Doctor Who (TV Series) Listen (2014) User Reviews

Capaldi has HUGE command as the Doctor. The stuff of Nightmares

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 18 September 2015]

The Doctor is hypothesising about creatures in the Universe, there are those with perfect attack, perfect defence, but are there those with perfect hiding? Clara's relationship with Danny continues to grow, awkwardly, and just after an uncomfortable date the Doctor seeks Clara's help to discover if they truly are alone. Are nightmares real, are there people hiding there in the Dark, is there anybody listening? The Doctor travels to the end of the Universe to seek answers.

The episodes asks some truly fascinating questions, I loved him talking about creatures having 'perfect hiding,' who'd know? brilliant.

I have to say it Capaldi's performance was utterly outstanding, he is hugely charismatic as the Doctor, he is totally owning the role. I didn't warm to Matt initially, he did fairly quickly win me over, but Capaldi, had me hooked. I'll say it again the dynamic between Peter and Jenna is wonderful to watch.

Favourite part for me of course, Clara's encounter with young Danny Pink, and 'The' bed scene, it was utter brilliance and truly scary. Scary doesn't always have to mean huge effects and big monsters. What this episode showed in the same way that Midnight did is that the fear of the unknown can be the most chilling thing there is.

I like how Clara is trying to carry on with normal life, and failing badly, it's cleverly done.

It's a fabulously written episode, I love every element of it, it is gorgeously produced, fabulously acted, and in my opinion one of the show's standout episodes. It's just sublime 10/10 Perfect.

Listen!

[NineTenElevenTwelve · 10/10 · 25 September 2014]

"Listen" is the rare exception where an episode can positively live up to all the hype and anticipation surrounding it. This is a beautifully written, chilling, thought-provoking episode that will most definitely go down as one of Capaldi's best.

After a few episodes of fluctuating personality traits, Peter Capaldi's Doctor finally starts to come into his own in this episode. From being cold and angry one minute to encouraging and friendly the next, Capaldi continues to be one of the most enjoyably unpredictable Doctors yet.

This episode not only helped me love Capaldi's Doctor that much more but it also increased my love for Clara Oswald. She is hands down one of my favorite companions of the show and this episodes exemplifies that ten- fold. Series 8 is definitely shaping up to be Clara's definitive season as her development in these past few episodes alone has been phenomenal. As is expected, her chemistry with the Twelfth Doctor continues to be a highlight.

Samuel Anderson also did a good job as Danny Pink. The character is really starting to grow on me and I can't wait to see how his relationship with Clara develops throughout the rest of the season. The rest of the episode's cast does a good job as well.

I don't want to give away too much but I will say that the monster of this episode is incredibly thought-provoking and chilling. And, lastly, the ending of this episode was easily one of the most beautiful endings in the history of the show.

Overall, "Listen" was an amazing episode with fantastic performances, great atmosphere, awesome twists, and a beautiful, thought-provoking resolution.

An Instant Classic

[Jambo77 · 10/10 · 4 February 2015]

Looking back on Listen a few months later, I can't help but fall in love with it again. It really is one of those episodes that entirely deserves to stand the test of time and become a classic. It just worked on so many levels of metaphor and text.

Note: I'll try to keep this review as vague as possible, but some mild mid-episode spoilers may come up so be warned...

I suppose that the key factor to making this episode into the masterpiece it is is the terrific new insights into the Doctor's character. In essence this story is a paradox. Clara essentially causes the events of this episode as a result of the older Doctor's sudden spur of insanity, which itself was a result of Clara's initial (or final) interference. An endless loop. Once you get your head around it you realise of course that the paradox is one of the many points Moffat is trying to make. I could go into it, but the plot really shouldn't be spoilt any further.

This story is also a wonderful showcase for all three leads. Jenna Coleman gets the easiest role here, playing the straight woman to Capaldi's increasingly insane Doctor and Samuel Anderson's multi-role as Danny/Orson. Anderson got a lot of credit in this episode, since fans seemed to take Capaldi for granted and Anderson was playing two roles, but I really think that this episode is Capaldi's strongest performance (other than Last Christmas maybe).

