Flatline (TV story): Difference between revisions

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{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{Infobox Story
{{ImageLinkTV}}
|name            = {{StoryTitle}}
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image          = Clara holds the TARDIS.jpg
|image          = Clara holds the TARDIS.jpg
|novelisation    = Flatline (novelisation)
|series          = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|series          = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|season number  = [[Series 8 (Doctor Who)|8]]
|season number  = Series 8 (Doctor Who 2005)
|story number    = 249
|series episode number = 9
|story number    = 250
|scripturl      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writers/documents/doctor-who-8-episode-9-flatline-shooting-script-240514.pdf<ref>[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/571a5cc31bbee032f7af1a65/t/646dcc0e0499f13485794a2f/1684917263839/Dr+Who+Flatline+1.0.pdf ''Flatline'' PDF first draft script]</ref><ref>[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/571a5cc31bbee032f7af1a65/t/646dcc3a5bd8cf65ffcc3564/1684917306486/DW8+-+Flatline+YELLOW+Script+-+120614.pdf ''Flatline'' PDF shooting script]</ref>
|doctor          = Twelfth Doctor
|doctor          = Twelfth Doctor
|companions      = [[Clara Oswald|Clara]]
|companions      = [[Clara Oswald|Clara]]
|featuring      = Rigsy
|enemy          = [[Boneless]]
|enemy          = [[Boneless]]
|setting        = [[Bristol]], the early [[21st century]]
|setting        = [[Bristol]], the early [[21st century]]
|writer          = [[Jamie Mathieson]]
|writer          = Jamie Mathieson
|director        = [[Douglas Mackinnon]]
|director        = [[Douglas Mackinnon]]
|producer        = [[Nikki Wilson]]
|producer        = [[Nikki Wilson]]
|confidential    = Flatline (DWE)
|dwe            = Flatline (DWE episode)
|broadcast date  = [[18 October (releases)|18 October]] [[2014 (releases)|2014]]
|broadcast date  = 18 October 2014
|format          = 1x45 minute episode
|format          = 1x45 minute episode
|network        = [[BBC One]]
|network        = BBC One
|production code = 4.9
|prev            = Mummy on the Orient Express (TV story)
|prev            = Mummy on the Orient Express (TV story)
|next            = TBA <!--do not add next episode until AFTER it airs-->
|next            = In the Forest of the Night (TV story)
|made prev      =
|made prev      = Mummy on the Orient Express (TV story)
|made next      =
|made next      = Dark Water (TV story)
|trailer        = Flatline Official TV Trailer - Doctor Who Series 8 Episode 9 (2014) - BBC One
|trailer        = Flatline Official TV Trailer - Doctor Who Series 8 Episode 9 (2014) - BBC One
|trailer2        = Flatline - Next Time Trailer - Doctor Who Series 8 - BBC
|clip            = The TARDIS Shrinks - Flatline - Doctor Who - BBC
|trailer3        =
|clip            = Smaller on the Outside? - Flatline Preview - Doctor Who Series 8 Episode 9 (2014) - BBC One
|clip2          = Keep away from the walls! - 'Flatline' preview - Doctor Who Series 8 - BBC
|clip2          = Keep away from the walls! - 'Flatline' preview - Doctor Who Series 8 - BBC
|clip3          =  
|clip3          = "The Man That Stops The Monsters" - Flatline - Doctor Who - BBC
|bts            = Introduction to Flatline - Doctor Who Series 8 Episode 9 (2014) - BBC One
|bts            = Introduction to Flatline - Doctor Who Series 8 Episode 9 (2014) - BBC One
|bts2            = Flatline - Doctor Who Extra Series 1 Episode 9 (2014) - BBC
|bts2            = Flatline - Doctor Who Extra Series 1 Episode 9 (2014) - BBC
|bts3            = DOCTOR WHO Exclusive Inside Look at 'Flatline' The Boneless - BBC AMERICA
|bts3            =  
}}
|featuring2 = Danny Pink|featuring3 = Missy}}
'''''Flatline''''' was the ninth episode of the [[series 8 (Doctor Who)|eighth series]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' produced by [[BBC Wales]]. For scheduling reasons, it was a "[[Doctor-lite]]" episode.
'''''Flatline''''' was the ninth episode of [[Series 8 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 8]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.


''Flatline'' was [[Jamie Mathieson]]'s first script for the show. Two years before writing it, he had pitched his ideas for a story to [[Steven Moffat]], but was unsuccessful. When he again met with the [[executive producer]], he showed him four ideas for episodes, complete with his own illustrations, aided by his background in art college. Taking an interest in the monster he had created for what would become ''Flatline'', Moffat asked Mathieson to produce a story outline and he got the job to script the episode.
''Flatline'' was Mathieson's first script for the show. Two years before writing it, he had pitched his ideas for a story to [[Steven Moffat]] but was unsuccessful. When he again met with the [[executive producer]], he showed him four ideas for episodes, complete with his own illustrations, aided by his background in art college. Taking an interest in the monster he had created for what would become ''Flatline'', Moffat asked Mathieson to produce a story outline and he got the job to script the episode.


It was only after writing several drafts that he was told the episode would need to lock the Doctor away in a single location, as [[Peter Capaldi]]’s scenes for the episode needed to be filmed quickly to bide by the production schedule.
It was only after writing several drafts that he was told the episode would need to lock the Doctor away in a single location, as Peter Capaldi's scenes for the episode needed to be filmed quickly to abide by the production schedule. Mathieson decided to write a script where the Doctor was "in the dark". For this to be successful, he had to create an unknown quantity to feature as his alien enemy. Much like his previous creation, the [[Foretold]], he elected to have no dialogue for the aggressors, allowing something about them to remain "unknowable". ([[DWM 479]])


Mathieson decided to write a script where the Doctor was "in the dark". For this to be successful, he had to create a unknown quantity to feature as his alien enemy. Much like his next creation, the [[Foretold]],  he elected to have no dialogue for the aggressors, allowing  something about them to remain "unknowable". ([[DWM 479]])
== Synopsis ==
Separated from the Doctor, Clara discovers a new menace from another dimension.


== Synopsis ==
But how do you hide when even the walls are no protection? With people to save and the Doctor trapped, Clara comes up against an enemy that exists beyond human perception.
In a [[council estate]], [[Clara Oswald|Clara]] takes charge as beings from another dimension threaten the [[Earth]]...


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
[[Twelfth Doctor (The Curse of Fatal Death)|The Doctor]] misjudges location when returning [[Clara Oswald|Clara]] to the present day, resulting in them landing in [[Bristol]] rather than [[London]]. They also discover that the exterior of [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] has shrunk down due a mystery power draining nearby; the Doctor stays with the smaller TARDIS to figure out what is going on while Clara looks around. She finds that locals are disappearing, and mystery murals of them painted in a nearby pedestrian tunnel. Clara returns to find the TARDIS' exterior has shrunk further, trapping the Doctor within as he is unable to fit through the miniaturised doors. He hands Clara his [[psychic paper]], the [[sonic screwdriver]], and an audio/visual earpiece so he can keep in touch with her, and then has her carry the TARDIS with her to where he has tracked a large source of energy.
A man is on the phone with the police, explaining in whispers that he knows what happened to the people who went missing. When they ask him to speak up, the man tells them he cannot; he needs the police to protect him as the culprits will be coming for him. Hearing something, he screams in fear and vanishes from the room. The officer on the line asks the man if he is okay, getting no response. On the wall of the room, there is an image of the man stretched through the trim, screaming.
 
