DOCTOR WHO “Deep Breath” Review


Doctor Who is back! But can this new Doctor grab the hearts of Whovians around the world? Read on to find out.

The official description from BBC:

When the Doctor arrives in Victorian London he finds a dinosaur rampant in the Thames and a spate of deadly spontaneous combustions.

Who is the new Doctor and will Clara’s friendship with him survive as they embark on a terrifying mission into the heart of an alien conspiracy?

The Doctor has changed. It’s time you knew him.

It’s here! The day that Doctor Who fans around the world have been eagerly awaiting is finally upon us, as we get to see the first full length episode to feature the new Doctor. Having had mixed feeling ever since Scottish actor Peter Capaldi was first announced as Matt Smith‘s replacement (see DOCTOR WHO: The Clock Strikes Twelve for more), recent weeks have seen me enthusiastic to see “Deep Breath.”

The main thing that was naturally in my mind was whether Peter Capaldi would shine as the Doctor. The answer: of course. Despite my initial scepticism as to whether he’d live up to the iconic role, Capaldi has proven to be the perfect choice. The way that he pulls of the amnesia like state of the Doctor in both a humorous, yet calculated way really appealed to me, with the mixture of light and dark tones giving the blank canvas that every new Doctor needs. Joining Capaldi we get wonderful performances from regular companion Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald), as well as the returning Paternoster Gang, consisting of Neve McIntosh as Lady Vastra, Catrin Stewart as Jenny Flint and Dan Starkey as Strax.

Doctor Who Deep Breath 2

Set in Victorian Britain the episode sees the newly regenerated Doctor take on a case befitting Sherlock Holmes, as he tries to uncover the cause of several spontaneous combustions. The smart and witty dialogue throughout Steven Moffat‘s script really helps bring this episode alive, with the speculation as to what type of Doctor would emerge being the key focal point of the first fifteen minutes. Swiftly moving onto the task at hand, the Doctor slips back into his classic ways, using the environment around him, and his trusty sonic screwdriver to help him solve this case. The episode wasn’t without it’s faults however, with there being some oddly erratic moments, and sudden changes in pace.

Doctor Who triumphantly returns as “Deep Breath” breaths new breath into the 2000+ year old Time Lord. Highly recommended.

OUR RATING
8.5
  • + Peter Capaldi was perfect as the Doctor.
  • + Steven Moffat's script was filled with clever dialogue.
  • + The Doctor gives his best Sherlock Holmes performance.
  • - The change of pace sometimes felt too sudden.