There aren't many shows that can so completely change their tone and setting on a week by week basis in the way Doctor Who can. From forest romp to time travel chills to this instalment, a slick Hustle style adventure to break into the galaxy’s most secure vault at the Bank of Karabraxos. For this task a crack team of specialists have been assembled by the mysterious Architect; the Doctor and Clara, complete with sonic screwdriver of course, an augmented 'gamer' Psi (Jonathan Bailey, Broadchurch) and a mutant human Saibra (Pippa Bennett-Warner, The Smoke).
The pre-credits sequence has not one, but two things first mentioned in earlier Clara stories brought up again. One is an alien, that causes confusion to more than one party of people, and the other was a seemingly a throwaway line, though some have already questioned it, and perhaps more is made of it now? Co-witten by Sherlock scribe Stephen Thompson and Steven Moffat before Peter had even been cast it has a very different feel to Thompson’s previous two outings; The Curse of the Black Spot and Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS. Although like the latter it does make clever use of lighting and multiple angled shots by director Douglas Mackinnon (who also presided over last week’s Listen) in order to disguise the reuse of the obligatory single corridor on set during the second half of the episode.
One of the few complaints I’ve seen this season is that Clara has been running things too much for some fans liking, well rest assured this episode changes all that. The Doctor and his eyebrows are definitely in charge of this motley crew of safe crackers as they try to complete their mission while avoiding the various hazards along the way. The most ingenious being a new monster, the Teller, played by someone you won’t recognise under all the prosthetics, yet is no stranger to the challenge of bringing alive aliens and mythical creatures whilst under so much latex and rubber. Ross Mullan has been a Silent and an Ice Warrior for Who before, as well as various White Walkers on Game of Thrones, and does a sterling job as the grotesque beast who smells out the guilt of anyone who enters the bank.
Time Heist airs on Saturday 20th September at 7.30pm on BBC 1 and BBC 1 HD in the UK, and at 9pm on BBC America. Below are a few dialogue teasers to see you through until then. Don't forget to come back to vote in our poll after the episode and let us know what you thought.
"Calories consumed on the TARDIS have no lasting effect"
"What do you think of the new look? I was hoping for minimalism, but I think I came out with magician"
"Keep blocking your thoughts Clara, don’t think!"
"The Bank of Karabraxos has never been breached. You will rob the Bank of Karabraxos"
“Oh, is that why you call yourself the Doctor, professional detachment?"
"No, no, no. This guy, your 'mate', is a lunatic!"
"A good man, I left it late to meet one of those"
"7.15…meeting me…you are…date…second one"
"You’re a liar, that’s a prison code on your neck"
"Please stand away from the door, we do not wish to hurt you before we incinerate you"
Trailer Teaser
"Welcome to Coal Hill Mr Smith"
About the Author - Sandi
Sandi is part of the Senior Staff at SpoilerTV having been a contributor from back in the Lost days of DarkUFO, and who now writes previews for Doctor Who, The Musketeers, Banshee, and other BBC shows. She also enjoys watching and commenting on other shows like Sons of Anarchy, Hannibal, Game of Thrones and Elementary.