After some adventures, [[Twelfth Doctor|the Doctor]] is piloting the TARDIS back to Clara's time to return her home. She is hurriedly packing her things, to which the Doctor tells her is not necessary as there is ''literally'' infinite space in the TARDIS for her possessions. However, Clara says Danny has gotten possessive and doesn't want any of her things in the TARDIS.
 
Not really caring, the Doctor lands the TARDIS, telling her it's the same time they left. However, he then adds "[the] same place-ish". Realising something is wrong, Clara demands the Doctor explain; however, he retorts that the readings he's getting are "ishy". As he looks at the monitor, Clara heads to the door. She stops, shocked, and calls the Doctor to her. He looks at the door as well, stating it's very not good: it's shrunk!
 
The Doctor and Clara exit the TARDIS, albeit with some difficulty as the exterior shell has shrunk to almost half its original size. Amazed, the Doctor begins wondering what happened and starts scanning with the [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdriver]]. Clara looks over at the nearby tracks, reading the sign; they're in [[Bristol]] rather than [[London]].
 
The Doctor tells Clara that the TARDIS isn't going anywhere until they stop whatever is causing the problem. He gets back inside for equipment, directing Clara to look around for the source of the problem. On her search, she meets [[Rigsy]], a graffiti artist working community service for his art; he tells her that locals are disappearing, and mystery murals of them have appeared in a nearby pedestrian tunnel. Clara calls the Doctor, bringing him up to speed. She asks where he is since she can't see the TARDIS. However, he tells her he hasn't taken off. To her amusement, the TARDIS has shrunk to the size of a toy.
 
[[File:Clara holds the TARDIS.jpg|thumb|220x220px|Clara holds the TARDIS.]]
The Doctor lightens the TARDIS, allowing Clara to carry it in her purse. He hands Clara his [[psychic paper]], the [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdriver]], and an audio/visual [[earpiece]] so he can keep in touch with her. Clara takes this as being chosen to act as his stand-in. Annoyed, the Doctor tells Clara that she's not being him.
 
Clara goes back to the mural tunnel, scanning around to give stats to the Doctor in the TARDIS. Rigsy finds her again, asking for her name. Clara calls herself "the Doctor". She asks Rigsy to take her to where someone vanished. Rigsy leads her to the [[flat]] of the most recent missing person, where there's a strange desert mural. After Rigsy becomes uncomfortable with the strange conversation Clara is having with the Doctor, he decides to leave, but Clara stops him, realising that his local knowledge could be helpful. She pulls the TARDIS out of her purse and gets the Doctor to open the doors, introducing him to Rigsy.
 
Now more willing to work with Clara, Rigsy gains help from a police officer to gain access to the flat of the first known missing person. The Doctor says that the victims are in the walls, so Clara grabs a hammer. While she and Rigsy work on the walls, PC [[Forrest (Flatline)|Forrest]] is sucked into the floor. Clara and Rigsy hear her scream, but by the time they reach her, she is gone. They look around the room and find another strange mural, and the Doctor realises it's likely to be PC Forrest's nervous system and believes the first mural was a closeup of human skin of the latest victim.


Clara poses as "Doctor Oswald" and gains the confidence of a local graffiti artist, [[Rigsy]], who is part of a community service team, despite the Doctor's initial hesitation towards him. After finding nothing but a strange desert mural at the flat of the latest disappearance, Rigsy gains help from a police officer to gain access to the flat of the first known missing person. The Doctor instructs Clara to tear out the walls, believing the energy source to be within them. While they work, PC [[Forrest]] is sucked into the ground out of view of Clara and Rigsy, and when they reach her screams she has disappeared. They look around the room and find another strange mural, and the Doctor realises it's likely to be PC Forrest's nervous system, and believes the first mural was a closeup of human skin of the latest victim. As the entities start to move towards Clara and Rigsy, the Doctor quickly explains the creatures are two-dimensional, and must have been experimenting on the three-dimensional world. As Clara and Rigsy try to avoid the entity, which is in the walls and ground, [[Danny Pink|Danny]] phones Clara, and she manages to avoid questions of her whereabouts and quickly hangs up. The Doctor, who is listening in, recognises that Clara has lied to him about Danny accepting her continued travels in the TARDIS.
Hearing a bizarre sound, the Doctor shuts the TARDIS doors as the creatures behind draining it of its dimensional energy are at it again. Clara and Rigsy see what appears to be air moving like fluid coming at them. The Doctor quickly explains his theory that their adversaries are creatures from a 2-D universe, and must have been experimenting on the three-dimensional world, trying to understand it. As Clara and Rigsy try to avoid the entity, which is in the walls and ground, [[Danny Pink|Danny]] phones Clara, and she manages to avoid questions of her whereabouts and quickly hangs up. The Doctor, who is listening in, recognises that Clara has lied to him about Danny accepting her continued travels in the TARDIS.


Clara and Rigsy return to the rest of the community service group, who are about to paint over the murals in the pedestrian tunnel. The Doctor realises that the images are masquerades for the two-dimensional creatures, attempting to understand three dimensions; after the creatures take one of the services workers, Clara leads the rest away with the creatures chasing them. They take shelter in a nearby engine repair warehouse, where the Doctor helps Clara to try to communicate with the creatures using mathematics. When another worker is taken, Clara and the surviving members flee into a disused subway tunnel. As they explore, they find their only escape route has been flattened to two dimensions by the creatures. The Doctor provides Clara with a [[2Dis|device]] to restore the dimensions, and they just manage to escape. The Doctor also tells Clara that he has worked out a way to stop the creatures and return them to their home dimension, but the TARDIS doesn't have enough power. In the chaos, the TARDIS is knocked down a shaft on to an active railway line, with an oncoming train heading right for the TARDIS and the Doctor. With some advice from Clara, the Doctor is able to get the TARDIS off the rails by using his hand to move it, resulting in the Doctor doing a little victory dance for saving his TARDIS and himself. However, his victory is short-lived, as the TARDIS tips over onto the rails again. In order to protect the TARDIS from the oncoming train, the Doctor activates its [[siege mode]] at the very last minute, but without power is unable to return it to normal.
After escaping the flat, Clara and Rigsy return to the rest of the community service group, who are about to paint over the murals in the pedestrian tunnel. The Doctor realises that the images are masquerades for the two-dimensional creatures. After the creatures take one of the services workers, Clara leads the rest away, but the creatures chase them. They take shelter in a nearby engine repair warehouse, where the Doctor tells Clara that a leader will soon emerge and that she must make sure it's her. When Fenton demands to know who she is, Clara coldly states she's his best option for staying alive. The Doctor is impressed.


