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{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{ImageLinkTV}}
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{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image      = TwelvePinkOswaldTARDIS.jpg
|image      = TwelvePinkOswaldTARDIS.jpg
|series    = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|series    = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|season number  = Series 8 (Doctor Who)
|season number  = Series 8 (Doctor Who 2005)
|series episode number = 6
|series episode number = 6
|story number  = 247
|story number  = 247
|doctor    = Twelfth Doctor
|doctor    = Twelfth Doctor
|companions  = [[Clara Oswald|Clara]]
|companions  = [[Clara Oswald|Clara]]
|featuring    = Danny Pink|Danny
|featuring    = Danny Pink
|featuring2  = Courtney Woods|Courtney
|featuring2  = Courtney Woods
|featuring3   = Frank Armitage
|featuring3 = Frank Armitage
|featuring4 = Missy
|enemy      = [[Skovox Blitzer]]
|enemy      = [[Skovox Blitzer]]
|setting    = [[Coal Hill School]], the [[2010s]]
|setting    = [[Coal Hill School]], [[October]] [[2014]]
|writer    = {{il|[[Gareth Roberts]]|[[Steven Moffat]]}}
|writer    = Gareth Roberts, Steven Moffat
|director    = [[Paul Murphy]]
|director    = [[Paul Murphy]]
|producer    = [[Nikki Wilson]]
|producer    = [[Nikki Wilson]]
|confidential = The Caretaker (DWE episode)
|dwe          = The Caretaker (DWE episode)
|broadcast date = [[28 September (releases)|27 September]] [[2014 (releases)|2014]]
|broadcast date = 27 September 2014
|network    = [[BBC One]]
|network    = BBC One
|format      = 1x45 minute episode
|format      = 1x45 minute episode
|prev      = Time Heist (TV story)
|prev      = Time Heist (TV story)
Line 34: Line 35:
|bts2      = Introduction to The Caretaker - Doctor Who Series 8 Episode 6 (2014) - BBC One
|bts2      = Introduction to The Caretaker - Doctor Who Series 8 Episode 6 (2014) - BBC One
|bts3      = DOCTOR WHO Exclusive Inside Look at The Caretaker The Doctor Goes Undercover - BBC AMERICA
|bts3      = DOCTOR WHO Exclusive Inside Look at The Caretaker The Doctor Goes Undercover - BBC AMERICA
}}
}}{{you may|Eleventh Doctor}}
'''''The Caretaker''''' was the fourth episode of [[Series 8 (Doctor Who)|series 8]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It was written by [[Gareth Roberts]] and [[Steven Moffat]], directed by [[Paul Murphy]] and featured [[Peter Capaldi]] as the [[Twelfth Doctor]] and [[Jenna-Louise Coleman|Jenna Coleman]] as [[Clara Oswald]].
'''''The Caretaker''''' was the sixth episode of [[Series 8 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 8]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It had the Doctor and Clara deal with an [[Skovox Blitzer|alien threat]] to [[Coal Hill School]], leading to both [[Danny Pink]] and [[Courtney Woods]] meeting the Doctor and subsequently discovering his true nature. It contributed to the "[[Nethersphere|Promised Land]]" arc by introducing an [[Seb (The Caretaker)|underling]] of [[Missy]], and giving her location a new name, the [[Nethersphere]].
 
It had the Doctor and Clara deal with an [[Skovox Blitzer|alien threat]] to [[Coal Hill School]], leading to both [[Danny Pink]] and [[Courtney Woods|Courtney]] meeting the Doctor and subsequently discovering his true nature.
 
It also contributed to the "[[Nethersphere|Promised Land]]" arc by introducing an [[Seb (The Caretaker)|underling]] of {{Gomez}}, and giving her location a new name, the [[Nethersphere]].


Building on the experience of writing ''[[The Lodger (TV story)|The Lodger]]'' and ''[[Closing Time (TV story)|Closing Time]]'', Roberts and Moffat tried to match the former for threat, feeling there was an excessive amount in ''Closing Time'', which had included back-story for the antagonists at the expense of other themes. For this reason, it was decided that the first draft had the right amount of threat and that it would be unnecessary to add more later. ([[DWM 478]])
Building on the experience of writing ''[[The Lodger (TV story)|The Lodger]]'' and ''[[Closing Time (TV story)|Closing Time]]'', Roberts and Moffat tried to match the former for threat, feeling there was an excessive amount in ''Closing Time'', which had included back-story for the antagonists at the expense of other themes. For this reason, it was decided that the first draft had the right amount of threat and that it would be unnecessary to add more later. ([[DWM 478]])
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== Plot ==
== Plot ==
[[Clara]] and [[Twelfth Doctor|the Doctor]] are chained to posts on a [[Planet (The Caretaker)|desert planet]]. He asks her for the [[Vibro-cutter|vibro-cutters]]; however, Clara tells him that she left them in her other jacket. The Doctor is baffled, wondering why she has two jackets; is one of them malfunctioning? However, Clara then tells him that she couldn't have handed him the vibro-cutters since they are chained up. She worries about dying of [[dehydration]], but the Doctor tells her that the [[Sand piranha]]s will get to them before that happens.
[[Clara Oswald|Clara]] and the [[Twelfth Doctor]] are chained to posts on a [[Planet (The Caretaker)|desert planet]]. He asks her for the [[vibro-cutter]]s; however, Clara tells him that she left them in her other jacket. The Doctor is baffled, wondering why she has two jackets; is one of them malfunctioning? However, Clara then tells him that she couldn't have handed him the vibro-cutters since they are chained up. She worries about dying of [[dehydration]], but the Doctor tells her that the [[Sand piranha]]s will get to them before that happens.


Somehow, the Doctor and Clara manage to free themselves. Clara gets back home just in time for a date with Danny, who notices the tan she's developed from being stuck on the planet for so long. She passes it off as the result of a tanning bed.
Somehow, the Doctor and Clara manage to free themselves. Clara gets back home just in time for a date with [[Danny Pink|Danny]], who notices the tan she's developed from being stuck on the planet for so long. She passes it off as the result of a tanning bed.


Later, Clara tries to leave for a date with Danny, only to find the Doctor waiting outside her bedroom. He offers to take her to see [[fish people]]; curious, she boards the TARDIS. Once the trip is over, Clara heads to meet the taxi Danny is waiting in. Luckily, it was raining, so Clara can pass off her wet dress as due to the rain. Danny is slightly confused, given the short short distance to the cab; however, he then finds seaweed stuck in her hair. Clara quips, "I said ''freak'' [shower]".
Later, Clara tries to leave for a date with Danny, only to find the Doctor waiting outside her bedroom. He offers to take her to see [[fish people]]; curious, she boards the TARDIS. Once the trip is over, Clara heads to meet the taxi Danny is waiting in. Danny comments on her wet dress (and [[seaweed]] in her hair), which Clara passes off as being due to a "freak shower".


On another adventure, the Doctor and Clara are running from hostile soldiers as they head back to the TARDIS. The Doctor once more voices his dislike of soldiers. The exhausted Clara is dropped off at home; however, much to her disappointment, it was also her day to go jogging with Danny. Once back home, Clara collapses, deciding that she can't continue this double life; however, she regains her spirit and decides she can't quit just because her adventures with the Doctor wear her out.
On another adventure, the Doctor and Clara are running from hostile soldiers as they head back to the TARDIS. The Doctor once more voices his dislike of soldiers. The exhausted Clara is dropped off at home; however, much to her exasperation, it is also her day to go jogging with Danny. Once back home, Clara collapses, deciding that she can't continue this double life; however, she regains her spirit and decides she can't quit.


The next day, she enters the TARDIS, wondering where the Doctor will take her this time. However, he compliments her appearance, asking if she's had a wash; he apologises, saying there won't be a trip today. She notes that he's acting mysterious, which the Doctor says is because he's a man of mystery. However, Clara becomes serious, telling him that he must be up to something, and insulting her by trying to pretend that she can't figure it out.
The next day, she enters the TARDIS, wondering where the Doctor will take her this time, but he informs her that there won't be a trip today. She notes that he's acting mysterious, which the Doctor says is because he's a man of mystery. However, Clara becomes serious, telling him that he must be up to something.


He finally relents, admitting that he's going under deep cover, which she doesn't need to be a part of. Laughing at the idea of the Doctor going undercover, Clara tells him he'd have a good chance with the [[Magic Circle]]. Accepting he doesn't need her help, Clara leaves, saying she'll have a wash. The Doctor starts fiddling with the controls as Clara sticks her head back in, giving him the "I'm watching you" gestures. Once she leaves again, the Doctor turns his concern to something the scanner found in East London.
He finally relents, admitting that he's going under deep cover, which she doesn't need to be a part of. Laughing at the idea of the Doctor going undercover, Clara tells him he'd have a good chance with the [[Magic Circle]]. Accepting he doesn't need her help, Clara leaves. The Doctor starts fiddling with the controls as Clara sticks her head back in, giving him the "I'm watching you" gesture. Once she leaves again, the Doctor turns his attention to something the scanner found in East London.


Clara arrives at [[Coal Hill School]], where she greets Danny formally in the parking lot to avoid mockery from the children. However, they all laugh the moment the two teachers are inside the school; they know about their relationship, and have written graffiti mocking it throughout the school. Danny wonders what's up with Clara, noting she's usually in a rush or a state of anxiety before their dates; he even notes Clara showed up in space helmet once. Smiling, Clara tells that she was busy with something all those times, but nothing odd will happen for the next few days - she's all his.
Clara arrives at [[Coal Hill School]], where she greets Danny formally in the parking lot to avoid mockery from the children. However, they all laugh the moment the two teachers are inside the school; they know about their relationship and have written graffiti mocking it throughout the school. Danny wonders what's up with Clara, noting she's usually in a rush or a state of anxiety before their dates; he even notes that she showed up in a space helmet once. Smiling, Clara tells him that she was busy with something all those times, but nothing odd will happen for the next few days - she's all his.


