REVIEW: Doctor Who: ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’

Michelle Gomez, Peter Capaldi, and Jenna Coleman star in the Doctor Who Series 9 premiere, ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’. (Credit: BBC)

This past Saturday, Doctor Who returned to the airwaves for its ninth series since the show was revived in 2005. It’s been a long nine months since we last saw the Twelfth Doctor and Clara and, if nothing else, it was thrilling to see them back on-screen again. One thing is for sure — no matter how you felt about it, there’s no denying that ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’ was one flashy hour of television.

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(Credit: BBC)

David Hill – Editor

There is something to be said for when you know an event is coming, yet it still comes as a complete surprise when the reveal occurs. For ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’, that came when Skaro was revealed.

The revelation that Davros brought the Doctor, Missy and Clara to the home of the Daleks was utterly brilliant. Instead of being in that strange spaceship floating through time and space, they hid the planet, blending it into the tapestry of the universe. Only when the Doctor and the TARDIS were entirely ensnared within the trap did their true predicament get revealed.

And now, here is the Doctor, face to face with his greatest enemy, trapped on the home planet of a race that desired nothing more than his destruction. Clara and Missy appear to have been exterminated. The TARDIS? Well, the Daleks either destroyed it or hid it away somewhere outside of the Doctor’s reach. And there, revelling in the Doctor’s angst, is the dying Davros.

It is not every day that a part of a season can be teased, and yet still deliver when it is revealed. Well, Series Nine of Doctor Who did just that when Skaro was brought back to light.

Next: Please Don't Press the 'Reset Button'

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(Credit: BBC)

James Aggas – Staff Writer

Wow, what a great episode. And what a great opening scene, too. I adored how much that scene was a great example of just how shocking the episode would be, both in terms of twists and, equally important for Who, scares, too.

I thought the hand mines were an incredibly creepy sight, and Colony Sarff turning into a pile of snakes was an equally great moment that’s bound to give the children nightmares. Moffat really brought the darkness and scariness with this story that really pushed it at times. As someone who loved the show as a kid because of how scary it was, I’m loving that he still aims to continue the tradition of (reasonably) traumatising children as much as possible.

As for the twists, Moffat really knew how to keep them coming, right from the moment the boy said his name. Yes, the rumour that the episode would feature Davros as a boy has been around for months now (hence why I reviewed Big Finish’s I, Davros series in July), but it still sent chills down my spine, especially the look on the Doctor’s face.

I really loved the shocks this episode brought, although I will admit, I’m a little worried that the cliffhanger aimed to be too shocking. I can’t see much of a way for the story to be resolved without the use of a ‘reset button’ to undo the rest of the story, and if there’s one thing I hate in storytelling, it’s the ‘reset button’. I’m really hoping it doesn’t get used, as I really enjoyed ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’ overall, and I really, really hope ‘The Witch’s Familiar’, not to mention the rest of Series 9, lives up to it.

Next: A Moral Dilemma and a Nod to the Past

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(Credit: BBC)

Joel Getter – Staff Writer

"“If someone who knew the future pointed out a child to you and told you that that child would grow up totally evil, to be a ruthless dictator who would destroy millions of lives, could you then kill that child?”"

Four decades have passed since the Fourth Doctor asked this question, and now the time has come to expand on this discussion with huge life-altering consequences. The opening scenes of a battlefield on Skaro echo beautifully back to the opening of the Tom Baker classic ‘Genesis of the Daleks.’ The nods to classic Who don’t end there with a return to the Dalek planet Skaro and plenty of old school Daleks. The return of Davros has been long overdue, and Julian Bleach turns in a great performance. The scenes between he and Peter Capaldi are right up there with Tom Baker and Michael Wisher. However, the interaction that truly stands out is between the Doctor and Davros as a child. The Doctor attempts to do what he does best: save a life. That scene is quickly turned around when the Doctor realizes who it is he is about to save, creating the ultimate moral dilemma.

At its heart, this episode is about the impact that one life can hold. Ultimately, it isn’t the fate of millions of lives that sways the Doctor to consider exterminating Davros as a child. Instead, it is the death of his friends, specifically Clara. Her death pushes the Doctor to do the unthinkable, leading to one belter of a cliffhanger.

This is a perfect series opener, full of action, humor, and drama. If the rest of Series Nine can deliver even half of what this opener did, then we Whovians are in for a real treat. ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’ proves that Steven Moffat can create an epic adventure that is still filled with tremendous character moments.

Next: Everything But the Kitchen Sink

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(Credit: BBC)

Barry Rice – Editor

As only half of a full story, ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’ is a hard episode to judge. With that said, it’s a fantastic setup and the episode serves its purpose well. There was a bit of a “throw-everything-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks” mentality throughout most of the episode, but the good news is that most of it stuck. Despite the months of rumors, it was still shocking to see the Doctor come face-to-face with Davros as a child. The entire opening was incredibly bleak and managed to portray a horrific war without actually showing much of the fighting at all.