Overall this is the strongest episode of Capaldi's run so far. I've barely touched on Mackinnon's fantastic directing or the actual plot details (not that I'd dare spoil it), but essentially this episode is a thinker, and hopefully one that will survive as a classic episode for years to come. Really, it's up there with Dalek, Blink and Midnight (these one word episodes have a great track record!), and I imagine most fans feel the same way. A solid 10.

Unbelievably Good, Creepy, Unsettling... A Work Of Genius.

[zacpetch · 10/10 · 4 January 2015]

THIS is the episode to watch if you're (somehow) not convinced by all or any of the work done by Capaldi, Coleman and Moffat on Dr Who. The plot sees Clara on a date with Danny but she makes some comments about his time in the military and he ends the date. She is upset, but wait: Here's The 12th Doctor come to take her on yet another exciting adventure! He's convinced that there are monsters that can hide from you any time any place and he wants to find them.

After the trying-too-hard-to-be-funny format of "Robot Of Sherwood" it was good to be treated to this masterpiece; The naysayers cannot possibly watch this without having to undergo a much needed change of attitude. Moffat's script teases you at every turn. The Doctor wrote LISTEN on a chalkboard and forgot - OR DID HE? Another child is playing a joke on Rupert - OR ARE THEY? The ship's pipes are cooling down and it sounds like something banging on the door, but there's nothing out there - OR IS THERE? He did, they are, there's not. In that order.

But Moffat is saving his trump-card for the final scene when Clara meets a frightened child. She believes it to be Rupert. She is wrong: The child is, in fact, none other than... The First Doctor! This means the 1st Doctor has been played on screen by three actors now. We also get a nice shout-out to The War Doctor making an appearance via archive footage from "The Day Of The Doctor". The reveal that The Doctor's mysterious monster under the bed is Clara is something of a shock and the excellent soundtrack really hits you hard as she realises this.

This is truly a magical experience for Dr Who fans; It's good to have another properly scary entry to the series and any further back story for the enigmatic First Doctor is always welcome. This is everything Dr Who should be.

One of the most perfectly crafted hours of television I have ever seen

[pjgs200 · 10/10 · 29 June 2016]

Honestly, I can't think of what to say in this review except that Listen is one of the best episodes of television that I have ever seen. Aside from the fantastic acting, music, and directing, the writing is what really makes this episode work. Listen is the perfect blend of creepiness, ambiguity, humor, sci-fi, and utterly phenomenal moments, no matter how subtle, that really make you question whether television can get any better than this. Another thing I have to commend in this episode is the sound design. I don't think any other episode has used complete silence as well as this one, and the music, when there was any, was just beautiful. While I didn't like Clara much in series 7, her character is really developing this series and Jenna Coleman's performance in this episode is flawless. Peter Capaldi's performance as the Doctor here is equally as impressive, and this is easily his best episode yet. Douglas Mackinnon also deserves a mention for his sterling work on this episode. His directing really highlights the tension in the episode and drives the final 10 minutes home beautifully.

Doctor Who isn't a consistently great show. Every episode is usually good, but the level of quality varies a lot from story to story. Listen is one of those episodes that stands head and shoulders above the rest in every single aspect. Steven Moffat hasn't been perfect as a show runner, but you can't deny that Listen is a masterpiece of the highest order and one of Doctor Who's best ever episodes.

A 10/10 if there ever was one.

Worth listening to, and watching over and over

[tomh1138-1 · 9/10 · 15 September 2014]

What a wonderfully creepy episode that had several jaw-dropping surprises.

I knew that the episode was designed to be scary, but I wasn't sure Moffat could pull it off; now we're *expecting* to be scared instead of being caught off guard, and the Silence (Silents?) weren't nearly as terrifying as Moffat hoped they were. But that silent figure on the bed, the undefined lump under the covers...oooh. Chills. Wonderfully done.

I love the fact that we never know whether or not there were even any monsters this time. Everything had two possible explanations. That made it all the creepier. But it's not just creepiness for its own sake (which would have been fine, too). It was a rich character piece. The Doctor is now so used to saving the world every week that if nothing is going on, he might just start inventing problems to solve.

This story required no prosthetics or effects for aliens, but in no way did it feel like just a "filler" episode. Instead, it's one of the best stories in several years.

When the figure in the astronaut suit unmasked, I thought that it was either going to be the Doctor or it was going to be the monster. I wasn't expecting Mr. Pink to be there, and the fact that it was a descendant was another good twist. And the figure in the bed turning out to be the young Doctor -- that was a real corker!

