-on story since they debuted in Terror Of The Zygons. Sure, they were in Day Of The Doctor, but there was a lot going on there. Here, the focus is firmly on them. 20 million of them, in fact, as it turns out they’ve – Invasion Of The Body Snatchers style – been living amongst us all this time.

Radio Times also relished the return of the Zygons, as well as the return of the Doctor's biggest fan. "The most interesting character is Zygood – sorry, Osgood. Ingrid Oliver is a sweetheart in the part of the Unit boffin who may or may not be a Zygon. I don’t actually care either way. I’m more intrigued to know: will we ever find out her first name? She’s appeared in three episodes since 2013 and not a sniff of a name"

Mashable felt the character of Osgood was underused. Ingrid Oliver's Osgood, is missing in action for most of this episode. There are never enough good things to say about Osgood, a UNIT scientist who is at once earnest, lovable and an affectionate parody of the nerdiest elements of fandom. However the joy at Osgood's return was not shared by TV.Com. "When a series brings a character back from the dead, there needs to be a solid foundation and reason for resurrecting that character. Although Osgood was a fan-favorite and her return wasn't like anything we've seen so far this season, her return doesn't feel justified by what we've seen so far."

AV Club called the episode shockingly contemporary. "When something like “The Zygon Invasion” comes along, it feels fundamentally different from what the show usually gets up to.", while Games Radar called it a fun ride. "It’s packed with wonderful ideas (like the Zygon high command being a pair of schoolgirls), funny one-liners, and pop culture references."

The events at the episodes climax were picked up by Geek News. Clara being a Zygon ended up being a shocking twist that actually made me lean forward in my seat. The last five minutes of this episode were incredibly tense and made me interested in seeing more. The threat actually felt real for the characters. While The Register was also intrigued by the cliff hanger. "We close on The Zygon Invasion with Bonnie fiendishly firing a surface-to-air missile at the President of the World Doctor's plane. How the hell is he going to get out of this fix?"

You can read the Doctor Who News review in our reviews section.

FILTER: - Press - Series 9/35

The Zygon Invasion - Publicity

Tuesday, 27 October 2015 - Reported by Marcus

A roundup of publicity for the next episode in the current series of Doctor Who, The Zygon Invasion.

The Zygons, a race of shapeshifting aliens, have been living in secret among us on Earth, unknown and unseen - until now!

When Osgood is kidnapped by a rogue gang of Zygons, the Doctor, Clara and UNIT must scatter across the world in a bid to set her free. But will they reach her in time, and can they stop an uprising before it’s too late?

The Zygon Invasion: Known Broadcast Details
United Kingdom	BBC One	Sat 31 Oct 2015	8:15pm
United States of America	BBC America	Sat 31 Oct 2015	9:00pm EDT	(1:00am GMT)
Canada	SPACE	Sat 31 Oct 2015	9:00pm EDT	(1:00am GMT)
Asia Pacific	BBC Entertainment	Sun 1 Nov 2015	10:00am SGT	(2:00am GMT)
New Zealand	PRIME	Sun 1 Nov 2015	7:30pm NZDT	(6:30am GMT)
Australia	ABC	Sun 1 Nov 2015	7:40pm AEDT	(8:40am GMT)
Europe (Benelux)	BBC First	Tue 3 Nov 2015	9:00pm CEST
United Kingdom	BBC Two	Fri 6 Nov 2015	1:45am	(British Signed Language)

BBC Trailer on YouTube
Introduction to The Zygon Invasion

FILTER: - Press - Series 9/35

The Woman Who Lived - Press Reaction

Sunday, 25 October 2015 - Reported by Marcus

This item Contains Plot Spoilers

Press reaction to The Woman Who Lived is in with many reviewers picking up on the episodes theme of the curse of imortality. The Telegraph thought it was a stand out episode. "In the world of Doctor Who, immortality is an everyday topic. But this episode showed how, in reality, it would be a nightmare. To watch your lovers, your friends, your family and your children die, to witness every human disaster – the loss would be almost too tough to bear, at least while retaining one’s sense of humanity."

