7. Credit: Excellent Acting
Its not easy to walk believably through a ridiculous story and speak unwieldy dialog with confidence. Yet each performance here is natural and as nuanced as it can be within the constraints of a less than stellar script. Keeley Hawes, as both Ms. Delphox and Madame Karabraxos bears an exceptionally thankless role with charm and wit. Both Jonathan Bailey as Psi and Pippa Bennett-Warner as Saibra acquit themselves with aplomb. Ms. Bennet-Warner is especially good, rendering her character with a touching blend of bravery and pathos. The Doctor is rougher here. While he immediately takes charge he still seems a bit lost and unsure of himself. Peter Capaldis Doctor is gritty and complicated. He is not one to give in to sentiment and not at all touchy-feely. He faces this situation with a kind of grim determination. His body language and facial expressions are fascinating to watch, never letting us forget that the Doctor is not human.