Clara uses the sonic screwdriver to stop an out-of-service train, and they attempt to use it to ram the creatures to prolong time to get back in contact with the Doctor. However, the train is simply transformed into two dimensions; as they escape, Clara finds the TARDIS now looking like a plain cube with [[Gallifrey]]an symbols, and takes it with her. Taking shelter in a disused office space, Clara comes up with a plan to provide energy to the TARDIS by having Rigsy paint out a fake access door on the back of a large poster. When the creatures attempt to pull it into three dimensions, they instead feed their energy into the TARDIS, restoring it to normal. Realizing they have no interest in peace, the Doctor uses the sonic screwdriver to stop the creatures, whom he dubs the "[[Boneless]]", sending them back to their dimension with a warning to those who survive the trip to never return. The Doctor returns everyone to the surface safely. Clara rejects a call from Danny, catching the Doctor's attention; he notes that she enjoyed 'playing the Doctor' for the day. She asks him to admit that she was a "good" Doctor; he tells her that she made an "exceptional Doctor," but that "goodness had nothing to do with it."
The Doctor helps Clara to try to communicate with the creatures using mathematics. When another worker is taken, Clara and the surviving members flee into a disused subway tunnel. As they explore, they find their only escape route has been flattened to two dimensions by the creatures. The Doctor provides Clara with a [[2Dis|device]] to restore the dimensions, and they just manage to escape. The Doctor also tells Clara that he has worked out a way to stop the creatures and return them to their home dimension, but the TARDIS doesn't have enough power.


As Clara watches the Doctor enter the TARDIS, [[Missy (Deep Breath)|Missy]], seated in a darkened room, is watching Clara on what appears to be a [[tablet]]. Missy says, with regard to Clara, that she has "chosen well".
In the chaos, the TARDIS is knocked down a shaft on to an active railway line, with an [[A113|oncoming train]] heading right for the TARDIS and the Doctor. With some advice from Clara, the Doctor is able to get the TARDIS off the rails by using his hand to move it, resulting in the Doctor doing a little victory dance for saving his TARDIS and himself. However, his victory is short-lived, as the TARDIS tips over onto the rails again. In order to protect the TARDIS from the oncoming train, the Doctor activates its [[siege mode]] at the very last minute, but without power is unable to return it to normal. The lack of power is also causing the life support systems to fail.
 
Clara uses the sonic screwdriver to stop an out-of-service train, and they attempt to use it to ram the creatures to prolong time to get back in contact with the Doctor. However, the train is simply transformed into two dimensions. As they escape, Clara finds the TARDIS now looking like a plain cube with [[Gallifrey]]an symbols and takes it with her.
 
Taking shelter in a disused office space, Clara comes up with a plan to provide energy to the TARDIS by having Rigsy paint out a fake access door on the back of a large poster. Unsure if Clara can still hear him or even if she is still alive, the Doctor praises her performance, saying that she "made a mighty fine Doctor". When the creatures attempt to pull the fake door into three dimensions, they instead feed their energy into the TARDIS, restoring it to normal.
 
[[File:DoctorBoneless.jpg|thumb|left|The Doctor banishes the [[Boneless]] back to their own dimension.]]
Realising they have no interest in peace, the Doctor denounces the creatures as monsters and states that it is his job to stop the monsters. He exits the TARDIS and uses the sonic screwdriver to stop the creatures, whom he dubs the "[[Boneless]]", sending them back to their own dimension with a warning to those who survive the trip: "You are not welcome here. This plane is protected."
 
The Doctor gets everyone out of the tunnels safely in the TARDIS. Clara rejects a call from Danny, catching the Doctor's attention; he notes that she enjoyed 'playing the Doctor' for the day. She asks him to admit that she was a good Doctor; he reluctantly tells her that she made an "exceptional Doctor", but that "goodness" had nothing to do with it.
 
As Clara watches the Doctor enter the TARDIS, [[Missy]], seated in a darkened room, is watching Clara on what appears to be a [[tablet]]. Missy says, with regard to "her" Clara, that she has "chosen well".


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
Line 60: Line 87:
* [[Rigsy]] - [[Joivan Wade]]
* [[Rigsy]] - [[Joivan Wade]]
* [[Danny Pink|Danny]] - [[Samuel Anderson]]
* [[Danny Pink|Danny]] - [[Samuel Anderson]]
* [[Roscoe (Flatine)|Roscoe]] - [[John Cummins]]
* [[Roscoe (Flatline)|Roscoe]] - [[John Cummins]]
* [[Forrest|PC Forrest]] - [[Jessica Hayles]]
* [[Forrest (Flatline)|PC Forrest]] - [[Jessica Hayles]]
* [[Fenton (Flatline)|Fenton]] - [[Christopher Fairbank]]
* [[Fenton (Flatline)|Fenton]] - [[Christopher Fairbank]]
* [[Al (Flatline)|Al]] - [[Matt Bardock]]
* [[Al (Flatline)|Al]] - [[Matt Bardock]]
* [[George (Flatline)|George]] - [[Raj Bajaj]]
* [[George (Flatline)|George]] - [[Raj Bajaj]]
* [[Bill (Flatline)|Bill]] - [[James Quinn]]
* [[Bill (Flatline)|Bill]] - [[James Quinn]]
* [[Missy (Deep Breath)|Missy]] - [[Michelle Gomez]]
* [[Missy]] - [[Michelle Gomez]]
 
=== Uncredited Cast ===
 
* [[Stan (Flatline)|Stan]] - [[Richard Parry]]


