(This article was written by our Doctor Who-nerd friend, Kelsi Robinson)
**Spoilers…**
Calling All Whovians: The Doctor is In!
Hello Sweetheart! Doctor Who, Season 8 has finally arrived and to all whovians young and old, we can all say that Christmas has arrived (minus the regeneration of course). Last season took us through a whirl of emotion. However, the emotional rollercoaster has not reached its end. In this first episode, Deep Breath, we are given a sneak peak into the new season, as well as seeing some new surprises. They have brought back old friends, and enemies, of the doctor and, of course, a new mystery to be solved. This episode is very important to Doctor Who fans, because it gives a message and provides closure to fans all over the world.
The first scene starts with a tyrannosaurs rex attacking Victorian London. Madam Vastra and her new wife Jenny are investigating the scene. Madam Vastra discovers something lodged into the throat of the female dinosaur. They both find out the Tardis has been in the throat of the t-rex all along. You cannot find Madam Vastra and Jenny without their sidekick Strax too far behind. Next, the new Doctor appears, confused with the state into which he has regenerated and with what is going on around him. We understand that one issue is not enough for the show so there is another problem in the mix. We find that the Droids are back after they mysteriously vanished from sight in season 2, episode 5, The Girl in the Fireplace. But enough with the story itself because you know the Doctor wins in the end. There is more to the story than the story line itself.
There was a scene from Deep Breath where Madam Vastra is investigating Clara. Madam Vastra scolds Clara for not accepting the Doctor’s new look. We also learn from Vastra’s investigation that she has dealt with judgment throughout her life for the way she looks, as well as for being in love with a human woman. It also shows what most homosexual people feel that they have to hide. Madam Vastra refuses to hide her love, however, from her wife Jenny, which shows throughout the episode. This episode really shows that Vastra is quite fed up with prejudice and racism from people that do not understand, even though she cannot accept the humans (or as she calls them: “apes”). Madam Vastra also tells Clara that the Doctor is not her boyfriend, and she should not flirt with him. She goes on telling Clara that the Doctor trusted her by regenerating in front of her, and that she needs to accept the face he has chosen. Madam Vastra wears a veil over her face to protect others from her appearance, and once she is without it Clara asks why it is gone. Vastra explains that Clara could finally see past it. The same goes for how she views the Doctor. This scene can also be seen as the viewpoint from the audience.
There is always a feeling of doubt when a new incarnation of The Doctor comes into view. We fear that the current Doctor will not live up to the past Doctor. We have placed great emotional attachment on each Doctor. When we first lay our eyes on him we see his face, but this time, he is not the young, chipper and handsome gentleman we have seen in the past three regenerations. He has an older, more serious appearance. But as we heard from Vastra, can we accept the new Doctor? Can we look past his physical appearance and accept him as the Doctor we know and love? Is Doctor Who trying to tell us something?
Whether we are new to Doctor Who or we have been tracking the Doctor all 50 years, have we been distracted by a handsome young man in a suit? If Vastra asked you would you give the same reaction as Clara? Honestly, I would because the love of the Doctor is more than his face. It is all his quirks and his love for humanity. He is the same Doctor and will always be. The difference in Peter Capaldi’s character is that this time the Doctor has a new motivation to fix his mistakes. In the pre-show Capaldi described, “The Doctor relationship with time is potent.” I guess we will have to see to discover what that means in this new season. There is one scene in Deep Breath that we all have been waiting for, the final goodbye of Matt Smith.
I am sure we can all say that by the end of this episode we have shed one tear or maybe even sobbed like babies. The ending of Season 7 was a big shocker. Usually with regeneration, we can get an inspirational speech with a light show. This regeneration was fast as a blink of an eye. I know most fans were heart broken. The Doctor would not leave without a goodbye! The final scene shows the Doctor has come back for Clara. The Doctor tells Clara that he is indeed not her boyfriend and she agrees with that statement. He then states that it was not her fault for the flirtation. I am assuming that was the Doctor’s way of apologizing. Clara’s phone rings and discovers it is the doctor she has been traveling with, Matt Smith. Matt Smith begins trying to convince her that the Doctor she is with now is himself. He goes on to tell her that the Doctor needs her, and he is afraid. Matt Smith says his final goodbye (sobbing!) The present Doctor asks if that was himself from the past and is afraid she is not going to stay because he does not look the same. She surprises him by saying “Thank you for calling”. She goes in for a hug and the curtains close (figuratively speaking). The Deep Breath episode can be viewed as a much-needed medicine.
The Doctor has definitely left a message for all of his followers. The Doctor needs us to stick around! He needs us to also move beyond the face he has chosen, and to realize he is the same Timelord. The veil has fallen, so, accepted or not, we have a choice to keep running with the Doctor or to move on. If you stay, I am certain that you will not be disappointed.