The Caretaker (Doctor Who)

"The Caretaker" is the sixth episode of the eighth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who, written by Gareth Roberts and Steven Moffat, and directed by Paul Murphy. The episode stars Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, and Samuel Anderson.

Plot

Clara Oswald is struggling to maintain two separate lives: one as the Doctor's companion and the other as a school teacher at Coal Hill School, while also having a relationship with fellow teacher Danny Pink. Preparing for his next outing, the Doctor informs Clara that she cannot join him as he is going under "deep cover". The next morning in the school staffroom, the head teacher presents a temporary caretaker: the Doctor, under the alias John Smith. Clara eventually learns the Doctor's actual purpose is the presence of a murderous robot called the Skovox Blitzer located near the school, which contains enough firepower to destroy the planet. Clara tells the Doctor to leave it alone, but the Doctor explains that if he does not act, someone will attack it and it will begin to destroy Earth. He intends to draw it to the school at night when it is empty and use a time displacement vortex to displace it a billion years into the future where it can't harm anyone. He is in the process of planting devices around the school to generate the vortex. He also demonstrates an invisibility watch, which he will use to avoid detection by the Skovox.

While at the school, the Doctor encounters Danny. Learning he is a former soldier, the Doctor assumes he is a PE teacher, claiming he cannot believe Danny is actually a Maths teacher. Soon afterwards, the Doctor assumes that Clara has an interest in another teacher, Adrian, due to his appearance being similar to that of his previous incarnation, the Eleventh Doctor. The Doctor tacitly approves of Clara's relationship. Danny, however, becomes suspicious of the Doctor. One of Clara and Danny's students, Courtney Woods, also becomes skeptical of him when she sees the TARDIS hidden inside his cupboard.

Working late, Danny discovers one of the Doctor's time vortex devices. He inadvertently changes the settings by removing one of them. The Doctor lures the Skovox Blitzer to the school in the evening when it is deserted, but due to the settings change, is only able to displace the creature 73 hours forward. Danny is alarmed and dazed after learning of Clara's double life; he initially assumes that she is an alien and the Doctor is her father. Explaining the truth to him, Clara allows Danny to observe her interactions with the Doctor, using the Doctor's invisibility watch. The Doctor sees through this, and an argument arises between him and Danny out of mutual contempt before Clara blurts out that she loves Danny.

During Parents' Evening at the school, the Skovox re-materialises earlier than the Doctor estimated. With Clara acting as a decoy, the Skovox is drawn to the Doctor. The Doctor stalls the Skovox by using a device to imitate its commander, but accidentally triggers a self-destruct protocol. Luckily, with Danny's last minute intervention, they are able to order the Skovox Blitzer to stand down. Soon after, the Doctor sends the Skovox drifting into space, with Courtney as a passenger in the TARDIS; she gets sick, overwhelmed by what she sees. Later, during a heart-to-heart, Danny explains to Clara that he is impressed that the Doctor can push her to act without fear. But, he also tells Clara to let him know if the Doctor pushes her too far, so that he can help her. If she does not, then their relationship is through.

Meanwhile, a community support officer, vaporised by the Skovox a few days prior, awakens in the Promised Land. The interviewer (named "Seb" in the credits) informs the officer of his death and their whereabouts, and states that Missy is too busy to deal with him.

Continuity

Coal Hill School, at which Clara and Danny are both employed, was originally featured in An Unearthly Child, the first episode of Doctor Who. It later reappeared in the Seventh Doctor story Remembrance of the Daleks, and was recently seen in "The Day of the Doctor", "Into the Dalek" and "Listen".

The Doctor's opening the TARDIS doors by snapping his fingers was first demonstrated by the Tenth Doctor in "Forest of the Dead" and was done on occasion during the Eleventh Doctor's tenure, starting with "The Eleventh Hour". Clara's ability to do this was shown in the fiftieth anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor".

The pseudonym "John Smith" has been used by the Doctor multiple times throughout the show, starting in The Wheel in Space.^[1] The name was most prominent as the Third Doctor's alias during his time with UNIT and the Tenth Doctor's usage in "School Reunion", "Human Nature" and "The Family of Blood".

The Doctor mentions River Song, who last appeared in "The Name of the Doctor".^[1]

The Doctor believes that "artron emissions" may be the cause of the Skovox's appearance. Artron energy was first mentioned in The Deadly Assassin.

Production

The read through for "The Caretaker" took place on 20 March 2014.^[1] Filming began soon afterwards, on 24 March 2014 at Bute Street and Lloyd George Avenue in Cardiff. Filming continued at The Maltings in Cardiff Bay and the former St Illtyd's Boys' College, Splott on 4 April 2014. Scenes were also filmed at Holton Primary School in Barry on 5 April 2014. It was also filmed at Tonyrefail Comprehensive school which is located in the South Wales valleys on the 8th of April 2014.^[2] Principal photography was concluded on 11 April 2014; the final scene with Seb (portrayed by Chris Addison) was shot on 11 June 2014.^[1]

Broadcast and reception

Broadcast

Overnight viewing figures showed an audience of 4.89 million. The episode was watched by a total of 6.82 million viewers.^[3] In the United States, the episode earned 0.96 million viewers.^[4]

Critical reception

The episode received positive reviews. Richard Beech of The Daily Mirror gave the episode 4 stars out of 5, calling it "funny, lighthearted, and thoroughly entertaining," and praised Capaldi's comic timing.^[5] Ceri Radford of The Daily Telegraph also gave it 4 stars out of 5 and praised Capaldi's performance.^[6] Simon Brew of Den of Geek called it "arguably one of the best [of series 8]." He too praised the comedic elements of the episode, and praised Roberts' storytelling skills. He praised Coleman and Anderson, calling them "excellent," and saying it was their "best performance of the series."^[7] Morgan Jeffery of Digital Spy gave the episode a positive review, calling it "Funny, warm and moving." However they were critical of the threat of the Blitzer. They praised Capaldi and his interpretation of the Doctor, saying he's "most complex and variable take on the Time Lord we've seen since Eccleston's." He gave it 4 stars out of 5.^[8]

Matt Risley of IGN gave the episode a positive review, praising the characterisation of Clara in the current series. He called The Caretaker "satisfying despite the occasional slip into soap opera silliness." He praised the acting of the three leads, but he too criticised the Blitzer, calling it "a design evoking the lovechild of a pew-pewing Jetsons maid knock-off and a Roomba gone haywire." Overall he gave the episode 7.9 out of 10 (Good), saying "'The Caretaker' was emotionally engaging with dynamic dialogue," and called it a "Who win."^[9] Neela Debnath of The Independent gave the episode a negative review, calling it "A bland Earth-based adventure that failed to excite." However she did praise Ellis George, calling her "a star in the making," and her inclusion in the episode as "great."^[10] The episode received an Appreciation Index score of 83.^[3]

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Twelfth Doctor

• "The Caretaker" at the BBC Doctor Who homepage
• "The Caretaker" on TARDIS Data Core, an external wiki
• "The Caretaker" at Doctor Who: A Brief History of Time (Travel)
• "The Caretaker" at the Internet Movie Database