Colony Sarff’s trip-around-the-galaxy montage was ultimately unnecessary to the story, but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t cool. It helped to establish an epic feel to the episode early on, and the cameos from characters and aliens from past episodes made great easter eggs for the fans.

I didn’t particularly care for Missy last year, but I thought Michelle Gomez was fantastic here. She was still completely unhinged mentally, but her performance was more reigned in — more controlled and sadistic. She and Clara made for an interesting pair, too, with more chemistry than I’d anticipated.

The Doctor’s spectacular (second) entrance, complete with tank and electric guitar, was over-the-top but in all the best ways. I couldn’t help but smile and laugh, despite the fact that it didn’t really feel like something the Doctor would do. Then again, this is a new Doctor, and after a tumultuous first series, he’s finally coming into his own. And if the Doctor now wears sunglasses and plays the guitar, I’m not complaining. Because frankly, I love it.

The story itself only kicks into high gear toward the last ten minutes or so, with the Doctor finally confronting a dying Davros and the team of Missy and Clara meeting a room full of Daleks. I’d been spoiled on the deaths of Missy and Clara, so I knew what was coming and it was still shocking. I did not know about the (apparent) destruction of the TARDIS though, and my heart ached to see her destroyed.

Julian Bleach gave a fantastic performance as the subdued, dying Davros, and Peter Capaldi was in fine form as always, begging for Clara’s life. As for the Doctor’s surprise reappearance with young Davros at the end, I have no idea how that’s going to play out or how he got there. But for the first time in quite a while, I can’t wait to find out.

Next: Hey Missy, You're So Fine...

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(Credit: BBC)

Amy Martin – Staff Writer

Doctor Who is back in a big way in Series 9. For a fan who was mostly disappointed last series, this new one had a much better start. The field of hand mines was gorgeous. A potentially new enemy or obstacle was refreshing. The setup and effects for that whole scene were subtle and creepy in the best way. Those eyes!

The grand and glorious Missy has returned. Never one for subtlety, she charged back into the middle of everything with style. For new Who fans, she shows a new side to the Master that was only hinted at before. Simm’s Master touched on it in Ten’s run by talking about the fields in which he and the Doctor would play. Missy is less ambiguous. Best friend and worst enemy, she is proud to be both to the Doctor.

No incarnation of the Master was easy to kill and I’m sure she has another trick or ten up her sleeves. Her words “Death is for other people” stand out. Theories will abound across the internet until next week at least. My prediction is the vortex manipulators she and Clara have saved them.

If nothing else I can simply agree: yes Missy, you blew my mind.

Next: Science-Fiction Fantasy Done Right

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(Credit: BBC)

Leah Tedesco – Assistant Editor/Staff Writer

Wow! What a lot to process. The Doctor Who season premiere of Series 9 was fracking fantastic! Just that single episode blew the entire muddled mess of the previous series out of the water. From the opening with the war on Skaro to the cliffhanger ending with… well, the war on Skaro, the intensity of ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’ was almost non-stop. The nice thing about it was that it did not feel grandiose, as is sometimes the case on Doctor Who. The plot was solid, the pacing was just right, and the interaction between characters was natural. If this episode is any indication, we are in for one hell of an amazing season.

The general intensity of ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’ was so high that I was only mildly surprised when Missy, Clara, and the TARDIS were killed. I knew that Clara would be meeting her demise soon, but did not expect it in the first episode of the series. These deaths, however, somehow made perfect sense in the moment. The question is, was that the last time that these three would be seen on the show?

It was cool to see The Maldovarium (with an Ood, no less), the Shadow Proclamation, and Skaro again. The first location is the Whoniverse’s equivalent of the cantina from Star Wars. Speaking of potential nods to other franchises, the Doctor played guitar and taught new slang to people of the past, just as did fellow time travelers Marty McFly and Bill and Ted (who also had a phone box).

Another possible wink was to Harry Potter, which has previously been referenced on Doctor Who. In this episode, Colony Sarff, who wears a black robe and is made of snakes, referred to Davros as “The Dark Lord.” For a science-fiction show, a humanoid who can dissolve into snakes is quite a stretch, as was the Moon hatching into a dragon last series. Unlike ‘Kill the Moon,’ however, ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’ was so good that I could forgive this blurring of the line between soft science-fiction and pure fantasy.

Considering that Peter Capaldi just called for more kissing on the show, it was cute when Clara implied that she and Jane Austen made out at some point, referring to the writer as a “phenomenal kisser.” One wonders whether the two had met before or after the first time that Clara was shown teaching about Austen in ‘The Caretaker.’ In any case, bravo to Doctor Who for continuing to present the concept of various sexualites between consenting adults as a healthy and normal part of everyday life.

Finally, I would love to see Missy meet Mickey and have him be annoyed at her appropriation of his song.

Next: When is 'Too Much' Too Much?

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(Credit: BBC)

Kory Plockmeyer – Staff Writer

Missy is back!

