September 26th, 2015
112 comments
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
What Did You Think of The Witch’s Familiar?
Now that the highly anticipated second episode of series 9 has been aired what did you think? Was it everything you had hoped for or not what you expected.
Trapped and alone in a terrifying Dalek city, the Doctor is at the heart of an evil Empire: no sonic, no TARDIS, nobody to help. With his greatest temptation before him, can the Doctor resist?
And will there be mercy?
These exclusive and limited edition action figures are highly detailed and features 18 points of articulation, interchangeable head (with hat) and iconic accessories including Missy’s umbrella and “Missy Device”. The bespoke packaging is easy to display.
Available to order now Exclusively from www.character-online.com
The Doctor Who Site
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Merchandise
Flickr
YouTube
Silversands
December 3rd, 2015 - 9:03pmThe 1st and 2nd Doctors wore pants like that so it might be a reference to that but idk about the hoodie
Clarice
October 2nd, 2015 - 7:43pmWhere can I find the DWM?
Rufus
October 2nd, 2015 - 3:19pmbet at the end of the series we see Davros dressed as a time lord
yognot
September 30th, 2015 - 3:38pmThere could be other ways in, but you have a good point.
Rufus
September 30th, 2015 - 12:59pmif you read this months DWM it will explain
Matt
September 30th, 2015 - 11:25am^ it was before Rose even had even been in the same room as the Dalek, so that simply can’t be true.
Exterminator
September 30th, 2015 - 9:40amI’ve just thought of something. Missy made holes in the casing of the Dalek down in the sewer to allow the decayed remains of old daleks to get inside it. So how then did the ones in the Dalek control room get penetrated by the gloop? I thought daleks have shielding?
Clarice
September 29th, 2015 - 7:23pmI loved that explanation of various words and phrases being tweaked when it’s translated through the machine. It got me thinking about the idea that maybe individual daleks do have their own personal names, and that perhaps they do have ideas that are oppositional to the majority, but it is insignificant because the casing would make it seem like they don’t. Super cool that they allowed Clara to step into the shoes of the enemy, I think this was a huge highlight of the episode!
rt
September 29th, 2015 - 2:14pmagreed!
MaxP
September 29th, 2015 - 12:21amThe screwdriver was one of the worst elements of new who. He was always waving it around; it seems to be able to do absolutely every thing rather than just open doors and screw with electronic devices like the old days; and it looked like a kids toy. Glad it’s gone.
Dalek the Supreme
September 28th, 2015 - 1:55pm…Pretty much what Peking Homunculus said. Besides, it will give the Doctor new ways to solve problems.
Cyberlord
September 28th, 2015 - 11:53amAs much as I loved the opening two parter, I had one question: Why is the doctor wearing pyjamas and a hoodie? I’m fine with it but, I feel it’s not like the doctor to wear something like that!
The Moffat Paradox
September 28th, 2015 - 10:23amThey with their allegedly deadlier capabilities where NEVER properly used to gain acceptance and then all the jokes about their just being the Power Rangers Daleks would have been silenced.
Obsie
September 28th, 2015 - 8:47amCongratulations, extremely well observed, worthy of Sherlock Holmes himself. You would make a good Dalek.
12thDoctor
September 28th, 2015 - 6:28amUnder the Lake is the first episode of the two, so it makes perfect sense that it is set Before the Flood (see what I did there?). Or have you confused them and ep 3 is really set after ep 4? Where did you read that?
Dalek the Supreme
September 28th, 2015 - 2:39amThey were canned because fans considered them too radical a change (ironically in a show where the main character is radically changed every few years) from the traditional Dalek design. I’m upset that they’re absent and unlikely to return, but I’ve accepted that they’ve been pushed off the screen since Into the Dalek.