After a meeting in the teacher's lounge, [[Frank Armitage|Mr Armitage]] announces the caretaker [[Atif (The Caretaker)|Atif]] is out sick; they have a new caretaker for the next week. The replacement walks in the room, and to Clara's shock it's the Doctor, introducing himself as [[Aliases of the Doctor#John Smith|John Smith]]; he winks at Clara. Everyone leaves for an assembly as the Doctor silently mouths to Clara that he's under deep cover. Danny wonders if Clara knows who "Smith" is, as he winked at her, which she denies; pretending to have left her students' homework in the lounge, Clara heads back to confront the Doctor.
After a meeting in the teacher's lounge, [[Frank Armitage|Mr Armitage]] announces the caretaker [[Atif Basra]] is out sick; they have a new caretaker for the next week. The replacement walks into the room, and to Clara's shock it's the Doctor, introducing himself as [[Aliases of the Doctor#John Smith|John Smith]]; he [[wink]]s at Clara. Everyone leaves for an assembly as the Doctor silently mouths to Clara that he's under deep cover. Danny wonders if Clara knows who "Smith" is, as he winked at her, but she denies knowing him. Pretending to have left her students' homework in the lounge, Clara heads back to confront the Doctor.


In the lounge, the Doctor sees Clara enter and hides a map he was studying. Clara points out that she recognised him; the only difference is he's wearing a worn-out brown coat (not exactly a disguise). She demands to know where Atif is; the Doctor explains he hypnotised Atif into thinking he was sick, plus having a flying car and three wives - "it's going to be a rude awakening."  He needed to investigate without being suspicious. Clara points out the Doctor does a poor job at pretending to be human; he explains he was able to live among otters for a month. However, he then admits that he was sulking after having a big fight with [[River Song|River]]. Clara yells that humans are not like otters; the Doctor says that's what makes it easier. The Doctor says he needs to get to work as "the walls need sponging, and there's a sinister puddle."
In the lounge, the Doctor sees Clara enter and hides a map he was studying. Clara points out that she recognised him; the only difference is he's wearing a worn-out brown coat. She demands to know where Atif is, and the Doctor explains he hypnotised him into thinking he was sick. He needed to investigate without being suspicious. When Clara says that the Doctor does a poor job at pretending to be human, he defends himself by pointing out that he was able to live among otters for a month while he was sulking after having a big fight with [[River Song|River]]. Clara yells that humans are not like otters; the Doctor says that's what makes it easier. The Doctor says he needs to get to work as "the walls need sponging, and there's a sinister puddle". Before he leaves, Clara demands to know if there is an alien in the school; the Doctor retorts there is, since ''he's'' there. Clara immediately deduces the Doctor is up to something involving the school but he dismisses her. Annoyed, she glares at him, causing him to raise his broom in defence. Pushing the broom away, Clara demands that the Doctor answer a single question - are the kids safe? The Doctor tells her no, but soon the answer will be "yes" if she leaves him be. He then leaves, telling Clara to go "sing with the otters". Clara loudly whispers that she hates him, which the Doctor says is a "perfectly normal reaction".


Clara demands to know if there is an alien in the school; the Doctor retorts there is, since ''he's'' there. Clara immediately deduces the Doctor is up to something involving the school; he didn't tell her because it would anger Clara. He tells her to go the [[school assembly|assembly]] - "go worship something". Annoyed, she glares at the Doctor, causing him to raise his broom in defence. Pushing the broom away, Clara demands that the Doctor answer a single question - are the kids safe? The Doctor tells her no, but soon the answer will be "yes" if she leaves him be. The Doctor leaves, telling Clara to go "sing with the otters" (due to mis-remembering their conversation). Clara loudly whispers that she hates him; the Doctor says it's a perfectly natural reaction.
Meanwhile, CSO [[Matthew (The Caretaker)|Matthew]] finds two kids from the school near an abandoned building. He tells them to get to school, with them retorting that it's free period. He threatens to take their names down, annoying the kids into leaving. Hearing a noise inside, Matthew heads in to see if another kid is in there. Hearing an electronic voice, Matthew thinks it's a game and tells the kid to shut it off and head to school. However, a robot reveals itself instead and reduces the officer to charred pieces.


Meanwhile, CSO [[Matthew (The Caretaker)|Matthew]] finds two kids from the school near an abandoned building. He tells them to get to school, with them retorting that it's free period. He threatens to take their names down, annoying the kids into leaving. Hearing a noise inside, Matthew heads in to see if another kid is there. Hearing an electronic voice, Matthew thinks it's a game and tells the kid to shut it off and head to school. However, a robot reveals itself instead and reduces the officer to charred pieces.
During one of Clara's lessons, she is distracted by the Doctor outside the window. He tells her that she got the date on the autobiography of [[Jane Austen]] wrong; irritated, she asks if he knows this because he met Austen during some kind of ridiculous adventure. However, the Doctor explains that it's because he read the biography on the back of ''Pride and Prejudice''. Clara tells the confused students that the Doctor is Mr Smith, the new caretaker. The Doctor resumes his caretaking duties, while placing small devices around the school.


Clara attempts teaching during school, finding the Doctor outside the window. He tells her that she got the date on the autobiography of [[Jane Austen]] wrong; she wonders if it's because he met her during some kind of ridiculous adventure. However, the Doctor explains that it's because he read the biography on the back of ''Pride and Prejudice'', surprising her. Clara tells the confused students that the Doctor is Mr. Smith, the new caretaker. The Doctor resumes his caretaking duties, placing small devices around the school.
Later, Clara catches sight of the Doctor working on a substation with Danny and [[Adrian Davies|Adrian]] talking to him. Worried, she walks over to him, but is stopped twice: first by a student named [[Tobias (The Caretaker)|Tobias]], and then by Armitage, who explains about needing someone to help with an upcoming fair; Clara, having not paid attention, agrees. She manages to get outside, only to be bothered by [[Courtney Woods]], who she completely ignores, telling her to deal with her own problems. Courtney retorts "Ozzie loves the Squaddie", confusing Clara.


Clara catches sight of the Doctor working on a substation with Danny and [[Adrian Davies|Adrian]] talking to him. She walks to him, being stopped by a student named [[Tobias (The Caretaker)|Tobias]] (she ignores what he's saying, telling him she's okay with him leaving class early for his club activities). Clara is next stopped by Armitage, who explains about someone getting hurt and can't help with a upcoming fair; Clara, having not paid attention, says she'll help with anything. She manages to get outside, only to be bothered by [[Courtney Woods]], who she completely ignores, telling her to deal with her own problems. Courtney retorts "Ozzie loves the Squaddie", confusing Clara.
[[File:Adrian Davies.jpg|thumb|The Doctor mistakes Adrian for Clara's boyfriend.]]
[[File:Adrian Davies.jpg|thumb|220x220px|The Doctor mistakes Adrian for Clara's boyfriend]]
The Doctor continues working on the substation, with Adrian leaving to deal with a student. Danny tells the Doctor about being a soldier before coming to work at the school, which makes the Doctor think that he is P.E. teacher instead of a Maths teacher. Once Danny is gone, Clara wonders if the Doctor noticed Danny looked like [[Orson Pink]]; he didn't, but asks if Clara's boyfriend is at the school. They are interrupted by Adrian, who needs help with class. The Doctor notices that Adrian looks like [[Eleventh Doctor|his last incarnation]], and comes to the wrong conclusion that Clara is dating this man because of the resemblance.
The Doctor continues working on the substation, with Adrian leaving to deal with a kid. Danny tells him about being a soldier before coming to work at the school; Clara greets them and manages to get the conversation from getting strange. However, the Doctor thinks Danny is P.E. teacher, not a Maths teacher, despite being corrected numerous times. Once Danny is gone, Clara wonders if the Doctor noticed Danny looked like [[Orson Pink]]; he didn't, but asks if Clara's boyfriend is at the school. He promises not to act like a normal human "to be nice"; however, before they are stopped by Adrian, who needs help with class. The Doctor notices that Adrian looks like [[Eleventh Doctor|his last incarnation]], coming to the wrong conclusion that Clara is dating this man because of the resemblance.


Laughing to himself, the Doctor leaves the teachers to continue talking as he returns to the [[caretaker's storeroom]], where he has parked the TARDIS. He is soon bothered by Courtney, who needs fresh paper towels for the ladies' loo. The Doctor gives her the towels and sends her off after some snarky remarks are exchanged between them. Clara enters as Courtney leaves, wondering what the Doctor is up to. Relenting, the Doctor admits that he's scanned for dangerous elements in the area. Annoyed that he gave in to her pestering, the Doctor notes that he once had [[Borusa|a teacher just like her]]; Clara retorts that he still does since she travels with him.
Laughing to himself, the Doctor leaves the teachers to continue talking as he returns to the [[caretaker's storeroom]], where he has parked the TARDIS. He is soon bothered by Courtney, who needs paper towels. The Doctor gives her the towels and sends her off after some snarky remarks are exchanged between them. Clara enters as Courtney leaves, wondering what the Doctor is up to. Relenting, the Doctor admits that he's scanned for dangerous elements around the area. Annoyed that he gave in to her pestering, the Doctor notes that he once had a teacher just like her; Clara retorts that he still does since she travels with him.


He activates a hologram, which shows a [[Skovox Blitzer]], a machine that will kill without any concern as to whether its victims actually pose a threat; it was attracted by residual [[Artron energy|atron energy]] in the area. Knowing it will eventually destroy [[Earth]], he aims to send it away; the military will just mess things up. They head inside the TARDIS, where Clara asks what the "insanely dangerous plan" is. The Doctor reveals that he'll use an [[invisibility watch]] to prevent the Blitzer scanning him and use the [[sonic screwdriver]] to lead it to trap, where the [[Chronodyne generator|chronodyne generators]] will send it billions of years into the future through a [[Time Vortex|vortex]].
He activates a hologram, which shows a [[Skovox Blitzer]], a machine that will kill without any concern as to whether its victims actually pose a threat; it was attracted by residual [[artron energy]] in the area. Knowing it will eventually destroy [[Earth]], he aims to send it away; the military will just mess things up. They head inside the TARDIS, where Clara asks what the "insanely dangerous plan" is. The Doctor reveals that he'll use an [[invisibility watch]] to prevent the Blitzer scanning him and use the [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdriver]] to lead it to trap, where the [[chronodyne generator]]s will send it billions of years into the future through a [[Time Vortex|vortex]].