It seems like it should have been one revelation too many to find out that the Doctor returned to that barn when he was going to set off the bomb (as seen in "Day of the Monster"), but it wasn't. It makes absolute sense that if the Doctor thinks he's going to commit the most heinous crime in the galaxy that he would want to return to a place where he felt safe--or, alternatively, to return to confront old fears.

As for Capaldi: I've understood why the Doctor has been written and performed the way he has this season. Moffat seems to be trying to address long-term fans' complaints about the show: that the Doctor shouldn't be romantically involved with his Companions, that he should be more mysterious and unpredictable, that he should be more of an older mentor figure, and that he should be more cantankerous (this version seems to lean heavily on William Hartnell, Jon Pertwee and even the controversial Colin Baker). I wasn't bothered by any of the modern portrayals of the character, but a lot of fans were; this version of the character seems designed to address those issues.

Since the Doctor is now less sympathetic and knowable, the character that the audience now relates to is the Companion, and that's just as it used to be. This shift in the character dynamic has worked wonders for Clara, who previously was the dullest of all the modern Companions. I like her a great deal more this year.

Ironically, though, all of the aspects being put back into the Doctor--his grouchiness, his unknowableness--have meant that I hadn't really grown to like this Doctor yet. But then came this episode, and now I love the guy. His fears, his past, and especially the scene where Clara hugged him and he half-jokingly said not to (but let her do it anyway)...just terrific stuff.

The first three episodes were all solid (or four, depending on how you count the 2-hour premiere), but I wasn't really engaged with them. But with this one, Season 8 finally hits its stride. I'm now really excited for next week!

One of the best TV episodes of 2014. Utter perfection.

[ryanjmorris · 10/10 · 14 September 2014]

I feel I need to start this off by stating that I am a big fan of Moffat's era of Doctor Who. I am aware that he doesn't always get it right, but then again, neither did Russell T. Davies during his stint as show runner (farting green aliens, anyone?). When Moffat gets it wrong, it does begin to fall apart. Maybe the pressure of entire story arcs is too much, or maybe his ideas are too big for the show. Either way, let's examine his episodes before he became show runner. The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, The Girl in the Fireplace, Blink and Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead are all considered some of the best episodes since the show's revival in 2005. So now, for the first time since the third season, Moffat has written a standalone episode, not relating to a plot arc, that doesn't act as a season opener of conclusion of any sorts. And, just as you'd expect, it is nothing short of a masterpiece.

Moffat is an expert at crafting fear in a script, and Listen was no exception. The idea of playing on a nightmare "that everyone has" could have been risky, but Moffat plays it out with perfection. Much like most horror, fear comes from the unknown. In this case, it is the idea of something, or someone, hiding under your bed whilst you sleep. Listen doesn't really follow a basic plot structure, there is no defined beginning, middle or end. But it's all the better for it. Stripping the episode of a basic structure allows it to feel more natural, which, in turn, makes the horror increasingly effective. Almost the entire first half of Listen is played solely to evoke fear in the audience, and it does its job perfectly.

Capaldi is, yet again, even stronger here than we've seen him before; there's a strong possibility he will be everyone's favourite Doctor by the time Series 8 comes to an end. Coleman is incredible here, too. I went into Series 8 loathing Clara, and now she's becoming one of my favourite companions. Her character has developed so nicely so far, I hope this gets continued. But where Listen truly excels is in the direction it takes in the final fifteen minutes. The level of emotion and weight to the story spontaneously deepens, and whilst all suddenly becomes very clear, it simultaneously wraps up perfectly, with a conclusion so powerful it could rival 2006's Doomsday. There isn't really anything sad here, but the dialogue for the entire barn scene, matched with some clever tie-ins with previous episodes, makes a beautiful ending to a beautiful episode. Listen was perfect in every respect; the direction, the writing, the acting, the tone. This is exactly the kind of tone that Moffat should focus on more. As stated at the beginning of this review, I am a huge fan of Moffat's work on this show, and this was no exception. Listen is highly likely to be the best episode of the series, and will potentially go down as one of Doctor Who's very, very best.

Fled is that music:—Do I wake or sleep?