== Crew ==
== Crew ==
Line 72: Line 103:
|1stAD=Jo Lea
|1stAD=Jo Lea
|2ndAD=Iain Atkinson
|2ndAD=Iain Atkinson
|3rdAD=Gareth Jones
|3rdAD=Gareth Jones (assistant director)
|AD=Kyran Davies
|AD=Kyran Davies
|AD2=Michael Williams
|AD2=Michael Llewellyn Williams
|AD3=Rheinallt Rees
|AD3=Rheinallt Rees
|Runner=
|Runner=
Line 85: Line 116:
|LocationScout=
|LocationScout=
|AssistantLocationManager=
|AssistantLocationManager=
|UnitManager=Nick Clark
|UnitManager=Nick Clark (crew)
|AssistantUnitManager=
|AssistantUnitManager=
|ProductionManager=Simon Morris
|ProductionManager=Simon Morris
Line 92: Line 123:
|ProductionManagerAsst=
|ProductionManagerAsst=
|ProductionManagementAsst=
|ProductionManagementAsst=
|ProductionAssistant=
|ProductionAssistant=Amorette Kristina Darby
|ProductionScriptSecretary=
|ProductionScriptSecretary=
|ProductionSecretary=Medyr Llewellyn
|ProductionSecretary=Medyr Llewelyn
|ScriptSecretary=
|ScriptSecretary=
|ProductionRunner=
|ProductionRunner=
Line 127: Line 158:
|BoomOperator=
|BoomOperator=
|BoomOperator2=
|BoomOperator2=
|SoundMaintenanceEngineer=
|SoundMaintenanceEngineer=Dafydd Parry
|Gaffer=Mark Keeling
|Gaffer=Mark Keeling
|BestBoy=Francis Sparey
|BestBoy=Francis Sparey
Line 138: Line 169:
|Choreographer=
|Choreographer=
|Wires=
|Wires=
|Stunt=
|Stunt=Dani Biernat
|Stunt2=
|Stunt2=Rob Jarman
|Stunt3=
|Stunt3=Rob Pavey
|Stunt4=
|Stunt4=
|Stunt5=
|Stunt5=
Line 153: Line 184:
|ArtDeptProdManager=
|ArtDeptProdManager=
|AssociateDesigner=
|AssociateDesigner=
|ProductionBuyer=
|ProductionBuyer=Claire Trumble
|SetDecorator=Adrian Anscombe
|SetDecorator=Adrian Anscombe
|PropsBuyer=May Johnson
|PropsBuyer=
|PettyCashBuyer=
|PettyCashBuyer=
|StandbyArtDirector=
|StandbyArtDirector=Sian M Hughes
|ASupervisingArtDirector=
|ASupervisingArtDirector=
|SetDesigner=
|SetDesigner=
Line 177: Line 208:
|StandbyScenicArtist=
|StandbyScenicArtist=
|StorePerson=
|StorePerson=
|ChiefPropsMaster=
|ChiefPropMaster=
|PropsMaster=Paul Smith
|PropMaster=Paul Smith (prop master)
|PropertyMaster=
|PropertyMaster=
|AssistantPropsMaster=
|AssistantPropMaster=
|DressingChargehand=
|DressingChargehand=
|PropsChargehand=Chris Dudley
|PropsChargehand=Chris Dudley
Line 195: Line 226:
|PropsMaker3=
|PropsMaker3=
|PropsDriver=Gareth Fox
|PropsDriver=Gareth Fox
|PracticalElectrician=
|PracticalElectrician=Christian Davies
|ArtDepartmentDriver=
|ArtDepartmentDriver=
|ConstructionManager=Terry Horle
|ConstructionManager=Terry Horle
Line 240: Line 271:
|MattePainter2=
|MattePainter2=
|MattePainter3=
|MattePainter3=
|PostProdSupervisor=Samantha Price
|PostProdSupervisor=Nerys Davies
|PostProdSupervisor2=
|PostProdSupervisor2=
|PostProdCoOrdinator=
|PostProdCoOrdinator=Samantha Price
|SFXCoOrdinator=
|SFXCoOrdinator=
|SFXSupervisor=
|SFXSupervisor=
Line 300: Line 331:
|OnlineConform=
|OnlineConform=
|OnlineConform2=
|OnlineConform2=
|OnlineEditor=
|OnlineEditor=Mark Hardyman
|OnlineEditor2=
|OnlineEditor2=
|RightsExecutive=
|RightsExecutive=
Line 313: Line 344:
|WithThanksTo2=
|WithThanksTo2=
|SpecialThanks=
|SpecialThanks=
|ConductedAndOrchestratedBy=
|ConductedAndOrchestratedBy=Ben Foster
|Vocals=
|Vocals=
|CounterTenor=
|CounterTenor=
|RecordedBy=
|RecordedBy=Gerry O'Riordan
|MixedBy=
|MixedBy=Jake Jackson
|CrouchEnd=
|CrouchEnd=
|FromIdeaBy=
|FromIdeaBy=
Line 338: Line 369:
|CostumeDesigner=Howard Burden
|CostumeDesigner=Howard Burden
|Make-upDesigner=Claire Pritchard-Jones
|Make-upDesigner=Claire Pritchard-Jones
|VisualEffects=BBC Wales VFX
|VisualEffects=Axis
|SpecialEffects=Real SFX
|SpecialEffects=Real SFX
|Prosthetics=
|Prosthetics=
Line 357: Line 388:
|ExecutiveProd=Steven Moffat
|ExecutiveProd=Steven Moffat
|ExecutiveProd2=Brian Minchin
|ExecutiveProd2=Brian Minchin
|VisualEffects2 = BBC Wales VFX
|ProductionAssistant2 = Matthew Jones (production assistant)
|ProductionAssistant3 = Katie Player
|UnitMedic = Glyn Evans
|AssistantAccountant = Bethan Griffiths
|AssistantGrip = Ben Freeman
|CameraAsst3 = Tom Rowe
|ArtDeptAccountant = Maria Hurley
|SetDresser2 = Scott Howe
|SetDresser = Matt Watts
|SetDresser3 = Roger Hendry
|PropBuyer = May Johnson
|HeadScenicArtist = Clive Clarke
|ScenicPainter2 = Matt Weston
|ScenicPainter = Steve Nelms
|Storeman = Jamie Southcott
|AssistantStoreman = Ryan Milton
|ConstructionDriver = Jonathan Tylke
|Draughtsperson = Kartik Nagar
|Carpenter2 = Chris Daniels
|Carpenter = John Sinnott
|Carpenter3 = Lawrie Ferry
|Carpenter4 = Matt Ferry
|Carpenter5 = Julian Tucker
|Carpenter6 = Mark Painter
|Carpenter7 = Joe Painter
|Carpenter8 = Tim Burke
|TitleConcept = Billy Hanshaw
|CostumeAsst3 = Gemma Evans
|SoundMaintenanceEngineer2 = Jeff Welch
|SoundMaintenanceEngineer3 = Matt Jones (sound maintenance)
|ADREditor = Matthew Cox
|EffectsEditor = Harry Barnes
|SetDresser4 = Jayne Davies
|SetDresser5 = Jamie Farrell
}}
}}


== References ==
=== Uncredited crew ===
* [[VFX supervisor|VFX Supervisor]]/[[Creative director|Creative Director]] - [[Stuart Aitken]]<ref>''[[Flatline (DWE episode)|Doctor Who Extra: Flatline]]''</ref><ref name="techspark">{{cite web|url=https://techspark.co/how-doctor-whos-latest-enemies-were-created-by-bristol-based-visual-effects-studio-axisvfx/|title=How Doctor Who’s latest enemies were created by Bristol-based visual effects studio axisVFX|date of source=21 October 2014|website name=TechSPARK|accessdate=20 October 2018}}</ref><ref name="Axis BTS2">{{cite web|url=http://www.axis-vfx.com/blog/doctor-who-s8-behind-the-scenes/|title=Doctor Who with FXGuide.com|website name=Axis VFX|accessdate=18 October 2018}}</ref><ref name="fxguide">{{cite web|url=https://www.fxguide.com/featured/how-3d-printing-glitches-inspired-these-doctor-who-effects/|title=How 3D printing glitches inspired these Doctor Who effects|date of source=22 October 2014|website name=fxguide|accessdate=18 October 2018}}</ref>
* 3D [[VFX supervisor|VFX Supervisor]] - [[Grant Hewlett]]<ref name="techspark" /><ref name="DWMSE 43">[[DWMSE 43]]</ref><ref name="Axis BTS2" /><ref name="fxguide" />
* 2D [[VFX supervisor|VFX Supervisor]] - [[Howard Jones]]<ref name="techspark" /><ref name="Axis BTS2" /><ref name="fxguide" />
* [[Lead compositor|Comp Lead]] - [[Carl Chittneden]]<ref name="techspark" />
* [[CG supervisor|CG Supervisor]] - [[Sergio Caires]]<ref name="fxguide" />
* [[Visual effects art director|VFX Art Director]] - [[Ste Dalton]]<ref name="techspark" />
* [[Lead effects artist|Lead Effects Artist]] - [[Joe Thornley-Heard]]<ref name="fxguide" />
 
