Doctor Who season 8, episode 5 shows us how to rob the most secure bank in the universe.
Steven Moffat co-penned an episode that shows us just how devious the Doctor can be.
As Clara gets ready for a date with Dan, the Doctor receives a phone call that leads to a memory wipe and two new members of the team. Si is a hacker and Sabra is a shapeshifter.
A mysterious man called the Architect sends the Doctor and his new companions to break into a bank that cannot be broken into. There is little known about the mission except that the bank will incinerate anyone who doesn’t belong.
The Teller is a creepy alien that can telepathically determine if someone has criminal intent. The consequences are frightening, as the Teller can turn your brain to soup. One man is detected and buys the team some time as they move to the bank vault and continue on a mission they know little about.
As they traverse through the bank from hell, they stumble upon the prison of the Teller. Unfortunately, the Teller locks onto Sabra and she chooses to end her life rather than suffer at the Teller’s hands. Later, as the Doctor, Si, and Clara attempt to break into the vault, Clara is tracked by the Teller. Si sacrifices himself to save her.
As the Doctor and Clara try to enter the vault, there is an issue with the lock. A solar storm hits and the Doctor realizes that not only have they been sent on a bank heist, but they’ve been sent back in time. Everything was planned from the future. When they enter the vault, there is a reward for each of them, but before the Doctor and Clara can get to private vault, they are caught. Luckily for them Si and Sabra aren’t actually dead and manage to rescue them.
When they reach the vault, they discover it has fine artwork and artifacts. They also discover that Kalabraxsos, who is the head of the bank, is the one who called the Doctor. In the end it is revealed that the Doctor was the Architect. The plan was for him to save the Teller and his mate, the last of their kind.
This episode didn’t answer any questions that have been building over the season but does leave the door open for the Doctor to have some new friends in Si and Sabra. The Doctor does make an odd comment about Clara’s date, almost like he is jealous of the time Clara is spending with Danny.
Next week’s episode sees the Doctor take a job at Clara’s school as John Smith!