Series 8 of Doctor Who ran between 23 August 2014 and 8 November 2014. It starred Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor and Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald. The series opened with Deep Breath and concluded with Death in Heaven.
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Series 8for other, similarly-named pages.
Overview
It consisted of eleven stories and twelve episodes. The series saw the debut of Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor. Capaldi was announced in a live television special, Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor, on 4 August 2013.[1] The previous Doctor, Matt Smith, announced he was leaving on 1 June of the same year.[2]
Filming began on 6 January 2014,[3] and ended on 7 August of the same year.[4] Series 8 was the first series since series 5 in 2010 to be broadcast straight with no series split halfway through it, and the first series of the revival not to consist of 13 episodes (excluding Christmas and other specials), instead running for 12.
The new Doctor was joined by Series 7, Part 2's companion, Clara Oswald, as played by Jenna Coleman, in her first full series.[5]
Samuel Anderson joined the cast as a new recurring character, Danny Pink, a fellow teacher at Coal Hill School.[6] Although initially reported by media as being a new companion for the Doctor, in fact the character never actually took on an official companion role during the course of the season.
The Paternoster Gang returned,[7][8] each using a sonic device designed in a Blue Peter competition in the series.[9] Kate Stewart, Osgood[10] and UNIT also appeared.[11]
This series also saw the return of the Master, now in a female incarnation known as Missy, played by Michelle Gomez, which was the first time a Time Lord had been portrayed in two distinct genders. The overarching story elements revolve around characters who have died in the episode being greeted to 'Heaven,' by Missy, where the heaven is revealed to be a data cloud to store the minds of the deceased, as Missy upgrades the bodies into Cybermen before manipulating the minds to delete their emotions and put them into their old cyber-upgraded bodies as an army. This is a plan to lure the Doctor into a trap so she can get her 'friend back.'
Cast
- The Doctor - Peter Capaldi
- Clara Oswald - Jenna Coleman
- Danny Pink - Samuel Anderson, Remi Gooding
- Missy - Michelle Gomez
Recurring
- Eleventh Doctor - Matt Smith
- Madame Vastra - Neve McIntosh
- Strax - Dan Starkey
- Jenny Flint - Catrin Stewart
- Inspector Gregson - Paul Hickey
- Courtney Woods - Ellis George
- Rusty - Nicholas Briggs
- Fleming - Bradley Ford
- Mr. Armitage - Nigel Betts
- Daleks - operated by Barnaby Edwards and voiced by Nicholas Briggs
- Seb - Chris Addison
- Rigsy - Joivan Wade
- Clara Oswald's gran - Sheila Reid
- Cybermen - Jeremiah Krage and voiced by Nicholas Briggs
- Osgood[10] - Ingrid Oliver
- Kate Lethbridge-Stewart - Jemma Redgrave
- Santa Claus - Nick Frost
Guest
- Half-Face Man - Peter Ferdinando
- Journey Blue - Zawe Ashton
- Colonel Morgan Blue - Michael Smiley
- Gretchen Carlisle - Laura Dos Santos
- Ross - Ben Crompton
- Robin Hood - Tom Riley
- Sheriff of Nottingham - Ben Miller
- Alan-a-Dale - Ian Hallard
- Friar Tuck - Trevor Cooper
- Little John - Rusty Goffe
- Will Scarlett - Joseph Kennedy
- Maid Marian - Sabrina Bartlett
- Reg - Robert Goodman
- Ms. Delphox - Keeley Hawes
- Psi - Jonathan Bailey
- Saibra - Pippa Bennett-Warner
- The Teller - Ross Mullan
- Skovox Blitzer - Jimmy Vee
- Adrian Davies - Edward Harrison
- Lundvik - Hermione Norris
- Duke - Tony Osoba
- Henry - Phil Nice
- McKean - Christopher Dane
- Captain Quell - David Bamber
- Perkins - Frank Skinner
- Prof Emile Moorhouse - Christopher Villiers
- Maisie Pitt - Daisy Beaumont
- Gus - John Sessions
- Fenton - Christopher Fairbank
- PC Forrest - Jessica Hayles
- Roscoe - John Cummins
- Maebh Arden - Abigail Eames
- Samson - Jaydon Harris-Wallace
- Bradley - Ashley Foster
- Ruby - Harley Bird
- Dr. Chang - Andrew Leung
- Colonel Ahmed - Sanjeev Bhaskar
- Boy - Antonio Bourouphael
Production
Brian Minchin, the new producer of the series, explained in the July 2013 issue of Doctor Who Magazine that "I have just spent a very happy few days meeting some scarily clever writers, and we have an incredible set of stories to work on. More adventures ahead!". In a May 2013 interview, Steven Moffat claimed that "the next season is plotted out."[12]
The first read-through for series 8 was held on 17 December 2013.[13] This was an unusually long lead time, as actual filming for the first episodes of series 8 did not commence until 6 January 2014, with Capaldi filming his first scenes the next day. In a break from what was done with Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant and Matt Smith and several Classic era Doctors, the first episode filmed by Capaldi was also to be the first episode to be broadcast.[14]
Crew
Producers
Series 8 was co-executive produced by Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin. (DWM 460) Series 7's producer, Caroline Skinner, officially stepped down on 13 March 2013, [15] and Minchin was announced as her replacement on 30 April. [16]
Producer Marcus Wilson stepped down following production of The Time of the Doctor. His role was filled by former producers Nikki Wilson and Peter Bennett.[17]
Writers
Steven Moffat penned both the series opener, episode 4, and the two-part series finale, as well as co-writing on episodes 2, 5 and 6. Phil Ford wrote episode 2, Mark Gatiss wrote episode 3, Steve Thompson's script is for episode 5, and Gareth Roberts wrote episode 6 of the series. Three new writers joined the series: Peter Harness (episode 7), Jamie Mathieson (episodes 8 and 9) and Frank Cottrell-Boyce (episode 10). All three of these new writers returned for further episodes, in later series.