== Worldbuilding ==
 
=== Technology ===
* The Doctor names the device he creates [[2Dis]].
* The Doctor names the device he creates [[2Dis]].
=== Culture from the real world ===
* Clara suggests mimicking a hand motion as performed by the disembodied hand character Thing from ''[[The Addams Family]]'' to enable the Doctor to move the shrunken TARDIS out of the path of an approaching train.
* Clara suggests mimicking a hand motion as performed by the disembodied hand character Thing from ''[[The Addams Family]]'' to enable the Doctor to move the shrunken TARDIS out of the path of an approaching train.
* The first train bears the number A113, an animation in-joke used in several other movies and T.V. shows. A113 is a classroom used at the California Institute of the Arts for graphic design and character animations, widely recognised by alumni of the institute. [http://www.eonline.com/news/537548/the-story-behind-the-mysterious-number-that-appears-in-almost-every-pixar-film]
 
=== The Doctor's TARDIS ===
=== The Doctor's TARDIS ===
* The Doctor puts the TARDIS in [[siege mode]].
* The Doctor puts the TARDIS in [[siege mode]].
* When the TARDIS is in siege mode, Time Lord writing is clearly visible on the exterior.
* When the TARDIS is in siege mode, [[Gallifreyan (language)|Gallifreyan]] writing is visible on the exterior.
* The TARDIS makes itself lighter. When landed on the planet's surface, its true weight would fracture the [[Earth]].
* The [[cloister bell]] tolls when the TARDIS is in the path of a train with no shields and failing structural integrity.
* The Doctor has a desk underneath the console room.


=== Individuals ===
=== Individuals ===
* Fenton is not tricked by the psychic paper; the Doctor suggests this is due to a lack of imagination.
* Fenton is not tricked by the [[psychic paper]]; the Doctor suggests this is due to a lack of imagination.
* As he is trapped in the shrunken TARDIS, the Doctor hand Clara his [[sonic screwdriver]] and [[psychic paper]].
* Forrest was investigating the disappearance of Mr [[Heath (Flatline)|Heath]].
* Clara is sufficiently proficient with operating the sonic screwdriver that she is able to repair her earpiece without direction from the Doctor.


=== Organisations ===
=== Organisations ===
* Clara pretends to be from [[MI5]] and [[Health and Safety]].
* Clara pretends to be from [[MI5]] and [[Health and Safety]].
=== Species ===
=== Species ===
*The Doctor knows a race made of sentient [[gas]] who throw fireballs as a friendly wave and a race with 64 [[stomach]]s who talk to each other by disemboweling.
* The Doctor knows a race made of [[sentient gas]] who throw [[fire]]balls as a friendly wave and a race with [[64 (number)|sixty-four]] [[stomach]]s who greet each other by disembowelling.


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
* The ''Radio Times'' programme listing was accompanied by a small colour head-and-shoulders shot of Christopher Fairbank as Fenton, with the accompanying caption "Doctor Who / 8.25 p.m. / Will guest star Christopher Fairbank be on hand as Clara is forced to go it alone?
[[File:Dr_Who_-_Flatline_A113.jpg|right||thumb|A113 on a [[train]].]]
* The ''Radio Times'' programme listing was accompanied by a small colour head-and-shoulders shot of Christopher Fairbank as Fenton, with the accompanying caption "Doctor Who / 8.25 p.m. / Will guest star Christopher Fairbank be on hand as Clara is forced to go it alone?"
* The first train bears the number A113, an animation in-joke first known to originate in the ''Amazing Stories'' episode "The Family Dog" and used in many other movies and television shows. A113 is a classroom used at the California Institute of the Arts for graphic design and character animations, widely recognised by alumni of the institute.<ref>http://www.listal.com/list/a113</ref>
* The shrunken TARDIS<ref name="robatto tardis">http://www.rubbertoereplicas.com/#!making-a-shrunken-tardis/c1lx3</ref> and [[siege mode]] TARDIS <ref name="robatto siege">http://www.rubbertoereplicas.com/#!tardis-seige-mode/c70e</ref> props were cast resin, fabricated by propmaker [[Nicholas Robatto]].
* A version of the shrunken TARDIS prop made of moulded rubber parts was prepared for the scene in which the TARDIS is dropped. During filming the main prop, made of cast-resin parts, was inadvertently used in the scene and dropped instead, requiring repair.<ref name="robatto tardis" />
* Coincidentally, this story aired at the same time as the ''Doctor Who Magazine'' comic strip [[COMIC]]: ''[[The Eye of Torment (comic story)|The Eye of Torment]]''. It not only featured Clara taking on Doctor-like responsibilities, it also had her taking a gamble with someone's life in similar fashion and ended with a similar sombre exchange about Clara beginning to think like the Doctor.
* While the title "Flatline" refers directly to the two-dimensional nature of the Boneless, it is also a term for [[death]], referring to the deceased's lack of heart beat on an electronic monitor.
* [[Kate Stewart]] and [[UNIT]] were originally supposed to appear.
 
=== Myths ===
* The Shrunken TARDIS was a Flight Control TARDIS made by Character Options. ''It was actually a miniature prop specially constructed for the story.''
 
=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
''to be added''
* 6.71 million ([[DWM 481]])


=== Filming locations ===
=== Filming locations ===
''to be added''
* Barry Island Heritage Railway
* Maelfa Shopping Centre (Cardiff)
* Barry Island Shooting Range
* Winchcombe