As he doesn't need her help this time, the Doctor tells Clara to go "conoodle" with her boyfriend, telling her that he did recognise him and has given his approval on their relationship. Clara smiles, not knowing the Doctor mistook Adrian for her boyfriend; she leaves the caretaker's storeroom, happy. Danny finds her, saying that he will find something else to do that evening, as she has a look that tells him she will be busy. The Doctor exits the storeroom, with Danny asking Clara's opinion of him as he seems shady; she retorts that the caretaker has nothing but nice things to say about him.
As he doesn't need her help this time, the Doctor tells Clara to go "conoodle" with her boyfriend, telling her that he did recognise him and has given his approval on their relationship. Clara smiles, not knowing the Doctor mistook Adrian for her boyfriend; she leaves the caretaker's storeroom, happy. Danny finds her, saying that he will find something else to do that evening, as she has a look that tells him she will be busy. The Doctor exits the storeroom, with Danny asking Clara's opinion of him as he seems shady; she retorts that the caretaker has nothing but nice things to say about him.


Once done with her work for the evening, Clara returns to the TARDIS, telling the Doctor that her plans were cancelled. Seeing no-one there, she wonders if the Doctor has turned invisible and messing with her. Danny likewise is leaving for the evening, but notices one of the generators under a Fire Alarm lever; he examines it, thinking the Doctor is up to something. Clara leaves the storeroom, being missed by Danny who walks up to it with the generator in-hand; he notices another one in a flower basket, coming to the wrong conclusion that the Doctor must be hostile.
Once done with her work for the evening, Clara returns to the TARDIS, telling the Doctor that her plans were cancelled. Seeing no-one there, she wonders if the Doctor has turned invisible and is messing with her. Danny likewise is leaving for the evening, but notices one of the generators under a Fire Alarm lever; he examines it, thinking the Doctor is up to something. Clara leaves the storeroom, being missed by Danny who walks up to it with the generator in-hand; he notices another one in a flower basket and removes that one as well.
[[File:Skovox Blitzer.jpg|left|thumb|220x220px|The Blitzer targets the Doctor]]
 
Elsewhere, the Doctor finds the Blitzer's location, turning invisible and luring out into the open; he gives bursts of the [[sonic screwdriver]] to lure it. Danny notices the Blitzer walking through the [[Coal Hill school hall|school hall]]. The Doctor arrives and de-cloaks, but finds to his horror that the generators have been deactivated due to Danny's interference. The Blitzer arrives, and the Doctor attempts to reason with it; however, the machine refuses to listen and targets him. Danny enters to talk with the Doctor about the devices, catching the Blitzer's attention; he drops the generator in-hand and the devices turn back on. Clara enters, giving the Blitzer more confusion. Trying to hit any of the trio, the Blizter fires a blast that burns a hole through two stacks of chairs. The Doctor dives for the control for the generators in the confusion.
[[File:Skovox Blitzer.jpg|left|thumb|The Blitzer targets the Doctor.]]
Elsewhere, the Doctor finds the Blitzer's location. He turns invisible and uses the sonic screwdriver to lure it into his trap. Danny notices the Blitzer walking through the [[Coal Hill school hall|school hall]]. The Doctor arrives and de-cloaks, but finds to his horror that the generators have been deactivated due to Danny's interference. The Blitzer arrives, and the Doctor attempts to reason with it, but the machine refuses to listen and targets him. Danny enters to talk with the Doctor about the devices, catching the Blitzer's attention. He drops the generator he is holding and the devices turn back on. Clara enters, giving the Blitzer more confusion. Trying to hit any one of the trio, the Blizter fires a blast that burns a hole through two stacks of chairs. The Doctor dives for the control for the generators in the confusion.
 
The Doctor activates the generators, sucking the creature into the time vortex, along with some chairs. The tear closes and the Doctor rushing to scan it. Clara wonders if the Blitzer is gone and if Earth is safe; the Doctor tells her the scan revealed that it will come back in three days rather than a billion years time thanks to "P.E." ruining the precise positioning of the devices. This will force the Doctor to come up with a new plan as the machine will now kill him on sight since he has been scanned and pegged as a hostile target. Clara demands to know what Danny was doing there, to which he starts to explain; however, he then demands to know why Clara is there and why she is using alien words. To keep Danny in the dark about the secret part of her life, Clara tries passing off the events as a rehearsal for a play, but Danny immediately sees through her lie.
 
Coming to wrong conclusion that Clara is from space and that the Doctor is her dad, Danny earns annoyance from both of them. The Doctor wonders how Danny can mistake Clara for his daughter, commenting on how they look the same age. Clara points out that the Doctor has gotten their ages wrong (again), to which he says he was being kind (thinking she's the older one). The Doctor takes out the sonic, ready to erase the night's events from Danny's mind, promising Clara that he will try not to erase his mind entirely. However, Clara stops him, reminding the Doctor that Danny is her boyfriend. The Doctor is stunned, wondering about Adrian; Clara tells him that Adrian is just a friend and not her type.
 
[[File:Clara comes clean to Danny about the Doctor.jpg|thumb|Clara comes clean to Danny.]]
Danny asks Clara why she's never told him about the Doctor; Clara explains it's because he's an alien. When asked if she's one as well, Clara insists that she's a [[human]] from [[Blackpool]]. The Doctor walks up to the stage and pulls back the curtains to reveal the TARDIS, prompting Clara to explain they travel the universe in this time machine that's [[Dimensional transcendentalism|bigger on the inside]]; however, it's stuck looking like an old [[police box|police telephone box]]. The Doctor opens the doors to show Danny the inside of the TARDIS.


The Doctor activates the generators, sucking the creature into the time vortex, along with some chairs in the hall battering it. The tear closes, with the Doctor rushing to scan it. Clara wonders if the Blitzer is gone and Earth is safe; the Doctor tells her the scan revealed that it will come back in three days rather than a billion years thanks to "P.E." ruining the precise positioning of the devices. This will force the Doctor to come up with a new plan as the machine will now kill him on sight since he has been scanned and pegged as a hostile target. Clara demands to know what Danny was doing there, to which he starts to explain; however, he then demands to know what Clara is doing there and using alien words. To keep Danny in the dark about the secret part of her life, Clara tries passing off the events as a rehearsal for a play. Danny rhetorically asks how stupid she thinks he is; the Doctor grumbles, "I'm willing to put a number on it."
Danny wonders if the Doctor brought the Blitzer to Earth. Annoyed, the Doctor tells him that he will protect Clara and him from it, and reminds him it's only coming back because Danny interfered with the plan, and therefore caused more danger. Danny wants to call in the military, but the Doctor tells him that is the worst idea. Clara takes Danny home to deal with the shock and the Doctor tells her to finish the job by explaining to him about Danny once the Blitzer has been taken care of.


Coming to wrong conclusion that Clara is from space and that the Doctor is her dad, Danny earns annoyance from both of them. The Doctor wonders how Danny can mistake her for his daughter, as they are the same age; Clara points out that the Doctor has gotten their ages wrong (again), to which he says he was being kind (thinking she's the older one). The Doctor takes out the sonic, ready to erase the night's events from Danny's mind, promising Clara that he will try not to erase his mind entirely. However, Clara stops him, wondering why the Doctor has forgotten that Danny is her boyfriend. The Doctor is stunned, wondering about Adrian; Clara tells him that Adrian is just a friend and not her type. [[File:Clara comes clean to Danny about the Doctor.jpg|thumb|Clara comes clean to Danny. |220x220px]]
At Clara's flat, she has finished telling Danny about her travels with the Doctor. Danny is silent, prompting her to ask him to speak. Danny recaps what Clara's told him: the Doctor used to resemble Adrian, but changed into a [[Scotland|Scottish]] caretaker, and when Clara's not with him or teaching, she's off travelling throughout time with the Doctor. He asks her why she travels with him, which she attributes mostly to the wonders that she experiences. Danny struggles to accept whether or not Clara loves the Doctor romantically, which she denies.
Danny asks Clara why she's never told him about the Doctor; Clara explains it's because he's an alien. When asked if she's one, Clara says she's a [[human]] from [[Blackpool]]. The Doctor walks up to the stage and pulls back the curtains to reveal the TARDIS, prompting Clara to explain they travel the universe in this time machine that's [[Dimensional transcendentalism|bigger on the inside]]; however, it's stuck looking like an old [[police box|police telephone box]]. The Doctor opens the doors to show Danny the inside of [[the TARDIS]].


Danny wonders if the Doctor brought the Blitzer to earth; annoyed, the Doctor tells him that he will protect Clara and him from it. It's only coming back because Danny interfered with the plan, and therefore caused more danger. Danny wants to call in the military, but the Doctor tells him that is the worst idea. Clara takes Danny home to deal with the shock. The Doctor tells her to finish the job by explaining to him about Danny once the Blitzer has been taken care of.
[[Parents' evening]] arrives, and Clara gives Danny the invisibility watch. He turns invisible, and she takes him with her into the TARDIS so he can watch her interact with the Doctor, who has nearly finished building a device to fight the Blitzer. Clara tells him that she has explained to Danny and that he gets it. She to improve the Doctor's opinion of Danny, but to no avail. The Doctor mentions something is odd, suddenly suggesting that they go off, as he's bored. She reacts worriedly, and Danny realises that the Doctor knows he's there. He turns off the watch, becoming visible. The Doctor reveals that [[Time Lord]]s can feel an invisibility shield when it's right next to them.