The Metro also picked up on the immortality theme. "Ashildr has become Me, an immortal, linear traveller through time, experiencing horrors on both a broad and a personal scale, such as losing her children to the Black Death. She is what the Doctor might have become had he not had human companions to ground him and remind him, as he tells her, ‘how beautiful and precious life is because it’s fleeting".

The Guardian enjoyed the lighter moments of the story. "Capaldi once again proves that he’s a lot better as “Funny Doctor” than he was as “Dark Doctor” last year; overcoming his aversion to punning in order to buy valuable time. And as his verbal sparring partner Sam Swift the Quick, Rufus Hound brings the same infectious glow of an actor clearly having the time of his life that Frank Skinner did last year. And since he may or not now be Me’s immortal companion, there’s plenty of scope for a return."

Radio Times while finding the episode a "dark and beautiful study of immortality and short lives", is not so sure about the character. "Sam Swift the Quick, who flounders around, delaying his hanging with mucky innuendo. He’s likeable as a one-off but now could be another immortal. Who knows what’s being set up there – I wouldn’t mourn if we never see him again."

The Independent found the episode very character driven, mainly at the expense of the plot. "The extraterrestrial lion king didn’t really make much of an impression, either from a design standpoint or as a particularly interesting villain. His plot was so by-the-numbers it barely warranted a couple of lines of dialogue and the inevitable ‘I’m invading you after all’ turnaround was so predictable it veered on the schlocky."

Digital Spy also felt the episode didn't quite hold together. "Where the episode fumbles is in its attempts to meld all of this with a broad, comic adventure, replete with bumbling guards, bungled robberies and a fire-breathing humanoid lion.The mix of moody introspection and historical romp doesn't quite gel, though Tregenna's script settles down in time to deliver a mostly satisfying final act, hinging on the fate of rival highwayman Sam Swift (a terrific, if underused, Rufus Hound)."

Author Catherine Tregenna wins plaudits from Den of Geek. "Catherine Tregenna is an ideal author of this week's script. She's already written for the near-immortal (in, surely, every sense) Captain Jack Harkness in Torchwood several times. Here, she's given the time and space to put at the heart of her episode a dissection of what that immortality means".

IGN felt the episode balanced the lightweight and humorous with some more heavy moments. "The Doctor reads Me’s journals, only to find ripped out pages -- and tear stains -- which reflects the horror that he has inflicted upon her in his attempt to do a good thing. Me’s recollection of her past lives is heartbreaking.". Mashable also picks up on the journals "Catherine Tregenna, takes us into the ineffable sadness of Me's journals, dotted with tears and ripped pages. And she takes us into the even worse sadness, that Me can't remember everything that happened to her, or the names she used."

TV.Com remarked on the absence of the Doctor's companion for much of the episode. "Over the years, Doctor Who has featured Doctor- and companion-lite episodes as a means of completing production on time and budget. It was often successful, especially in terms of say, "Midnight" or "The Lodger." Whether this episode was mostly Clara-less for production reasons, I have no idea, but it was a necessary episode story-wise."

Meanwhile TV Fanatic relished the mention of a former stalwart of the series. "I loved hearing Capaldi mention Captain Jack Harkness. If there's one character I'd love to see back, it's Captain Jack. "

You can read the Doctor Who News review in our reviews section.

FILTER: - Press - Series 9/35

Previous 10 Stories

Christmas Special - Press Reaction

The Husbands of River Song: press interviews

Hell Bent - Press Reaction

Heaven Sent - Press Reaction

Face the Raven - Press Reaction

Sleep No More - Press Reaction

The Zygon Inversion - Press Reaction

The Zygon Invasion - Press Reaction

The Zygon Invasion - Publicity

The Woman Who Lived - Press Reaction

Amazon Associate paid Link. Doctor Who News is supported by qualifying purchases.

This Week in Doctor Who

ARCHIVE

FILTER