Fall 2014 Pilot Round-Up Week 3

Whoops! Been busy this week and fell behind but here's my impressions with the pilots from last week Sept. 28 - Oct. 2.

Selfie - ABC

I was really looking forward to this one because I'm a fan of both Karen Gillian (due to being a Whovian) and John Cho (due to being a Sleepy Hollow fan). This rom-com sitcom is mostly an updated take on that old classic, Pygmalion, better known to non-literates as the musical, My Fair Lady. Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins are now Eliza Dooley and Henry Higgs and are played by Gillian and Cho, respectively. Eliza is turned from a poor, lower class woman into a fairly well-off woman who is obsessed with social media and Henry is well, roughly, the same. The pilot is somewhat humorous although most of the jokes involve Gillian being shallow or immature, which isn't a great character to build your show around. The show sort of reminds of me of that failed Rebel Wilson show, Super Fun Night, another one-trick pony that really had no substance. This show is guilty of falling into the same trap unless the chemistry between Gillian and Cho save it. Also, all the references to social media are irritating and grating. And unfortunately that appears to be the modus operandi of the show.

Should I watch: Watch if you like rom-coms and are willing to face constant jokes about your social media obsessions. Don't Watch if you avert your eyes when Buzzfeed shows up in your Facebook feed and you're not into cute, fish-out-of-water romances.

Manhattan Love Story - ABC

Talk about grating and irritating. Yeesh. Take two painfully white characters who exhibit the worst tropes of romance stories and put them into a boring rom-com where they cavort around yuppie New York City and you almost get this wretched thing. But first, you have to add a gimmick where the audience can hear the protagonists' thoughts. Yeahhhhhhh, no. Definitely gonna have to pass on this one. Although I will say that the people in this are very pretty for, you know, a cast of exclusively white people.

Should I watch: God, no. Watch if you literally have nothing else to do and want background noise. Don't Watch. Just don't.

Happyland - MTV

MTV continues it's slate of non-music related programming (seriously, change your name) with another teen targeted show set in a local NotDisney theme park. It's a pretty standard story settling on a Romeo-and-Juliet starcrossed-lovers plot where the poor girl falls for the rich guy framed against a fairytale backdrop. Yawn. At least there aren't any werewolves in it. Although there is a twist that possibly implies incest so that's always fun.

Should I watch: Watch if you're in high school and haven't discovered good TV yet. Don't Watch if you just want Liquid Television to come back.

Stalker - CBS

This is quite possibly the worst pilot of the year and with good reason. Offensive, often boring, and terribly written, this show is pretty much one you should stay far, far away from. It's basically about this crime unit that investigates cases of extreme stalking where the victims are in possible danger, typically death or severe mental trauma. The episodes features not one but TWO cases, one where two women are set on fire with gasoline by a male stalker and another where a guy in college just has an obsessive friend who he punches or something. You know, just to show who stalking affects everyone equally. This show is pretty gross as it glorifies sexual abuse and assault for entertainment value and in turn makes one of the protagonists a misogynist prick also a former stalker. Fun!

Should I watch: Watch if you enjoy weekly images of women being killed and stalked horribly. Don't watch if you're better than that. You're better off watching NCIS anyway if you're on CBS.

Bad Judge - ABC

You got that right. It's pretty bad. Ever since The Bad News Bears, there has been a fascination with people doing occupations badly. There was Bad Santa, Bad Teacher, and the remake of Bad New Bears. And only half of those starred Billy Bob Thornton! There was also a Bad Teacher TV series which failed and this show will probably fail too. The problem with these shows is that they are essentially a one-trick pony. They establish a gimmick and deliver on it but in the end there's nothing much more beyond that. In this episode, we meet a female judge who is pretty good at her job but is pretty bad at life. She likes to party, says off-kilter things, and hangs out with a troubled youth. This is the kind of thing that fits better in a 2 hour movie, not 12 hour season of a television show. Even Ryan Hansen AKA Dick Casablancas can't save this show.

Should I watch: Watch if you like the same gimmick over and over. Don't watch and just watch Bad Santa. It's pretty good.

