DOCTOR WHO “Time Heist” Review

What could the Doctor possibly want to steal from a bank? And who is the mysterious Architect? Read on to find out.

The official description from BBC:

The Doctor turns bank robber when he is given a task he cannot refuse – steal from the most dangerous bank in the cosmos. With the help of a beautiful shape-shifter and a cyber-augmented gamer, the Doctor and Clara must fight their way past deadly security, and come face-to-face with the fearsome Teller – a creature of terrifying power that can detect guilt.

As anyone who read my review for last weeks episode, “Listen” will know, I wasn’t a fan. The real shock didn’t come however until I heard the opinions of my fellow Whovians, with most having a polar opposite view, going as far as to describe it as one of the best episodes in recent history. I must be missing something? Anyway, another week another episode, as “Time Heist” sees the Doctor enlisted by a mysterious figure known as the Architect to rob from the most dangerous bank in the universe. Sounds interesting.

Peter Capaldi just keeps getting better and better in the role of the Doctor, with the Scotsman giving a scarily serious attitude as well as a humorous personality. This new Doctor wouldn’t be the same without his trusty companion, with the connection between the Doctor and Clara (Jenna Coleman) becoming a pleasant focal point. Joining the Doctor and Clara on this daring bank heist is a shape shifting mutant, Saibra (Pippa Bennett-Warner) and cyber hacker, Psi (Jonathan Bailey). Both actors give a very solid performance, as though they may not be remembered by many in years to come, they proved a vital part to this episode. Bar the Doctor and Clara, it’s villainess Ms Delphox that intrigues the most, with former Lara Croft voice actress and Ashes to Ashes star Keeley Hawes giving a stunning performance, being both charming and vicious.

“Time Heist” is chock full of mystery, but the most prominent one seems to be, who is the Architect? Though I personally always had an inkling as to the identity of this character, with the clues throughout only strengthening my suspicions, the writing team of Stephen Thompson and Steven Moffat, along with the suspenseful direction of Douglas Mackinnon managed to keep me on edge. Despite the mystery and general heist flair of this episode, it was the addition of a new alien race that excited me most, with the Teller being in the words of the Ninth Doctor, “Fantastic!” Appearing to have some similarities to the Doctor himself, whilst also having an enthralling telepathic power set, this mute creature manages to have a dominant presence, whilst at the same time making this Whovian somewhat empathise with it’s predicament.

Bouncing back from what I considered a disappointing episode, “Time Heist” manages to give us the kind of fun, exciting caper that all Doctor Who fans can enjoy. Highly recommended.