Doctor Who – The Pilot

By: Sharon Kurack

It’s been entirely too long since traveling with the Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and the first episode promises a season of snark, laughter and (of course) “timey-wimey” misadventures. Aptly named The Pilot, it seems everything is beginning with a fresh start: The Twelfth Doctor (who may be referred to as Twelve at times) with a career as a college professor at St. Luke’s in Bristol, a lighter outlook with the Doctor. That also means a new companion in Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie), with whom the episode begins. Nardole (Matt Lucas) enters a professor’s office with what looks like a student at the university. The camera pans around (as the perspective of the “student,” Bill) to show the details (Easter eggs) of the office, including the iconic blue police call box with an “out of order” sign, framed pictures of both River Song and Susan Foreman, a cup holder of sonic screwdrivers and a statue of a raven. Too much homage for you? Wait, it gets better.

Enter the Doctor, or Capaldi’s version of Beethoven’s “Symphony 5” on the electric guitar serenading his entrance. All music aside, Twelve mentions that he has noticed Bill attending his lectures and questions why when she is not a student at the university. After a random (although amusing) story involving chips (fries to the American viewers) and a crush, Bill seems to skillfully avoid the question having a knack for banter and being as easily distracted as the Doctor. “Why me?” she asks, which is an iconic question for every companion. And we know that the Doctor never truly knows why, only who. As a result, Twelve is convinced and decides to tutor Bill daily about his lectures. Add more flair to Bill as she doesn’t ask that question, but an amusing alternative to it. (“Doctor what?”) This play on the “signs/requirements of the Doctor’s companion” continues in a humorous manner throughout the episode.

We continue with the Doctor in the middle of one of his infamous lectures on time. During this scene, we receive a little glimpse of what the Doctor has been up to since we left him and who Bill is. The Doctor seems to have retired from his time jumping ways, taking on a job as a professor at the university for fifty years, giving lectures on topics like the passage of time. Our glimpse into Bill’s life shows that she is rather normal compared to the past companions; we see her interact with her foster mother, as well as meet a girl named Heather at a club. It’s almost a fated meeting between Bill and Heather, as the two share intense eye contact, which shifts focus to a defect in Heather’s iris. In the span of moments, we learn that both the Doctor and Bill have been living somewhat normal lives.

Present day brings us to a curious Bill following Twelve after a lecture to a lower, darker alleyway, where he and Nardole are seen and overheard attempting to open what appears to be a Gallifreyan vault. (Anyone else question its purpose?) Nardole, who has vowed to take care of the Doctor emotionally after his recent losses, begins to question why he tutors Bill. This is similar to how Vastra questions Eleven (Matt Smith) when he met Clara in Victorian England. Bill, of course, can’t stay still and accidentally knocks something over loudly. Not wanting to lose her tutor, she leaves and runs into a distraught-looking Heather. Being the glass-half-full kind of girl, Bill inquires about what’s bothering Heather, asks about her eye while complimenting how unique it is; you know, small talk with your crush? Unfortunately, Heather turns out to be a rather “negative Nancy.” Still, she takes Bill to show her a spooky puddle that never dried up. (Romantic first date?) If you’ve seen “Wynonna Earp” you know NOT to look into or touch spooky puddles of goo. Though despite her own Netflix habits, Bill has not seen “Wynonna Earp” and looks at her reflection in the puddle, seeing nothing wrong amidst Heather’s opposite claim. Of course, before Bill could reassure her, Heather abruptly disappears. Worst. Date. Ever. Especially when we hear a Voldemort-like voice from the puddle saying, “Pilot is located; link is established.”

Time passes, as it so often does and we’re taken to Christmastime at the university. Bill gives the Doctor a rug for his office, bringing it to one of their sessions. Here you learn a bit more about Bill and Twelve’s softer side. Having no pictures of her birth-mother to date before her death, Bill mentions that she’s unsure if she even resembles her. Perhaps to presumably research this future companion more so than anything, the Doctor goes back to when Bill’s mother was alive and snaps a few pictures, which end up in a box of memories that Bill’s foster mother randomly finds one morning. It’s touching and gives more insight on Bill and Twelve and also shows how clever Bill is when she finds a picture with the Doctor in the background taking the photo.

