Will this be the most cohesive season of “Doctor Who” yet? That’s not necessarily one of the burning questions referred to in the headline of this article, but it should be – as “Into the Dalek” not only followed up directly on the themes of last week’s “Deep Breath,” but some of the plot, as well.
So let’s get into it: here’s every question we still have after watching The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) take on the Daleks for the umpteenth time.
1. What Did Danny Pink Do?
When we meet new cast member Samuel Anderson, his Danny Pink is introduced as a former soldier, current school teacher, with some skeletons in his closet. Specifically, when a student asks Pink whether he ever killed anyone who isn’t a soldier, he starts crying and refuses to answer the question.
Couple that with the principal’s (at least we’re assuming it was a principal, we honestly have no idea how English schools work) “joke” that he’s “a real lady killer,” and there’s a good chance Pink may have some red in his ledger.
2. …And Is He Actually Blue?
Adrian Rogers, ©BBC/BBC Worldwide 2014
We also meet Journey Blue (Zawe Ashton), a soldier from the future who is off in space fighting Daleks. Clara (Jenna Coleman) off-handedly mentions it’s funny she’s a soldier named Blue, because she just met a soldier named Pink.
Except there’s no such thing as coincidence on “Doctor Who.” So is Danny an ancestor? Did he fight with Journey? And perhaps, given where we leave Journey, with her being denied access to the TARDIS on the basis that she’s a soldier, how connected are the two after all?
Also: Journey Blue wants to travel on the TARDIS, which is a blue box that goes on journeys? A little on the nose there, Mr. Moffat (or maybe named that way by Danny Pink because he’s her father from the past??????????)
3. A Star Is Born?
It could be an entirely random detail, but Rusty the Dalek being inspired to change his crazy ways by seeing a new star being born is exactly the sort of detail “Doctor Who” likes to wrap back around to. It may be nothing, as The Doctor even says that new stars are born every day. But what if this star is something that The Doctor causes later/earlier on?
4. Is The Doctor A Good Dalek?
Adrian Rogers, ©BBC/BBC Worldwide 2014
And here we get to the major thrust of the season: is the Doctor a good man? Clara tells him, “I don’t know,” by the end of the episode, and that seems to be the M.O. for Twelve. Capaldi is far gruffer than any of the New-”Who” Doctors before him, and even lets a man die this episode. That’s something we certainly haven’t seen since the series rebooted in 2005, and points to the idea that Rusty might be correct. Maybe this new Doctor is a better Dalek than Timelord.
5. Is That The Last Of Rusty?
Adrian Rogers, ©BBC/BBC Worldwide 2014
No way. You can’t have a Dalek whose sole purpose is to destroy other Daleks, and just never have him show up again. It may not be this season, but we’d place good money on seeing Rusty at least one more time.
6. What’s Up With Missy?
And here is the big, Bad Wolf of the season. Missy (Michelle Gomez) shows up yet again, to rescue Gretchen (Laura dos Santos) at the moment she dies, welcoming her to heaven with tea and cakes.
This is the second time Missy has “rescued” someone who died because of The Doctor, and took them to this mysterious paradise. There’s zero chance she’s on the side of the angels (pun intended), but just what is she up to, and why?
What did you think of “Into the Dalek?” And got answers to these questions? Let us know, in the comments below!
Alex Zalben
Writer/Editor at MTV News. You can follow him on Twitter, but not in real life because that would be weird.
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