# Doctor Who (reboot) S08E09 -- Flatline (boxed spoilers until aired) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654 "2014-10-18T03:16:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/1 "2014-10-18T03:16:20Z")
The Rule: no unboxed spoilers until after this episode airs on the west coast of the USA (i.e., “Pacific Time” [sorry Alaska/Hawaii]. In other words, boxed spoilers until 3:00 AM UTC). BBC synopsis: Clara goes against an enemy that exists beyond human perception. Link to BBC One page with 4 trailers and a cast-led “introduction” to the episode: [BBC One - Doctor Who, Series 8, Flatline, Doctor Who: Introduction to Flatline](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p028sc7n). WATCH AT YOUR OWN RISK. Some of the videos may spoil important plot points. Link to thread discussing the previous episode: [Doctor Who (reboot) S08E08 -- Mummy on the Orient Express (boxed spoilers until aired) - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737004) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/2 "2014-10-18T20:22:09Z")
That was excellent in so many ways, the highlight being The Addams Family bit ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/3 "2014-10-18T21:56:13Z")
Anyone else having flashbacks to the video for Take On Me, by A-ha? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/4 "2014-10-19T01:23:50Z")
I liked it quite a bit, though I don’t know what to make of the little tag at the end. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/5 "2014-10-19T02:21:18Z")
I liked that one quite a lot 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MG1692](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@MG1692](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MG1692)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/6 "2014-10-19T02:31:05Z")
Yeah definitely a keeper, perhaps one of the best of the season so far. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/7 "2014-10-19T02:47:57Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I liked it quite a bit, though I don’t know what to make of the little tag at the end. Looks like Clara’s back to being a plot element rather than a character. Bit of a shame; on othe other hand, she’s generally thought to be done after this season, so I guess it’s moot. In general, a standout episode in a season that has been, IMO, full of standout episodes. I was a bit trepidacious about this one–I knew it was a “Doctor light” episode, so I wasn’t really looking forward to it. Yep, I feel silly now. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/8 "2014-10-19T02:51:56Z")
I enjoyed this very much. The plot has some holes that kids will probably be able to overlook (even if I couldn’t). We Whovians need to lobby the BBC and the production company to hire Mathieson on as head writer. The Doctor: These readings are very, um…ishy. Argh! Why is the annoying jerk _always_ one of the survivors?!? Can any of our UK 'Dopers let us know how the actors did on the Brummie accents? I’ve read it’s a “notoriously difficult” accent to imitate. I laughed every time I saw the Doctor’s hand coming out of the TARDIS in Clara’s tote. Don’t know whether it “means something” or if it’s a mistake, but the Doctor said “we” a lot in this episode. E.g., “[The MotW]'s trying to understand us.” “I think that is how the creatures saw us.” “…do they [the MotW] know they’re hurting us?” “TWOdis”? Really, Doctor? Is _that_ the best name you could come up with? Watta doofus. OMFG, what a ginormous lie Clara told Danny! And we know he knows she lied to him! The Addams Family escape plan had me howling with laughter–and on the edge of my seat with worry at the same time! Train driver: Is this official? 'Cause I’ve always wanted to ram something. When Rigsy starts driving the train (to ram the blockage) Clara says some sarcastic things about a hair band. I got the feeling that she was saying more than what I understood during that dialog. Anybody want to wax poetic about it and tell me what went over my head? About Missy’s comment: was she watching Clara in real time (whatever that is in the DW universe!)? If you’ve seen the 50[sup]th[/sup] anniversary show, _The Day of The Doctor_, the following will not be a spoiler. If you have yet to see it, don’t spoiler yourself. I think Missy’s comment ties in to Clara’s first visit to the Black Archives at UNIT HQ (under the Tower of London) which Kate Stewart referenced, but Clara didn’t know about. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/9 "2014-10-19T04:29:07Z")
I think this was the best episode so far. Just the right amount of action, humor, and sense of danger. My only complaint is an enemy that just starts attacking for no discernible reason. When Missy talked about picking Clara I wonder if that meant that maybe Missy is [the Valeyard](http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/The_Valeyard). Probably not, but it would kind of cool if he appears in Nu-Who. ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/10 "2014-10-19T05:02:23Z")
[QUOTE=Nobody] {snip} My only complaint is an enemy that just starts attacking for no discernible reason. {snip} [/QUOTE] The “Bonemen” didn’t have enough power to enter/develop the 3[sup]rd[/sup] dimension until something as powerful as the TARDIS came to earth. Then they could start “leaching” dimensional energy off it. At least, that’s how I understood it. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Galwegian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galwegian/32/3426_2.png) [@Galwegian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galwegian)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/11 "2014-10-19T08:28:41Z")
