Doctor Who Series 9: New Episode Titles & Details Revealed!

Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor in a Doctor Who Series 9 promotional image. (Credit: BBC)

With almost exactly one month before the Doctor Who Series 9 premiere, details are starting to come in at breakneck speed. The team at Blogtor Who scored a major coup yesterday when they revealed the details of a set visit they took part in, and exclusive interviews with both Peter Capaldi and Osgood actress Ingrid Oliver.

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The biggest news was the reveal of the previously unannounced titles for episodes 7 & 8. We’ve known for months that this two-parter will feature the return of both fan favorite Osgood and the Zygons (not to mention Jemma Redgrave‘s Kate Stewart and her UNIT team), but until now the episode titles themselves were a mystery. According to Blogtor Who, the episodes are titled ‘Invasion of the Zygons’ and ‘Inversion of the Zygons.’

Executive Producer Brian Minchin talked through all 12 episodes, and between Minchin, Capaldi, and Oliver, several new details were also revealed. Be warned, there are SPOILERS ahead.

Up first is the series opener, ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’/’The Witch’s Familiar.’ Minchin indicated that part one ends on a “BIG” cliffhanger, and the episode will feature “a snake made of other snakes.” On Missy‘s role in the story, Capaldi said, “Our relationship is slightly different in that story, than it was before. We’re sort of on the same side.”

Episodes 3 & 4 are from writer Toby Whithouse and feature “ghosts in an underwater base.”

‘The Girl Who Died’/’The Woman Who Lived’ is the highly-anticipated story guest-starring Game of Thrones‘ Maisie Williams, but it wasn’t given much mention other than the fact that “we’ll see vikings in space and highwaymen.”

The previous mentioned ‘Invasion of the Zygons’/’Inversion of the Zygons’ got the most attention, as it was the episode being filmed during the set visit. Blogtor Who says they witnessed Ingrid Oliver filming a scene that takes place in Mexico and say “it’s pitched as a ‘sequel’ to the 50th Anniversary Special, The Day of the Doctor and features the whole world and rogue Zygons.”

Blogtor Who told Capaldi that ‘Invasion of the Zygons’ was a very classic Doctor Who title:

"“[Laughs] I love an invasion. Been a while since we had one."

"“We had a great scene. We chased a Zygon around a supermarket, he hid among the pizzas. This is what we do, this how we roll – we get Zygons into a supermarket and chase them."

"“They’re fantastic. They look amazing. I was very lucky, I made a film many years ago with a very little part called Dangerous Liaisons with Glenn Close and John Malkovich which was set in the 18th century and had the most beautiful costumes. The costume designer was James Acheson, who had created the Zygons. Because he worked on Doctor Who, before he went on to great success and acclaim in the movies, all I wanted to do was talk to him about Zygons! [Laughs] He created those things with limited resources, I think it’s a great testament to his talent.”"

Oliver would neither confirm nor deny whether she was playing the real Osgood or a Zygon duplicate:

"“Well… The Doctor asks me that question as well several times and I don’t tell him the answer to that either…"

"I knew that’s the question I’d get asked [laughs] and I was trying to prepare. but basically, no comment. [Laughs]”"

As for the story itself, Capaldi describes it as “very urban, handheldy and modern. Realistic.” Here’s more:

"“This one’s quite dark. One of the things the show hasn’t done in its current invention is to reflect current events very much but I think this one does. It’s a good thing. You’ll see some fundamentalist arguments – it’s very interesting to play with that.”"

(Continued on next page)

Next: PAGE TWO: Finale, Wardrobe, and Structure

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Jenna Coleman as companion Clara Oswald in a Doctor Who Series 9 promotional image. (Credit: BBC)

Blogtor Who kept their newfound information on Mark Gatiss‘ episode 9 close to their chests, saying only:

"“This will be unlike any other Doctor Who story ever broadcast, utilising a style previously unused in the show – it certainly makes for a fascinating idea and something I’m sure fans will get excited about (it’s NOT a musical episode, btw). Controversially, this episode might not feature the Doctor Who title sequence.”"

Previous rumors have suggested this episode will be filmed completely POV-style, appearing a bit like a first-person shooter video game.

Episode 10 was described only as an “invasion of invisible streets.” Well, that certainly would explain why the Doctor, Clara, and Rigsy were seen looking over a futuristic map in previous set photos.

The first part of the Series 9 finale, episode 11, will apparently be unlike anything we’ve ever seen before on Doctor Who. It’s described as a “one hander,” meaning the episode will have one and only one star on screen: Peter Capaldi. As for the final 12th episode, Minchin gave nothing away.

Capaldi had a few other interesting quotes in his interview with the Blogtor Who team. First, he had this to say when asked about the Twelfth Doctor‘s evolving wardrobe:

"“With the Christmas Special [2014’s ‘Last Christmas’], we were in the Antarctic so I thought I’d better put a hoody on. [Laughs] And I quite liked that, it looked quite good so I thought we’d get more of those. He’s loosening up a bit more but there’s still sometimes when he goes back to his more severe sort of look."

"“And there are some specific trousery things that are happening, for specific reasons. That will become clear to you when you watch the show.”"

Capaldi also gave his thoughts on the new two-part story structure dominating most of Series 9:

"“It’s great because you get cliff-hangers. So that’s lovely, it’s always fantastic to have Doctor Who cliffhangers, the screeching sound of the soundtrack – that’s brilliant."

"“It sort of gives you a bit more time, there’s more places to go [with the story] and more character development. I think it’ll be good. Some of them are three-parters. And there’s one parters. It’s a good development, it allows the writers a bit more time with their characters and story.”"

More much more, check out the full interview with Capaldi and Oliver at Blogtor Who.

Doctor Who Series 9 premieres September 19. For full episode information, visit our guide: Doctor Who Series 9: Everything There is to Know So Far.

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