Deep Breath - Take Two Doctor Who Review

Peter Capaldi takes the reins and Steven Moffat tries his hand at a whole new Doctor. Add in the Paternoster Gang, Clara, a callback to a beloved episode, the introduction of the latest mystery box style series arch, and a huge dinosaur and you get Deep Breath. But is it actually any good? Let's talk it out.
Original review can be found here: • Doctor Who Series 8: D...
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[@jsnow7919]

Watching Deep Breath always reminds me not only did the 12th Doctor have a character arc, his hair also did.

[@LaurenBoxhall]

...and my word, was it glorious by Twice Upon a Time.

[@jsnow7919]

@@LaurenBoxhall that's what you call character growth 😂

[@pundahandz7403]

Floofy Capaldi is best Capaldi

[@mindyp51d]

And the longer and curlier it got, the better the 12th Doctor became!

[@albertohouston4712]

i guess Im asking the wrong place but does someone know of a trick to log back into an Instagram account?? I somehow lost the account password. I appreciate any assistance you can give me.

[@Sailor_Enchantix]

This episode has one of my favorite Madam Vastra quotes, “It dropped a blue box marked ‘police’ out of it’s mouth, your grasp of biology troubles me.”

[@nightowl8477]

The dialogue in this episode was way off for me until the second half.

[@TheBlimpFruit]

I think the "you don't see me" line was meant for the viewers as well. We'd just had two handsome, young, romantic Doctors, so for the general public, Capaldi was a bit of a shock at first as we hadn't seen a Doctor like him in NuWho. So I think the call from 11 to Clara was a fantastic little metaphor for the viewers to give Capaldi a chance.

[@Matheus21video]

What about 9°? Ecleston is great, but You Know what I mean.

[@Silverwind87]

As well as Vastra berating Clara for judging the Doctor's new regeneration. It's like two different reactions to the fans. Vastra is "How dare you be this judgemental? Give him a chance!" The "you don't see me part" is more kind, like "It'll be fine. It's still the Doctor, nothing has changed."

[@jamesclarke2813]

It really doesn’t make any sense that Clara is somehow unsure of the new incarnation of the Doctor. With another companion it might have worked, but this is supposed to be the “impossible girl” from Name of the Doctor, who jumped into his time stream and has seen every version of him from Hartnell to Smith. Hell, she even hung out with three of them together (including the older War Doctor) just two stories back. Moffet seemed to have forgotten this by having Clara freak out that the Doctor looks older.

[@tardisnet9487]

From Day of the Doctor we know Clara only vaguely remembers the events inside the Doctors timeline as they were different variations and incarnations of Clara and it's a lot easier meeting the 10th and War Doctors with the Doctor she has grown to know at her side.

[@TheBlimpFruit]

@@Matheus21video Although Eccleston was a little older, he still came off as bouncy and energetic at times. He was still a romantic I think.

[@ryanpollard1166]

And so, the Capaldi Era begins. For me, the Capaldi Era was the period of Doctor Who I didn't know I wanted until I saw it, and it gave me my joint favourite Doctor alongside Tom Baker. Deep Breath is a highly underrated post-regeneration story, and immediately, Capaldi had me hooked the minute he showed up on screen. Even though David Tennant and Matt Smith were both outstanding in their own right, for me, this was the Doctor I've been longing for since Baker and is my ideal kind of Doctor; steely, crusty, funny, eccentric, and will do the right thing no matter the cost. He gets the most character development out of any of the Modern Era Doctors, and his first series in Series 8 was all about him learning to rediscover who he is, which he eventually does by the end of the finale (which I personally believe was the true story-arc of Series 8). Capaldi and Coleman's chemistry was electric and I remember the scene where she had to hold her breath to avoid the Droids had me on edge the first time I saw it. I agree with the dinosaur thing and I personally found Matt Smith's cameo to be unnecessary in my opinion since it detracts from the new Doctor and only reminds people that Smith has gone. If you're wondering why this particular story was so long, it's probably because it was shown at cinemas (which I did attend), and I imagine they wanted another big event like The Day of the Doctor. Overall, 'Deep Breath is a solid introduction; doesn't beat The Eleventh Hour, but is IMO better than Rose, The Christmas Invasion and The Woman Who Fell To Earth.

[@jayanderson9375]

I really agree with a lot Of this! I never thought another Do tor b CB oils rival Tom Baker until a Capaldi came along, and that even though I really did like Tenant a lot!

