Episode 10 (rumoured to be titled Childs Play) has been written by acclaimed screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce (co-writer of the Olympic Opening Ceremony) and described by Steven Moffat as a "lyrical and poetic" fairtytale. It also has a number of child actors in the cast and a scene involving wolves. And because of the number of child actors and how little has been seen of Peter Capaldi, it's not unlikely that it could be a Doctor-lite episode. Although Series 8 has no practical need for a Doctor-lite episode, its something that can work stylistically. You only have to watch Blink to know that. And its entirely possible that it could be a Doctor-lite episode that doesnt noticeably throw the Doctor out of the story but still focuses on him less, in a similar vein to Series 6s The Girl Who Waited. As for the story itself; the title, the apparent focus on Danny Pink (a teacher), and the mention of wolves is setting the impression that its something to do with the imagination of a child. Like the Daleks and Krillitanes have used children in their schemes because of the creative potential their minds have, the villain of this episode could be doing something that takes what a group of children imagine and causes it to manifest. A creative if not entirely original way of bringing explicit fairytale imagery into Doctor Who without compromising the overall universe. And lets not forget that Torchwood showed us that fairies arent all innocent and benign.
JG Moore is a writer and filmmaker from the south of England. He also works as an editor and VFX artist, and has a BA in Media Production from the University Of Winchester.
