Deep Breath
- Episode aired Aug 23, 2014
- TV-PG
- 1h 16m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
8.7K
YOUR RATING
When the newly-regenerated doctor arrives in Victorian London, he finds a dinosaur rampant in the Thames and a spate of deadly spontaneous combustions.When the newly-regenerated doctor arrives in Victorian London, he finds a dinosaur rampant in the Thames and a spate of deadly spontaneous combustions.When the newly-regenerated doctor arrives in Victorian London, he finds a dinosaur rampant in the Thames and a spate of deadly spontaneous combustions.
Simon Carew
- Waiter Droid
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe new opening credits that were introduced in this episode were based on a fan-made YouTube video by Billy Hanshaw. Steven Moffat was so impressed by the video, he got in touch with Hanshaw to get it recreated by BBC Wales Graphics.
- GoofsThe slime on the doors of the TARDIS appears and disappears between camera angles in the opening sequence.
- Quotes
The Doctor: It's good I'm Scottish. I'm Scottish. I am... Scottish. I can complain about things, I can really complain about things now.
- Alternate versionsWhile filmed and broadcast on TV in 1,78:1 aspect ratio, the episode was screened in theaters in 2,35:1 aspect ratio.
- ConnectionsEdited into Doctor Who: The Girl Who Died (2015)
Featured review
A strong return to form after a messy previous series
It wasn't perfect, but Deep Breath was a fantastic return for Doctor Who tonight. Following a series that offered more disappointment than wonder, I really feel Doctor Who could be heading in the right direction for the first time since the fifth season's opener back in 2010. Peter Capaldi is nothing short of an absolute triumph. We're still only getting to know his incarnation, but he gave a near faultless performance as a lost Doctor who knows less about himself than he does the people the around him. From his delightful pyjama-wearing horse- riding, to his more sinister moments in the episode's crescendo, he nailed every scene with ease. Matt Smith, for me, won't be an easy act to follow, but Capaldi is certainly on the right tracks.
Also, as surprising as it is satisfying, Clara finally became a character this evening, rather than a mere plot point to allow an episode to cheat its way to a close. She's still considerably weaker than other companions we've been treated to, but this feels like a fresh start for her. Coleman, too, gave a terrific performance. As for the plot? This is where the episode struggled. 75 minutes was far too long anyway (60 would've been perfect), and nothing really happened for the first half an hour. It gave the characters some calm time to talk, but the pacing fell apart early on and struggled to pick itself back up again. That said, the "Deep Breath" sequence was terrifically executed, and the T-Rex was beautifully animated, if fairly irrelevant to the plot.
But when we're being introduced to a new Doctor, plot must come second. Moffat balanced plot and character fairly well throughout the episode, there was just too much filler in a story that didn't need to be as long as it was. The actual standalone plot of the episode wound up as the most uninteresting thing here, but when Capaldi was such a great presence on-screen, that can hardly be criticized. I was hoping for a simpler, yet darker, more assured series of Doctor Who, and if Deep Breath is anything to go by, they may well have done just that.
Also, as surprising as it is satisfying, Clara finally became a character this evening, rather than a mere plot point to allow an episode to cheat its way to a close. She's still considerably weaker than other companions we've been treated to, but this feels like a fresh start for her. Coleman, too, gave a terrific performance. As for the plot? This is where the episode struggled. 75 minutes was far too long anyway (60 would've been perfect), and nothing really happened for the first half an hour. It gave the characters some calm time to talk, but the pacing fell apart early on and struggled to pick itself back up again. That said, the "Deep Breath" sequence was terrifically executed, and the T-Rex was beautifully animated, if fairly irrelevant to the plot.
But when we're being introduced to a new Doctor, plot must come second. Moffat balanced plot and character fairly well throughout the episode, there was just too much filler in a story that didn't need to be as long as it was. The actual standalone plot of the episode wound up as the most uninteresting thing here, but when Capaldi was such a great presence on-screen, that can hardly be criticized. I was hoping for a simpler, yet darker, more assured series of Doctor Who, and if Deep Breath is anything to go by, they may well have done just that.
helpful•3721
- ryanjmorris
- Aug 23, 2014
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Filming locations
- Leonardo Hotel Cardiff, 1 Park Place, Cardiff, Wales, UK(Restaurant interior)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 16 minutes
- Color
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