[@declanring4272]

The Twelfth Doctor is my absolute favourite. I love him here. It ain't the best opener but I adore Capaldi off the bat

[@KayleighBourquin]

Capaldi is easily my favourite Doctor, and I loved him from this very episode onward, he's difficulty with emotion is something I relate to very strongly. And that you pointed "You don't see me, you look at me and you don't see me" struck home for me too, possibly for similar reasons

[@tylerbailey9329]

For some reason, Series 8 has really grown on me since it first aired. I used to think this series was sub par overall, but Kill the Moon and In the Forest of the Night are the only two episodes I'd call trash. Stuff like Deep Breath, Mummy on the Orient Express and Flatline are modern classics imo. Has anyone else had this experience?

[@freyjarichardson1519]

I've had this too although I must say I quite like the argument at the end of kill the moon. I'm a sucker for some drama what can I say😂

[@stevenmara1025]

Kill the Moon is really one-half fantastic and one-half “A moon egg? A moon egg!?”

[@tylerbailey9329]

@@freyjarichardson1519 yeah, I actually like that moment too. It's really the whole narrative and sentiment of that episode that rubs me the wrong way.

[@freyjarichardson1519]

@@tylerbailey9329 yep I agree

[@Ben-vf5gk]

I appreciate it more now but there's too much stuff I take issue with. I hate how much time we spend around Cole Hill School, Clara still doesn't work for me and I feel like they wasted Danny.

[@evaserration6223]

Having known Capaldi from his previous who appearances then The Thick of It, I was already primed for the idea of grumpy 'Malcolm Tucker Doctor', THAT I was looking forward to. For me the veil wasn't just about his age, but the darkness, the pragmatism and the ruthlessness that we have already seen in previous Doctors but it's usually shown in glimpses under a normally affable exterior. Here though with 12, it's this aspect that's at the forefront of his personality. It's the delivery of the line "I have a horrible feeling I'm going to have to kill you. I thought you'd appreciate a drink first, I know I would." that sealed the deal for me. As well as his response to the Half-Faced Man's statement that's not human - "Neither am I". Here, unlike Malcolm Tucker F-Bomb shout rants, The Twelfth Doctor had that low, measured growl masking unimaginable fury that was far more terrifying. But then at the end when he lets his guard down and asks Clara to just see him, having had his previous self tell her how scared he was because in his current form he knew he couldn't. Again going back to using the baggage of Malcolm Tucker to great effect, it was shock to see him so vulnerable So aside from where his eventual arc went, for me that was enough of a showcase of what we're gonna get from this Doctor.

[@thefragrantwookiee]

"Hello, hello, rubbish robots from the dawn of time" is one of my favourite Who lines (mostly due to Capaldi's delivery - he's my favourite too).

[@KerstinMamma]

Classic Moffat that we see over and over and over. "Hey, I want a dinosaur in London." "Okay Moffat, what do we do with her?" " I don't know, I can't figure it out. Retcon it!" "Of fucking course... What else." Moffat is incapable of tying things up properly.

[@ClaraFinn]

14:00 the reason why is very simple. Moffat thinks his audience is stupid, and will never be able to comprehend his genius ideas without spelling them out clearly

[@mknightshadowstorm]

I actually think that it’s great that people have really grown to love Capaldi. I would find myself rewatching his episodes shortly after I’d seen them, because I realized they seemed to get better to me with subsequent viewings.

[@Domino2097]

"Seeing the doctor a little more nakedly" - think Clara saw little more than that last episode 😂

[@BeautifulDisaster2]

I'm really looking forward to these reviews as I get to re-live Capaldi's era, which although I think probably had some of the roughest moments episode wise, 12 had such an amazing character arc and also became my doctor. So yeah, this is going to be fun :D

[@tomoswatkin4905]

I really find this episode very underrated. Love the doctor and Clara's chemistry.

[@Silverwind87]

My headcanon is that Twelve looked older to reflect his first life. When the Doctor first regenerated, he was an old man. Now that the clock has reset, so to speak, he's an old man again.

[@ErinShannon617]

Capaldi was supposed to be a brand new set up regenerations too, so it stands to reason that it would be more intense, him getting to know himself.

[@nightowl8477]

Peter's my favourite too! I rewatched Deep Breath just yesterday, and I liked it a lot more. The last 45 minutes straight is all great stuff, but Christ that first act drags. Cut it down to an hour, and it's brilliant - those first 30 minutes consist basically entirely of (what ought to have been) deleted scenes.

[@cisalzlman]

My problem with the Madame Vastra's veil thing is that it feels like Moffat telling the audience how to feel about having older doctor Instead letting it stand and having good writing and Capaldi's excellent performance show that he was the right choice

[@mknightshadowstorm]

Much like with Whittaker, there was a real fear on behalf of the show runner that the Doctor wouldn’t be accepted. I mean look at that you tube video on the stupid girl crying “ he’s old!” It was obvious that this show has a very different audience than the original series had. I think the writing of this era is too often criticized, and the Davis era is too often put on a pedestal that sometimes it doesn’t deserve. I agree that the writing was more consistent in the Davis era, but I feel that the Moffat era especially when Capaldi arrived, was a way of re-establishing more of the spirit of the original series.

