Skip to content
I first saw this episode in the 76-minute rough cut, which was leaked online. There, the opening credits still used the previous ones when the programme was made under Matt Smith’s tenure as the titular hero. Oddly, it was masked to an approximate 2.35:1 ratio, but not oddly, the leaked episode was time-coded and watermarked, as well as containing occasional text to point out when certain SFX/CGI should appear, all of which were put into the broadcast print, as were all the general sound effects, even though the rough cut print contained a great score. Naturally, the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundmix is a lot more pleasing than the basic Pro-Logic version in the rough cut.
The rough cut was also in black and white, and did work brilliantly in that format, especially after Wheatley’s A Field In England, so it’d be good if the eventual Blu-ray/DVD release contains a version of this like that. However, given the length of the episode, there are times when it goes on a bit and could be tightened up, but then again, it’s rare that there’s ever a Doctor Who episode which doesn’t feature any padding. Since the 2005 reboot, only The Day of the Doctor is the episode which I would say works perfectly from start to finish, and it’s a shame that the BBC ended their 3D trial because that one was a great example of making an engaging TV sci-fi drama in 3D. But then, given how other 3D trial programmes included the ‘not at all necessary in 3D’ Last Night of the Proms, what can you expect? There is certainly still life in the format, but then there’s also a lot of films produced in 3D where 2D was perfectly satisfactory.
Doctor Who Series 8 is released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 17th.
There’s also a one-off release of Deep Breath on Blu-ray and DVD on September 8th.
Check below for more pictures from the episode, plus the full cast list.
Score: 8/10
Director: Ben Wheatley
Producer: Nikki Wilson
Screenplay: Steven Moffat
Music: Murray Gold
Cast:
The Doctor: Peter Capaldi
Clara Oswald: Jenna Coleman
Madame Vastra: Neve McIntosh
Jenny: Catrin Stewart
Strax: Dan Starkey
Half-Face Man: Peter Ferdinando
Inspector Gregson: Paul Hickey
Alf: Tony Way
Elsie: Maggie Service
Cabbie: Mark Kempner
Barney: Brian Miller
Waiter: Graham Duff
Courtney: Ellis George
Policeman: Peter Hannah
Footman: Paul Kasey
Missy: Michelle Gomez
The Doctor: Matt Smith
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.