Dalek the Supreme
September 28th, 2015 - 2:37amI thought the scene where the Doctor stole Davros’s chair was the second best part of the episode. And there is still a Supreme Dalek, he’s just second to/equal to Davros. Or maybe Davros is an adviser? (They really didn’t explain the Dalek hierarchy)
Dalek the Supreme
September 28th, 2015 - 2:36amThis is one I’ve really had to think about. Did I like it? Did I dislike it? I had a hard time telling while I was watching.
The scenes with Clara and Missy breaking into the Dalek city were good. Missy is slowly acting more and more like the Master, and Clara, while she didn’t do anything to stand out, especially, she wasn’t superfluous or useless, and her presence (ironically, again inside a Dalek) did give Missy a very Mastery moment, where she tries to trick the Doctor into killing Clara. (Probably for her own sick amusement, which is very much the Master) I also find it interesting that she fought the Supreme Dalek before. I would like to see that.
I loved the moments with Davros and the Doctor, especially when Davros is actually dying. It was was really touching and emotional seeing Davros have a conversation with the Doctor where he isn’t arguing or debating their two opposing moralities, but opening up about his world view, feeling happy for the Doctor regaining his people, and giving him friendly advice. However, it’s especially impressive that Davros stayed true to his character, with his defining belief in loyalty to one’s species. I was bothered by the fact that Davros was just tricking the Doctor, I’m not majorly annoyed because it was well within Davros’s character to trick him, and it was never mentioned or implied that Davros was lying about his world view and being happy for the Doctor, but the way it happened (introducing some Time Lord legend the episode made up and not showing any of the deeper side of Davros again) was jarring and irritating.
The Doctor was a lot of fun, especially when its revealed that he stole Davros’s chair. After the “dying” Davros scene, that was the highlight of the episode. I’m interested to see how the Doctor handles not using the Sonic Screwdriver, but if Sonic Sunglasses are honestly replacing the Screwdriver, I will be seriously annoyed. It’s good to see that the Doctor’s compassion has once again prevailed. I also enjoyed Missy’s explanation of how the Doctor always survives.
The Daleks were just there, and it was never explained why all those different variants are there (nor was the appearance of Davros or Missy…), but they weren’t all bad. I really loved the idea of how a Dalek casing works, and the fact that they’re genetically programmed to live until they’re killed, and use sewers as a means of disposing of decaying Daleks, is a good idea. I like how they established it and even used it as a weapon before using it to escape the Daleks.
A decent story, despite a rushed ending, and excellent defining character moments. I’d say The Witch’s Familiar was a really good episode, and well worth the build up of The Magician’s Apprentice, but was not without its shortcomings.
collector
September 28th, 2015 - 12:38amThought it was a really good bit of storyline where Missy explains to Clara how a Dalek travel machine works. I love you = exterminate, getting emotional = exterminate. I am Clara Oswald/i am a human = i am a Dalek.
And clever how they reload by saying exterminate.
Great acting by Jenna Coleman, Michelle Gomez and Joey Price (child Davros).
Although the trailer for next week looks quite dark and atmospheric. Have read that Under The Lake is set after Before the Flood, so basically episode 4 is set before episode 3. That makes perfect sense (!) Not.
And after those episodes, i have one thing to say. . . What took you so long old man?
Peking Homunculus
September 27th, 2015 - 11:55pmThe doctor didn’t even have a sonic screwdriver when he started. One could say that The sonic devices in general are too deus ex machina, which was why The fifth doctor’s was destroyed. It didn’t really come back till The tv movie in ’96. And they already had changed it, it lights up for goodness sake.
Sid Rat
September 27th, 2015 - 11:51pmReally enjoyed that. Peter Capaldi is not one of my favourite doctors, but I’m getting used to him. That was my favourite episode of the ‘Capaldi’ era. Great story, great to see Davros (I actually believed he was going to die at one point), Clara and Missy were brilliant.
Anonymous
September 27th, 2015 - 11:30pmYou can’t change the sonic screwdriver that just changing the whole of Doctor who, I don’t feel like I’m watching doctor who anymore just some cheap spin off, the episode would of been great if they didn’t change too much of it and spent more time on the special effects. I wasn’t happy.