Doctor Who: 12 Best Twelfth Doctor Episodes
8. Flatline
One of Season Eight’s most inventive episodes, Flatline confronted the Doctor and Clara with an outstandingly conceived and realised foe in the Boneless. The mixture of superb writing, direction and visual effects that brought these monsters to life represented a true creative tour de force, as the creatures hunted through two dimensions before evolving into grotesque, flickering 3D forms.
Similar praise is owed to the other inventive uses of space and dimension within the episode, particularly with regards to the TARDIS. It was hilarious to watch the Doctor become trapped inside his shrunken vessel, and interact with his surroundings using his comparatively giant hand. It was particularly fun to watch him manoeuvre the TARDIS away from an approaching train, in another special effects triumph.
Flatline was also a great showcase for Clara, that had her assume the Doctor’s role with the Time Lord out of action. She quickly demonstrated how much she’d learned on her travels, confidently taking charge of the frightened community service team and devising a cunning plan to restore power to the TARDIS and defeat the Boneless.
Her time as the Doctor also gave greater insight into her flaws, as she quickly considered deceiving those under her protection to give them hope, and continued to lie to Danny. With even the Time Lord himself admitting that Clara had been “an exceptional Doctor”, Flatline continued to consolidate her place as one of the greatest companions of all time.