Doctor Who series 8 - Death in Heaven (episode 12) [TV Review]

Radio Times poster, really do love these.

I've been putting off my review of this episode for too long.
I just did not want to end this season on such a note, I did not want it to come to this.

That much of a person left, really? That seems like a lot.

Is this all Moffat can do anymore? Is he out of ideas? Oh, there are good lines, solid moments, but as a whole... the episode was just 'meh.'

3 out of 5 stars

I ranted a bit about Missy's true identity last time (HERE). I'm not over that yet. I'm not even super angry over UNIT returning again. But there is plenty to be irked about.

Oh, for ****'s sake. Really? This? Burn you, Moffat!

The imbecilic way that the Doctor is being forced into positions that are very un-Doctor-ish.  That irked me. Being a President did not sit well with Tom Baker's Doctor, it does not sit well on Capaldi's Doctor. It also sounds less like President and more like the old, historical, Dictator of the Roman Senate, look it up.

Possibly the funniest scene in a long time.

Now I do enjoy a reference now and then, they are treats and fun. But if you just keep getting them, like the afore mentioned candy, it becomes too much. In this episode alone we reference back to Matt Smith's bowtie, we reference back to the Brigadier, we reference back to the original Air Date of the very first ever episode, we reference back to the Master during Tennant's tenure, we reference back to so many events - heck we even seem to reference an old Twilight Zone epsiode (the one with Shatner)... and yet so many unclosed doors are left open.

Ok. That painting makes the Brigadier look a lot like Stalin.

That's the most irritating part of Moffat's recent works. We are given sweets like crazy (references), but the meat and potatoes (actual plot) go wanting.  

There are so many stupid questions left over after this episode.

Lets start with a big one.

How does a dead Danny Pink in the 21st century lead to a living Orson Pink in the 22nd century - who is related to Clara and Danny? Is Clara pregnant before Danny gets pancaked by a car? I thought Orson mentioned his parents time traveling... or was this just ignored?

Where the frack is Missy's Tardis? The Doctor blatantly asks this... but no answer. Again, was this considered or is it just been ignored?

Is Missy really dead? I mean was her snuffing it like that really the way the Master is going out? That's even lamer than any prior death of the Master. It is just pathetic.

There are probably more... I know there are more. I would give up most all of the candy references for just a solid plot. Yes, they wrap up a single crazy long distance plot question. One. One. One!

This was not how I hoped the season would end. Nor expected.
I only hope the Christmas Special is an extended apology... however with Santa Claus being in it, I dunno. Although Nick Frost is playing Santa, so that's a good thing.

I do so hope that someone else takes the reigns of Doctor Who soon, though.

I also hope we learn if Capaldi is staying or leaving. If Clara is staying or leaving... soon. Because despite everything that has happened this season, I still love Doctor Who and will continue to watch. The old series had it's ups and down, and not every episode is going to be a Blink or a Silence in the Library / Forests of the Dead.

Previous reviews:
Previous Doctor Who Series 8 reviews:
- Episodes 1 & 2: Deep Breath & Into The Dalek.
- Episode 3: The Robots of Sherwood.
- Episode 4: Listen.
- Episode 5: Time Heist.
- Episode 6: The Caretaker.
- Episode 7: Kill the Moon.
- Episode 8: Mummy on the Orient Express.
- Episode 9: Flatline.
- Episode 10: In the Forest of the Night.
- Episode 11: Dark Water.