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New viewers are brought into the show with all important information given, and meet the Doctor as a mysterious figure, much like they did through [[Rose Tyler]] in [[series 1 (Doctor Who)|series 1]]'s 2005 "pilot", ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'', or through [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]] and [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]] in the original 1963 introduction, "[[An Unearthly Child (episode)|An Unearthly Child]]". Much like ''Rose'', ''The Pilot'' follows Bill around in every scene.
New viewers are brought into the show with all important information given, and meet the Doctor as a mysterious figure, much like they did through [[Rose Tyler]] in [[series 1 (Doctor Who)|series 1]]'s 2005 "pilot", ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'', or through [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]] and [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]] in the original 1963 introduction, "[[An Unearthly Child (episode)|An Unearthly Child]]". Much like ''Rose'', ''The Pilot'' follows Bill around in every scene.


This was also the first on-screen depiction of [[Movellan]]s since their debut in ''[[Destiny of the Daleks (TV story)|Destiny of the Daleks]]''. The episode introduces [[St Luke's University]], where the Doctor apparently has been lecturing for over fifty years, and begins a plot thread surrounding what he and [[Nardole]] are hiding in [[Vault (The Pilot)|a vault]] beneath the campus.
This was also the first on-screen depiction of [[Movellan]]s since their debut in ''[[Destiny of the Daleks (TV story)|Destiny of the Daleks]]''. The episode introduces [[St Luke's University]], where the Doctor apparently has been lecturing for over fifty years, and begins a plot thread surrounding what he and [[Nardole]] are hiding in [[Vault (The Pilot)|a vault]] beneath the campus. This bears some similarity to the era of the [[Third Doctor]], who was likewise restricted in his travels and held a job as the scientific adviser of UNIT.


Some things were different with Bill as a companion; she was panicky when first traveling in the TARDIS, and took a long time to figure out that it was "bigger on the inside". Continuing the unofficial theme of having the Daleks appear in each season of the Revived Series, the Doctor attempts to destroy the sentient oil with the Dalek's weapons.
Some things were different with Bill as a companion; she was panicky when first traveling in the TARDIS, and took a long time to figure out that it was time machine that "bigger on the inside". Continuing the unofficial theme of having the Daleks appear in each season of the Revived Series, the Doctor attempts to destroy the sentient oil with the deadliest fire in the universe, which turns out to the Daleks.
 
By the Doctor's own admission, he has come to believe that if he encounters some kind of alien on Earth, it is likely going to be dangerous as most of the past aliens he's encountered on Earth have been. However, in a twist, the "threat" turns out to be a misunderstanding caused by a [[crush]].


This episode marks the first time since [[The Snowmen|''The Snowmen'']] that the lights in the TARDIS have been off. However, unlike back then, ALL the lights are now able to be shut off when the Doctor hasn't been inside for a while.
This episode marks the first time since [[The Snowmen|''The Snowmen'']] that the lights in the TARDIS have been off. However, unlike back then, ALL the lights are now able to be shut off when the Doctor hasn't been inside for a while.
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== Plot ==
== Plot ==
[[Nardole]] brings a woman called [[Bill Potts]] into a [[The Doctor's office (The Pilot)|university professor's office]]. After observing a pot of [[sonic screwdriver|screwdrivers]], she is startled by the sound of an [[electric guitar]]. She coughs, getting the professor's attention from the adjacent room. The professor enters and asks Bill why she keeps attending his lectures since she isn't actually a student but just works at the [[St Luke's canteen|university canteen]].  
The episode opens with an empty [[The Doctor's office (The Pilot)|university professor's office]]; nobody is in it. The sounds of mechanical whirring is heard for a brief while before the door opens and [[Nardole]] leads a woman called [[Bill Potts]] in; he gestures for her to take a seat at the professor's desk. A screw falls off his arm, but he discretely kicks it away before Bill can notice. He leaves without a word, leaving Bill to wait for the professor to arrive.
 
[[File:The_Pilot_Cup_of_Sonic.jpg|thumb|Various [[sonic screwdriver]]s.]]Bill looks around the room, finding the TARDIS with an "Out of Order" sign handing on it. Noting a mug on the professor's desk full of strange devices, which are [[sonic screwdriver|screwdrivers]], Bill reaches to examine one. However, she is startled by the sound of an [[electric guitar]] playing the opening bars to [[Beethoven's Fifth Symphony|''Beethoven's Fifth Symphony'']]. She coughs, getting the professor's attention from the adjacent room; the Doctor sticks his head in, telling Bill he'll be with her in a moment.  
 