=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
{{Discontinuity}}
{{Discontinuity}}
* The Doctor's hair is noticeably shorter in several scenes, starting when the TARDIS falls onto the train track.
* The Doctor's hair is noticeably shorter in several scenes, starting when the TARDIS falls onto the train track and ending when the TARDIS returns to the surface after the defeat of the Boneless. This makes it clear these scenes were filmed out of order, during a different time than the rest of the scenes in the episode, when Peter Capaldi had recently undergone a haircut. In his regular column for ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'', embarrassed showrunner [[Steven Moffat]] admitted to this continuity goof and that it was because of the scheduling.
* In the TARDIS when Clara asks the Doctor to come and see the shrunken TARDIS door the scanner is in the right side of the TARDIS while before it was in the left side.
* When the TARDIS first becomes smaller, the Doctor uses one door to get out due to a lining in between in the doors. When the TARDIS shrinks again, both doors are open with there being no lining in between the doors.
* When the TARDIS was first small, the Doctor used one door to get out due to a lining in between in the doors. The second time the TARDIS was very small, both doors were open with there being no lining in between the doors.
* When Clara walks up to the mini TARDIS, her phone is in her right hand but when she squats down, it's in her left hand.
* The distance between the shrunken TARDIS and the tracks decreases. It is a safe distance from the tracks as the Doctor was climbing the dirt hill with his fingers, then it appears a little closer to the tracks the next scene when he pulls his hand in, the next scene, it is close enough that when it topples over, the top is laying on the tracks.
* As the Doctor hands Clara the sonic screwdriver, her right hand is on the side of the TARDIS but as the camera switches angles, her right hand is down by her side and holding the psychic paper.
* The distance between the shrunken TARDIS and the train tracks decreases. It is a safe distance from the tracks as the Doctor climbs the dirt hill with his fingers, then it appears a little closer to the tracks the next scene when he pulls his hand in, the next scene, it is close enough that when it topples over, the top is laying on the tracks. Also, when the TARDIS topples over, the shock created inside the TARDIS by the fall throws the Doctor towards the doors, even though the TARDIS landed on its rear wall and the doors are facing upwards.
* When Clara's phone rings towards the end of the episode, the ringtone is clearly heard. However, when held up, the icon for silent mode is visible at the top of the screen.
* When the Doctor uses the sonic screwdriver to banish the Boneless, its diode doesn't illuminate.
* When the Doctor opens the TARDIS door and declares himself as "the man that stops the monsters", the interior, which can be seen behind him, ripples, revealing that it is just a backdrop.
* As the Doctor tells the Boneless that they are not welcome, he sweeps his arm across his chest, and it ends up at his side. However, when the scene cuts to the front view of him saying his next line, he is suddenly pointing towards the Boneless.
* As the Doctor dives under the console to activate siege mode, the piping in the time rotor isn't lit up. However, in the next shot, as the camera zooms out to view the console room, the piping is lit up and can be seen going out just before the camera cuts to the shot of the train passing over the TARDIS's location.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The TARDIS exterior has shrunk on several previous occasions:
* The TARDIS exterior has shrunk on several occasions; It was made smaller upon materialisation when the TARDIS doors opened during flight, ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'') miniaturised when it materialised in a [[miniscope]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Carnival of Monsters (TV story)|Carnival of Monsters]]'') was reduced in size after {{Ainley}} interfered with the [[Logopolitan]]'s [[Block Transfer Computation]] on [[Logopolis]] when the [[Fourth Doctor]] was fixing the [[chameleon circuit]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Logopolis (TV story)|Logopolis]]'') and was miniaturised while inside the ''[[Teselecta]]''. ([[TV]]: ''[[Let's Kill Hitler (TV story)|Let's Kill Hitler]]'', ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'')
** When the TARDIS doors opened during flight, it was made smaller upon materialisation in [[England]] in [[1964]], as were the [[First Doctor]], [[Susan Foreman]], [[Ian Chesterton]] and [[Barbara Wright]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
** When the TARDIS materialised in a [[miniscope]], the [[Third Doctor]] and [[Jo Grant]] were drastically miniaturised. ([[TV]]: ''[[Carnival of Monsters (TV story)|Carnival of Monsters]]'')
** While the [[Fourth Doctor]] pursued fixing the [[chameleon circuit]], the TARDIS was reduced in size after {{Ainley}} interfered with the [[Logopolitan]]'s [[Block Transfer Computation]] in [[1981]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Logopolis (TV story)|Logopolis]]'')
** The TARDIS was twice miniaturised while inside the ''[[Teselecta]]''. ([[TV]]: ''[[Let's Kill Hitler (TV story)|Let's Kill Hitler]]'', ''[[The Wedding of River Song (TV story)|The Wedding of River Song]]'')
* The Doctor again uses "pudding brain" as a mocking description of humans and their intelligence. ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'')
* The Doctor uncovers Clara's lies about Danny's stance on her travelling with him. ([[TV]]: ''[[Mummy on the Orient Express (TV story)|Mummy on the Orient Express]]'')
* The Doctor uncovers Clara's lies about Danny's stance on her travelling with him. ([[TV]]: ''[[Mummy on the Orient Express (TV story)|Mummy on the Orient Express]]'')
* [[Isolus]] and the [[Mona Lisa]] were able to transfer the two dimensional into the three dimensional, and vice versa. ([[TV]]: ''[[Fear Her (TV story)|Fear Her]]'', ''[[Mona Lisa's Revenge (TV story)|Mona Lisa's Revenge]]'')
* The [[Isolus]] and the [[Mona Lisa]] were able to transfer the two dimensional into the three dimensional, and vice versa. ([[TV]]: ''[[Fear Her (TV story)|Fear Her]]'', ''[[Mona Lisa's Revenge (TV story)|Mona Lisa's Revenge]]'')
* There are people naturally immune to the [[psychic paper]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Shakespeare Code (TV story)|The Shakespeare Code]]'')
* The TARDIS doors are opened from the console, accompanied by the classic TARDIS door sound. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'') The [[Eleventh Doctor]] previously closed the doors via console, though on that occasion it was the result of the Doctor putting the TARDIS in lockdown. ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS (TV story)|Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS]]'')
* The Doctor is uncomfortable with how easily Clara assumed his role. Previously, [[Davros]] and [[Rory Williams|Rory]], in different ways, noted the Doctor's tendency to turn his companions into reflections of himself. ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End]]'', ''[[The Girl Who Waited]]'')
* When the Doctor is ruling out possibilities of moving the TARDIS out of the way from the train, he mentions the [[Heart of the TARDIS]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]]'')
* The Doctor is uncomfortable with how easily Clara assumes his role. Previously, [[Davros]] and [[Rory Williams|Rory]], in different ways, noted the Doctor's tendency to turn his companions into worse people. ([[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'', ''[[The Vampires of Venice (TV story)|The Vampires of Venice]]'')
* The Doctor tells the Boneless that [[N-Space]] is protected, as he similarly told the [[Sycorax]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'') and the [[Atraxi]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'') A similar statement was pronounced about the planet [[Trenzalore]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'')
* Clara pretends to be from [[Health and Safety]] as she previously had done with the [[Eleventh Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Hide (TV story)|Hide]]'')


== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
=== DVD & Blu-ray releases ===
[[File:Complete 8th Series UK Cover.jpg|thumb|Series Full Box-set Region 2]]
* ''Flatline'' was released as part of [[Series 8 (Doctor Who 2005)|the Complete Eighth Series]] DVD and Blu-ray boxsets in region 1/A on [[9 December (releases)|9 December]] [[2014 (releases)|2014]], in region 2/B on [[24 November (releases)|24 November]] 2014 and in region 4/B on [[19 November (releases)|19 November]] 2014.
* It was later included in the Series 8, Part Two DVD boxset in region 1 on [[13 December (releases)|13 December]] [[2016 (releases)|2016]].


=== DVD releases ===
=== Digital releases ===
''to be added''
* The episode was released on Google Play, iTunes and Amazon Instant Video in HD or SD, also available as part of the Series 8 digital boxset. The digital boxset contains various features: trailer, interviews, ''The Ultimate Companion, The Ultimate Time Lord, Inside the World Tour ''and ''[[Doctor Who Extra]]'' episodes for each episode.
=== Blu-ray releases ===
* In the US, the series was released through digital streaming services Hulu and Netflix with a subscription.
''to be added''
* In the United Kingdom, this story is available on [[BBC iPlayer]].


== External links ==
== External links ==
''to be added''
* [https://www.jamiemathieson.com/the-first-draft-of-flatline First draft and shooting script], posted online by [[Jamie Mathieson]].
 