[@drummerwarrior1]

I didn’t realise Capaldi was your favourite. He is my favourite Nu Who Doctor. Loved his performance from the start. Especially when he broke the fourth wall looking at the audience after the “death” of the cyborg. Chills.

[@roguebritgravy1]

Who frowned me this face? A Roman guy you saved from complete obliteration. I thought you'd have the costume ready. I think they were doing a colin baker inspired vibe where he was becoming more like the doctor and he had to fight to be the doctor he could be.

[@Silverwind87]

Did they ever do the "who frowned me this face" for the Sixth Doctor and Maxil?

[@Silverwind87]

@Rebecca Woolf What about in the expanded media?

[@roguebritgravy1]

@@Silverwind87 nothing so far. I don't think they were going that way anyway.

[@freyjarichardson1519]

I kinda love this episode, I don't watch it all that often coz oh boy is it long but I do have fun watching it. And the phone call from eleven just broke me. Still does. Just absolutely breaks me. it was my favourite doctor going "give this guy a chance" and I'm so glad I listened coz twelve is my second favourite.

[@Scampr_]

I was really indifferent, bordering on disliking this episode at the time that series 8 first broadcast, but I've also grown to appreciate it a lot more as time has gone by. It definitely becomes better on a re-watch, as it benefits from the greater context we have about the characters, their journey and not being distracted by all the mysteries and questions posed to us. I totally agree on the point that Clara was more of a plot device in series 7, and not particularly likeable - she only really became an actual character in The Day of the Doctor, but this episode is where I began to like her, especially given her massively superior chemistry with the 12th doctor compared to the 11th. I'm looking forward to the rest of your reviews on series 8, since I think its strangely overlooked for how solid it is. I'll admit I did myself at the time, and while I probably would still consider it Capaldi's weakest season, I still like a lot. The character arc of the Doctor is definitely one of the best things about 12, and the same can be said for Clara too. Their progression over this series is really interesting and a lot more prevalent than I first remembered - all things considered, including the pressure of being a new Doctor's debut episode, Deep Breath does a pretty good job of kicking that off.

[@paulpeartsmith]

I just had the realisation that Deep Breath is my favourite Regen story bar none.

[@Manemaze]

This episode was shown as a "movie" during the Promotion Tour of the new season when they presented Capaldi as the new Doctor. They visited several countries.

[@thetiskosmos4554]

Great take two! Your 12th doctor costume looks Awesome with the touch of blue here and there, I may or may not steal some ideas for the next cosplay :)

[@pundahandz7403]

Capaldi is my fave Doctor too! He just fits my ideal perception of an vastly intelligent alien being who travels through time and space. Plus I used to think he was the only Doctor who went through a proper arc until I remembered Eccelston and watched a video from DAVIS which is amazing.

[@nicholasfairall405]

Woo...thank the lord you are still doing Doctor Who content...again I thought that you didn't...cause I didn't get the notifications three days ago.

[@lucypreece7581]

What i love about Capaldi is how magnetic he is as an actor. Like he is so engaging and like you can tell acting is in he blood. You just hang onto every word and every line he says and you can't take your eyes off of him. all those years of acting experience and training shine through in this man. He glitters and it is magnificent. Smith is my fave Doctor but i do love Capaldi a lot just for the sheer magnitude of his acting talent and just for how he commands the screen. like he pulls the focus and stands his ground and stuff. in the moments where the script and the plot just breaths and lets Capaldi do his thing honestly that man shines. i mean look at episodes like Heaven Sent or the Anti War Speech or Mummy On The Orient Express. Ugh that man is so good at what he does it almost makes you ill.

[@tacobowler]

This was the first episode I ever watched. I didn’t know who smith was, and had no attachment to him (he’s my favorite Doctor now). At the time I knew he was a Doctor, but he was so clearly in a supporting role. His cameo showed the compassion the Doctor has for Clara, and it worked because Capaldi nailed that scene so well. Capaldi is amazing.

[@bowtiesrcoolmonksrnot3272]

The blue in your hair looks really cool tied up!

[@tonyjohansson7567]

Your review are spot on! I've always liked Deep Breath, but it felt even better when you knew the journey of the characters. One part I love are the restaurant scene, starting with Clara notice the doctor's smell, followed by the dissagreement on the paper ad and then finding out that the other guests aren't behaving normal. That scene was pure magic, I think! And this is the best performance of the Pater Noster gang. It's a bit sad this were their last episode.

