Reviews
Doctor Who Worldwide
This was one of the darkest episodes in the fifty year history of the show, with some truly disturbing notions, the horrific thought that the dead can experience the pain of their own cremation perhaps the most unsavoury. But it is also dark in the uncompromising manner in which it highlights our fears of death and pain, our experiences of guilt and regret, and the sacrifices we sometimes have to make in those relationships that are the most precious to us. The original concept of the Cybermen as a humanoid race that once chose to be free of the shackles of emotions is back on the table. It replaces the more recent, less unpalatable idea of humans unwillingly being turned into Cybermen. The sobering fact is that every single one of us would more than likely follow Danny Pink in pressing the delete button. Sometimes we choose to be less than human.
The Telegraph
Written by showrunner Steven Moffat, the taut script bore many of his hallmarks: rug-pulling twists, quip-laden dialogue (“We don’t just have iPads in the afterlife, we have Steve Jobs”) and knowing in-jokes (references to the Daleks being unable to climb stairs and Capaldi’s previous creation, sweary spin doctor Malcolm Tucker). Moffat loves to play on our everyday fears and here it was death, specifically the chilling idea that we remain conscious and fully feel pain. “Don’t cremate me,” came the spine-tingling plea from the recently deceased. For the night after Halloween, this was bone-rattling and suitably spooky fare. Will it all turn out to be a trick or a treat? We’ll find out next Saturday.
The Independent
Sad, funny, scary, romantic - ‘Dark Water’ is everything you could ask for from a Doctor Who finale the day after Halloween. There are creepy skeletons that turn out to be disguised Cybermen and even Clara is channelling Stephen King’s Carrie. Doctor Who has outdone itself this time thanks to Moffat’s excellent script, it just blows every other episode in this series out of the water - well, maybe apart from next week’s concluding instalment.
Radio Times
I love a Doctor Who story that presents something original. I also enjoy one that presents a challenge. So on both those counts I should love Dark Water. I’m still undecided, though. It’s beautifully made and brilliantly performed, but I need to watch its conclusion, Death in Heaven, before I’m sure about this two-part finale. For his companion’s benefit, the Doctor is even willing to give credence to a “concept of an afterlife – I always meant to have a look around.” This is Steven Moffat doing so himself, via the programme he loves, in an episode that has challenged me more than any I remember. Bring on Chapter 12!
SFX
And in a series of great Capaldi performances, this is one of the best, going from sarcastic to caring to condescending to genius to vulnerable in a beat. As his run has gone on it’s become clear that the old Doctor(s) is still there, it’s just that in the Twelfth version the settings have been slightly messed up and certain character attributes are rather higher in the mix. It’s most evident in the fact he doesn’t quite know how to handle Missy – she’s all over him, but unlike his direct predecessors, he’s far from comfortable. He really is a no kissing Doctor… So how will he react now he knows that Missy (Michelle Gomez having a whale of time as a wonderful villain) is the Master – it’s certainly good to have him/her back. As with all two-parters, the promise of this first half lives and dies on what happens next week. But with the Cybermen poised to invade London (again – maybe they’ve got a better strategy this time), and Danny pondering whether to terminate his existence with an iPad, it’s poised beautifully. Fingers crossed here that Peter Capaldi’s mostly excellent first year in the TARDIS will go out with the bang it deserves.
Den of Geek
Finally, then, there’s the bigger question. Can Doctor Who keep this cold, fierce tone going right through to the end of Death In Heaven? That’s the challenge now, and it’s no small one. On its own feet, Dark Water is an excellent episode, that resonates long in the mind after it’s been watched. It’s got the best Doctor Who cliffhanger since a bit of text appeared next to John Hurt, and it sets things up for a potentially memorable last episode. Whether you knew it was coming or not, The Master/The Mistress was a superb moment of Who, in an episode with no shortage of them. Can the next one deliver? Crikey, we hope so, even appreciating how much it has to fit in. Because we haven’t felt this excited about a Doctor Who finale for some time. Dark Water has set it up a treat, half demonstrating the benefit of having two parters. We’ve just got seven long, long days to wait to find out if Death In Heaven can complete the job.
Doctor Who Personalities Reaction
Well that's my Halloween costume sorted for the night!! I'm going out as Danny pink. Just need an iPad! @rtalalay #drwho #dannypink
— Samuel Anderson (@theblackpaddy) November 1, 2014
For a long time St Paul's was the only London landmark not to house a secret base. Glad Steven has finally completed the set.
— Jonny Morris (@jonnymorris1973) November 1, 2014
@gerainted @DrWhoWorldwide Nobody writes Who to pee off fans. He did it because he had no better ideas
— Simon Forward (@prefect4d) November 1, 2014
That was awesome.
— Paul_Cornell (@Paul_Cornell) November 1, 2014
I've certainly never been more scared or disturbed by #DrWho than tonight.
— Gareth Roberts (@OldRoberts953) November 1, 2014
@rtalalay Great ep! Loved that! dx
— Douglas Mackinnon (@drmuig) November 1, 2014
Didn't expect closing lift doors to enter my top #DrWho moments.
— Andrew Smith (@Andr3wSmith) November 1, 2014
Zomg! That was great! #DoctorWho
— Simon Guerrier (@0tralala) November 1, 2014
DWW Reader Reaction
@DrWhoWorldwide its been an amazing series but never been this excited for a finale. Missy is a fantastic incarnation of the classic villain
— Will Driver (@WillDriver93) November 1, 2014
@DrWhoWorldwide absolutely irredeemable infantile nonsense. Terribly insensitive for All Souls Day. #doctorwho
— Phil Creighton (@phil_creighton) November 1, 2014
@DrWhoWorldwide OH. MY. GOD The Moff saved the best for last!Better than Day Of The Doctor! Better than Blink! #tombofthecybermen2 #DoctorWho
— Odolf Bishler (@ollybishop) November 1, 2014
@DrWhoWorldwide typical moffat - too much condensed into too little time - an incoherent mess
— Neil Jeffery (@SirBlimelyWindy) November 1, 2014
@DrWhoWorldwide Absolutely loved it! Still on such a high right now! The whole thing was disturbing and hilarious and brilliant
— Al (@fraze_alex) November 1, 2014
@DrWhoWorldwide Awful. Absolutely awful. Major fail.
— Dread Sinister (@DreadSinister) November 1, 2014
@DrWhoWorldwide At last an excellent script for Peter Capaldi. An episode when time flew and left you wishing for next week to arrive.
— Richard Carbis (@CarbisRichard) November 1, 2014
So, the Doctor has french-kissed the Master? Yep, we're done. Pack it up, gang.
— The Mood Abides (@Moody1twit) November 1, 2014
@DrWhoWorldwide Also managed to pull the emotional strings without ever descending to over sentimentality. Sets up the finale perfectly
— Martin Fahey (@mfahey79) November 1, 2014
@DrWhoWorldwide Only Moffat could make the Master a woman, change his name & still have me think it's great. Inspired.
— Gallifrey Stands (@DoctorSquee) November 1, 2014
@DrWhoWorldwide more echoes of the Sixth Doctor… Tranquil Repose& Revelation of the Cybermen anyone..?
— Paul Rowe (@Pdrpaulpdr) November 1, 2014
@DrWhoWorldwide I look forward to John Simm filming the regeneration sequence in 16 years time #thenightofthemaster
— Mike Bond (@emby2) November 1, 2014
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