Death in Heaven
- Episode aired Nov 8, 2014
- TV-PG
- 57m
With Cybermen on the streets of London, old friends unite against old enemies and the Doctor takes to the air in a startling new role. As the Doctor faces his greatest challenge, sacrifices ... Read allWith Cybermen on the streets of London, old friends unite against old enemies and the Doctor takes to the air in a startling new role. As the Doctor faces his greatest challenge, sacrifices must be made before the day is won.With Cybermen on the streets of London, old friends unite against old enemies and the Doctor takes to the air in a startling new role. As the Doctor faces his greatest challenge, sacrifices must be made before the day is won.
- Boy
- (as Antonio Bouroupael)
- Cybermen
- (voice)
- Cyberman
- (uncredited)
- Cyberman
- (uncredited)
- Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOsgood continues to be a walking Doctor costume homage. After wearing a big, floppy scarf like the Fourth Doctor, her latest outfit has a leather jacket, Converse sneakers and a burgundy bow tie - favored by the War/Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctors, respectively.
- GoofsClara feels for Kate's pulse using her thumb. This is actually never done, other fingers must be used. Clara is a teacher and therefore must be proficient in first aid.
- Quotes
The Doctor: I'm not a good man! I'm not a bad man! I'm not a hero! I'm not a President! And no, I'm not an officer! You know who I am? I am an idiot with a box and a screwdriver, passing through, helping out. And I don't need an army, I never have.
- Crazy creditsBecause Clara Oswald declares herself as the Doctor to a Cyberman immediately prior to the opening sequence, Jenna Coleman is given top billing, bumping Peter Capaldi to second, and her eyes replace his in the opening sequence as reinforcement of her deception.
- Alternate versionsPresented in theaters in 3D, 2015 September 15, edited together with Dark Water (2014). The entire feature was in 3D, including the scenes from earlier episodes also not originally presented in 3D.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Doctor Who Extra: Death in Heaven (2014)
The outlook did not appear to be good from the minute the opening episode saw a T-Rex in Victorian London, lesbian aliens, comedy little aliens, and general silliness. Actually that is unfair, because there was some darkness in that episode too, and some quite creepy moments, but they always seemed isolated, like they were a mistake rather than something the show was trying to achieve. This continues through the season; that most episodes have fragments of good ideas or good scenes, but generally they lack control of the tone, and in particular the discipline to just be reserved and not constantly be pushing to take things to 11. I don't mean volume or spectacle when I say this, but just content. There are many examples but to name a few; in Forest of the Night, there was no reason why the little girl had to have her sister returned at the end – it isn't really "from" anywhere, and the episode suddenly ends with no reason for the scene apart from the writer thinking it might be good it seems. Likewise (and more upsetting) the final episode decides to pretend to kill Lethbridge-Stewart (the daughter), then decides to save her in a most unusual fashion – specifically having a terribly judged and pointless few seconds where we see a Cyberman we are told is the original Lethbridge-Stewart (who then flies off, leaving the terrifying impression that he could also return).
These are two specific examples of lack of self-control in the writing, but the show is rife with these. The sheer lack of control on the tone of the show is seen in most episodes; the finest killing machine in the universe terrorizes a school but really seems like a toy robot they stuck in because they realized they needed something for the "next week" trailer. This is seen in other episodes where good ideas seem sidelined suddenly, or bigger ideas are shoved into small spaces to be used as a plot device for much less interesting ideas. This is not to say all the episodes are bad, indeed in most cases there is pretty much enough about them to engage – but more than enough to then frustrate at the same time; perfect example being Kill The Moon, which is really well done in the first half – terrible in big and small ideas in the second half. Only Flatline really stood out, although the darkness of the final two episodes was appreciated (were it not for all the silliness and poor judgment that came with it).
The best thing about the season is Capaldi, but he is also the most disappointing. The best thing is that even when he is being goofy, he has a darker air to him than the previous Doctors – he has a weight and presence that I like. When the writing uses this, the show is at its best, and even when the writing is poor but is trying (and failing) to be dark or complex, then Capaldi helps it a bit. Problem is that in almost every single episode, he feels better than the show around him. Coleman is okay, but there is never a time when her performance makes you forget that she is pretty – this is always what is first and most evident. Anderson is so-so in his interactions with her, but his tension with the Doctor is much better for him to deliver on. Gomez is okay in terms of doing what is asked of her; I do not care about the gender change – I care that she was not allowed more time with the Doctor to play off one another and produce some great scenes – there was so much darkness in these scenes (poor cute Osgood), but yet none of it really built up between them as it should – and then they just disintegrate her in a terrible writing decision (although one that will be ignored or explained when it suits them not to have done it).
I didn't hate season 8, I was just frequently frustrated or disappointed by it. Capaldi is consistently great, but the writing does not match this; they are too often undisciplined, lacking control of the tone, and guilty of delivering individually good scenes or aspects, but not doing it as well as they could have and should have. Unnecessary clutter and poor judgments abound, detracting from the bits that are good, and leaving one with the hope that maybe next season we can get some material that matches Capali – although Nick Frost dressed as Santa sort of dented that hope (and jarred really badly against what had otherwise been an enjoyably dark ending).
- bob the moo
- Nov 28, 2014
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Filming locations
- The Friary, Cardiff, Wales, UK(London street scenes)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime57 minutes
- Color