10 Doctor Who Episodes That PISSED People Off
3. Death In Heaven
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.