Gracepoint - FOX

Procedurals are done but if any genre has had an upswing in the past two years it's definitely detective shows. Trust me. They are very different. True Detective jumpstarted interest in the US but shows like Top of the Lake and Broadchurch from the UK have been getting buzz for awhile. It seems like a smart move to rebrand one of those shows for American audiences in Gracepoint, which is a mostly direct remake of Broadchurch set in America. Even David Tennant returns as his character. I've never seen the original so this all new to me and I'm very intrigued so far. The story is about a small coastal town after a boy seemingly commits suicide by jumping off a cliff. Two detectives figure it's actually a homicide and start investigating the town and uncover it's secrets. It's very Twin Peaks-ish without all the the supernatural elements and weirdness but the drama and intense emotion is very present. I can't wait to see how this mystery is solved.

Should I watch: Watch if you love a good mystery and need something to hold you of until True Detective returns. Don't Watch if you've seen Broadchurch and it's pretty much familiar, although I hear this will change later in the series.

Gotham "Pilot" "Selina Kyle"

Batman begins again.

The Batman cycle is one of pop culture's highly regarded mythologies. More so than other recent superhero fiction, Batman's world has been ingrained in our cultural lexicon since the 1940s. Even Superman has tapered off and has been less successful lately. Besides the comic books, there have been nonstop TV shows, films, and video games in service to the Dark Knight.  The CW's Arrow, the show that kickstarted the TV superhero revolution, even owes a lot the Christopher Nolan films and our favorite caped crusader. And than along comes Gotham, an ambitious Batman-related project, which seeks to do what very few mediums have done before: a Batman show without Batman. 

More or less. Bruce Wayne is still a character in this show. As are comic book staples like Jim Gordon, Alfred Pennyworth, Oswald Cobblepot AKA The Penguin, and Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman. However, this show is billed as an uber-prequel, the bridge between when Thomas and Martha Wayne are shot in the street to when Bruce dons the cape and cowl. Or at least until he hits puberty. The Gotham of Gotham is undeniably so. It's a film noir theme park complete with crime alleys and corrupt cops. The design of the show is visually stunning, borrowing everything from the Burton films, the Bruce Timm 90s television show, and even the Nolan films. There are even original characters added to the mix, such as Fish Mooney, a female crime boss played beautifully by Jada Pinkett Smith. With a devious Eartha Kitt charm, Smith does her most is bringing this character to life and it's a welcome addition to the Batman mythos.

The first two episodes of Gotham are concerned with world-building. In the "Pilot" we are introduced to rookie cop James Gordon as he is paired with grizzled veteran cop Harvey Bullock. They both investigate the apparent murder of The Waynes, Gotham's most influential and well-known family. They leave behind a young Bruce Wayne who becomes troubled in the wake of witnessing the brutal death of his family. Gordon feels connected to Bruce because he represents an innocent child whose life is ruined by the growing corruption on the streets and in the public trust. We also witness the origins of Oswald Cobblepot, a low level goon who is caught in Fish Mooney's web of crime. Cobblepot is an unhinged lackey who is looking to boost himself up in the crime world despite his strange appearance. In the episode, Bullock and Gordon chase a lead in the Wayne case but it ends it up being a wild goose chase. Cobblepot ends up being a sacrificial lamb offered up by Mooney to prove Gordon's loyalty but he ends up helping Oswald skip town. In the 2nd episode entitled "Selina Kyle," Gordon and Bullock investigate a homeless child abduction ring perpetrated by two creepy "needlemen" who are working for someone named The Dollmaker. A young, agile Selina Kyle, calling herself Cat, is caught in the middle of it and leads Gordon to catching the pair of crooks. Meanwhile, Oswald makes his way back to Gotham cutting a swath of murder and extortion in the road back to town. 