At Clara's flat, she has finished telling him about her travels with the Doctor. Danny is silent, prompting her to ask him to speak. Danny recaps what Clara's told him: the Doctor used to resemble Adrian, but changed into a [[Scotland|Scottish]] caretaker. And when Clara's not with him or teaching, she's off traveling throughout time with the Doctor. He asks her why she travels with him, which she attributes mostly to the wonders that she experiences. Danny struggles to accept whether or not Clara loves the Doctor romantically, which she denies.  
Seeing the Doctor's title as a Time Lord to be pompous, Danny mockingly responds to the Doctor's demand to leave the TARDIS, like a soldier taking an order. This brings out the militant side of the Doctor, and the two men trade insults in a heated confrontation. Clara and Danny leave the TARDIS; Clara reminds Danny that he can't go home as it's parents' evening. The Doctor lags at the door, wondering why he never seems to learn his lesson about humans. Courtney Woods enters the storeroom, asking the Doctor what's really in the police box, so he shows her. She asks if she can go with him, to which the Doctor says he might have a vacancy.


[[Parents' evening]] arrives, and Clara gives Danny the invisibility watch. He turns invisible, and she takes him with her into the TARDIS so he can watch her interact with the Doctor. He has nearly finished building a device to fight the Blitzer, thanking her for leaving him alone. Clara says she explained to Danny and that he gets it. Clara tries telling the Doctor that Danny wasn't a soldier, trying to improve his opinion of him. The Doctor mentions something is odd, suddenly suggesting that they go off, as he's bored. She reacts worriedly, and Danny realises that the Doctor knows he's there. He turns off the watch, becoming visible. The Doctor reveals [[Time Lord]]s can feel an invisibility shield "when it's right next to them."
As the parents arrive at the school, the Blitzer unexpectedly returns from the vortex. Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor is putting away his tools when, much to his horror, the alarm goes off; it's way too soon. Grabbing his device, he summons Clara through the door, prompting her and Danny both to leave. [[Mr Woods|Courtney's]] [[Mrs Woods|parents]], who were talking to Danny, express that their daughter was right about the two teachers' relationship. Outside, the Doctor reveals that the Blitzer has returned and if reaches the hall everyone at parent's evening will be killed. Danny suggests they evacuate everyone, but the Doctor yells at him to shut up and let him decide the plan. The plan is for Clara to attract the Blitzer with the sonic screwdriver, taking it on a wild goose chase away from the civilians. She needs to keep it busy for a couple minutes while the Doctor finishes the device. Clara will then lead it to the [[caretaker's storeroom]]. He tells Danny to do one very important thing: keep out of their way.


Seeing the Doctor's title as a Time Lord to be pompous, he mockingly responds to the Doctor's demand to leave the TARDIS like a soldier taking an order. This brings out the militant side of the Doctor, and the two men trade insults in a heated confrontation. As Danny heads for the door, the Doctor then turns to Clara, saying, "Well, all things considered, I think that went well." Clara and Danny leave the TARDIS; Clara reminds Danny that he can't go home as it's parents' evening. The Doctor lags at the door, wondering why he never seems to learn his lesson about humans. Courtney Woods enters the storeroom, asking the Doctor what's really in the police box, which he shows her. Wondering if she can go with him, the Doctor says he might have a vacancy.
[[File:Doctor giving commands to the Skovox.jpg|left|thumb|The Doctor orders the Blitzer to shut down.]]
The plan seems to work. The Doctor speaks into his device and makes the Blitzer think he's a Skovox Artificer, its general. The Doctor tells the Blitzer that there is no conflict and to shut down. It obeys, pending a final authorisation code. Instead of deactivating, the Blitzer has begun a self-destruct count down. The Doctor tells Clara to distract it while he hurriedly tries to prepare the code, but she is unsure what to do. Just then, Danny yells out to the Blitzer. He runs and jumps over it as it fires its lasers at him. This distracts it long enough for the Doctor to give the final code, deactivating the Blitzer. Danny reveals to Clara he was following her with the watch and vows to protect her. He tells her that he only needs to do one thing, which the Doctor confirms: to prove he's worthy of Clara. This is the reason that the Doctor is so angry; he wants to make sure Danny is the right choice for his best friend.


As the parents arrive, the Blitzer unexpectedly returns from the vortex. Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor is putting away his tools when, much to his horror, the alarm goes off; it's way too soon. Grabbing his device, he summons Clara through the door, prompting her and Danny both to leave. [[Mr Woods|Courtney's]] [[Mrs Woods|parents]], who were talking to Danny, express that their daughter was right about the two teachers' relationship. Outside, the Doctor reveals that the Blitzer has returned, yelling, "SHUT UP!!!" at Danny for interrupting him. The plan is for Clara to attract the Blitzer with the [[sonic screwdriver]], taking it on a wild goose chase away from the civilians. She needs to keep it busy for a couple minutes while he finishes the device; Clara will then lead it to the [[caretaker's storeroom]]. He tells Danny to do one very important thing: keep out of their way.
The Doctor takes the Blitzer into [[space]] and ejects it from the TARDIS, taking Courtney on her first trip. Unfortunately, Courtney is unable to cope with the immensity of the universe and finds herself feeling rather ill — whereupon she rushes back inside and is sick. The Doctor is not too pleased that someone made a mess in his TARDIS.
[[File:Doctor giving commands to the Skovox.jpg|left|thumb|200x200px|The Doctor orders the Blitzer to shut down]]
The plan seems to work, with the Doctor speaking into his device. He explains that it makes the Blitzer think he's a Skovox Artificer, it's general. The Doctor tells the Blitzer that there is no conflict and to shut down. It obeys, pending a final authorization code. Instead of deactivating, the Blitzer has begun a self-destruct count down. He tells Clara to distract it while he hurriedly tries to prepare the code, but she is unsure what to do. Just then, Danny yells out to the Blitzer. He runs and jumps over it as it fires its lasers at him. This distracts it long enough for the Doctor to give the final code, deactivating the Blitzer. Danny reveals to Clara he was following her with the watch and vows to protect her. He tells her that he only needs to do one thing, which the Doctor confirms: to prove he's worthy of Clara. This is reason that the Doctor is so angry; he wants to make sure Danny is the right choice for his best friend.


The Doctor takes the Blitzer into [[space]] and ejects it from the TARDIS, taking Courtney on her first trip. Unfortunately,  Courtney is unable to cope with the immensity of the universe and finds herself feeling rather ill — whereupon she rushes back inside and is sick. The Doctor is not too pleased that someone made a mess in his TARDIS.
Back on Earth, Clara and Danny watch television. Danny tells her that the Doctor reminds him of previous commanders he has known, who push their soldiers to get them to do more than they realised they were capable of. He points out that Clara obeyed the Doctor without being scared, and he worries that he might push her too far one day. He insists that Clara promises to tell him if that happens.


Back on Earth, Clara and Danny watch television. Danny tells her that the Doctor reminds him of previous commanders he has known, who push their soldiers to get them to do more than they realised they were capable of. Clara obeyed the Doctor without being scared. Danny worries that the Doctor might push her too far. He insists that Clara promises to tell him if that happens.
[[File:Seb-TheCaretaker.jpg|thumb|Seb welcomes the latest resident of the afterlife.]]
[[File:Seb-TheCaretaker.jpg|thumb|220x220px|Seb welcomes the latest resident of the afterlife]]
Elsewhere, CSO Matthew is in a long white office corridor with many doors on either side of the hallway. He is talking to a person named [[Seb]] at an information desk, not realising that he is now dead. Seb tries to break the news gently, having encountered many new patrons to the [[afterlife]]. He tells Matthew that the place has many names, including the Promised Land. Seb personally prefers to call it the "[[Nethersphere]]". They notice [[Missy]] appear from one of the doors. She gives a stone-faced glance. Seb tells Matthew that Missy is quite busy at the moment, before asking him if he has any questions about his new existence in the Nethersphere.
Elsewhere, CSO Matthew is in a long white office corridor with many doors on either side of the hallway. He doesn't realise that he is now dead, and is talking to a person named [[Seb (The Caretaker)|Seb]] at an information desk. Seb tries to break the news gently, having encountered many new patrons to the [[afterlife]] because of the Skovox Blitzers. He tells Matthew that the place has many names, including the Promised Land. Seb personally prefers to call it the "[[Nethersphere]]". They notice {{Gomez}} appear from one of the doors. She gives a stone-faced glance. Seb tells Matthew that Missy is quite busy at the moment, before asking him if he has any questions about his new existence in the Nethersphere.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
Line 124: Line 125:
* [[Christopholou|Mrs Christopholou]] - [[Diana Katis]]
* [[Christopholou|Mrs Christopholou]] - [[Diana Katis]]
* [[Skovox Blitzer]] - [[Jimmy Vee]]
* [[Skovox Blitzer]] - [[Jimmy Vee]]
* [[Seb (The Caretaker)|Seb]] - [[Chris Addison]]
* [[Seb]] - [[Chris Addison]]


=== Uncredited ===
=== Uncredited cast ===
* {{Gomez}} - [[Michelle Gomez]]<ref>Gomez' credit is taken from [[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]''</ref>
* [[Missy]] - [[Michelle Gomez]]<ref>Gomez' credit is taken from [[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]''</ref>


== Crew ==
== Crew ==
Line 137: Line 138:
|ProductionManager = Simon Morris
|ProductionManager = Simon Morris
|LocationManager = Iwan Roberts
|LocationManager = Iwan Roberts
|LocationScout = Nick Clark (crew){{!}}Nick Clark
|LocationScout = Nick Clark (crew)
|UnitManager = Iestyn Hampson-Jones
|UnitManager = Iestyn Hampson-Jones
|ProductionCoOrdinator = Adam Knopf
|ProductionCoOrdinator = Adam Knopf
|AsstProductionCoOrdinator = Sandra Cosfeld
|AsstProductionCoOrdinator = Sandra Cosfeld
|ProductionAssistant = Matthew Jones
|ProductionAssistant = Matthew Jones (production assistant)
|ProductionAssistant2 = Katie Player
|ProductionAssistant2 = Katie Player
|1stAD = Jo Lea
|1stAD = Jo Lea
Line 260: Line 261:
}}
}}


== References ==
=== Uncredited crew ===
==== Millennium FX ====
* [[Prosthetics designer|Prosthetics Designer]] - [[Rob Mayor]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-12-17/this-exclusive-doctor-who-series-8-concept-art-is-dark-very-dark-indeed/|title=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-12-17/this-exclusive-doctor-who-series-8-concept-art-is-dark-very-dark-indeed/|author=Holmes, Jonathan|date of source=14 December 2014|website name=RadioTimes|accessdate=6 November 2018}}</ref>
* [[Prosthetics effects producer|Prosthetics Effects Producer]] - [[Kate Walshe]]<ref name="DCOM">[[DCOM]]: ''The Caretaker''</ref>
* [[Concept artist|Concept Artist]] - [[Chris Goodman]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://christophergoodman.com/portfolio/doctor-who-skovox-blitzer|title=Doctor Who – Skovox Blitzer|author=Goodman, Christopher|website name=Christopher Goodman|accessdate=6 November 2018}}</ref>
* [[Animatronic engineer|Animatronic Engineer]] - [[Pete Hawkings]]<ref name="DCOM" />
 
== Worldbuilding ==
 
=== Businesses ===
* [[Minuteman Press]] is located near Coal Hill School.
* [[Minuteman Press]] is located near Coal Hill School.