Another session shows the rug now under the TARDIS (which can only be lifted by a crane, mind you), which Bill notices and questions. The Doctor plays it off, avoiding the question and Bill then leaves to find Heather staring at the puddle again like Narcissus. At this point, the girl is already possessed by something and beckons Bill again, who then makes Heather promise not to leave if she comes around to see the puddle. Of course, Heather breaks it by the time Bill arrives. (Talk about giving someone the slip…) Rather annoyed, Bill returns and vents to the Doctor, who becomes very interested in the puddle. So much so that he takes off in a run like a “penguin with its arse on fire.” Bill follows in true companion style, and it isn’t long before the Doctor concludes that the puddle isn’t reflecting, but mimicking. Wanting to keep Bill safe, Twelve ushers her off home, but it is already too late as the puddle had chosen its “passenger” to the “pilot.”

Bill returns to her flat to hear the shower running. Before we can safely assume it’s her foster mom, she calls Bill and explains that she’s out. Although no one is in the tub when Bill checks, there is water everywhere, including watery footprints to the shower stall. No one is in the shower stall either and, like a horror movie, when Bill checks the drain the “star eye” stares back at her. Back to the Doctor’s office Bill goes, with the water following her. In another creepy scene, Bill pauses in front of the building to see an extremely drenched, pale version of Heather staring back at her, repeating everything Bill says. Snapping out of it, Bill runs to the office and bolts the door with a chair. That doesn’t stop Heather from pulling an Alex Mack (kids, it was a show in the 90’s) and sliding under the door as water to reappear on the other side. To keep them safe, the Doctor brings Bill into the TARDIS (turning around the “out of order” sign now) and reassures her that she’ll always be safe inside. A few bantering cracks among him, Bill and Nardole and the TARDIS takes them to the vault from earlier to check if it had been disturbed. Turns out, whatever creature Heather is now is not after the vault, but continues to follow them, focusing on Bill.

They return to the TARDIS and travel to Sydney, Australia during the day. (Twelve is starting to show off a little methinks.) Sensitivity training with Clara comes in handy here as he checks how Bill is taking all of this. A lot of good questions that new fans might be asking show up here as well. (Like, why is TARDIS in English if it’s from Gallifrey?) The moment is interrupted as they are found again by Heather. Back into the TARDIS to travel 23 million years in the future to see if they can outrun the puddle. After talking it out for a few, Twelve concludes that the puddle and scorch marks around it are from a space engine, the puddle being the oil from shape-shifting fluid. It had seen something Heather needed/wanted (from her wanderlust) and latched on as its pilot. Where does Bill fit in this? Heather’s last conscious thought was her promise not to leave Bill again. Never underestimate a crush. Speaking of said crush, the puddle appears again, attempting to grab Bill, but fails as the Doctor and Nardole get to her in time and take the TARDIS to a place that has the “Deadliest fire in the universe.”

Dalek fire: Which has Twelve and Bill running to find a dalek in the midst of a war in the hopes the puddle would follow. Fortunately (or unfortunately?), they find a dalek, which shoots at them. (Oh, how the daleks have been missed.) Twelve and Bill dodge and watch as it hits Heather, who then turns into a dalek and mimics its movements. The now puddle-dalek returns its attention to Bill, but doesn’t shoot her. Rather, it morphs back into Heather, inviting Bill to join her again. In order to get the puddle to stop its chase, Bill has to release her from the promise and say goodbye. Against the Doctor’s warnings, Bill and puddle-Heather touch hands, resulting in Bill seeing the universe and everything that the liquid had seen. They do indeed say goodbye; however, and Bill returns to see Heather “puddle” out. Awkwardly, the Doctor brings them back to the university, but regardless of what Nardole says the Doctor always notices the tears.

Debriefing Bill isn’t easy, as Twelve wants to wipe her memory to protect her (and himself). After all, he has promises to keep and must do so undercover. However, Bill doesn’t want to forget the most amazing thing that had happened to her and begs the Doctor not to wipe her memory, turning the situation on him in a hypothetical question of “imagine how it would feel if someone did that to you.” Cue Clara’s theme because that is exactly what happened with his Impossible Girl. Choking on the memory, he does not wipe Bill’s, but chases her out…only to meet up with her outside. He invites her to travel with him, saying, “It’s a big universe; and maybe one day we’ll find her.” Boom. Out. Begin Bill and Twelve’s excellent misadventures.

Episode one is a perfect welcoming back to our Doctor. Twelve is a bit more fun and laid back, more sensitive yet still snarky, and most importantly, not alone. These future adventures with a spunky, snarky, honest companion will prove to be entertaining. Welcome back, Doctor. Welcome aboard, Bill.