Gotham is a very divisive show it seems. I've heard the fair share of criticisms of the show and most of them have to do with the absence of Batman. That is a very silly once since there can certainly be Batman stories told without an appearance of the hero himself. Gotham Central, an award winning comic book series, proves you can tell stories from the perspective of the street while featuring some of Gotham's greatest villains. Gotham is the closest we'll ever get to an adaptation and this is further proved by the existence of characters like Crispus Allen and Renee Montoya, two of the central characters from Central, on the show. If the show has a fault, it's that it sometimes fitting in entirely too much of the mythos. The weakest character to me so far seems to be Edward Nygma, the GCPD's resident nerd and future Riddler, who is seemingly brought in only for gags and to ask questions. There is also a cameo in the first episode by a little girl named Ivy Pepper who we are hinted at believing to be the future Ms. Poison Ivy.  The not-so-subtle nods to these future villains are a bit hamfisted especially when lines like "This guy looks like a penguin" are repeated ad nauseum for two episodes in a row. Aside from that, the show also feels tonally off probably because it tries to compact so much Batman lore into a single show. Throughout each episode, the show jumps from high camp noir to serious crime procedural within seconds and sometimes in can be jarring. But on the positive side, that actually makes this show bizarre and unique and one of the strangest shows I've even seen on television. And that is what makes this show distinctly a Batman show, even if no actual Batman can be found. 

Afterthoughts

- Crazy Gotham fan theory: Yes, I already have one. Barbare Keane, future wife of Gordon and mother of Batgirl and James Gordon, Jr.,  is a character on this show. This is the most I've ever seen done with her character in any medium ever. The interesting things is that she is established as having a relationship with Renee Montoya and also the fact that she is a fairly wealthy and artistic socialite. My personal theory is Barbara Keane in this continuity is also the future Batwoman, real name Kate Kane (Keane?), and that she will play a pivotal role on the show, perhaps even appearing as Gotham's first bat-related vigilante

- I'm not sure how I feel like Selina Kyle also witnessing the death of the Waynes but I like how it connects her and Wayne more as kindred spirits

- Arkham Asylum is mentioned in the 2nd episode as being closed and in disrepair. Wouldn't be surprised if we get a visit to that old stalwart.

Doctor Who "The Caretaker"

Danny Pink joins the TARDIS crew. Kinda.

"The Caretaker" is one of those Doctor Who stories where The Doctor is undercover. Although there were full runs of Doctor Who where he was posing as a human on earth (see the Third Doctor serials which are some of the best classic episodes), these episodes occur only every once in awhile in the revival series. One can draw comparisons to the stellar Tenth Doctor two-parter "Human Nature/Family of Blood" or the fun companion episodes of "The Lodger" and "Closing Time" detailing the earthbound adventures of Eleven and his roommate Craig. In "The Caretaker" the Doctor manages to score a job at Coal Hill School as it's janitor. But in reality he's undercover to stop an alien threat.

Except that's really the B-plot of this episode which is honestly what makes it so interesting. This episode is really all about Danny Pink and his meeting with The Doctor. Over three episodes now, Clara has juggled time-traveling with The Doctor and romantic dates with Mr. Pink. This is all stated in a hilarious montage which starts the episode where Clara is exasperated with her dual life. Of course, she's also hiding information from both of her dalliances to The Doctor's annoyance and Pink's concern. Most of this episode takes place in Coal Hill School where we learn more about Clara's job and her students including the "disruptive influence" of Courtney who goes from demonic child in the premiere to mild nuisance in this. While The Doctor poses as The Caretaker, he places traps around the school in order to capture a wayward death machine which has materialized somewhere nearby. But the major conflict is that The Doctor doesn't think too highly of Mr. Pink, who he calls P.E. since he can't believe a soldier can also be an intellectual. More on that headscratcher later, but Pink eventually finds out about Clara and The Doctor and helps them get rid of the death robot. Whether he becomes a traveler on the TARDIS remains to be seen, but at least his relationship with Clara is saved...for now.

This episode is mostly a comedic romp much like "The Lodger" that came before but it's also a really important episode in establishing a new companion. Danny is turning into a reverse Rory where instead of building the character as the show goes one, instead we are building the character before he even joins The Doctor on adventures. It's clear he has what it takes but he has trouble accepting The Doctor because of his danger to Clara. And The Doctor can't accept Danny because he is not him. Twelve is especially cruel and petty in this episode and while it is mostly played for laughs, it actually comes off as a bit controlling and rude. I think it's ok to establish a different personality for The Doctor but not if he is especially rude to his friends. What is most mindbogglingly strange is how The Doctor is especially dismissive of soldier-like attitudes when he himself has been a soldier in the past. Perhaps, he hates himself for it but his lack of understanding or empathy for Danny Pink seems like a wasted opportunity. It's almost as if Moffat is trying to set up a love triangle even when he established there is no romantic element. It is both awkward and irritating and makes Clara seem like a weak character. The Doctor can be surly, but he also has to act like he's one of the good guys. Or this show is truly lost. 