=== Individuals ===
=== Individuals ===
* The Doctor spent a month living among [[otter]]s after he and [[River Song]] had a fight that caused him to sulk.  
* The [[Eleventh Doctor]] spent a month living among [[otter]]s after he and [[River Song]] had a fight that caused him to sulk.<ref>Although the incarnation of the Doctor is not specified, as it's later established that in his twelfth life he didn't meet her until ''[[The Husbands of River Song (TV story)|The Husbands of River Song]]'', it has to have been the Eleventh.</ref>
* The Doctor likes the school subject [[mathematics|maths]], but doesn't respect PE.
* The Doctor likes the school subject [[mathematics|maths]], but doesn't respect [[PE]].
* Clara wonders if the Doctor's previous [[companion]]s allowed him to do whatever he wanted.
* Clara wonders if the Doctor's previous [[companion]]s allowed him to do whatever he wanted.
* Clara has become trained enough in the use of the [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdriver]] to understand how to use specific settings.
* The Doctor tries to show Courtney the [[Olveron Cluster]].
* The Doctor tries to show Courtney the [[Olveron Cluster]].


=== Cultural references from the real world ===
=== Cultural references from the real world ===
* The Doctor whistles the introduction to "[[Another Brick in the Wall]] (Part 2)".
* The Doctor whistles the introduction to "[[Another Brick in the Wall]] (Part 2)".
* Clara is doing a lesson about ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]'' by [[Jane Austen]]. She and the Doctor argue over whether it was written in [[1796]] or [[1797]].  
* Clara is doing a lesson about ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]'' by [[Jane Austen]]. She and the Doctor argue over whether it was written in [[1796]] or [[1797]].
* Adrian refers to ''[[The Tempest]]'' not being finished.
* Adrian refers to ''[[The Tempest]]'' not being finished.
* After receiving the invisibility watch from Clara, Danny complains that "it's not even a [[ring]]".
* After receiving the invisibility watch from Clara, Danny complains that "it's not even a [[ring]]".
Line 278: Line 289:
=== Technology ===
=== Technology ===
* The Doctor asks Clara for his [[vibro-cutter]]s.
* The Doctor asks Clara for his [[vibro-cutter]]s.
* The Doctor (and later Danny) uses an [[invisibility watch]].
* The Doctor and later Danny uses an [[invisibility watch]].
* The Doctor uses [[chronodyne generator]]s to project the Skovox Blitzer into the future.
* The Doctor uses [[chronodyne generator]]s to project the Skovox Blitzer into the future.
* [[Setting 41]] of the sonic screwdriver generates pulses of [[helicon energy]].


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
* {{Gomez}} reappears after a three-episode absence. She was absent from ''[[Robot of Sherwood (TV story)|Robot of Sherwood]]'', ''[[Listen (TV story)|Listen]]'', and ''[[Time Heist (TV story)|Time Heist]]''.
* A banner hangs on the wall saying "A Spirit of Adventure". This is a nod back to the [[First Doctor]] story ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'', in which the Doctor tells [[Barbara Wright]] and [[Ian Chesterton]] that their travels in [[the TARDIS]] with him and [[Susan Foreman]] turned out to be "a great spirit of adventure".
* A banner hangs on the wall saying "A Spirit of Adventure". This is a nod back to the [[First Doctor]] story ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'', in which the Doctor tells then-companions [[Barbara Wright]] and [[Ian Chesterton]] that their travels in [[the TARDIS]] with him and [[Susan Foreman]] turned out to be "a great spirit of adventure".  
* Oddly, the "Next Time" trailer for this episode also features footage from [[TV]]: ''[[Listen (TV story)|Listen]]'', specifically the moment where the Doctor asks Clara who she's having dinner with. No such scene plays out in ''The Caretaker'', flashback or otherwise.
* Oddly, the "Next Time" trailer for this episode also features footage from [[TV]]: ''[[Listen (TV story)|Listen]]'', specifically the moment where the Doctor asks Clara who she's having dinner with. No such scene plays out in ''The Caretaker'', flashback or otherwise.
* A few days after the broadcast of [[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'', Jenna Coleman had co-starred in the miniseries ''Death Comes to Pemberley'', based upon a mystery-novel sequel to ''Pride and Prejudice''. Coleman played Lydia Wickham; in this episode, Clara's students are heard reading a passage related to Lydia.
* A few days after the broadcast of [[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'', Jenna Coleman had co-starred in the miniseries ''Death Comes to Pemberley'', based upon a mystery-novel sequel to ''Pride and Prejudice''. Coleman played Lydia Wickham; in this episode, Clara's students are heard reading a passage related to Lydia.
* This episode takes place either the next calendar year or the next school year after the events of ''[[Into the Dalek (TV story)|Into the Dalek]]''. In the earlier story, Danny is introduced as a brand-new teacher at Coal Hill. In this episode, the father of Courtney Woods discusses with Danny how since "last year" his opinion of his daughter has changed, indicating that Danny has been a teacher for some time by this point.


=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
6.82 million ([[DWM 480]])
* 6.82 million ([[DWM 480]])


