Robot of Sherwood

I think some of you take this show a little too seriously. Was this episode any more ridiculous than half of the Sylvester McCoy episodes? I mean really...a giant killer candy man?

I think Peter Capaldi is doing a great job with the scripts he's being dealt. To be honest, I stopped watching this show as the Doctor got younger and younger. On top of that, Matt Smith's A.D.D., touchy-feely- kissy shtick was starting to make me nauseous. The Doctor isn't supposed to dish out hugs and kisses. It's just unnatural.

Anyway, regarding "Robots", I was secretly hoping the Sheriff (Ben Miller) would be taken over by the Master, especially since he looked exactly like Anthony Ainley. With Peter Capaldi's voice and mannerisms mimicking Tom Baker's, I think all this show needs now is new K-9 and it can be as addictive as it was in the late 70's.

I don't normally critique individual mid-series episodes of Dr Who but I absolutely loved this episode. I've seen almost every TV and cinematic representation of Robin Hood going back to Errol Flynn and this adventure paid due homage to all that history, condensing most of Hood's best-known stories into its 50 minute time-frame (the "Little John"-type encounter on the log over the river, the archery contest set up to trap Robin by the Sheriff of Nottingham and even climaxing in a sword-fight between them, which if not exactly up there in the Flynn/Rathbone class, still paid its due respects).

Underlying the story were subtle questions about the need for heroes and the power of legends, with the Doctor denying the efficacy of both until he realises by the end that the same fate awaits the remembrance of his own exploits in the future. Sensing a rival for Clara's attention (affection?) in Robin, whose fictional dreamboat he's always been, the Doctor is immediately querulous and doubting of his Lincoln Green attired rival. Several quick-fire exchanges take place between them with Clara usually having the last word until they both man-up to take on the nefarious Sheriff and his robotic henchmen.

Cleverly, the plot doesn't allow the inevitable alien-presence to overpower the story and there's another cryptic reference to the promised land to hold the viewer's attention until the series closer. Capaldi is now completely in character and relishing his role, Coleman, her puppy love now replaced by qualified respect is very good too. Perhaps it would have been nice to see more of Robin's Merry Men (Little John, for one, barely gets a line) but this overdue combination of the Doctor and Robin Hood already has the look of the series high-spot.

Watching NuWho I often find myself comparing it to how a story from the classic series would have structured the narrative . With Robot Of Sherwood by Mark Gatiss it's very easy to see how this story would have ended up if made from 1963-89

Episode 1 ) Introduces most of the major characters

Episode 2 ) More development of the story

Episode 3 ) Revelation of most of the mystery of the story and the villain's plan

Episode 4 ) Resolution of plot . Goodbyes are said

Here in a 45 minute episode the format constricts the story in to something unsatisfying . It's not a brevity of storytelling but a rather deeper problem . It's a somewhat frivolous episode which is something to be expected via the title , camp adventure with Robin Hood and his men but is there any need for the Doctor to join in the fun ? I loved Capaldi's performance from the last two episodes but here I wasn't impressed mainly due to the writing , and did we need a story featuring robots so soon after the droids from the season opener ? Get some new ideas Mr Moffat or change the running order of the season

Being 45 minutes it's the same format as a two episode story from the old show but again one can't feel in those days the production team would have developed the story better with dramatic pauses . Here however much of the so called drama is relegated to bickering dialogue between the Doctor and Robin . If you've got 45 minutes to play with concentrate on plot and don't waste it by having disposable scenes in dungeons . I did notice Gatiss trying to bring in a Marxist subtext with some of the dialogue and paint Robin Hood as a communist freedom fighter but it's hardly DOCTOR WHO at its most thought provoking and cerebral . The episode is almost ruined by some of the laziest resolution seen in an episode which leads you think if Gatiss had 30 seconds to resolve the story

In summary this is one of those episodes that you know in advance is nothing more than light disposable fun but you're still left with a nagging disappointment after seeing it . It's not quirky or funny enough to be genuinely amusing and it's not dramatic enough to be entirely serious enough . Perhaps worst of all it's not good enough to suspend your disbelief and comes across as 45 minutes of very disposable television

This was easily the funniest episode of Series 8 thus far. The banter between the Doctor and Robin Hood was definitely the highlight of the episode (Clara also got some pretty funny lines as well).

After two pretty dark and serious episodes, it was nice for this season to take a breather with "Robot of Sherwood". The Twelfth Doctor and Clara continue to be a fantastic duo and I'm always happy to see them together on screen. Sadly, Capaldi's Doctor doesn't have a lot to do in this episode but he's still entertaining to watch nonetheless. Clara continues to show her cleverness and wit and acts as a nice buffer between the bickering Doctor and Robin Hood.

The supporting cast is decent. Tom Riley and Ben Miller give pretty good performances as Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham respectively. The robot knights had a very cool, intimidating design but I personally feel they weren't used to their full potential.

Overall, "Robot of Sherwood" won't go down as one of my Series 8 favorites but it was still an entertaining episode with hilarious banter and some truly heartfelt, deep moments here and there.

This was still good. Worst episode so far this season, but it's still pretty good. I hope the season gets better.