The finale to Series 8 starts with a shockingly dark scene, as Danny Pink meets his demise. The pre-credits scene works so well because of how abrupt the death is. One moment he's talking on the phone to Clara, who appears to finally be prepared to tell him everything about her double life with the Doctor, and the next, he is struck by a car and dead. It is rare that Doctor Who is this dark or realistic, as Danny Pink's death is disturbingly plausible for a show about time travel. It sets up the stakes for the rest of the finale, with his death jumpstarting both his and Clara's ensuing emotional arcs.