Putting his guitar away, the Doctor takes his seat and asks Bill for her name. He wonders why she's at the university. Bill states that she does not go there, but the Doctor counters by telling her that he's seen her attending his lectures. She tells him that she actually works at the [[St Luke's canteen|university canteen]]. After fumbling over a story about a woman she fancied in the canteen, Bill confesses that she loves his lectures and always wanted to attend the university. She then challenges back, asking why the man has taken an interest in her as "loads attend [his] lectures". He responds that it is due to the fact she smiles when she doesn't understand something, while the majority frown.  


After fumbling over a story about a woman she fancied in the canteen, Bill confesses that she loves his lectures and always wanted to attend the university. She then challenges back, asking why the man has taken an interest in her as "loads attend [his] lectures". He responds that it is due to the fact she smiles when she doesn't understand something, while the majority frown.  
Bill asks around about the Doctor, telling him that it's rumored he's lectured for 70 years. The Doctor think it's going to be a question about his age, but Bill says it's actually about what subject he's lecturing on. It's seem the Doctor has permission to talk about whatever he wishes; he was going to give a lecture about quantum physics, but then talked about poetry. The Doctor tells her that their basically the same thing because of all the rhyming. He offers to be Bill's personal tutor, stating that she must come to him at 6pm every weekday (even if someone is dying) and if she gets anything less than a First on each assignment, the tutoring will cease. As she leaves, she asks what to call him, as everyone calls him [[Twelfth Doctor|the Doctor]]. He tells her it's what he's called. Bill is not liking the idea as it's not a proper name; she asks "Doctor what?" The Doctor smiles.


[[File:The_Pilot_Cup_of_Sonic.jpg|thumb|Various [[sonic screwdriver]]s.]]After discussing how poetry and quantum physics are the same thing, the professor offers to be Bill's personal tutor, stating that she must come to him at 6pm every weekday (even if someone is dying) and if she gets anything less than a First on each assignment, the tutoring will cease. As she leaves, she asks what to call him, the professor telling her to address him as [[Twelfth Doctor|the Doctor]]. She replies "Doctor what?"
Bill goes through her daily routine: serving chips, attending the Doctor's lecture and tutoring session, and returning home to her foster mother, [[Moira (The Pilot)|Moira]]. Bill explains that the Doctor is kind of her foster tutor, as Moira goes over Bill's tests; Bill gets at least 87% or above in each subject the Doctor taught her, even more obscure subjects. Moira is worried the Doctor might be some kind of pedophile, warning Bill to be careful of men. Annoyed, Bill mutters under her breath she's not interested in men.  


Bill goes through her daily routine: serving chips, attending the Doctor's lecture and tutoring session, and returning home to her foster mother, [[Moira (The Pilot)|Moira]]. Moira is worried the Doctor might be some kind of pedophile, warning Bill to be careful of men. Annoyed, Bill mutters under her breath she's not interested in men. One particular lecture the Doctor gives goes into extensive detail about Time and Relative Dimension in Space; "it's called life". That night, a blonde woman catches Bill's eye when she visits a bar.
The Doctor gives a lecture on the concept of the passage of time; in truth, time doesn't really pass, because life is a great magician that only allows people live days at a time. He further explains that each day is like a photo that doesn't move, much like movies, when played after each other, time appears to move. The Doctor then calls this Time and Relative Dimension in Space, going on to say "it's called life". That night, a blonde woman catches Bill's eye when she visits a bar.


The next morning, Bill follows the Doctor and Nardole, who descend into [[Vault (The Pilot)|a hidden vault]] under [[St Luke's University|the university]]. She meets [[Heather (The Pilot)|Heather]], the girl from the previous night, looks distraught. Bill notices a starlike pattern in Heather's eye, but Heather simply brushes this off as a "defect" and expresses, "Everywhere I go, I just want to leave." Heather leads Bill to [[Sentient oil|a mysterious puddle]] near the university, telling her to look at her reflection in it. Both notice something is wrong with the reflection, but Bill doesn't know what. After the two leave, a voice issuing from the puddle claims that a "pilot is located".
The next morning, Bill follows the Doctor and Nardole, who descend into [[Vault (The Pilot)|a hidden vault]] under [[St Luke's University|the university]]. She meets [[Heather (The Pilot)|Heather]], the girl from the previous night, looks distraught. Bill notices a starlike pattern in Heather's eye, but Heather simply brushes this off as a "defect" and expresses, "Everywhere I go, I just want to leave." Heather leads Bill to [[Sentient oil|a mysterious puddle]] near the university, telling her to look at her reflection in it. Both notice something is wrong with the reflection, but Bill doesn't know what. After the two leave, a voice issuing from the puddle claims that a "pilot is located".
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[[File:Sentinent_oil_The_Pilot.jpg|left|thumb|The strange [[sentient oil|liquid]].]]
[[File:Sentinent_oil_The_Pilot.jpg|left|thumb|The strange [[sentient oil|liquid]].]]


