10 Doctor Who Episodes That PISSED People Off

3. Death In Heaven

Doctor Who Death In Heaven Clara Cyberman
BBC

Doctor Who's status as a childrens' show is always up for debate. Classic Who lent itself to this description (for the most part) a little easier, while revival Who is full of innuendos, violence and frightening scenes, though generally handled in child-friendly ways. Then, Death in Heaven came along.

The finale of the eighth season, Peter Capaldi's first, introduced horrific ideas in what happens after a person dies. The show had never depicted an afterlife that was so upsettingly stark before, though Missy's plan to reuse the dead and convert them to a Cyberarmy was truly disturbing.

The episode goes so far as to suggest that Missy invented the very idea of an afterlife so that, initially, people wouldn't resist her. Despite strong acting turns from Michelle Gomez, Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman, the episode is now remembered for its incredibly downbeat tone rather than anything else. It truly pushed the boundaries of what a show that was meant to be child friendly could get away with.

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Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"