Afterthoughts

- Finally, another appearance by Missy and her "Promised Land" which does indeed have dead people in it. She also has employees. Creepy.

- I actually chuckled at that faux-Matt Smith professor that The Doctor thought Clara was dating

- The brief time Courtney spent as a TARDIS companion proves that not everyone has the stomach for time and space adventures

- Danny hasn't quite joined the TARDIS crew fully yet from the looks of the next episode. Grr.

-Apparently The Doctor spent some time living with otters after having a fight with River. Fascinating. 

Fall 2014 Pilot Round-Up Week 2

Whew! What a packed week. I'm back to dish out my impressions on the second week of new TV pilots. This entry covers the week from September 21-25.

Madam Secretary (CBS)

CBS continues satisfying their old person viewer base by introducing this political snoozer. I suppose Tea Leoni shines in this Veep for old people but I couldn't find myself getting into this. Especially since there is far better political satire in House of Cards on Netflix and we apparently still live in this post-West Wing world where the executive branch is the most interesting side of government. The pilot is pretty straightforward. A political science professor gets appointed to the Secretary of State position after the previous one mysteriously disappears in a plane crash (no, really) and spends the entire episode getting some rich, white kids out of an Iranian gulag. It's the kind of political intrigue and "ripped from the headlines" stories your mother and/or grandmother will love but there are certainly better shows out there.

Should I watch: Watch if you're over the age of 65 and miss The West Wing. Don't Watch if you don't feel the icy hand of death and just watch Veep and House of Cards instead.

Gotham (FOX)

Fox continues it's incredibly ambitious programming with Gotham, a pre-Batman show featuring the city of Gotham and its colorful cast of heroes and villains, including a pre-pubescent Bruce Wayne. The pilot's focus is mostly on rookie detective Jim Gordon and his relationship to bad cop Harvey Bullock. Rounded out in the episode are a flood of teenage Batman rogues such as The Penguin, The Riddler, and Catwoman. Newcomer rogue Fish Mooney, played beautifully by Jada Pinkett Smith, is a welcome addition to the Batman mythos. The episode is technically impressive and the only fault it is guilty of  is perhaps too much allusions to classic Batman tropes and stories. This is bound to settle down once the show gains its footing and isn't slavish to a comic book checklist.

Should I watch: Watch if you love the world of Batman and are looking for something fresh and new in that setting. Don't Watch if you think nothing can top the Nolan films or the comics and enjoy fanboy nitpicking.

Scorpion (CBS)

Scorpion is certainly not a show for old people (although they probably have heard of Walter O'Brien unlike me until this show) but it's definitely a CBS show in that it's a standard procedural and it's dealing with quirky characters. This show is essentially in the genre of nerd fantasy which is The Big Bang Theory meets The Blacklist. Started by shows like Chuck, it typically stars a prototypical white male who is awkward around girls but it actually a super spy/hacker/thief James Bond without any of the Connery charm (but certainly the good looks). Scorpion takes that concept and multiplies it by four giving us the essentially the same character with slightly different character traits. You have the leader, the Jonah Hill numbers guy, the morally grey gambler, and the girl. Add in a love interest (Katharine McPhee in a non-singing role!), a grizzled mentor (Robert Patrick?), and a kid with non-diagnosed autism (he's not different, he's just smart!) and you basically get Scorpion, a show based off a real person who most certainly cannot exist or real life is like TV more than I thought it was.

Should I watch: Watch if you've never seen Chuck and really, really like bad hacker/tech shows. Don't Watch if you've basically seen this before.