[boblipton · 10/10 · 13 September 2014]

The strongest stories of Doctor Who have been those that deal with childhood fears. Show runner Steven Moffat has shown a talent for creating new and creepy monsters, like the Gas-Mask Zombies of Season One, the Weeping Angels and the Silence. With this episode he tackles fear itself, not just in its classic childhood form -- is there something under the bed? -- but adult fears like dating and showing weakness: of being perceived as being afraid, especially by yourself; loss of control of your own fate; and what the future may bring. The script considers all of these, abetted by a creepy, discordant score and sound effects.

It also tackles the question "Doctor Who?" in a new manner. This season has not investigated the question in the in-joke fashion that the show's title suggests. Instead, the Doctor has gone on a quest of introspection, to find out who he is and how he can make himself a better person. That lends this story a quiet tone of terror that earlier, bigger, bluffer Doctors would have reduced to something tangible, definable and so not particularly scary.

The answer offered is almost satisfactory except... when everyone hides under the bed, what is that thing on top?

Amazing, Terrifying, Clever

[callumtrevitt · 10/10 · 13 September 2014]

Listen had elements of Classic Doctor Who and Modern Doctor Who. Both Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman put on a brilliant performance. This episode is real nightmare fuel for people of all ages, but the fact that there wasn't a solution to this story makes it even more scary - We'll be getting more links back to this episodes.

The fact that Danny Pink hasn't been introduced to time travel yet is clever. The links to Orson and Rupert in the episode are interesting. Just from seeing this episode, we can tell that Clara's character will be much better developed as well as the Doctor and Danny. In conclusion, This is one of Moffat's best.

Really good but they left out something

[eth-49946 · 8/10 · 4 July 2018]

Everything about this episode was great except one huge thing. WHAT WAS ON DANNY PINKS BED?! It's never answered and it annoys me. But looking past that it's a good episode

Listen.

[kikkapi20 · 10/10 · 13 September 2014]

Fantastic episode, certainly my favourite of this series and one of the best in a long while generally. Funny, creepy, intriguing and thoughtful. Top drawer stuff. Incidentally, did anyone else see an image of Abslom Daak - Dalek Killer on the monitor during the trailer for Time Heist? The last man on Earth sits alone in a room. There is a knock on the door." "The last man on Earth sits alone in a room. There is a lock on the door." For those who may not know he was (and possibly still is) a recurring character from the Marvel comic strips that used to appear in DWM years back. Capaldi,Coleman and Anderson were all great in this episode as usual. Top notch. Clever, atmospheric and moving

No Courage Without Fear...

[Xstal · 7/10 · 28 December 2021]

A creak in the night, that dials up the fright. Strange noises that you hear, that escalates the scare. Sensing somebody close by, that makes you want to cry. A pounding in your head, that amplifies the dread. The groaning in the attic, that conjures up the panic. Winds of impropriety, ratchet up anxiety. Noisy shadows dark and deep, elevate the dreaded creeps. A resonance that pesters, as your mind dissolves and festers.

The Clara Oswald show

[largeduck · 5/10 · 18 September 2014]

Giving this 5 out of 10 as the first half of the episode showed a lot of promise with a nicely dark build up. Also loving the new doctor, unpredictable and slightly edgy again with some dark undertones Peter Capaldi has the making to be one of thee best doctors ever.

That is all the good stuff, now for my little rant .. I am beginning to think the doctor has been relegated to being a bit part in his own show. The producers are so determined to make the companion (don't get me wrong Jenna is great) a strong character that they are forgetting the doctor is supposed to be the main element here. In the last few episodes he might as well not bothered getting out of bed for all the actual plot he played out. The shows canon is being rewritten such that Clara is the one that does all the work, thinks of most of the solutions and gets most of the best lines. If she could actually fly the Tardis they can get rid of the doctor altogether and we end up with another spin off - the Clara Oswald show.

Finally, (and this is a spoiler)

The doctor afraid of the dark??? What the flipping flip is that all about?

One of Moffat's best

[MrBubblesFtw · 10/10 · 13 September 2014]

As of its air date, this is the best episode in season 8. It starts off with the monologue Capaldi gave in the teasers of whether or not anyone's ever truly alone or if we all have a hidden constant companion that's with us wherever we go before taking the TARDIS to various character's pasts. The episode is executed very well; the pacing is excellent and the writing is top notch. My only complaint about this was that it spent too much time focusing on Clara's relationship with Pink, a fellow teacher at her school. It's not one of those pointless relationships that are shoehorned for the sake of having romance- it actually plays a fairly important role in the plot, but it was pretty frustrating to segway from The Doctor's quest to find the apex hider for some romantic banter that quite honestly, no one really cares about.