I thought Missy was wonderful last season, but this episode was her best yet. She captures the sort of zany, off-the-wall delight in destruction and mayhem with which she shined in ‘Death in Heaven.’ Missy is one of few characters equally at home in one-on-one scenes with Clara as she is with the Doctor. The tête-à-tête with Clara at the coffee shop captured so well precisely what makes Missy such a fantastic incarnation of the Master. ‘Death in Heaven’ presented the Doctor with the reality that he and the Master are really not as different as one might think — Missy somehow manages to be the Doctor’s best friend and worst enemy at the same time. Clara was at her best trying to fathom the complexities of the Doctor’s relationship with Missy, but Missy was even better in her sheer delight at Clara’s human limitations. The episode was worth it if only for Missy’s return.

My primary complaint with this episode was the way this episode fit with Moffat’s tendency to introduce unnecessary new monsters. The hand mines were a great concept, but left unexplored (and unexplained). Sarff is supposed to be Davros’ right-hand man (monster), but he wasn’t all that scary (and I hate snakes!). The CGI of Sarff’s unveiled form was more laughable than frightening. The episode already has Missy, Davros, and the Daleks. Why did we also need Sarff and hand mines?

I’ve said in other reviews for Doctor Who Watch that I like it when Doctor Who makes me think. Because of that, I loved the set-up for next week’s episode: does compassion win? Unfortunately, I have to wait until next week to see where it goes.

Next: In With a Bang, Out With a Bang

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(Credit: BBC)

J.R. Frontera – Staff Writer

Admittedly, going into this much-anticipated 9th season premiere, I was not feeling very enthusiastic about it. Mostly because of the 10-minute prequel that aired the night before. The prequel felt very… silly. Sort of slapstick. Sort of over-the-top. And I was afraid the first episode would be the same.

I was very, very happy to be wrong about that. (Okay, so maybe it *was* a bit over the top… the Doctor playing an electric guitar while riding in on a tank? But we’ll get to that in a minute.)

I’m certain there are plenty of Whovians out there who disagree with me (I know there are some out there who are so tired of the Daleks they could puke, for example), but I really, really LOVED this episode. Mostly because it opened with a bang, closed with a bang, and took us along for a pretty fun ride along the rest of it, too.

What made the episode really great for me personally, though, was that it took one of the Doctor’s core traits, one of his most consistent behaviors, one of his most important values, and made it work against him. In good storytelling, you should find the line your character won’t cross, and then make them cross it. *That’s* how you create characters we can’t turn away from, characters we root for, and stories that drive character growth. And that’s *exactly* what this episode did for the Doctor.

The hubby and I were both 100% certain the Doctor would save Davros as a child in the beginning, despite what Davros becomes. That’s *who he is*. That’s the Doctor who wept over the Master’s death before, who saved the Master multiple times before, who has even given the Daleks themselves a second chance in the past.

*But then he didn’t.*

And that blew our MINDS.

And then in the end, that decision is what gets everything he has and cares about most at that moment taken away from him. And that was AWESOME.

Now, granted, this episode was written by Steven Moffat, and as such, I was 99.999% sure that all of the bad things that happened in the end would be reversed in the next episode (and from the previews for next week, that appears to be the case), but it was still really great to sit there at the end of this week’s episode and be like, “I can’t *believe* that just happened!”

Sure, you might be tired of the Daleks. And sure, the guitar and tank thing was a little out there (and yet it seemed to actually work within the episode itself). But the Daleks are one of the biggest sources of conflict for the Doctor, both emotionally and physically, and this episode just expounded even further on that relationship. I personally welcomed a more seriously-toned episode after a lot of fluffy stuff last season. Putting this hard choice in front of the Doctor, in direct opposition to his core personality (in addition to the return of Missy!) made for a great story.

I hope this first episode set the tone for the rest of this season! If so, this is going to be one fantastic year of Doctor Who!

Next: What Did You Think of 'The Magician's Apprentice'?

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Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor in the Doctor Who Series 9 premiere ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’/’The Witch’s Familiar’ (Credit: BBC)

There you have it! Our multiple points of view on one of Doctor Who‘s biggest premieres ever, if not the single biggest episode ever. So what did you think? Take our poll and make your opinion known:

Next week is the conclusion to the two-part premiere, ‘The Witch’s Familiar.’ Here’s how Steven Moffat described the episode to Radio Times:

"There are places the Doctor should never go. Planets where his life would not be worth an hour’s purchase. When he finds himself in the very worst of these, without his Tardis, or his sonic, and with his best friends murdered in front of his eyes, he has only his wits to keep him alive. And perhaps something else. What is the Doctor’s confession? Why did he really leave Gallifrey all those centuries ago? And is it a secret he is willing to give up?"

In case you missed it, here’s the “Next Time” trailer that aired at the end of ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’:

And here’s a new teaser for the episode that’s been playing on BBC this week:

We’ll be back next week with a full recap on Saturday night and another round table review on Monday. For much more on upcoming episodes, check out our frequently updated guide: Doctor Who Series 9: Everything There is to Know So Far.

What do you think? Have any additional thoughts or comments you’d like to share about ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’? Sound off in the comments below!

Next: Doctor Who's Series 9 is Off to a Tremendous Start