Directors
Ben Wheatley directed episodes one and two. Paul Murphy directed episodes 3 and 6, Douglas Mackinnon directed episodes 4, 5 and 9, Paul Wilmshurst directed episodes 7 and 8, Sheree Folkson directed episode 10 and Rachel Talalay directed the two-part finale.
Television stories
| Episode Number |
Title | Writer | Director | Notes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deep Breath | Steven Moffat | Ben Wheatley | Final appearence of the Paternoster Gang. Reapperance of the Clockwork Droids. First appearance of Missy and Courtney Woods. | ||||||
| 2 | Into the Dalek | Phil Ford & Steven Moffat | First appearance of Danny Pink and Mr. Armitage and Rusty. | |||||||
| 3 | Robot of Sherwood | Mark Gatiss | Paul Murphy | Appearance of Fictional Characters in Doctor Who. | 4 | Listen | Steven Moffat | Douglas Mackinnon | Dannys Backstory is Explained. Appearance of the young First Doctor | |
| 5 | Time Heist | Steve Thompson & Steven Moffat | First appearance of a Solar flare In series 8. | |||||||
| 6 | The Caretaker | Gareth Roberts & Steven Moffat | Paul Murphy | First appearance of Seb. The Doctor finds out Claras boyfriend is Danny Pink. Courtney takes her first trip aboard the Doctor's TARDIS. | ||||||
| 7 | Kill the Moon | Peter Harness | Paul Wilmshurst | Courtney takes her second trip aboard the Doctor's TARDIS. Clara decides to leave the Doctor's company. | ||||||
| 8 | Mummy on the Orient Express | Jamie Mathieson | Clara reconsiders her decision and resumes travelling with the Doctor. | |||||||
| 9 | Flatline | Jamie Mathieson | Doctor-lite episode. First appearance of Rigsy. | |||||||
| 10 | In the Forest of the Night | Frank Cottrell Boyce | Sheree Folkson | Reapperance of a Solar Flare. | ||||||
| 11 & 12 | Dark Water / Death in Heaven | Steven Moffat | Rachel Talalay | Missy is revealed to be the Master. First story to show a Time Lord with a gender different from previously seen. Deaths of Danny, Zygon Osgood and Seb. Posthumous appearance of Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, reanimated as a Cyberman. Clara and the Doctor part ways. First appearance of Santa Claus. Conclusion to the "Promised Land" arc. |
Episode notes
- This is the first series of the revived series that does not consist of 13 episodes (excluding Christmas and other specials).
- This is the first series since Series 5 to be broadcast straight with no split.
- Deep Breath, Into the Dalek, The Caretaker, Flatline and In the Forest of the Night all feature the appearance of a mysterious character known only as "Missy". This is analogous to the early appearances of Madame Kovarian in Series 6 and is the overall arc for the series. In Dark Water, Missy is revealed to be a female incarnation of the Master.
- This is the first series since Series 5 to end with a two-part story and the first since Series 6 to have an officially-designated two-parter.
- One episode experienced censorship issues during the series. BBC Entertainment serving SouthEast Asia announced it was required to delete a brief sequence from the region's broadcasts of Deep Breath showing Vastra and Jenny transferring oxygen by way of a kiss due to some jurisdictions prohibiting the depiction of same-sex kissing.
- On 4th September 2014, BBC One announced that a brief sequence in Robot of Sherwood was to be removed from the broadcast edit on 6th September in the wake of the recent execution of two Western journalists by terrorists, out of concern that it might be disrespectful or otherwise inappropriate.[18] As of 2020, the scene has not been included in any release of the episode.
- This is the first full Doctor Who series in Australia to be rated M (for mature audiences) [19]. This rating had previously been given to The Waters of Mars (before being reclassified the family-friendly rating of PG), the TV Movie, Attack of the Cybermen & The Ambassadors of Death. It would also later be given to Series 9 on release.
- This series is the first series since Series 3 not to feature River Song.
- Counting The Day of the Doctor as part of Series 7, this is the first series in which the 9th and 10th Doctor TARDIS interior does not appear.