It's a Moffat episode with his usual emotion and excellent dialogue, but without any of the gaping plot holes or extravagance that have become synonymous with his name (although the constant lens flare near the end was pretty annoying).

Haunting

[Meven_Stoffat · 9/10 · 13 September 2014]

It's been a budding practice since the series' revival in 2005 that Doctor Who has had a slower, less CG-heavy money-saver episode twice every season. Of course, these are known as "bottle episodes", where an episode is written with a small cast and set in very few locations to save money. However, this even goes back as far as the classic era, with a bottle episode being added to the beginning of the story "The Mind Robber", Well, it looks like we have already reached that four episodes into the eighth series, and not only does this practice usually allow for more tension, but it in this episode's case, it's allowed for a very complex plot. And strangely enough, it's the best episode in the season so far. Here, Moffat has gone back to his more psychological roots that showed in episodes under Russell T. Davies' running such as "The Girl in the Fireplace" and "Blink", and that's why the episode is so great- Moffat knows what can creep us out and he uses very little do do so, achieving a great amount of creepy tension.

The Doctor suffers a tiny mental breakdown in the TARDIS from spending so much time alone, and begins questioning what happens when he's alone, and if he's really alone at all, period. Admit it, you sometimes feel that way too. After a bad date with Danny Pink, Clara finds herself in The TARDIS once again, with The Doctor asking her about dreams she's had and if she's ever faced a threat under the bed. They end up at Danny Pink's childhood home in Gloucester, an orphaned children's home, and all three end up facing a fear of Danny Pink's: an unwelcome ghostly presence. But there's more to it than this: The Doctor is still afraid of something that has been troubling him- being alone in the dark. Which ends up in them at the end of the universe, facing a threat that scares The Doctor to no end. Alright, given how complex and easy to spoil the plot is, that's what I can say about the plot without outright giving the whole damned thing away. The episode really must be seen to be described. The episode perfectly mixes creepy suspense and disturbing tension with laughs and even emotional value too.

As I mentioned earlier, the episode is a lot slower, and more psychologically-based, which is something we haven't seen from Steven Moffat in a long time. A common criticism of how he's written while show-running was being a bit more bombastic, and while I've liked nearly all of what he's done, it's nice to see him write a story based on childhood fears again- I mean, the guy once made us afraid of friggin' statues. And so seeing him handle the topic of being alone was a joy, and he brought his usual charm to the episode. In fact, he also made me cry, even, with the final scene. Of course, you know what it is, if you've seen it, but it's a very powerful and emotionally compelling scene, and even gives a shout- out to a previous incarnation of The Doctor. It's hard to describe without giving it away outright. And it's sold by a brilliant performance from Jenna Coleman. Speaking of performances, Peter Capaldi really has come into his own as The Doctor, and in this episode, especially shows us The Doctor's more emotional and raw side. And yes, Samuel Anderson is in this episode again as Danny Pink- this time I didn't find him so annoying like I did in "Into the Dalek". How often have you heard a Whovian say that?

In short, this is definitely a welcome return to form for Moffat, and also a welcome return to a slower and more thoughtful "Doctor Who", in addition to being the best episode in no while. It's haunting and very emotional. If the series continues its consistent streak it's been on lately, then we are definitely in for the best series in a while. Of course, next week is a more adventure-based episode, and seeing as this show has gotten away with being anything from action to horror to a post-modernist black romantic comedy, as long as it's good is what really counts.

One of the best Doctor Who episodes of all time

[raheembutt07 · 10/10 · 14 September 2014]

This episode is by far one of the best we have seen from the show. If you think about the episode as a whole, it flows and there is some brilliant acting from The Doctor and Clara. When I watched it for the first time, I was truly convinced by the characters and the 45 minute episode was, at some parts, very tense and gripping.

At the start, the Doctor discussing to himself, the theory of evolution and then he began to make creepy comments such as 'the reason we talk to our self when we are alone is because we know we are not alone'. From the start we are gripped and this tension doesn't stop for any point in the episode.