Loved the episode as well, especially the comic moments: Clara pulling a sledge hammer out of her bag, the foreman only seeing a blank sheet of paper, the Addams Family, the Doctor trying to point out directions through the tiny door. I didn’t recognise the writer: has he done any previous episodes? I’m still finding it difficult to adjust to Capaldi in the role, but now with two half decent episodes in a row, I’m finally beginning to warm to him. > [@Toucanna](#): > > Can any of our UK 'Dopers let us know how the actors did on the Brummie accents? I’ve read it’s a “notoriously difficult” accent to imitate. They were Bristol accents rather than Brummie. Sounded accurate to me, but I imagine that they just cast Bristol actors. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/12 "2014-10-19T08:33:38Z")
> [@Toucanna](#): > > The “Bonemen” didn’t have enough power to enter/develop the 3[sup]rd[/sup] dimension until something as powerful as the TARDIS came to earth. Then they could start “leaching” dimensional energy off it. At least, that’s how I understood it. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong. They started flattening people before the Doctor came. He came during the middle of an invasion. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/13 "2014-10-19T08:38:13Z")
> [@Galwegian](#): > > I didn’t recognise the writer: has he done any previous episodes? He’s only done two episodes and the first one was Mummy on the Orient Express. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/14 "2014-10-19T08:58:23Z")
> [@Toucanna](#): > > When Rigsy starts driving the train (to ram the blockage) Clara says some sarcastic things about a hair band. I got the feeling that she was saying more than what I understood during that dialog. Anybody want to wax poetic about it and tell me what went over my head? I don’t feel like transcribing the exact dialogue but it was along the lines of “I was just going to use this hairband. It’s a real shame, I love this hairband. But, you know, if you really want to do this I’ll look at this hairband and think of the hero who saved it every time.” ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/15 "2014-10-19T12:15:35Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > I don’t feel like transcribing the exact dialogue but it was along the lines of “I was just going to use this hairband. It’s a real shame, I love this hairband. But, you know, if you really want to do this I’ll look at this hairband and think of the hero who saved it every time.” I think it was closer to “Every time I wear this hairband, I’ll think of the hero who died to save it”, but wait for the actual transcript. That was my favourite bit of dialogue in the episode. It was basically a snarktastic bit of “Doctor” monologue coming out of the mouth of Clara. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/16 "2014-10-19T13:12:20Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > He’s only done two episodes and the first one was Mummy on the Orient Express. And I believe his blog indicates he is done working for the show. Shame. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/17 "2014-10-19T15:22:04Z")
I loved this episode! I know, I keep saying that, but I’m so impressed with Capaldi and the writing this series. After the pretty-lackluster last Matt Smith series, this one is such a breath of fresh air. I especially loved the end, when the Doctor came out of the TARDIS with guns (figuratively) blazing. Now _that’s_ the Doctor I want to see! I think this is one is tied with “Listen” for my favorite. I like Clara so I don’t mind how much of her we’re seeing, though I do have to admit I’d like to see some more episodes with more Doctor and less Clara. I think Capaldi has now achieved “tie” status with David Tennant for me, and that’s something I wouldn’t have thought possible prior to this series. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/18 "2014-10-19T16:17:02Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > And I believe his blog indicates he is done working for the show. Shame. Just for this season I think. It looks from his blog that he successfully pitched Flatline, and they liked it so much they offered him the Mummy one as well. Given the fan reaction to these two episodes, I hope he can do some next year - he “gets it”. ---
**Author:** ![Natlaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a88e57/32.png) [@Natlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Natlaw)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/19 "2014-10-19T16:56:00Z")
> [@Toucanna](#): > > The “Bonemen” didn’t have enough power to… You mean the “Killer Graffiti”? - though we’ll have to think of a better name for them than that! 🙂 For me this is the first episode of this season which is just plain awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Galwegian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galwegian/32/3426_2.png) [@Galwegian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galwegian)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654/20 "2014-10-19T17:19:36Z")
I think the Doctor called them “The Boneless”. Also, nice shout out to Matt Smith: “This plane is protected.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-reboot-s08e09-flatline-boxed-spoilers-until-aired/701654.md?page=2)