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
{{DWTV}}
{{DWTV}}
{{Missy stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{ImageLink}}
{{cat|Doctor Who (2005) television stories}}
{{cat|Doctor Who (2005) television stories}}
{{cat|2014 television stories}}
 
{{cat|Twelfth Doctor television stories}}
[[Category:Twelfth Doctor television stories]]
[[Category:2014 television stories]]
[[Category:Doctor Who (2005) television stories]]
[[Category:Doctor Who (2005) television stories]]
[[Category:Series 8 (Doctor Who) stories]]
[[Category:Series 8 (Doctor Who) stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 21st century]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 21st century]]
[[Category:Stories set in Bristol]]
[[Category:Stories set in Bristol]]
[[Category:Promised Land arc]]
[[Category:Missy television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
 
[[fr:Flatline (TV)]]
[[pt:Flatline]]

Latest revision as of 13:51, 6 October 2024

RealWorld.png

Flatline was the ninth episode of series 8 of Doctor Who.

Flatline was Mathieson's first script for the show. Two years before writing it, he had pitched his ideas for a story to Steven Moffat but was unsuccessful. When he again met with the executive producer, he showed him four ideas for episodes, complete with his own illustrations, aided by his background in art college. Taking an interest in the monster he had created for what would become Flatline, Moffat asked Mathieson to produce a story outline and he got the job to script the episode.

It was only after writing several drafts that he was told the episode would need to lock the Doctor away in a single location, as Peter Capaldi's scenes for the episode needed to be filmed quickly to abide by the production schedule. Mathieson decided to write a script where the Doctor was "in the dark". For this to be successful, he had to create an unknown quantity to feature as his alien enemy. Much like his previous creation, the Foretold, he elected to have no dialogue for the aggressors, allowing something about them to remain "unknowable". (DWM 479)

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

Separated from the Doctor, Clara discovers a new menace from another dimension.

But how do you hide when even the walls are no protection? With people to save and the Doctor trapped, Clara comes up against an enemy that exists beyond human perception.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

A man is on the phone with the police, explaining in whispers that he knows what happened to the people who went missing. When they ask him to speak up, the man tells them he cannot; he needs the police to protect him as the culprits will be coming for him. Hearing something, he screams in fear and vanishes from the room. The officer on the line asks the man if he is okay, getting no response. On the wall of the room, there is an image of the man stretched through the trim, screaming.

After some adventures, the Doctor is piloting the TARDIS back to Clara's time to return her home. She is hurriedly packing her things, to which the Doctor tells her is not necessary as there is literally infinite space in the TARDIS for her possessions. However, Clara says Danny has gotten possessive and doesn't want any of her things in the TARDIS.

Not really caring, the Doctor lands the TARDIS, telling her it's the same time they left. However, he then adds "[the] same place-ish". Realising something is wrong, Clara demands the Doctor explain; however, he retorts that the readings he's getting are "ishy". As he looks at the monitor, Clara heads to the door. She stops, shocked, and calls the Doctor to her. He looks at the door as well, stating it's very not good: it's shrunk!

The Doctor and Clara exit the TARDIS, albeit with some difficulty as the exterior shell has shrunk to almost half its original size. Amazed, the Doctor begins wondering what happened and starts scanning with the sonic screwdriver. Clara looks over at the nearby tracks, reading the sign; they're in Bristol rather than London.

The Doctor tells Clara that the TARDIS isn't going anywhere until they stop whatever is causing the problem. He gets back inside for equipment, directing Clara to look around for the source of the problem. On her search, she meets Rigsy, a graffiti artist working community service for his art; he tells her that locals are disappearing, and mystery murals of them have appeared in a nearby pedestrian tunnel. Clara calls the Doctor, bringing him up to speed. She asks where he is since she can't see the TARDIS. However, he tells her he hasn't taken off. To her amusement, the TARDIS has shrunk to the size of a toy.

Clara holds the TARDIS.

The Doctor lightens the TARDIS, allowing Clara to carry it in her purse. He hands Clara his psychic paper, the sonic screwdriver, and an audio/visual earpiece so he can keep in touch with her. Clara takes this as being chosen to act as his stand-in. Annoyed, the Doctor tells Clara that she's not being him.

Clara goes back to the mural tunnel, scanning around to give stats to the Doctor in the TARDIS. Rigsy finds her again, asking for her name. Clara calls herself "the Doctor". She asks Rigsy to take her to where someone vanished. Rigsy leads her to the flat of the most recent missing person, where there's a strange desert mural. After Rigsy becomes uncomfortable with the strange conversation Clara is having with the Doctor, he decides to leave, but Clara stops him, realising that his local knowledge could be helpful. She pulls the TARDIS out of her purse and gets the Doctor to open the doors, introducing him to Rigsy.

Now more willing to work with Clara, Rigsy gains help from a police officer to gain access to the flat of the first known missing person. The Doctor says that the victims are in the walls, so Clara grabs a hammer. While she and Rigsy work on the walls, PC Forrest is sucked into the floor. Clara and Rigsy hear her scream, but by the time they reach her, she is gone. They look around the room and find another strange mural, and the Doctor realises it's likely to be PC Forrest's nervous system and believes the first mural was a closeup of human skin of the latest victim.

Hearing a bizarre sound, the Doctor shuts the TARDIS doors as the creatures behind draining it of its dimensional energy are at it again. Clara and Rigsy see what appears to be air moving like fluid coming at them. The Doctor quickly explains his theory that their adversaries are creatures from a 2-D universe, and must have been experimenting on the three-dimensional world, trying to understand it. As Clara and Rigsy try to avoid the entity, which is in the walls and ground, Danny phones Clara, and she manages to avoid questions of her whereabouts and quickly hangs up. The Doctor, who is listening in, recognises that Clara has lied to him about Danny accepting her continued travels in the TARDIS.

After escaping the flat, Clara and Rigsy return to the rest of the community service group, who are about to paint over the murals in the pedestrian tunnel. The Doctor realises that the images are masquerades for the two-dimensional creatures. After the creatures take one of the services workers, Clara leads the rest away, but the creatures chase them. They take shelter in a nearby engine repair warehouse, where the Doctor tells Clara that a leader will soon emerge and that she must make sure it's her. When Fenton demands to know who she is, Clara coldly states she's his best option for staying alive. The Doctor is impressed.

The Doctor helps Clara to try to communicate with the creatures using mathematics. When another worker is taken, Clara and the surviving members flee into a disused subway tunnel. As they explore, they find their only escape route has been flattened to two dimensions by the creatures. The Doctor provides Clara with a device to restore the dimensions, and they just manage to escape. The Doctor also tells Clara that he has worked out a way to stop the creatures and return them to their home dimension, but the TARDIS doesn't have enough power.

In the chaos, the TARDIS is knocked down a shaft on to an active railway line, with an oncoming train heading right for the TARDIS and the Doctor. With some advice from Clara, the Doctor is able to get the TARDIS off the rails by using his hand to move it, resulting in the Doctor doing a little victory dance for saving his TARDIS and himself. However, his victory is short-lived, as the TARDIS tips over onto the rails again. In order to protect the TARDIS from the oncoming train, the Doctor activates its siege mode at the very last minute, but without power is unable to return it to normal. The lack of power is also causing the life support systems to fail.

Clara uses the sonic screwdriver to stop an out-of-service train, and they attempt to use it to ram the creatures to prolong time to get back in contact with the Doctor. However, the train is simply transformed into two dimensions. As they escape, Clara finds the TARDIS now looking like a plain cube with Gallifreyan symbols and takes it with her.