- The title sequence of Death in Heaven has Jenna Coleman credited before Peter Capaldi and Clara's eyes appear instead of the Doctor's, thus marking the first time for a companion both being credited before the main incarnation of the Doctor in the episode and replacing the Doctor's face in the opening credits.
- This series is the only series during Steven Moffat's time as showrunner to not include a story written by Toby Whithouse.
Aliens and enemies
Stories set during this series
Novels
Comic books
- Four Doctors (before Dark Water)
- The Fractures (before Dark Water)
Adaptations and merchandising
Home media
DVD / Blu-ray
| Title | Number and duration of episodes |
R2 release date | R4 release date | R1 release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor Who: Deep Breath Deep Breath |
1 × 76 min. | 8 September 2014 | 10 September 2014 | 9 September 2014 |
| Doctor Who: The Complete Eighth Series Deep Breath Into the Dalek Robot of Sherwood Listen Time Heist The Caretaker Kill the Moon Mummy on the Orient Express Flatline In the Forest of the Night Dark Water / Death in Heaven |
1 × 76 min. 10 × 45 min. 1 x 60 min. |
24 November 2014 | 19 November 2014 | 9 December 2014 |
| Doctor Who: Series Eight, Part One (DVD Exclusive)
Deep Breath |
1 x 76 min.
5 x 45 min. |
N/A | N/A | 20 September
2016 |
| Doctor Who: Series Eight, Part Two (DVD Exclusive)
Kill the Moon |
5 x 45 min.
1 x 60 min. |
N/A | N/A | 20 December
2016 |
Notes
- The box set was previewed in DWM 480.
Footnotes
- ↑ The Doctor Who Team (12 March 2013). Peter Capaldi exclusively revealed to the nation as the Twelfth Doctor. BBC. Retrieved on 7 December 2013.
- ↑ The Doctor Who Team (1 June 2013). Matt Smith announces he is to leave Doctor Who. BBC. Retrieved on 7 December 2013.
- ↑ Varney, Bertena (6 January 2014). Series 8 of 'Doctor Who' begins filming today. Examiner.com. Retrieved on 6 January 2014.
- ↑ Interview with Steven Moffat on BBC Radio Wales, 7 August 2014: recording of the event can be found here
- ↑ Susanna Lazarus (12 March 2013). Doctor Who: Jenna-Louise Coleman confirms her return for series eight. Radio Times. Retrieved on 1 June 2013.
- ↑ The Doctor Who Team (24 February 2014). Rising Star Joins Doctor Who for Peter Capaldi's First Series. Doctor Who website. Retrieved on 24 February 2014.
- ↑ Mellor, Louisa (14 October 2013). Doctor Who: returning characters confirmed for series 8. Den of Geek. Retrieved on 2 January 2014.
- ↑ Martin, William (13 October 2013). 'Doctor Who': Vastra, Jenny and Strax back in series 8. CultBox. Retrieved on 2 January 2014.
- ↑ Blue Peter: Doctor Who Competition: Design a Sonic Device. CBBC. Retrieved on 2 January 2014.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The story features Osgood from Operation Double but it is not clear whether that is the human or the Zygon.
- ↑ Williams, Kathryn and Meville-Smith, Alicia (30 June 2014). Doctor Who films in Cardiff city centre as the Cybermen take over. Wales Online. Retrieved on 30 June 2014.
- ↑ Jordan Zakarin (21 May 2013). Storyline For The Next "Doctor Who" Season Already Written. BuzzFeed. Retrieved on 1 June 2013.
- ↑ BBC (17 December 2013). Doctor Who Official Twitter announcement. Twitter. Retrieved on 7 January 2014.
- ↑ BBC (7 January 2014). Peter Capaldi begins filming on Doctor Who. BBC.co.uk. Retrieved on 7 January 2014.
- ↑ The Doctor Who Team (13 March 2013). Doctor Who: Executive Producer Moves On. BBC - Blogs - Doctor Who. Retrieved on 14 December 2013.
- ↑ The Doctor Who Team (30 April 2013). Brian Minchin confirmed as New Executive Producer of Doctor Who. BBC - Blogs - Doctor Who. Retrieved on 14 December 2013.
- ↑ Peter Capaldi begins filming on Doctor Who. BBC Media Centre (7 January 2014). Retrieved on 7 January 2014.
- ↑ Radio Times (4 September 2014). BBC makes edit to Doctor Who Robot of Sherwood "out of respect" after two journalists are killed. Radio Times.com. Retrieved on 5 September 2014.
- ↑ Australia's Classification website (Doctor Who Series 8) http://www.classification.gov.au/Pages/View.aspx?sid=69RopHhhBWvUbT%252fpWbFxFw%253d%253d&ncdctx=CS%2bmGrIk86InRL%2bTUFqPefzY4hRzQs24Ci%2bbEv0WqasqB6llZOIGTxb%252fMQecAI5FChov8be%252f5GGazzHQh2s9jDJkREdcr6K27nDctGfCTEk%253d