=== Filming locations ===
=== Filming locations ===
Line 305: Line 317:
* When Clara leads Danny down the stairs and away from the TARDIS she is standing behind him and to his right in the closeup shot, but in the wide shot she is behind him to his left.
* When Clara leads Danny down the stairs and away from the TARDIS she is standing behind him and to his right in the closeup shot, but in the wide shot she is behind him to his left.
* When the [[Skovox Blitzer]] deactivates, its eyes fade out from red until they are no longer shining. When the Doctor sends it floating into space, still deactivated and spewing sparks, its eyes are glowing blue.
* When the [[Skovox Blitzer]] deactivates, its eyes fade out from red until they are no longer shining. When the Doctor sends it floating into space, still deactivated and spewing sparks, its eyes are glowing blue.
* When the Doctor is talking to Clara at the TARDIS console which Danny standing behind him, he places his hand on the dematerialisation lever. His hand is still on the lever when the camera is facing from Danny's perspective, but isn't when it's facing from Clara's perspective as the handle of the lever is clearly visible in those shots.
* When the Doctor is talking to Clara at the TARDIS console with Danny standing behind him, he places his hand on the dematerialisation lever. His hand is still on the lever when the camera is facing from Danny's perspective but not when it's facing from Clara's perspective; the handle of the lever is clearly visible in these shots.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor previously went undercover in a school while in his [[Tenth Doctor|tenth incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[School Reunion (TV story)|School Reunion]]'')
* The Doctor previously went undercover in a school while in his [[Tenth Doctor|tenth incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[School Reunion (TV story)|School Reunion]]'')
* The Doctor once more says "It's a roller-coaster with you", during a conversation with someone that goes up and down. (TV: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'', ''[[Into the Dalek (TV story)|Into the Dalek]]'')  
* The Doctor once more says "It's a roller-coaster with you", during a conversation with someone that goes up and down. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'', ''[[Into the Dalek (TV story)|Into the Dalek]]'')
* [[Clara Oswald|Clara]] mentions [[Danny Pink|Danny's]] future descendant, [[Orson Pink]], to the Doctor, pointing out their similar appearance. She does not mention, however, that Danny is the same individual as the child Rupert Pink that the Doctor encountered in the [[1990s]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Listen (TV story)|Listen]]'')
* Clara mentions Danny's future descendant, [[Orson Pink]], to the Doctor, pointing out their similar appearance. ([[TV]]: ''[[Listen (TV story)|Listen]]'')
* The [[Twelfth Doctor]] continues to be uncomfortable with the military and soldiers ([[TV]]: ''[[Into the Dalek (TV story)|Into the Dalek]]''), as he has been in prior incarnations as well. ([[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Silurians (TV story)|Doctor Who and the Silurians]]'', ''[[The Poison Sky (TV story)|The Poison Sky]]'', etc)
* The Doctor invites Clara to meet [[fish people]]. He previously met fish people in his [[Second Doctor|second incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Underwater Menace (TV story)|The Underwater Menace]]'')
* The Doctor invites Clara to meet [[fish people]]. He previously met fish people in his [[Second Doctor|second incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Underwater Menace (TV story)|The Underwater Menace]]'')
* Danny comments on the Doctor's eyebrows. The Doctor himself observed his eyebrows before. ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'', ''[[Time Heist (TV story)|Time Heist]]'')
* Danny comments on the Doctor's eyebrows. The Doctor himself observed his eyebrows before. ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'', ''[[Time Heist (TV story)|Time Heist]]'')
* After being killed by the [[Skovox Blitzer]], [[Matthew (The Caretaker)|CSO Matthew]] arrives in the [[Nethersphere|Promised Land]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'', ''[[Into the Dalek (TV story)|Into the Dalek]]'', ''[[Robot of Sherwood (TV story)|Robot of Sherwood]]'')
* After being killed by the [[Skovox Blitzer]], [[Matthew (The Caretaker)|CSO Matthew]] arrives in the [[Nethersphere|Promised Land]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'', ''[[Into the Dalek (TV story)|Into the Dalek]]'', ''[[Robot of Sherwood (TV story)|Robot of Sherwood]]'')
* Clara mentions the Doctor having gained a new watch, and it was quite disappointing, referring to the golden watch he traded for an old coat with a tramp. ([[TV]]: ''[[Deep Breath (TV story)|Deep Breath]]'')
* The Doctor says many times that a soldier can't be a maths teacher. [[Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|The Brigadier]] became a maths teacher after retiring from the military, much to the [[Fifth Doctor]]'s surprise. ([[TV]]: ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'')
* The Doctor says many times that a soldier can't be a maths teacher. [[Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|The Brigadier]] became a maths teacher after retiring from the military, much to the [[Fifth Doctor]]'s surprise. ([[TV]]: ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'')
* The Doctor tells Clara that he had a teacher like her once, possibly referring to another Coal Hill School teacher such as [[Barbara Wright]] ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'', etc.), or possibly to one of his teachers at [[Prydonian Academy|the Academy]], such as [[Borusa]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|The Deadly Assassin]]'', etc.)
* The [[Seventh Doctor]] was previously asked if he was applying for the position of Coal Hill School's caretaker, in [[1963]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'')
* The [[Seventh Doctor]] was previously asked if he was applying for the position of Coal Hill School's caretaker, in [[1963]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'')
* The Doctor asks, "Have I impressed you yet, Courtney?" The [[Eleventh Doctor]] previously asked the same thing to [[Amy Pond]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of Angels (TV story)|The Time of Angels]]'')
* The Doctor and Clara open and close the TARDIS doors by snapping their fingers. ([[TV]]: ''[[Forest of the Dead (TV story)|Forest of the Dead]]'', ''[[The Eleventh Hour (TV story)|The Eleventh Hour]]'', ''[[Day of the Moon (TV story)|Day of the Moon]]'', ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'')
* Upon entering the junkyard, The Doctor says "Home, Sweet Home." His [[First Doctor|first incarnation]] parked the TARDIS in a junkyard near Coal Hill while [[Susan Foreman|Susan]] attended the school. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'')
* Upon entering the junkyard, The Doctor says "Home, Sweet Home." His [[First Doctor|first incarnation]] parked the TARDIS in a junkyard near Coal Hill while [[Susan Foreman|Susan]] attended the school. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'')
* The Doctor mentions Clara eating two meals. She recently ate [[Chinese (food)|Chinese]] with [[Psi]] and [[Saibra]] before a dinner date with Danny. ([[TV]]: ''[[Time Heist (TV story)|Time Heist]]'')
* The Doctor mentions Clara eating two meals. She recently ate [[Chinese (food)|Chinese]] with [[Psi]] and [[Saibra]] before a dinner date with Danny. ([[TV]]: ''[[Time Heist (TV story)|Time Heist]]'')
* The Doctor offers to take Clara to a [[frost fair]] on the [[Thames]]. The [[First Doctor]] previously visited the frost fair in [[1814]] with companions [[Vicki Pallister|Vicki]] and [[Steven Taylor|Steven]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Frostfire (audio story)|Frostfire]]'') At some point, the Doctor took [[River Song]] to the frost fair for her birthday. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'')
* The Doctor offers to take Clara to a [[frost fair]] on the [[Thames]]. The [[First Doctor]] previously visited the frost fair in [[1814]] with companions [[Vicki Pallister|Vicki]] and [[Steven Taylor|Steven]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Frostfire (audio story)|Frostfire]]'') At some point, the Doctor took [[River Song]] to the frost fair for her birthday. ([[TV]]: ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'') The Twelfth Doctor would later visit the frost fair with [[Bill Potts]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Thin Ice (TV story)|Thin Ice]]'')
* It has apparently been at least a year in "real" time since the Doctor's regeneration, as Courtney's mother mentions that she talked to Danny last year about her daughter. Danny had started working at Coal Hill School shortly after the Doctor regenerated, from Clara's perspective. ([[TV]]: ''[[Into the Dalek (TV story)|Into the Dalek]]'')
* The Doctor pretends to be a caretaker. The [[Eleventh Doctor]] previously pretended to be a caretaker to make [[Madge Arwell]] and her children's Christmas special, and in fact, had Madge and her children call him "the Caretaker" instead of "the Doctor". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe (TV story)|The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe]]'')
* The Doctor pretends to be a caretaker. The [[Eleventh Doctor]] previously pretended to be a caretaker to make [[Madge Arwell]] and her children's Christmas special, and in fact had Madge and her children called him "the Caretaker" instead of "the Doctor". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe]]'')
* The Doctor comments that there have been a lot of [[Artron energy|artron emissions]] in the vicinity of Coal Hill over the years. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'', ''[[Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)|Attack of the Cybermen]]'', ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'')
* [[Artron energy|Artron emissions]] appear to have attracted the Skovox Blitzer to the area nearby to Coal Hill School, the Doctor commenting that there have been a lot of them over the years. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'', ''[[Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)|Attack of the Cybermen]]'', ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'', ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]'', et al.)
* The Doctor purposely calls Danny "PE" in derogatory fashion due to an acquired dislike towards him. The [[Ninth Doctor]] previously called [[Mickey Smith]] "Mickey the Idiot" and "Ricky" to annoy him. Mickey was also the then-boyfriend of his female companion at the time, [[Rose Tyler]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Aliens of London (TV story)|Aliens of London]]'')
* The "[[Break the Silence]]" poster about school bullying that appeared outside the headmaster's office in [[Leadworth]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Let's Kill Hitler (TV story)|Let's Kill Hitler]]'') and the Coal Hill supply closet ([[TV]]: ''[[Into the Dalek (TV story)|Into the Dalek]]'') also appears in the teachers' room.
* Danny compares the Doctor to the officers who light the flames he carries people out of. The [[War Doctor]] considered himself a lesser man to those forged in the fire he was creating. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'') Additionally [[Earl of Leicester|Leicester]] had accused the Doctor's [[First Doctor|first incarnation]] of the same. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Crusade (TV story)|The Crusade]]'')
* The Doctor and Clara note the physical similarity between Adrian and the [[Eleventh Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'') Clara says that Adrian "isn't her type" despite having previously indicated her attraction to the Eleventh Doctor ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[She Said, He Said: A Prequel (webcast)|She Said, He Said]]'')
* The Doctor tells Clara to shut Danny "Up or down - I don't care", much as he said during his [[Second Doctor|second incarnation]] about the [[Dalek]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Daleks (TV story)|The Power of the Daleks]]'')
* The Doctor purposely calls Danny "PE" in derogatory fashion due to an acquired dislike towards him. The [[Ninth Doctor]] previously called [[Mickey Smith]] "Mickey the Idiot" and "Ricky" to annoy him, also the then-boyfriend of his female companion at the time, [[Rose Tyler]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Aliens of London (TV story)|Aliens of London]]'')
* After Danny is made aware of the fact that the Doctor is a Time Lord, he starts treating the Doctor as an officer. While in an alternative version of the [[Death Zone]], the [[Fifth Doctor]] told [[Polly Wright]] that he didn't initially tell anyone the name of his race for fear that it would make him sound like he's something he isn't ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Five Companions (audio story)|The Five Companions]]) and would get [[Martha Jones]] calling the name pompous. ([[TV]]: ''[[Smith and Jones (TV story)|Smith and Jones]]'')
* Danny compares the Doctor to the officers who light the flames he carries out. The [[War Doctor]] considered himself a lesser man to those forged in the fire he was creating. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor]]'')
* According to Clara, part of the Skovox Blitzer's attack takes place "on a miserable wet [[Monday]] morning." ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Terrorformer (comic story)|Terrorformer]]'')
* The Doctor tells Clara to shut Danny "Up or down - I don't care", much as he said during his [[Second Doctor|second incarnation]] about the [[Dalek]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Daleks (TV story)|The Power of the Daleks]]'')
* Clara is now familiar with how to use some functions on the [[sonic screwdriver]] (compare with [[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'').
* The Doctor mentions living with otters after a big fight with [[River Song|River]], this was likely during the [[Eleventh Doctor]]'s time as it sounded like a marital fight and in ([[TV]]: ''[[The Husbands of River Song (TV story)|The Husbands of River Song]]'') it is revealed that River hasn't meet the [[Twelfth Doctor]] yet.


== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
===  DVD releases ===
=== DVD & Blu-ray releases ===
* Doctor Who: Series 8 Boxset
[[File:Complete 8th Series UK Cover.jpg|thumb|Series Full Box-set Region 2]]


=== Blu-ray releases ===
* ''The Caretaker'' 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.
* Doctor Who: Series 8 Blu-ray Boxset
* It was later included in the Series 8, Part One DVD boxset in region 1 on [[20 September (releases)|20 September]] [[2016 (releases)|2016]].


=== Digital releases ===
=== Digital releases ===
* 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.
* 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 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 ==
== External links ==
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{{Master stories}}
{{Missy stories}}
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[[Category:Twelfth Doctor television stories]]
[[Category:Series 8 (Doctor Who) stories]]
[[Category:Series 8 (Doctor Who) stories]]
[[Category:2014 television stories]]
[[Category:Doctor Who (2005) television stories]]
[[Category:Doctor Who (2005) television stories]]
[[Category:Missy television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set at Coal Hill School]]
[[Category:Stories set at Coal Hill School]]
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[[Category:Stories set in the Nethersphere]]
[[Category:The Master television stories]]
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[[Category:Television stories that use Murray Gold's 5th main theme]]
 
[[es:The Caretaker]]
[[fr:The Caretaker (TV)]]
[[he:אב הבית (סיפור טלוויזיה)]]
[[pt:The Caretaker]]

Latest revision as of 10:38, 4 September 2024

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You may be looking for Eleventh Doctor.

