“What’s that in the mirror… or the corner of your eye? What’s that footstep following, but never passing by? Perhaps they’re all just waiting. Perhaps when we’re all dead… out they’ll come a’slithering from underneath the bed.”

The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) begins a quest that has been a focus of his life, a mystery that, with the help of Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman), may bring more questions than it does answers… And the only way we can find out the truth, is to Listen…

During TARDISblend 75, we discuss our reactions to one of Steven Moffat‘s finest contributions to Doctor Who, a vast contrast to the previous episode. Later, we speculate on how some elements may tie into the overarching plot running through this current series.

All this and more on the latest TARDISblend!

Doctor Who
Season 8, Episode 3 “Robot of Sherwood”
Directed by Paul Murphy
Written by Mark Gatiss
Starring Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Tom Riley, Ben Miller
BBC America
Air Date: Saturday, September 6th, 2014

As we move through the third week of Doctor Who season eight, we continue to explore the identity of the Doctor and his relationship to Clara. Is it merely coincidence that William Hartnell’s third serial was a historical adventure about the journey of Marco Polo and episode three of Peter Capaldi‘s first season is a quasi-historical adventure about Robin Hood? It’s hard to know if Steven Moffat really is that much of schemer.

While the serial “Marco Polo” was the first serious attempt by the show to educate its audience about the past, “Robot of Sherwood” is more an examination of our expectations about the reality of the past in both the personal and historical sense. That applies to the history of the show itself, as much as the continuity of its characters or the history of the world they inhabit.

The roots of legend and folklore come to life, as the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) takes Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) to visit historic Sherwood Forest in 1190, only to find Robin Hood (Tom Riley) witness their arrival. But Robin Hood’s just a story… isn’t he?

During TARDISblend 74, we discuss our reactions to the latest episode written by Mark Gatiss, titled “Robot of Sherwood” – and compare to his previous writings on the series. Later, we speculate on how some elements may tie into the overarching plot running through this current series of Doctor Who.

All this and more on the latest TARDISblend!