Knowing what I do about how tv scripts are commissioned, submitted, revised andfitted into plot arcs, I have to say this showsMoffat's weakness as a show-runner (I remain a big fan ofhim as a writer, but I think on balance he's a poor show-runner). Whether this story was submitted much earlier for a Smith outing (there's a one line throwaway about the Orient Express, and I think the mummy, in a Smith episode) or just submitted for a Capaldi first season, itshows the joins to between the plot arc (Clara leaving or not) and the story episode. Getting that smooth is the showrunner's job and he failed miserably here, marring what would otherwise have been a good episode.
This one and Flatline are basically the "Midnight"/"Turn Left" episddes for this season - they often do two episodes per season which are doctor-heavy/companino-light and vice versa to squeeze the production schedule to make toom for the Christmas Special. "The Lodger" is a similar doctor-heavy episode.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-10-27 02:42 am (UTC)This one and Flatline are basically the "Midnight"/"Turn Left" episddes for this season - they often do two episodes per season which are doctor-heavy/companino-light and vice versa to squeeze the production schedule to make toom for the Christmas Special. "The Lodger" is a similar doctor-heavy episode.