In the sixth episode of the eighth series of Doctor Who, the Doctor tracks a dangerous killing machine by using Clara’s school as the base of his operations. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Doctor Who.
I don’t think that the Skovox Blitzer is the greatest antagonist in Doctor Who, but I understand the need for an enemy as ridiculous and relentless as it. This episode is entirely a set-up so that Danny Pink can prove himself to the Doctor. It wasn’t intended that way from the start, since the Doctor didn’t know for certain who Clara’s boyfriend was. I went into this episode expecting a joyous and clever romp, a silly episode that highlighted all the funny and ridiculous ways that the Doctor often hid in plain sight. Did I expect Danny to find out the truth about the Caretaker and Clara? Maybe. I got a sense that this was where the episode was headed, but I did not expect that this eventual reveal would be fraught with so much rage, angst, and confusion.
But I think that’s what’s different about series eight and Twelve as a Doctor. As comedic as “The Caretaker” is, it’s also a deeply serious story about trust and preconceptions. Before Danny becomes a significant portion of the plot, the Doctor more or less toys with Clara. He sets up shop in her school, he’s deliberately invasive and obvious the entire time, and he teases Clara about his presence constantly. Why? Why go out of his way to be as frustrating and irritating as possible? A part of wonders if he’s constantly testing Clara. Is she made of the material for a loyal, trusting companion? Is he so used to hurting people that he’s over compensating by treating his companions much harsher than he ever has?
Or is he just an asshole all the time now?
These are important questions to ask, and I am hoping that I’m not imagining that the show seems to want me to ask these questions. The fundamental question of series eight, one that’s been asked of us repeatedly, concerns the very nature of the Doctor. Is he a good man? It’s not some asinine, circular mystery, it’s not some convoluted season-long arc. (There is a mystery here, but I’ll talk more of that in the end.) We are asked to reconsider who we consider the Doctor to be and whether or not he’s actually good.
After an episode like “The Caretaker,” that’s a challenging thing to answer. I don’t think Moffat and company are making that easy for us. Throughout this episode, the Doctor is at his most irate. He’s constantly shouting, and his treatment of Danny Pink veers into the grotesque at times. I understood that the Doctor was frustrated, especially since the threat of the Blitzer was real. But what was Danny supposed to do when he believed that the Caretaker was doing something suspicious on campus? I think this episode reveals just how caring and protective Danny can be. He is deeply concerned with the state of Coal Hill School. (WHAT ARE THE ODDS IT’S AT THE SAME SCHOOL FROM THE FIRST EPISODE, I LOVE THAT.) He wants to make it a safe place, and when he sees Clara in danger, he wants to help her, too.
Unfortunately, the deck was stacked against Danny long ago. The Doctor was going to be utterly ridiculous towards anyone who expressed interest in Clara, and you could tell he was gearing up to fight the man, at least until he thought that Adrian was her boyfriend. (HE WAS SO PLEASED WITH HIMSELF, MY GOD.) The end of “The Caretaker” confirms that: he just wants the best possible person for Clara. It’s certainly a very fatherly relationship between the two of them, but the main source of tension comes from Danny’s past. I get the sense that there’s something huge that Danny isn’t telling anyone, and it’s influencing his behavior in the present. Who was the man he served under who reminded him of the Doctor? Did he push Danny too far? How?
Look, the Doctor just doesn’t like dealing with the military or soldiers at all. I understand why he’s so utterly opposed to them and I don’t blame him at all for acting weary around them. His modus operandi involves cleverness and diplomacy over violence, and that’s not exactly something military forces the galaxy over are known for. But he takes that to an unfair extreme here, refusing to believe that Danny teaches Maths or that he’s a good person. He makes it seem certain that he hates Danny, even if he doesn’t intend that to be the case. Like, have we ever seen the Doctor consistently yell at someone as fiercely as Twelve does here to Danny?
I’m curious to see what their relationship will be like beyond this episode, now that Danny knows the truth and has proven himself to be worthy of Clara. I mean, Clara already knew that, but the Doctor needed to know that, too. Where do they go from here? There’s a lot of potential here for future storylines, and I think it’s one of many strong aspects to “The Caretaker.” This is more of a character study than anything else, and I found that to be uniquely satisfying this far into Doctor Who. We’re eight series into the show, and it can still be this interesting.
SO WHERE THE HELL IS THE PROMISED LAND? And why are all of the people who die in these episodes going there? I assume Missy wants these specific people for a reason, right? WHAT IS GOING ON?
The video for “The Caretaker” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
Mark Links Stuff
– I am now on Patreon!!! MANY SURPRISES ARE IN STORE FOR YOU IF YOU SUPPORT ME.
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