Forever (ABC)

Television's latest entry into the doomed-to-fail supernatural procedural doesn't have any ghosts or magical children but it's pretty close to that level of ridiculous. Ioan Gruffud plays a centuries old forensic doctor who is immortal in that he can't die. If he does, he just wakes up in the nearest body of water. And that's pretty much the premise. What's weird is that show doesn't really know what it wants to be. In the pilot alone, there were echoes of it being everything from a romance to a comedy to a drama to a procedural. There just seemed to be no focus. Sporadically, there are flashbacks throughout the episode where it shown that Gruffud's character is some sort of "white savior" who has freed slaves and saved Jews from the Holocaust. So yeah, I guess it has that going for it. I'd almost respect this show more if the main character was a vampire or something but that would be just Angel set in a morgue, which is really too on the nose.

Should I watch: Watch if you are sexually turned on by Ioan Gruffud. Don't Watch if you're done with shows like Awake or Believe or Touch or this.

NCIS: New Orleans (CBS)

Oh boy. I may have to step out of this one due to personal bias. Being a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana I can certainly say that this show takes stereotypes of the city I live in to unprecendented K-Ville levels. But I suppose if you're only familiar with N'awlins as a cardboard cutout Pleasure Island Disney theme park, there's really nothing to gripe about. NCIS:NO (get it?) is a pretty standard episode of NCIS in that some rough-and-tumble cop types solve some type of case related to ports and/or the navy. Apparently, this show already had a backdoor pilot which I didn't see nor care too. That's pretty much it. It's NCIS. Your grandpa probably likes it.

Should I watch: Watch if you're not offended by New Orleans stereotypes and like other NCIS shows. Don't Watch if the concept of NCIS makes you groan.

Black-Ish (ABC)

This show is ABC's attempt to make Modern Family for a black demographic and it's largely successful. Anthony Anderson is the strongest part of this show which might be the first time that statement was ever true. The jokes in this pilot are surprisingly clever and don't rely on a large number of negative black stereotypes. The premise is that Anderson's family makes enough money that they can live in affluent mostly white suburbs. Anderson's father, played by a crotchety Laurence Fishburne, is concerned his kids are in danger of losing their culture and heritage. There is both office and family-related humor in this pilot and it's nice to see that ABC is aiming for more diversity in their TV schedule.

Should I watch: Watch if you like situational family comedies like Modern Family. Don't Watch if you if that's not really your thing.

How to Get Away with Murder (ABC)

Lemme tell you. This pilot was mighty impressive. I'm no stranger to Shonda Rimes. Grey's Anatomy is a bit too formulaic for me and while Scandal is indeed an interesting watch, it doesn't satisfy a political itch that other shows do for me. With Murder, that itch is satisfied through both soapy crime-drama and intense lawyering featuring students in a law school. Viola Davis, who delivers perhaps one of her best performances as Prof. Annalise Keating, is especially impressive as befitting of an award winning actress who has been nominated for two Oscars. She takes five budding law students under her wing who in turn help her solve the cases that she takes one all the while involving them in an actual murder plot. The story is bound to have some delightful twists and turns and I, among with many others, am all for it. Check this out and you won't be disappointed.

Should I watch: Watch and be ensnared by the charms of Viola Davis' panther-like eyes. Don't Watch if you dislike lawyer shows but I mean there's a lot more than just that going on so you should probably still watch.

Agents of SHIELD "Shadows"

"Go dark."

This appears to be the new mantra of Marvel's ambitious television project straight from Coulson's mouth. And it is indeed all the better for it. 

When Agents of SHIELD was in its infant stage, the show was middling to terrible. In fact, the show didn't gain real footing until it started tying into the events of the blockbuster hit Captain America: The Winter Soldier. After that, the show really hit an almost revolutionary surge of interest. It was almost as if it were a different show, featuring great characters and plots. It completely changed from the lackluster procedural that was only somewhat keyed into the Marvel Universe that was pitched at the beginning.