[@tardisnet9487]

I love this episode and it's my third favourite post regeneration story. At this point I had grown tired of the younger and sillier Doctors and was really looking forward for a more darker and more questionable Doctor and Capaldi did not disappoint

[@ChrisBrown-jp1hi]

If Capaldi has the writing that Tennant has throughout his era, he may be hailed as the best Doctor ever. As it stands, his acting and portrayal was so good he still is in my top 3 despite only one or two truly great stories during his tenure.

[@koivunen2489]

From what I've seen from Moffat, I sometimes get this feeling that he thinks he's smarter than everyone and thinks he needs to explain so much so the laypeople in the audience can keep up. When in reality the stories would work better without the explanation (see Vestra and her veil).

[@highvoltage7797]

I never got the idea that the writing only started declining with Capaldi. Ever since series 6 the writing has been inconsistent. As for this episode it’s alright. It’s no Spearhead from space or The Eleventh hour.

[@lennonp1]

Everyone loves the twelfth doctor so much, but he's still so underrated

[@lew5547]

It’s funny how for Clara only a couple of hours/ a day ago, she was cooking Christmas dinner with her family (who we never see again) and the next minute she’s here all in the space of a few days but it’s never referenced. Sort of similar for how it was for Rose in series 1 finale leading into the Christmas invasion. These time travel moments aren’t often picked up on I feel.

[@williamcorpening6132]

I think its depth gives it strength in a rewatch. There's so much you can MISS in one sitting. "You can't see me..." is such a powerful theme. Perfectly crafted. Yes, there were difficulties, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. And Peter Capaldi is one of my faves as well.

[@mindyp51d]

That phone call...imho, magnificent and heartbreaking..

[@DeadasDillingerSD]

I very much agree that this is better on a rewatch. The moment I do get teary eyed, is the phone call from 11 to Clara...gets me every time.

[@KerstinMamma]

12th is my favourite doctor and I really enjoy 'Deep Breath'. Saw it in the cinema at a special event. There was only whovians and all in cosplay. There were also Daleks.

[@jackjordan5833]

In order to get a full sense of Capaldi’s doctor you have to watch the thick of it to understand why he got cast as the grumpy doctor. Change my mind

[@citrinedragonfly]

I saw this in the theaters on the special showing, and oh, it was glorious! He'd had me from the line about kidneys being the wrong color at the end of the Christmas special, but everything barreling forward from here just made me love him more - even though his character is not necessarily a likable one in this series. Capaldi had a fresh take on the Doctor - one that I think at times was at odds with Moffat's, but that's just me - and I was here for it. Still am. He supplanted Eccleston as my favorite Nu-Who Doctor, and I didn't think that would be possible (and then Jodie Whittaker would do it again 3 years later, but I digress), and he's one of my top 3 if anyone pins me down. Sylvester McCoy will always be "my" Doctor, but Capaldi shares that space a little. I'd also forgotten how short his hair is here! Where's the delightful pouf he gets as the series goes on? Then again, I've heard and made the joke of his character grows along with his hair, so it makes sense that it's short here, LOL.

[@Ben-vf5gk]

I love how the Dr not wanting to regenerate was set up in here. "You can't even remember where you got that face from!"

[@nightowl8477]

"I can't keep doing this, Clara. Burning the old me...to make a new one." After rewatching Deep Breath, I'm actually even more glad we got Twice Upon a Time. A lot of the themes set up here were only resolved in Peter'slast episode. It's a cyclical arc! Cyclical like a clock going from 1 to 12, you might say...

[@Ben-vf5gk]

@@nightowl8477 Yeah and I buy that 12 doesn't want to carry on. Yeah I also kinda appreciate Clara was a teacher at Cole Hill School again was to mirror Ian and Barbara. I don't think it justifies how much bloody time is spent at Cole Hill but I appreciate that.

[@nightowl8477]

@@Ben-vf5gk - oh, weird that I got a notification from this comment for no reason the same night I rewatched The Doctor Falls. Bill says "I don't want to live if I can't be me anymore. Do you understand?" And 12 just says "Yes." This character is _SO_ consistent. Best Doctor!

[@marvelismylife946]

Strax: and we will melt him with acid Clara: ok that last bit Strax: and we will NOT melt him with acid old habits This is the only show do have an interaction like this and make it seem normal

[@williamcorpening6132]

The Tyrannosaur was a metaphor of the Doctor -- lonely, misunderstood, confused. Great storytelling.

[@williamcorpening6132]

Oh, I forgot -- OUT OF TIME.