Bill meets Heather again, but Heather mysteriously disappears while Bill is running around to meet her at the puddle. Bill consults the Doctor, who runs out of his office to investigate the puddle and the scorch marks surrounding it. The puddle seems to mimic a the subject, rather than producing a mirror image. The Doctor sends Bill home, where she notices someone in the bath, even though Moira is out that night. Bill runs to the university after noticing Heather's starry eye staring out of her bathroom drain.
Bill meets Heather again, but Heather mysteriously disappears while Bill is running around to meet her at the puddle. Bill consults the Doctor, who runs out of his office to investigate the puddle and the scorch marks surrounding it. The puddle seems to mimic a the subject, rather than producing a mirror image; in short, its a reflection of a reflection. The puddles is showing whoever looks into what it sees. The Doctor sends Bill home, where she notices someone in the bath, even though Moira is out that night. Bill runs to the university after noticing Heather's starry eye staring out of her bathroom drain.


Outside [[St Luke's University]], Bill is confronted by the puddle, which has taken on the form of a soaked Heather. Bill rushes into the Doctor's office, where the puddle gushes into the room, reforming into Heather. The Doctor convinces Bill to enter his blue box, taking the sign off as they do. Bill protests that the box can't save them only to turn around as the console lights up and the Doctor reveals [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]. Coming to terms with its size, Bill claims she needs the toilet, meeting Nardole on her way down. The Doctor proceeds to take them down to the vault, where she realises that the police box in the corner of the Doctor's office is his spaceship, which is bigger on the inside. The Doctor and Bill infer that the puddle alien is not here for whatever is hidden inside the vault and is instead there to chase them. They escape in the TARDIS, which the Doctor flies to Australia to test the puddle's abilities.
Outside [[St Luke's University]], Bill is confronted by the puddle, which has taken on the form of a soaked Heather. Bill rushes into the Doctor's office, where the puddle gushes into the room, reforming into Heather. The Doctor convinces Bill to enter his blue box, taking the sign off as they do. Bill protests that the box can't save them only to turn around as the console lights up and the Doctor reveals [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]. Coming to terms with its size, Bill claims she needs the toilet, meeting Nardole on her way down. The Doctor proceeds to take them down to the vault, where she realises that the police box in the corner of the Doctor's office is his spaceship, which is bigger on the inside. The Doctor and Bill infer that the puddle alien is not here for whatever is hidden inside the vault and is instead there to chase them. They escape in the TARDIS, which the Doctor flies to Australia to test the puddle's abilities.
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In Australia, Bill asks the Doctor about his alien origin and the acronym "TARDIS", which wouldn't have made sense in his native language. The Doctor replies that most people don't bring this up. However, the puddle catches up, so the trio leaves to a planet on the other side of the universe, 23 million years in the future. Here, the Doctor and Bill hypothesise that the puddle is a type of sentient oil or perhaps a shape-shifting "liquid spaceship" requiring a host "pilot". Bill remembers Heather's desires to leave, explaining why the alien chose Heather. No sooner do they realise this, but the alien materialises and nearly takes Bill with it. The Doctor's last test of the puddle's abilities is to destroy it in "the deadliest fire in the universe".
In Australia, Bill asks the Doctor about his alien origin and the acronym "TARDIS", which wouldn't have made sense in his native language. The Doctor replies that most people don't bring this up. However, the puddle catches up, so the trio leaves to a planet on the other side of the universe, 23 million years in the future. Here, the Doctor and Bill hypothesise that the puddle is a type of sentient oil or perhaps a shape-shifting "liquid spaceship" requiring a host "pilot". Bill remembers Heather's desires to leave, explaining why the alien chose Heather. No sooner do they realise this, but the alien materialises and nearly takes Bill with it. The Doctor's last test of the puddle's abilities is to destroy it in "the deadliest fire in the universe".