The Caretaker was the sixth episode of series 8 of Doctor Who. It had the Doctor and Clara deal with an alien threat to Coal Hill School, leading to both Danny Pink and Courtney Woods meeting the Doctor and subsequently discovering his true nature. It contributed to the "Promised Land" arc by introducing an underling of Missy, and giving her location a new name, the Nethersphere.

Building on the experience of writing The Lodger and Closing Time, Roberts and Moffat tried to match the former for threat, feeling there was an excessive amount in Closing Time, which had included back-story for the antagonists at the expense of other themes. For this reason, it was decided that the first draft had the right amount of threat and that it would be unnecessary to add more later. (DWM 478)

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor's decision to use Clara's school as the centre of a trap for a wild Skovox Blitzer results in revelations in her personal life. Meanwhile, the Doctor's mechanical quarry, which has enough firepower to decimate entire planets, is running amok in the halls of Coal Hill.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Clara and the Twelfth Doctor are chained to posts on a desert planet. He asks her for the vibro-cutters; however, Clara tells him that she left them in her other jacket. The Doctor is baffled, wondering why she has two jackets; is one of them malfunctioning? However, Clara then tells him that she couldn't have handed him the vibro-cutters since they are chained up. She worries about dying of dehydration, but the Doctor tells her that the Sand piranhas will get to them before that happens.

Somehow, the Doctor and Clara manage to free themselves. Clara gets back home just in time for a date with Danny, who notices the tan she's developed from being stuck on the planet for so long. She passes it off as the result of a tanning bed.

Later, Clara tries to leave for a date with Danny, only to find the Doctor waiting outside her bedroom. He offers to take her to see fish people; curious, she boards the TARDIS. Once the trip is over, Clara heads to meet the taxi Danny is waiting in. Danny comments on her wet dress (and seaweed in her hair), which Clara passes off as being due to a "freak shower".

On another adventure, the Doctor and Clara are running from hostile soldiers as they head back to the TARDIS. The Doctor once more voices his dislike of soldiers. The exhausted Clara is dropped off at home; however, much to her exasperation, it is also her day to go jogging with Danny. Once back home, Clara collapses, deciding that she can't continue this double life; however, she regains her spirit and decides she can't quit.

The next day, she enters the TARDIS, wondering where the Doctor will take her this time, but he informs her that there won't be a trip today. She notes that he's acting mysterious, which the Doctor says is because he's a man of mystery. However, Clara becomes serious, telling him that he must be up to something.

He finally relents, admitting that he's going under deep cover, which she doesn't need to be a part of. Laughing at the idea of the Doctor going undercover, Clara tells him he'd have a good chance with the Magic Circle. Accepting he doesn't need her help, Clara leaves. The Doctor starts fiddling with the controls as Clara sticks her head back in, giving him the "I'm watching you" gesture. Once she leaves again, the Doctor turns his attention to something the scanner found in East London.

Clara arrives at Coal Hill School, where she greets Danny formally in the parking lot to avoid mockery from the children. However, they all laugh the moment the two teachers are inside the school; they know about their relationship and have written graffiti mocking it throughout the school. Danny wonders what's up with Clara, noting she's usually in a rush or a state of anxiety before their dates; he even notes that she showed up in a space helmet once. Smiling, Clara tells him that she was busy with something all those times, but nothing odd will happen for the next few days - she's all his.

After a meeting in the teacher's lounge, Mr Armitage announces the caretaker Atif Basra is out sick; they have a new caretaker for the next week. The replacement walks into the room, and to Clara's shock it's the Doctor, introducing himself as John Smith; he winks at Clara. Everyone leaves for an assembly as the Doctor silently mouths to Clara that he's under deep cover. Danny wonders if Clara knows who "Smith" is, as he winked at her, but she denies knowing him. Pretending to have left her students' homework in the lounge, Clara heads back to confront the Doctor.

In the lounge, the Doctor sees Clara enter and hides a map he was studying. Clara points out that she recognised him; the only difference is he's wearing a worn-out brown coat. She demands to know where Atif is, and the Doctor explains he hypnotised him into thinking he was sick. He needed to investigate without being suspicious. When Clara says that the Doctor does a poor job at pretending to be human, he defends himself by pointing out that he was able to live among otters for a month while he was sulking after having a big fight with River. Clara yells that humans are not like otters; the Doctor says that's what makes it easier. The Doctor says he needs to get to work as "the walls need sponging, and there's a sinister puddle". Before he leaves, Clara demands to know if there is an alien in the school; the Doctor retorts there is, since he's there. Clara immediately deduces the Doctor is up to something involving the school but he dismisses her. Annoyed, she glares at him, causing him to raise his broom in defence. Pushing the broom away, Clara demands that the Doctor answer a single question - are the kids safe? The Doctor tells her no, but soon the answer will be "yes" if she leaves him be. He then leaves, telling Clara to go "sing with the otters". Clara loudly whispers that she hates him, which the Doctor says is a "perfectly normal reaction".

Meanwhile, CSO Matthew finds two kids from the school near an abandoned building. He tells them to get to school, with them retorting that it's free period. He threatens to take their names down, annoying the kids into leaving. Hearing a noise inside, Matthew heads in to see if another kid is in there. Hearing an electronic voice, Matthew thinks it's a game and tells the kid to shut it off and head to school. However, a robot reveals itself instead and reduces the officer to charred pieces.

During one of Clara's lessons, she is distracted by the Doctor outside the window. He tells her that she got the date on the autobiography of Jane Austen wrong; irritated, she asks if he knows this because he met Austen during some kind of ridiculous adventure. However, the Doctor explains that it's because he read the biography on the back of Pride and Prejudice. Clara tells the confused students that the Doctor is Mr Smith, the new caretaker. The Doctor resumes his caretaking duties, while placing small devices around the school.

Later, Clara catches sight of the Doctor working on a substation with Danny and Adrian talking to him. Worried, she walks over to him, but is stopped twice: first by a student named Tobias, and then by Armitage, who explains about needing someone to help with an upcoming fair; Clara, having not paid attention, agrees. She manages to get outside, only to be bothered by Courtney Woods, who she completely ignores, telling her to deal with her own problems. Courtney retorts "Ozzie loves the Squaddie", confusing Clara.

The Doctor mistakes Adrian for Clara's boyfriend.

The Doctor continues working on the substation, with Adrian leaving to deal with a student. Danny tells the Doctor about being a soldier before coming to work at the school, which makes the Doctor think that he is P.E. teacher instead of a Maths teacher. Once Danny is gone, Clara wonders if the Doctor noticed Danny looked like Orson Pink; he didn't, but asks if Clara's boyfriend is at the school. They are interrupted by Adrian, who needs help with class. The Doctor notices that Adrian looks like his last incarnation, and comes to the wrong conclusion that Clara is dating this man because of the resemblance.

Laughing to himself, the Doctor leaves the teachers to continue talking as he returns to the caretaker's storeroom, where he has parked the TARDIS. He is soon bothered by Courtney, who needs paper towels. The Doctor gives her the towels and sends her off after some snarky remarks are exchanged between them. Clara enters as Courtney leaves, wondering what the Doctor is up to. Relenting, the Doctor admits that he's scanned for dangerous elements around the area. Annoyed that he gave in to her pestering, the Doctor notes that he once had a teacher just like her; Clara retorts that he still does since she travels with him.

He activates a hologram, which shows a Skovox Blitzer, a machine that will kill without any concern as to whether its victims actually pose a threat; it was attracted by residual artron energy in the area. Knowing it will eventually destroy Earth, he aims to send it away; the military will just mess things up. They head inside the TARDIS, where Clara asks what the "insanely dangerous plan" is. The Doctor reveals that he'll use an invisibility watch to prevent the Blitzer scanning him and use the sonic screwdriver to lead it to trap, where the chronodyne generators will send it billions of years into the future through a vortex.

As he doesn't need her help this time, the Doctor tells Clara to go "conoodle" with her boyfriend, telling her that he did recognise him and has given his approval on their relationship. Clara smiles, not knowing the Doctor mistook Adrian for her boyfriend; she leaves the caretaker's storeroom, happy. Danny finds her, saying that he will find something else to do that evening, as she has a look that tells him she will be busy. The Doctor exits the storeroom, with Danny asking Clara's opinion of him as he seems shady; she retorts that the caretaker has nothing but nice things to say about him.

Once done with her work for the evening, Clara returns to the TARDIS, telling the Doctor that her plans were cancelled. Seeing no-one there, she wonders if the Doctor has turned invisible and is messing with her. Danny likewise is leaving for the evening, but notices one of the generators under a Fire Alarm lever; he examines it, thinking the Doctor is up to something. Clara leaves the storeroom, being missed by Danny who walks up to it with the generator in-hand; he notices another one in a flower basket and removes that one as well.

The Blitzer targets the Doctor.

Elsewhere, the Doctor finds the Blitzer's location. He turns invisible and uses the sonic screwdriver to lure it into his trap. Danny notices the Blitzer walking through the school hall. The Doctor arrives and de-cloaks, but finds to his horror that the generators have been deactivated due to Danny's interference. The Blitzer arrives, and the Doctor attempts to reason with it, but the machine refuses to listen and targets him. Danny enters to talk with the Doctor about the devices, catching the Blitzer's attention. He drops the generator he is holding and the devices turn back on. Clara enters, giving the Blitzer more confusion. Trying to hit any one of the trio, the Blizter fires a blast that burns a hole through two stacks of chairs. The Doctor dives for the control for the generators in the confusion.

The Doctor activates the generators, sucking the creature into the time vortex, along with some chairs. The tear closes and the Doctor rushing to scan it. Clara wonders if the Blitzer is gone and if Earth is safe; the Doctor tells her the scan revealed that it will come back in three days rather than a billion years time thanks to "P.E." ruining the precise positioning of the devices. This will force the Doctor to come up with a new plan as the machine will now kill him on sight since he has been scanned and pegged as a hostile target. Clara demands to know what Danny was doing there, to which he starts to explain; however, he then demands to know why Clara is there and why she is using alien words. To keep Danny in the dark about the secret part of her life, Clara tries passing off the events as a rehearsal for a play, but Danny immediately sees through her lie.