Season 2 starts off with the same momentum and that the last final established. SHIELD is effectively dead and Phil, Skye, and May are rebuilding the remaining remnants of the organization. They even have a few new recruits to help them along the way. Skye, as a character, has really grown into her own and seems like an effective member of the team instead of a liability. She even holds out on her own against the villainous turncoat Grant Ward in an amazing scene set in a tech-heavy SHIELD prison cell. Now Director Coulson has settled into the role as fearless leader even if him and May still clash at times. In particularly distressing news, Fitz seems to be suffering from some type of mild brain damage which is causing him to hallucinate Simmons, who actually left some months ago. As for the new recruits, Agents Koenig and Triplett shine in their particular roles and the new team led by Lucy Lawless also put in good performances. The plot revolve around the team tracking down an 0-8-4, a code for objects of alien origin. However, HYDRA is after the same device using Carl "The Crusher" Creel AKA The Absorbing Man. The object is held is a high secuity military base under the watchful of eye of super-dick Col. Glenn Talbot, who wants to put down all SHIELD members regardless of their affiliation to HYDRA or not. Creel goes after Talbot but not before being thwarted by the agents, who also use the opportunity to use Talbot to get into the base. They break in and recover the artifact but one of their team, Lawless in fact, falls prey to the artifact's damaging effects. The agents escape by stealing a Quinjet while the new recruits nearly get away bu are stopped by an escaped Creel who managed to obtain the device. 

This episode was non-stop action with some really great scenes of dialogue. I think the show has really come into its own in terms of both writing and its connection to a wider comics universe. Using characters like The Absorbing Man and Col. Talbot really make the show feel grounded. What's particularly good is how the premiere uses the momentum of the films to carry its action forward but doesn't rely on them to boost its own story. I think this will help the show as it moves forward. I also appreciate how the morals of the team are explored. SHIELD is considered the enemy by the US government now so the need to work in the shadows is greater than ever before to save the world. This requires doing some less than moral things by the team and it's interesting that the show is still exploring that. I'm very curious to see exactly where the show goes next.

Afterthoughts

- Kudos to the show for teasing Agent Carter in the opening. I'm looking forward to that spinoff immensely. It already has a very Indiana Jones feel to it, which is later hinted at in the warehouse scene

- It seems the mystery of Skye and her lineage is still not being revealed just yet. I certainly hope they're not teasing it for another whole season though

- Was Lawless dead at the end of the episode? It seemed to be so, but I have a feeling she'll be back

- The Nazi at the beginning and at the end of the episode is Daniel Whitehall, also known as Kraken best known from famous Marvel story Secret Warriors

Sleepy Hollow "This is War"

This is pure entertainment.

When Sleepy Hollow, a show based around the old Washington Irving legend, was first announced last year, everyone had the perfect right to be dubious, even me. The premise didn't seem like it would last more than an episode and many people were already burned by the the slightly enjoyable yet uber-bad Tim Burton version of the tale. But 13 episodes later, I admit that this is one of the most entertaining shows ever produced on network television. 

Last season ended on a dire cliffhanger in which the villains seemed to win frankly. Ichabod was trapped in a coffin by the Headless Horseman and his all grown up and evil son John Noble whilst his wife was whisked away from him after being reunited. Meanwhile, Abbie Mills was stuck in Purgatory and Jennifer's car was flipped over on the side of the road. The episode premieres with a very long fake out where we are meant to think a year has passed and things are mostly in order with the dynamic duo, save a few sacrifices. But it turns out in was all a ruse in order for Henry to determine the whereabouts of a MacGuffin called the Gehenna Key, a mystical object passed down from Benjamin Franklin. This will allow Henry and big bad Moloch to unveil the 2nd part of their plan to bring about the end of days. Ichabod eventually breaks free of his wooden prison using some MacGuyver-esque ingenuity and reunites with Jennifer Mills. Both of them manage to get the Gehenna Key and free Abbie from the depths of Purgatory. However, Katrina still remains captured and a new Horseman, War,  is unleashed upon the world.

If that sounds like a whole lot, than you probably don't watch Sleepy Hollow much. Most episode contain a lot happening and unravel themselves like a solid graphic novel with plenty of twists, turns, and winks. The episode never loses momentum from the finale of last season and a does a really good job of wrapping everything up all the while introducing new threats for the upcoming season. The episode is also packed with many humorous cultural jibes from Crane, including his disgust for modern technology and his intimate relationship with every colonial America figure ever. I think this season will absolutely outdo the last one and I'm looking forward to turning in every week.