[@bananasaregood8655]

love your capaldi outfit, very cool. id giv deep breath an 8/10 havnt revied a classic episode in a while, hope there's one coming soon on the podcast

[@nightowl8477]

*I'd have adored a five episode mini-series version of this story.* There's enough material, even if they just lark about for the first half. I just see no justification for this story to be an hour and twenty minutes. Either cut it down to an hour, or go all in and do something different like a mini-series.

[@williamcorpening6132]

LOVE the intro!!! "Who frowned me this face?"

[@xandercostas1190]

I really enjoy this episode, and I agree with most of your points. The one thing is Missy’s restatement of the whole “did he push you” thing, which, yes, is kind of an in-your-face attempt by Moffat to show the ambiguity that was already there, but I kind of like it in retrospect because I think it clues in that Missy is almost hopeful that the Doctor pushed the clockwork man, since we see in Death in Heaven that she “wants [him] to know [they’re] not so different”

[@hilariousbenjamin5614]

I remember watching this live when it aired and still being very grumpy from Matt Smith leaving (his was the first regeneration I experienced live, being just caught up with the show)......aaand then Capaldi emerged from the Tardis and said "shush" and I immediately fell in love with Twelve like the Boo Boo the Fool I was.

[@LydiaTarine12]

Capaldi creeped up on Tennant as my favorite Doctor throughout his run, but it wasn't until he had Bill as a companion that he overtook Tennant. ^_^ I do think the whole freak-out from Clara was a disservice to her character. It wasn't like when the same thing happened to Rose. She just seemed unsettled by the change. I can only suppose this was the writers writing in a scolding to people who weren't going to like an older Doctor because he was an older Doctor, so I understand it, but it wasn't fair to Clara.

[@evabright8735]

The 12th Doctor is my favorite Doctor next to Tom Baker who will forever be my Doctor. I love the 20th and 11th Doctors but the character arc and performance by Peter Capaldi were just awesome and placed the 12th Doctor in a truly endearing light for me. Deep Breath is a bit underrated.

[@mindyp51d]

Imho, the blowing up of the T. Rex was not a simple way to to get rid of her...it was meant to be cruel in terms of the Doctor's development.

[@nandiniacharjee6795]

Everything aside, you're rocking those earrings.

[@abcdefgh6951]

Love this episode, it's just great, also the sexy dinosaur-lady is running inside joke I have with my sister so yeah... one of my favorites Now lets find out what's wrong with it!:D Sorry for the edits that's just me being unable to express myself properly on a first go...

[@allanjohnstone5258]

I do like this episode and i simply love Capaldi as the doctor, by far the best doctor of the new series in my opinion.

[@Ragnarok345]

I’m pretty sure _you_ frowned you that face while thinking about Hell Bent. 🤣

[@skyboy7244]

To me, this doctor is my favourite, and it’s also the season where I started loveing clara

[@joshuathompson5082]

Yes. Clara is my favourite companion (because of S7 specials, S8 & 9 but mostly S8 & 9). Capaldi is my favourite doctor. They are my favourite duo. I think Clara and the Doctor have the most interesting, and best, character arcs and relationship arc in all of who.

[@meris8486]

I remember someone joking that they could do a multi doctor story with 12 from each season

[@MrMaster7112765]

The fact that your jacket lining is blue instead of red frustrates me probably more than it should.

[@martintree1078]

It's the series 10 jacket that's why.

[@abcdefgh6951]

I thought it would be just me! :D

[@MrMaster7112765]

I know he had the blue jacket in series 10 but its the fact that this is series 8 right now that gets me

[@di7770]

I'd be interested to see how you would rank the Doctors with character arcs. For me it would be: 8. Colin (TV Only) 7. Tennant 6. Smith 5. McCoy 4. Colin (Taking Big Finish into account) 3. Capaldi 2. Hartnell 1. Eccelston

[@alanbeaumont4848]

You know a T-Rex is a bird brained killing machine, yes? The Doctor rescues Clara wearing yet another face, giving her and us a moment of thinking he has abandoned her after all, so we take a pace in her shoes. We get a Doctor so driven he can't yet spare the time to stop and explain, so you have to look deeper than his surface to spot the kindness beneath the ruthless determination.

[@jackrichardson7020]

I know it's objectively inconsistent and the Danny/Clara stuff was clumsily done, but I have such a soft spot for Series 8 and Capaldi's purest, most unfiltered take on the character before the BBC pressured them to lighten 12 up

[@theshadowdirector]

I absolutely LOVE the confrontation between the Doctor and Half faced man . Particuarly how it demonstrates the parallels between the two. I personally appreciate the ambiguity of the the robot's desth, especially at the time as I felt the Tennant era had the Doctor so heavily bang the pacifism drum that there was still confusion amongst people about the Doctors stance on killing. Um glad this epiwor boldly stated a more nuanced position . Really don't think that scene gets enough attention . Definitely one of Capaldi's best .