The "deadliest fire" turns out to be a Dalek during the [[Dalek-Movellan War]]. The Doctor and Bill lure a Dalek while Nardole distracts and quarantines the other Daleks using the [[Sonic screwdriver#The Third, Fourth and Fifth Doctors' Sonic|Fifth Doctor's sonic screwdriver]]. The puddle (as Heather) materialises and proves indestructible to Dalek weaponry, copying it's form and defeating it. The Doctor unable to figure out what can defeat it, Bill remembers that Heather promised not to leave her behind before the puddle absorbed her. Bill sadly absolves Heather of this promise, but the alien tries to entice her anyway by using Heather's memories of the mutual attraction between her and Bill.
Nardole is terrified of where they're going; the Doctor hands him the Fourth Doctor's sonic and tells him to run interference. Once they land, Nardole runs off in the opposite direction. The Doctor leads Bill to where the [[Dalek-Movellan War]] is being fought. They are found by Heather, who is shot by a Dalek; the blast goes though her. It keeps firing in vain as the Doctor and Bill run. They are later confronted by a Dalek, which the Doctor realizes Heather in a new form. Heather dissolves and reforms as herself.
[[File:Bill and Heather.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Heather tries convincing Bill to join her ]]
The Doctor unable to figure out what can defeat it, Bill remembers that Heather promised not to leave her behind before the puddle absorbed her. "Never underestimate a crush" the Doctor notes; he tells Bill to release Heather from the promise to let her be at pace. Bill sadly absolves Heather of this promise, but the alien tries to entice her anyway by using Heather's memories of the mutual attraction between her and Bill. The Doctor tells Bill to resist, and Bill sadly says good-bye to Heather. Heather also sadly says good-bye and dissolves.  


The Doctor tells Bill to resist, and Bill sadly says good-bye to Heather. Heather also sadly says good-bye and dissolves. The Doctor brusquely returns to his ship while Nardole comments on the former's seemingly ignorant behaviour. Bill comments that the tears she sheds don't feel like her own.
The Doctor brusquely returns to his ship while Nardole comments on the former's seemingly ignorant behaviour. Bill comments that the tears she sheds don't feel like her own.


[[File:The_Pilot_Bright_Light_Doctor.jpg|thumb|"I've changed my mind"]]
Back in his university office, the Doctor tells Bill that she must forget about seeing Heather or travelling in the TARDIS and tries to wipe her memories of doing so, explaining that he must remain in disguise, unknown to everyone due to a promise he made. Bill retorts, asking how the he would feel if [[Clara Oswald|someone]] tried to wipe ''his'' memories. The Doctor tells Bill to leave immediately without another question before he changes his mind. He looks at the picture of River, telling to shut up, then the same for Susan's picture. Even the TARDIS briefly hums causing the Doctor to confess he "can't keep doing this".


Back in his university office, the Doctor tells Bill that she must forget about seeing Heather or travelling in the TARDIS and tries to wipe her memories of doing so, explaining that he must remain in disguise, unknown to everyone due to a promise he made. Bill retorts, asking how the he would feel if [[Clara Oswald|someone]] tried to wipe ''his'' memories. The Doctor tells Bill to leave immediately without another question before he changes his mind. He looks at the picture of River, telling to shut up, then the same for Susan's picture. Even the TARDIS briefly hums cussing the Doctor to confess he "can't keep doing this".
[[File:The_Pilot_Bright_Light_Doctor.jpg|thumb|"I've changed my mind"|left]]


Bill finds the Doctor next to his TARDIS on the [[St Luke's courtyard|university courtyard]]. He tells her his mind was changed by "Time … and Relative Dimension in Space", as the two run into the TARDIS, which dematerialises soon afterwards, leading on to a series of adventures for the Doctor and Bill.
Bill finds the Doctor next to his TARDIS on the [[St Luke's courtyard|university courtyard]]. The Doctor tells Bill that he changed his mind. When she asks what caused him to, the Doctor responds "Time and Relative Dimension in Space. It means what the hell." Happy, Bill runs into the TARDIS, followed by the Doctor who shuts the behind them. Now the Time Lord is ready to see the universe anew.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
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=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
{{Discontinuity}}
{{Discontinuity}}
''to be added''
* Bill is wearing a completely different shirt when she gets back to the university after Heather leaves.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
Retrieved from "https://tardis.wiki/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/2395269"
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