Afterthoughts

- No Orlando Jones in this episode but I'm sure he'll show up soon

- Bram Bones the Horseman was especially creepy in this episode what with him keeping and caring for Katrina as his captured waifu

- Abbie and Ichabod are absolutely the best duo on television. They complement each other so well and their chemistry is top-notch

-Nice to see they're keeping John Cho around in some shape or form

- The design of War is super awesome. He's a medieval suit of armor with no body and a flaming sword. Very D & D

Doctor Who "Time Heist"

It's a heist! A time heist!

Of all sub genres, I think the heist genre is the most overrated. I never really got into the Ocean's Eleven movies and don't quite see the thrill in watching amoral people rob banks and vaults through crafty methods. Nevertheless, there are a few good entries in the film world out there. Heat comes to mind as well as Christopher's Nolan Inception, an interesting sci-fi spin on the genre. So when I first heard word that this episode of Doctor Who would feature The Doctor and some companions robbing a bank, I was a bit skeptical. Unfortunately, a lot of those low expectations were met.

The episode starts with Clara getting ready to go on another date with Mr. Pink when The Doctor arrives to complicate things, of course. Someone calls the TARDIS phone and almost immediately the pair are seated in a room with two others with their memories completely wiped. We meet Psi, a cyborg who can interface with computers and store data, and Saibra, a mutant who can change her appearance into any person she touches. The group is contacted by a mysterious figure who calls himself The Architect, who tells them they need to rob the supposedly impenetrable Bank of Karabraxos. The bank itself is a horrible place. Their security system is so rigid that they use a telekinetic alien to wipe your brain. Throughout the episode, the group solves their way through all the traps and tunnels of the bank with the assist of their abilities as well as clues left by "The Architect" all the while avoiding the villainous bank manager, Ms. Delphox and her monstrous alien pet called the Teller. After some twists and turns, the Doctor and Clara end up in the private vault where it is revealed that The Doctor was The Architect all along and Ms. Delphox was a clone of the actual  bank owner, Ms. Karabraxos, the richest woman in the universe. The heist was in fact a rescue mission orchestrated by a dying Karabraxos from the future who felt guilt for imprisoning the Teller alien and his mate. 

It's a standard Doctor Who story and it reminded me of an Eccleston or early Tennant romp. The problem is that having knowledge of heist tropes makes the episode too easily predictable. The Doctor being revealed as The Architect is the most obvious thing ever and yet the episode treats it like a huge reveal. There are also the two fake-out deaths of Psi and Saibra. They wouldn't be so bad if they also weren't so obviously fake and to make matters worse they are set up by having the characters emotionally bond with The Doctor and/or Clara It's incredibly manipulative and severely lowers the stakes once their "deaths" are revealed as fake. The circumstances for the end are interesting but it involves two things that Doctor Who has dealt with time and time again before. The idea of the monster being misunderstood is getting pretty cliche at this point and the concept of the old miser repenting at the will of the Doctor is getting to be old as well. And all of this pales in comparison to The Doctor's treatment of his companions in this episode, especially Clara. This could have been a really fun episode but instead The Doctor sours through it not seeming to care about the safety of Clara or anyone. He basically lets Saibra go to her "death" and doesn't seem all too concerned with Clara's well-being against a terrifying beast except some unhelpful advice. Psi even points this out to Clara and even criticizes her for defending his actions. It's almost as if the show has become a meta-commentary on itself and it's incredibly irritating and overdone. I think the episode ends up average at best if you enjoy the heist aspect but I couldn't help but want a memory wipe myself after watching this episode. 

Afterthoughts

-Why the hell hasn't Pink joined the TARDIS crew yet? Please tell me that's happening in the next episode!

- Those "suicide pens" looked exactly like teleporters, right? And The Doctor couldn't tell? Really??!

- The Teller alien was actually a pretty interesting design and I liked the way he (she?) sucked out people's brain with its circular brain waves. Although that wouldn't make someone's skull cave-in like that.

- There is a great Malcolm Tucker reference when The Doctor says "Shuttity up"

- Where is Missy and the Promised Land? She's been missing for two episodes now although Kabraxos reminded me of her a good bit