[@thenintenbro7154]

I watched this then came back for the Capaldi cosplay

[@jamesduffy7549]

That gang wind me up too much for this. Strax is sometimes funny in moderation

[@Venemofthe888]

Heres me thinking you were going to be in a nightgown xD

[@lizzie8561]

What bothered me most with the T. Rex was its size. While these animals were large in real life, they never reached Godzilla size.

[@clarinetangel99]

Woot! Another Twelve fan! It used to be Nine for me, but then I realized my opinion was kinda biased since I share a birthday with Christopher Eccleston. He's still a close second though because I LOVE the snark! I think what drew me to Twelve was that much like Nine, he doesn't take crap from anyone. Plus he was the first Doctor that I got to watch every single episode of when they aired (I got into Doctor Who back in 2012, which was when Eleven was doing his last season). But Capaldi just brings this energy and authority that I have always envisioned the Doctor having. In other words, if that incarnation invited me into the TARDIS, I wouldn't have to think twice.

[@jonathanskinner7647]

Controversial opinion but I find this episode bland. There are some great character beats and moments involving Clara and introducing the doctor, but it just sits around for too long. A new doctor episode should be exciting and bombastic but for me it just doesn't work. And the Smith cameo doesn't work here in Capaldi's first episode is a mistake. I still maintain that the doctor pushed the robot(?) out the room and that entire confrontation is one of the best scenes in Capaldi's era. Yeah. It ends up mediocre due to lots of highs and lots of long lows

[@alexpotts6520]

Agreed. This episode is bloated, it isn't clear what the focus is on. And, as great as they are, I'm glad this was the Paternoster gang's final appearance. As in every other appearance bar their first, the Paternoster gang are an obstacle to good storytelling. They are fun, but they take up too much screentime relative to what they add to the plot.

[@cmmosher8035]

Capaldi is definitely my favourite Doctor of NuWho. The season with Bill was fav season of the bunch.

[@alexandermclean9281]

Thank you for another splendid review! We seem to have remarkably similar views on the Twelfth Doctor, who, like you, while I never actively disliked at the first time of viewing Deep Breath, and indeed was mostly positive, I did not realise at the time quite how high regard I would grow to hold for him. I regret not commenting on another of your videos in which you praised this incarnation of the Doctor while drawing parallels between his arc (which I also find very satisfying) and your own journey as a transgender person, mostly because I felt self-conscious at having little to add to what a number of Whovians on the Autism Spectrum (I have Asperger's Syndrome) who also identified with the Twelfth Doctor. Sorry for rambling rather, I have tendency towards overlong comments. On this occasion I also appear not to have said very much, but also wished to express my appreciation, for you as well as the Twelfth Doctor (and indeed Peter Capaldi for portraying him so well, and Moffatt and others for writing (notwithstanding any issues with individual decisions).

[@TheCagedCorvid]

I know I'm late to the table here, but I wanted to share what I took from the veil scene really quickly... The moment when Clara says, "When did you take off your veil", what Vastra actually says is "When you stopped seeing it." Which implied to me that it's some kind of technology that's only visible to those that would judge her, and when Clara stops seeing it, it indicates to us that her mind has been opened a bit more...I don't know if the writers meant for it to be interpreted that way, or if that's just my headcanon, but I really liked it.

[@mindyp51d]

I had forgotten Vestra's assessment, and I love it--it rings with truth. For the one thing that has always bothered me about "Deep Breath" is Clara's confusion and rejection of the Doctor's new face and semblage--the way it played, at lest to me, was that she expected the Doctor to be Matt Smith again--even though, in "The Day of the Doctor," she met his previous personas, i.e., Tennant and Hurt--and regarding Hurt, she saw his face at the end of "The Name of the Doctor."

[@reynoldsVincent]

Nice reminder. The episode took on defining the new doctor head on, thankfully it accomplishes that with a lot of little beats and one can ignore, with repeated viewings and the gift of being in a future where we've seen where this was going, how awkward this comes across initially when the issue of "could an actor this old portray the relentless frenetic nervous energy" we'd come to expect. Of course we love this Doctor, he did this and more, quite a lot of novel depth too, compared with the flatter 'personas' of the previous incarnations. He fills out the time lord mysteries esp. his edgy relationships with dangerous boyhood friends like Missy, it exposes a sophisticated ruthlessness he also could express if he would allow himself openness to corrupting power. I don't think the series really considered that before Eccleston and the Time War. Clara was written into so many iterations in order to meet this exposition with a sort of viewer surrogate, we get distorted, monster of inflammatory pique Clara and the endless re-sets of her-and similar unjustices to Danny, but Coleman keeps up and I think Gomez actually bridges the two with subtle monstrosity of legend and we get Me for a comparison. That hybrid story was mystery box dung delivery but the point is taken, the dynamic with his chosen companion sort of fuels the Doctor and in a far from tempered way, and we are reminded that time travel demands ethics even in a rebel. The pas de deux in the restaurant where each assumes the other placed the egomaniac ad sums up their relationship, not truly adversarial but mutually knowing and protective (enabling?) of each other's character failings. I didn't think of this opener as a classic upon premiere but it definitely set up classics (Mummies!!) and divisive epics like "Heaven Sent", so it becomes a classic through referencing those in advance. Stands up well to the Rose Tyler seasons where a similar, yet more innocent, relationship set the stage for the Time War. Its really hard to discount the younger, hip Doctors and their brash companions, but we appreciate these large egos at clash so well!