Taking shelter in a disused office space, Clara comes up with a plan to provide energy to the TARDIS by having Rigsy paint out a fake access door on the back of a large poster. Unsure if Clara can still hear him or even if she is still alive, the Doctor praises her performance, saying that she "made a mighty fine Doctor". When the creatures attempt to pull the fake door into three dimensions, they instead feed their energy into the TARDIS, restoring it to normal.

The Doctor banishes the Boneless back to their own dimension.

Realising they have no interest in peace, the Doctor denounces the creatures as monsters and states that it is his job to stop the monsters. He exits the TARDIS and uses the sonic screwdriver to stop the creatures, whom he dubs the "Boneless", sending them back to their own dimension with a warning to those who survive the trip: "You are not welcome here. This plane is protected."

The Doctor gets everyone out of the tunnels safely in the TARDIS. Clara rejects a call from Danny, catching the Doctor's attention; he notes that she enjoyed 'playing the Doctor' for the day. She asks him to admit that she was a good Doctor; he reluctantly tells her that she made an "exceptional Doctor", but that "goodness" had nothing to do with it.

As Clara watches the Doctor enter the TARDIS, Missy, seated in a darkened room, is watching Clara on what appears to be a tablet. Missy says, with regard to "her" Clara, that she has "chosen well".

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Uncredited Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics

Movement

Casting

General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.


Uncredited crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor names the device he creates 2Dis.

Culture from the real world[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Clara suggests mimicking a hand motion as performed by the disembodied hand character Thing from The Addams Family to enable the Doctor to move the shrunken TARDIS out of the path of an approaching train.

The Doctor's TARDIS[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor puts the TARDIS in siege mode.
  • When the TARDIS is in siege mode, Gallifreyan writing is visible on the exterior.

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Fenton is not tricked by the psychic paper; the Doctor suggests this is due to a lack of imagination.
  • Forrest was investigating the disappearance of Mr Heath.

Organisations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

A113 on a train.
  • The Radio Times programme listing was accompanied by a small colour head-and-shoulders shot of Christopher Fairbank as Fenton, with the accompanying caption "Doctor Who / 8.25 p.m. / Will guest star Christopher Fairbank be on hand as Clara is forced to go it alone?"
  • The first train bears the number A113, an animation in-joke first known to originate in the Amazing Stories episode "The Family Dog" and used in many other movies and television shows. A113 is a classroom used at the California Institute of the Arts for graphic design and character animations, widely recognised by alumni of the institute.[8]
  • The shrunken TARDIS[9] and siege mode TARDIS [10] props were cast resin, fabricated by propmaker Nicholas Robatto.
  • A version of the shrunken TARDIS prop made of moulded rubber parts was prepared for the scene in which the TARDIS is dropped. During filming the main prop, made of cast-resin parts, was inadvertently used in the scene and dropped instead, requiring repair.[9]
  • Coincidentally, this story aired at the same time as the Doctor Who Magazine comic strip COMIC: The Eye of Torment. It not only featured Clara taking on Doctor-like responsibilities, it also had her taking a gamble with someone's life in similar fashion and ended with a similar sombre exchange about Clara beginning to think like the Doctor.
  • While the title "Flatline" refers directly to the two-dimensional nature of the Boneless, it is also a term for death, referring to the deceased's lack of heart beat on an electronic monitor.
  • Kate Stewart and UNIT were originally supposed to appear.

Myths[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Shrunken TARDIS was a Flight Control TARDIS made by Character Options. It was actually a miniature prop specially constructed for the story.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Barry Island Heritage Railway
  • Maelfa Shopping Centre (Cardiff)
  • Barry Island Shooting Range
  • Winchcombe

Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.
  • The Doctor's hair is noticeably shorter in several scenes, starting when the TARDIS falls onto the train track and ending when the TARDIS returns to the surface after the defeat of the Boneless. This makes it clear these scenes were filmed out of order, during a different time than the rest of the scenes in the episode, when Peter Capaldi had recently undergone a haircut. In his regular column for Doctor Who Magazine, embarrassed showrunner Steven Moffat admitted to this continuity goof and that it was because of the scheduling.
  • When the TARDIS first becomes smaller, the Doctor uses one door to get out due to a lining in between in the doors. When the TARDIS shrinks again, both doors are open with there being no lining in between the doors.
  • When Clara walks up to the mini TARDIS, her phone is in her right hand but when she squats down, it's in her left hand.
  • As the Doctor hands Clara the sonic screwdriver, her right hand is on the side of the TARDIS but as the camera switches angles, her right hand is down by her side and holding the psychic paper.
  • The distance between the shrunken TARDIS and the train tracks decreases. It is a safe distance from the tracks as the Doctor climbs the dirt hill with his fingers, then it appears a little closer to the tracks the next scene when he pulls his hand in, the next scene, it is close enough that when it topples over, the top is laying on the tracks. Also, when the TARDIS topples over, the shock created inside the TARDIS by the fall throws the Doctor towards the doors, even though the TARDIS landed on its rear wall and the doors are facing upwards.
  • When Clara's phone rings towards the end of the episode, the ringtone is clearly heard. However, when held up, the icon for silent mode is visible at the top of the screen.
  • When the Doctor uses the sonic screwdriver to banish the Boneless, its diode doesn't illuminate.
  • When the Doctor opens the TARDIS door and declares himself as "the man that stops the monsters", the interior, which can be seen behind him, ripples, revealing that it is just a backdrop.
  • As the Doctor tells the Boneless that they are not welcome, he sweeps his arm across his chest, and it ends up at his side. However, when the scene cuts to the front view of him saying his next line, he is suddenly pointing towards the Boneless.
  • As the Doctor dives under the console to activate siege mode, the piping in the time rotor isn't lit up. However, in the next shot, as the camera zooms out to view the console room, the piping is lit up and can be seen going out just before the camera cuts to the shot of the train passing over the TARDIS's location.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Home video releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

DVD & Blu-ray releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

Series Full Box-set Region 2

Digital releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The episode was released on Google Play, iTunes and Amazon Instant Video in HD or SD, also available as part of the Series 8 digital boxset. The digital boxset contains various features: trailer, interviews, The Ultimate Companion, The Ultimate Time Lord, Inside the World Tour and Doctor Who Extra episodes for each episode.
  • In the US, the series was released through digital streaming services Hulu and Netflix with a subscription.
  • In the United Kingdom, this story is available on BBC iPlayer.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ Flatline PDF first draft script
  2. ↑ Flatline PDF shooting script
  3. ↑ Doctor Who Extra: Flatline
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 How Doctor Who’s latest enemies were created by Bristol-based visual effects studio axisVFX. TechSPARK (21 October 2014). Retrieved on 20 October 2018.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Doctor Who with FXGuide.com. Axis VFX. Retrieved on 18 October 2018.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 How 3D printing glitches inspired these Doctor Who effects. fxguide (22 October 2014). Retrieved on 18 October 2018.
  7. ↑ DWMSE 43
  8. ↑ http://www.listal.com/list/a113
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://www.rubbertoereplicas.com/#!making-a-shrunken-tardis/c1lx3
  10. ↑ http://www.rubbertoereplicas.com/#!tardis-seige-mode/c70e
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