We also start to learn more about Danny Pink and we see him as a child, living in a Gloucester children's home. This scene itself is quite spooky as it is dark at night and the absolute silence during the whole 10 minute scene is terrifying.

The best part of the episode, which I'm sure you already know, is the part where Clara visits the Doctor as a child, sleeping in the barn (the barn the War Doctor visits in the 50th Anniversary special) and is terrified of the dark and sleeping at night. Clara reassures him and tells him how fear is in everyone and fear makes you strong and kind. She also mentions how he will visit this barn again in many years time, very nervous as he will have to make a huge decision (Time War).

Everyone who watches the show knows that this episode is amazing and those people who have scored it less than 7 are just trying to look cool and different. Maybe you should watch the episode again to understand that it is one of the best in the series, hence why it has such a high rating (9.4)!!!!!

Moffat Listens to the Fans

[edex12 · 9/10 · 13 September 2014]

Finally, in fifty years worth of TV adventures, with 'Listen,' by veteran writer and showrunner Steven Moffat, we get the first insight into the Doctor's childhood. Or did we?

As watchers are aware, Moffat's writings are constantly through a mesh screen and all is not what it seems. This may have been the Doctor's troubled upbringing, but it could easily be the Master's. In 2008's 'The Sound of Drums,' we received a short look at the Master's early life. I am most likely wrong and the idea will probably not be dealt with again, but a possible Moffat-twist would have this being Clara talking to the Master and not the Doctor at all, setting up his inevitable return (one can only hope that when the Master eventually returns, and he will, that he is played by Charles Dance.)

'Listen,' is easily one of the most entertaining episodes of Doctor Who I have seen in recent times and those who say that Moffat is a writer who has past his prime should think again. We have all the necessary Doctor Who we need – Capaldi being awesome as the Doctor, stealing people's coffee whilst having a careful divide between shouting and being kind, a storyline to develop the character of Clara and introduce more backstory for Danny (Rupert)Pink, a really creepy bit in a children's home involving the scariest use of a bedsheet in history, a totally unexpected flashback to Gallifrey which made me seriously go, "Wha…wha…wha…wah…wa…" and a surprise cameo (via stock footage) by John Hurt's incarnation of the Doctor, who seriously needs more media appearances.

Fair enough, I still have my questions like, "What actually was the bedsheet monster?" and "Why was Danny Pink's relative wearing a Sanctuary Base suit from 2006's 'The Impossible Planet/ The Satan Pit'?" but I'll give Moffat the benefit of the doubt and hope that they are explained at a later date (unless of course they were and I wasn't paying full attention – it is a Saturday night and I'm tired.) The Doctor's jumper aside, I genuinely think that this was one of the best episodes of this series and if the brilliant writing continues, we should have one of the best series of NuWho yet.

Remember, Listen.

Absolutely Amazing!!

[masonbingley2000 · 10/10 · 14 September 2014]

I adored this episode, even if the initial plot seemed unresolved, the fear and overall power to the episode overwhelmed me! It was one of the scariest episodes since the Series restarted in 2005 and showing some really beautiful scenes with Clara and Danny.

The episode also makes fun of Clara and the Doctor a lot showing their sarcasm and relationship around each other. The Barn scene was so emotional and i really was not expecting it to be the Doctor, Great links, superb cast and phenomenal story/plot. Is there any one actually under the bed? The best episode of Series 8 by far. Peter Capaldi is becoming one of my favorite Doctors of all of them. I can not wait for next week, Listen was utterly amazing.

A Surprisingly Excellent Episode

[georgesepiclife · 10/10 · 6 November 2015]

Wow, now this was a surprise. Series 8 is definitely very up-and down like previous series, but "Listen" is a triumph from beginning to end.

First of all, "Listen" legitimately scared me, which is something NuWho does not do very often. In fact, I think "Listen" ranks very close to "Midnight" in terms of scariness. I was very happy that the monster was not revealed, because the best fear is the fear of the unknown.

What's even more surprising is that "Listen" was written by Steven Moffat who usually writes scripts that are either too clever for their own good or lack substance to fill the full forty-five minutes. "Listen" is clever for sure, but at the same time it is self-contained and is very focused.