[@jayanderson9375]

Excellent review! I love this episode, and it definitely grew on me over rewatches.agreed try should have ad a kinder exit for sue,the T Rex. So much is set up I’m this episode, I wish Vastra et al had come back again!. Syracuse and the Ribbon, ha ha! You do a brilliant “disolve him in Oil” btw!

[@k.stewart007]

I felt the same as you when 1st seeing missy. I don't hate the mystery boxes as much as you do. I just don't like Moffat's mystery boxes. Davies's myself box were more subtle. Something for us to pick up on. When we 1st heard the words "bad wolf" or "mr Saxon" we didn't know they were mystery boxes. It was up to us not only to find out what the phases meant, but to spot the phrases in the 1st place. Moffat's were like just dangling someone in front of you saying "guess who this is" reminds me a bit of someone who teases you over presents. Shaking the box in front of you going "go on try to guess" and you're like "I honestly dont care I'll just wait until Christmas. I'm sure it'll be a lovely surprise, just pop in the cupboard since its July and we haven't put the tree up yet" Then the next week they're going " go on feel it, touch it, smell it" dropping cryptic hints every week to what it might be. and it like that every day until Christmas. Betime Christmas comes you're actually sick of hearing about it. Because no matter what it is after all that hype its only going to disappointing. For me the reveal was disappointing. I loved missy as much as the next guy. I thought she was brilliant. Possibly even my favourite master. But the reveal disappointed me.

[@standardgrapes]

I love this episode, it's hilarious and touching

[@teresagrabs488]

I love Capaldi's Doctor. My order goes Capaldi, Baker, Pertwee, Eccleston. What I dislike about the Capaldi time is Clara (don't shoot me). He hit his best with Bill. Missy/Master was a great long story arc. Deep Breath is a great opening episode for him.

[@silverspike1]

Firstly may I say you look damn fine in his attire. :) And secondly I also adore Capaldi as the Doctor. I did right from the start, mainly because It was refreshing to see the introduction of a more 'classic' style Doc, and the fact having been familiar with Capaldi's past work I knew he wouldn't disappoint as I always saw him as a great actor and by god I wasn't disappointed. It does help that he's a really nice man and very politically aware (he's attended demonstrations in the past) as well as being a life long fan of the show. In fact I still have a copy of an old Dr Who fanzine for which I did a cover illustration and he wrote an article/illustrated essay. Back then he was absolutely rabid about Who, so I can imagine the joy he must have felt when he finally got to be him!

[@Emme-Kappa]

I always found extremely weird and kind of inconsistent narratively that Clara of all people, who saw multiple incarnations of the Doctors, young and old, through time and space, was so frustrated with the Doctor changing his appearance. I mean... you literally knew more than any companion that that could and was going to happen eventually. Makes very little sense to me.

[@DonniSkattered]

Fantastic!! I'd not thought of that before, but you're so right!! Ugh. I'm with Nathaniel, this version of Clara is my 3rd fav out of 3...and this ep is her 11th hangover...lol! 11th Doctor! 😋

[@Scroteydada]

Does anyone else feel like this is a classic who episode? Something about it, and it's not just Capaldi being like Tom Baker.

[@maurinet2291]

Love the outfit! I liked Deep Breath, I approached liking Clara on the first time through? (Later turned off again). I honestly wasn't on board with Twelve until series 10, when he just clicked for me. And I would have happily traded one less season of Clara for one more of Bill, Missy, and Nardole. I'm also with you on the T rex. And wow, I haven't rewatched Doctor Who in awhile, but I bet it's lovely to see Missy, knowing what's ahead. Oh, and I thought the clips were GREAT. They were short, to the point and added a perfect visual.

[@travishiltz4750]

Good episode and while it is pretty heavy handed, you have to remember that Capaldi was a big shock to a generation used to nothing but cute, young guys. Classic Who, we had grumpy old guys all the time, for New Who, Capaldi was their first and everyone was pretty nervous how that would go over. Love Madam Vastra and Co! Wish they'd give them a book series.Such great characters.

