Doctor Who: Series 8 Ranked From Worst To Best

3. Deep Breath

"A giant dinosaur from the distant past has just vomited a blue box from outer space. This is not a day for jumping to conclusions." - Madame Vastra

Back in August fans took a Deep Breath as the Twelfth Doctor made his official debut in an aptly-titled feature length adventure which was screened simultaneously into cinemas. After being absent from our screens for 8 months, anticipation surrounding the new series was at an all time high and there was already a preconceived notion that Peter Capaldi was going to be one of the greatest - if not one of the best - Doctors to date. No pressure there then, Peter! Anyone doubting Peter's ability in the iconic role needn't have worried because from the moment he popped his head out of the TARDIS door and began exchanging sympathies with a River Thames-dwelling dinosaur, the Twelfth Doctor had well and truly arrive, and all before the cinematically revamped opening titles had even rolled! What followed was a fast-paced adventure which firmly established Peter's presence as the titular Time Lord. Showrunner Steven Moffat showcased his skilful ability to balance various tones and styles as throughout the adventure fans found themselves repeatedly questioning their alliance to the new Doctor. As well as all of that, our hero faced the return of the Clockwork Droids, last seen in The Girl in the Fireplace, and was aided by companion Clara who found herself embarking on her own journey of self discovery. It's a good job the episode was extended to 80 minutes, else they wouldn't have fitted it all in! Speaking of the impossible girl, Deep Breath was as much about introducing the new Doctor as it was about reintroducing her. So far her TARDIS tenure had been overshadowed by the presence of her underlying mysteries but now she was back as a fully-formed character in her own right, harbouring unique qualities and insecurities of her own. In true Doctor Who fashion, the episode also included its fair share of nods to the past, with the inclusion of the popular Paternoster Gang - that's Madama Vastra, Jenny and Commander Strax - helping to ease the transition between two Time Lords. In addition, the appearance of the Eleventh Doctor was a welcome and appreciated homage to Matt Smith and served its narrative purpose to reassure Clara - and, ultimately, the audience - that even though her best friend had a new face, he was still the same man she knew and loved. Next stop, everywhere!