Coming to wrong conclusion that Clara is from space and that the Doctor is her dad, Danny earns annoyance from both of them. The Doctor wonders how Danny can mistake Clara for his daughter, commenting on how they look the same age. Clara points out that the Doctor has gotten their ages wrong (again), to which he says he was being kind (thinking she's the older one). The Doctor takes out the sonic, ready to erase the night's events from Danny's mind, promising Clara that he will try not to erase his mind entirely. However, Clara stops him, reminding the Doctor that Danny is her boyfriend. The Doctor is stunned, wondering about Adrian; Clara tells him that Adrian is just a friend and not her type.

Clara comes clean to Danny.

Danny asks Clara why she's never told him about the Doctor; Clara explains it's because he's an alien. When asked if she's one as well, Clara insists that she's a human from Blackpool. The Doctor walks up to the stage and pulls back the curtains to reveal the TARDIS, prompting Clara to explain they travel the universe in this time machine that's bigger on the inside; however, it's stuck looking like an old police telephone box. The Doctor opens the doors to show Danny the inside of the TARDIS.

Danny wonders if the Doctor brought the Blitzer to Earth. Annoyed, the Doctor tells him that he will protect Clara and him from it, and reminds him it's only coming back because Danny interfered with the plan, and therefore caused more danger. Danny wants to call in the military, but the Doctor tells him that is the worst idea. Clara takes Danny home to deal with the shock and the Doctor tells her to finish the job by explaining to him about Danny once the Blitzer has been taken care of.

At Clara's flat, she has finished telling Danny about her travels with the Doctor. Danny is silent, prompting her to ask him to speak. Danny recaps what Clara's told him: the Doctor used to resemble Adrian, but changed into a Scottish caretaker, and when Clara's not with him or teaching, she's off travelling throughout time with the Doctor. He asks her why she travels with him, which she attributes mostly to the wonders that she experiences. Danny struggles to accept whether or not Clara loves the Doctor romantically, which she denies.

Parents' evening arrives, and Clara gives Danny the invisibility watch. He turns invisible, and she takes him with her into the TARDIS so he can watch her interact with the Doctor, who has nearly finished building a device to fight the Blitzer. Clara tells him that she has explained to Danny and that he gets it. She to improve the Doctor's opinion of Danny, but to no avail. The Doctor mentions something is odd, suddenly suggesting that they go off, as he's bored. She reacts worriedly, and Danny realises that the Doctor knows he's there. He turns off the watch, becoming visible. The Doctor reveals that Time Lords can feel an invisibility shield when it's right next to them.

Seeing the Doctor's title as a Time Lord to be pompous, Danny mockingly responds to the Doctor's demand to leave the TARDIS, like a soldier taking an order. This brings out the militant side of the Doctor, and the two men trade insults in a heated confrontation. Clara and Danny leave the TARDIS; Clara reminds Danny that he can't go home as it's parents' evening. The Doctor lags at the door, wondering why he never seems to learn his lesson about humans. Courtney Woods enters the storeroom, asking the Doctor what's really in the police box, so he shows her. She asks if she can go with him, to which the Doctor says he might have a vacancy.

As the parents arrive at the school, the Blitzer unexpectedly returns from the vortex. Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor is putting away his tools when, much to his horror, the alarm goes off; it's way too soon. Grabbing his device, he summons Clara through the door, prompting her and Danny both to leave. Courtney's parents, who were talking to Danny, express that their daughter was right about the two teachers' relationship. Outside, the Doctor reveals that the Blitzer has returned and if reaches the hall everyone at parent's evening will be killed. Danny suggests they evacuate everyone, but the Doctor yells at him to shut up and let him decide the plan. The plan is for Clara to attract the Blitzer with the sonic screwdriver, taking it on a wild goose chase away from the civilians. She needs to keep it busy for a couple minutes while the Doctor finishes the device. Clara will then lead it to the caretaker's storeroom. He tells Danny to do one very important thing: keep out of their way.

The Doctor orders the Blitzer to shut down.

The plan seems to work. The Doctor speaks into his device and makes the Blitzer think he's a Skovox Artificer, its general. The Doctor tells the Blitzer that there is no conflict and to shut down. It obeys, pending a final authorisation code. Instead of deactivating, the Blitzer has begun a self-destruct count down. The Doctor tells Clara to distract it while he hurriedly tries to prepare the code, but she is unsure what to do. Just then, Danny yells out to the Blitzer. He runs and jumps over it as it fires its lasers at him. This distracts it long enough for the Doctor to give the final code, deactivating the Blitzer. Danny reveals to Clara he was following her with the watch and vows to protect her. He tells her that he only needs to do one thing, which the Doctor confirms: to prove he's worthy of Clara. This is the reason that the Doctor is so angry; he wants to make sure Danny is the right choice for his best friend.

The Doctor takes the Blitzer into space and ejects it from the TARDIS, taking Courtney on her first trip. Unfortunately, Courtney is unable to cope with the immensity of the universe and finds herself feeling rather ill — whereupon she rushes back inside and is sick. The Doctor is not too pleased that someone made a mess in his TARDIS.

Back on Earth, Clara and Danny watch television. Danny tells her that the Doctor reminds him of previous commanders he has known, who push their soldiers to get them to do more than they realised they were capable of. He points out that Clara obeyed the Doctor without being scared, and he worries that he might push her too far one day. He insists that Clara promises to tell him if that happens.

Seb welcomes the latest resident of the afterlife.

Elsewhere, CSO Matthew is in a long white office corridor with many doors on either side of the hallway. He is talking to a person named Seb at an information desk, not realising that he is now dead. Seb tries to break the news gently, having encountered many new patrons to the afterlife. He tells Matthew that the place has many names, including the Promised Land. Seb personally prefers to call it the "Nethersphere". They notice Missy appear from one of the doors. She gives a stone-faced glance. Seb tells Matthew that Missy is quite busy at the moment, before asking him if he has any questions about his new existence in the Nethersphere.

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]]

Millennium FX[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Businesses[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Eleventh Doctor spent a month living among otters after he and River Song had a fight that caused him to sulk.[5]
  • The Doctor likes the school subject maths, but doesn't respect PE.
  • Clara wonders if the Doctor's previous companions allowed him to do whatever he wanted.
  • Clara has become trained enough in the use of the sonic screwdriver to understand how to use specific settings.
  • The Doctor tries to show Courtney the Olveron Cluster.

Cultural references from the real world[[edit] | [edit source]]

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

  • A banner hangs on the wall saying "A Spirit of Adventure". This is a nod back to the First Doctor story The Sensorites, in which the Doctor tells Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton that their travels in the TARDIS with him and Susan Foreman turned out to be "a great spirit of adventure".
  • Oddly, the "Next Time" trailer for this episode also features footage from TV: Listen, specifically the moment where the Doctor asks Clara who she's having dinner with. No such scene plays out in The Caretaker, flashback or otherwise.
  • A few days after the broadcast of TV: The Time of the Doctor, Jenna Coleman had co-starred in the miniseries Death Comes to Pemberley, based upon a mystery-novel sequel to Pride and Prejudice. Coleman played Lydia Wickham; in this episode, Clara's students are heard reading a passage related to Lydia.
  • This episode takes place either the next calendar year or the next school year after the events of Into the Dalek. In the earlier story, Danny is introduced as a brand-new teacher at Coal Hill. In this episode, the father of Courtney Woods discusses with Danny how since "last year" his opinion of his daughter has changed, indicating that Danny has been a teacher for some time by this point.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

  • Bute Street, Cardiff - Noah and Yashe are confronted by Matthew.
  • Lloyd George Ave., Cardiff
  • The Maltings, E Tyndall St.
  • St Illtyd's Catholic High School, Newport Rd. - Coal Hill School
  • Holton Primary School, Barry - Coal Hill School
  • Gladstone Primary School, Cardiff - Coal Hill School exterior
  • Tonyrefail School, Wales - Coal Hill School exterior

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.
  • When the Doctor meets Courtney Woods in the caretaker's storeroom, he hands the package of paper towels to her, but they reappear in his hand, and she walks off empty-handed.
  • When Courtney looks into the TARDIS, the Doctor's work bench, which he was sitting at just a few minutes ago, is no longer in the room. It returns later on.
  • When Clara leads Danny down the stairs and away from the TARDIS she is standing behind him and to his right in the closeup shot, but in the wide shot she is behind him to his left.
  • When the Skovox Blitzer deactivates, its eyes fade out from red until they are no longer shining. When the Doctor sends it floating into space, still deactivated and spewing sparks, its eyes are glowing blue.
  • When the Doctor is talking to Clara at the TARDIS console with Danny standing behind him, he places his hand on the dematerialisation lever. His hand is still on the lever when the camera is facing from Danny's perspective but not when it's facing from Clara's perspective; the handle of the lever is clearly visible in these shots.

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]]

to be added

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ Gomez' credit is taken from TV: Deep Breath
  2. ↑ Holmes, Jonathan (14 December 2014). https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-12-17/this-exclusive-doctor-who-series-8-concept-art-is-dark-very-dark-indeed/. RadioTimes. Retrieved on 6 November 2018.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 DCOM: The Caretaker
  4. ↑ Goodman, Christopher. Doctor Who – Skovox Blitzer. Christopher Goodman. Retrieved on 6 November 2018.
  5. ↑ Although the incarnation of the Doctor is not specified, as it's later established that in his twelfth life he didn't meet her until The Husbands of River Song, it has to have been the Eleventh.
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Series 13: 2021
Minisodes
Regular episodes
Seasonal specials
 
60th Anniversary Specials: David Tennant
Specials: 2023
Minisodes
60th Anniversary Specials
 
Season 1 (2023)-present: Ncuti Gatwa
Season 1: 2023-2024
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
v • e
Missy stories
Television
Webcast
Audio
Missy
Prose
The Missy
Chronicles
Comics
Video games
Considered
not part
of the DWU
* Substantial appearances only; see a full list of appearances here
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