[@marionbaggins]

I really, *Really* needed that Matt Smith scene Because... *Here is a Long Reason Why* 2014, was a Very hard Year for Me, Started High School, High School was Terrible in my First two years (got picked on way too much), and Matt Smith (My Doctor) left! I am a type of person who Hates Change whenever it happens... I saw Deep Breath with my Family in the Cinemas and I didn't know what to think of it... Because Capaldi was Grumpy!!! (fortunately, for me he will get better) But then Matt Smith Voice and Scene turned up, and how my Older Brother and I take the scene is Smith and Moffat saying to me, "Like the New Guy, you have my approval. He may be grumpy and old but he is still the Doctor!!!" And I find it Poetic the same men who got me into Doctor Who, helped me still watch doctor who despite change!!!

[@TheRosticalUsers]

Unrelated: I love the apparel!

[@thomaskirkness-little5809]

After years of being fed up with New Who, this was the last episode I watched before I packed it in for several years and went back to re-watch Classic Who instead. I think it was when he casually mentioned that the ship was the sister ship to the SS Madame de Pompadour. I came back later and caught up again.

[@kellygingrich4302]

Looking sharp in the Capaldi getup! I agree that Capaldi's stuff is better on rewatch and I TOTALLY agree with you on the t-rex - thank you for articulating that.

[@shmee123ful]

Not sure about the shiny hair but 9/10 on the costume. Now give me my grumpy, egomanic space grand dad

[@lewisthellama2569]

Love the new cosplay :P

[@pettytyrant2720]

The dinosaur partly has to be there not just as a less dull way of introducing the Doctor, or as a look how evil the bad guy is, but also to connect to the fact they know about dinosaurs, allowing Clara to deduce that they crash landed on earth a very, very long time ago and have been cannabilising parts to keep going in order to reach their Promised Land for eons. Which in turn plays back into what the Doctor says of them about stuffing humanity into themselves for so long they no longer remember what they started out as. On the Doctor leaving Clara, he never does really, he makes her think he has, but he immediatly disguises himself as a droid and takes up a a position in the corridor outside (no doubt having calculated how long she could hold her breath and where it would give in and is standing right there) and he is the droid who when ordered to "Bring her" picks her up and takes her to the room, where he is present throughout. Also worth noting Clara had backup even without the Doctor, she had Vastra and co on standby to call at any point. But she didnt as she saw an opportunity to extract some information from the situation first. As 12 says she is "great on adrenalin". He also had worked out by then Vastra and co were on standby, so the risk to Clara was made to seem much greater than it actually was. So she had the Paternoster Gang ready to go, and she suspected the Doctor was there somewhere in the room, "the Doctor will have my back. Please say I'm right." Which he was. He never did abandon her.

[@Wurmze]

With what you said about the impossible girl being more important in s7 i think that might be why i like clara so much more than most people because s7 is when i properly got into doctor who. Id seen the last three episodes of s2 because my sister had it on dvd and id seen a town called mercy round a friends house but i joined the fandom at s8 so i didnt see s7 until probably the end of s9 as i got the dvds for my birthday and xmas’.

[@lenah5513]

The scene with Vastra's removal of the veil is necessary. Vastra states that she doesn't wear the veil to make others more comfortable with her appearance but rather as a "judgment on the quality of their hearts." Wearing the veil with Clara signals Vastra's judgment that Clara is being small-hearted in regard to the familiar doctor in an unfamiliar face. Vastra removes the veil when Clara begins to see beyond her discomfort with the Doctor's current surface; it is the first act of the good relationship that will develop between Vastra and Clara.

[@bacul165]

Nice clips - thanks, Stubagful!

[@monsterkhan3414]

I've been enjoying your back and forth opinions on Moffat's writing, you bring up good points when it comes to the good and bad about his writing. Have you ever considered watching his 2007 mini-series Jekyll? I thought it was an interesting take on the character. I would love to hear your opinion on it.

[@emilyangel13]

I also didn't think the TRex's manner of demise was needed or the fact it needed to happen. It could have been on a space ship or something.

[@andykey78]

My head cannon goes back to the Day of the Doctor when the War Doctor asks 10 and 11 why they are scared of being grown up? To me that tied in to the younger looking modern era Doctors as a reaction to the War Doctor and trying to distance themselves from him and what he did. After the Day of the Doctor the War Doctor is redeemed and the Doctor feels able to wear an older face again in recognition of this. I think this is hinted at but never explicitly stated...🤔

[@silverdoe3658]

Love PC, he reminds me a lot more of the Doctor Who I watched as a child