"Listen" is an instant classic. There is tension and suspense throughout and the overall tone is dark and unnerving. What's great is that unlike a lot of episodes, "Listen" takes itself seriously all the way through and there are no silly scenes that leave the audience cringing like in the previous episode, "Robot of Sherwood".

In typical Moffat fashion, there is a massive twist at the end of the episode, but it all makes sense and it doesn't just seem like it's there for the sake of it. Moffat seems to have really thought this episode out, and it is executed perfectly. Capaldi gives a very chilling performance, and this is supported by Coleman and Anderson's performances.

What is under the bed?

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 14 September 2014]

As this episode opens we find The Doctor ruminating on the possibility of a creature which is determined to remain hidden. He wonders whether such a creature would be the sort children fear are under their beds waiting to grab their legs when they get up… only for the whole experience to be written off as a dream. To explore further he goes to see Clara, who has just had a disastrous date with Dan the (ex) Soldier Man. He asks her whether she has had such dreams then connects her to the Tardis so that it will go to the point where she had the dream. Things don't go according to plan and they end up visiting Dan's childhood, the far, far future with one of Dan's decedents and ultimately to The Doctor's own childhood before we learn the truth.

After last week's frolics in Sherwood Forest it is time for another delightfully creepy episode; and not one that involves scary monsters that we've seen in previous stories. Instead we have something from our childhood fears; the possibility that we are never truly alone; that something unknown lurks nearby; under the bed, round the corner or in the cupboard. We don't even need to know whether such a creature would be dangerous; the possibility of its existence is creepy enough. Viewers who aren't keen on Clara and Dan's growing relationship are likely to be disappointed as everything suggests they are going to become a couple. Writer, and show runner, Steven Moffat has provided quality story here, and director Douglas Mackinnon and the cast have wonderfully delivered it to our screens; a great episode for those of us who like a few good scary moments in the series.

Moody. Cool. But a little too clever.

[WeeClaude · 8/10 · 6 October 2014]

I'm not a huge fan of 21st-century Doctor Who, but I must admit, I admired this episode.

The first half of "Listen" contains some of the best scenes in the show's history. The prologue - which focuses on the Doctor talking to himself in the TARDIS - sets the scene beautifully, and has a nice creepy vibe. Later, there's an extended sequence in a children's home that's both eerie and fascinating.

The highlight comes when the Doctor reassures a child who has been scared by a monster, by explaining how fear and adrenaline actually make the kid stronger. It's a very cool speech - one of the best ever written for the Doctor - and it's quite touching to see the character comfort a child. But thankfully, the comforting isn't too sentimental; like a true scientist, the Doctor gets the kid excited about his fight-or-flight response to the monster.

Unfortunately, the storyline then proceeds to lose its way, becoming too self-consciously clever as it goes along. The ending is contrived, and there's some weird time paradoxes and coincidences that just don't work for me. I think "Listen" would've worked better had the story been kept simple, but Steven Moffat seems to honestly believe that Doctor Who plots get better the more convoluted they are. They don't, as a rule.

Another slight limitation of the episode is that it's very meta-fictional. The whole thing is an exploration of the irrational childhood fear of monsters under the bed; and this irrational fear is self-consciously linked to the appeal of Doctor Who itself, a show that's best-known in England for scaring kids. But this doesn't quite work for me, for several reasons: (a) I don't remember ever being scared of phantom monsters under the bed, so I can't fully relate to the theme; (b) I don't agree that the primary function of Doctor Who is to scare kids; and (c) Doctor Who villains, generally speaking, represent real and present dangers (militarism, prejudice, etc.) and are not just phantom bogeymen. In short, this episode's deconstruction of Doctor Who falls somewhat outside my personal interpretation of the show, and seems a little simplistic to me.

Still, that doesn't detract much from the fact that this is an atmospheric, well-directed episode with some solid scares and a handful of hilarious jokes. Perhaps the best part is Peter Capaldi; he gives one of the greatest-ever performances as the Doctor here, and recaptures the character's essential qualities of genius and witty humor that were (ahem) largely absent from Smith and Tennant's interpretations.

If only series 8 stayed this good! Unfortunately, none of the subsequent episodes aired to date can touch "Listen." Though imperfect, this is a very good story that is sadly surrounded by inferiors.

Great on the Surface...

[Robinson2511 · 7/10 · 14 May 2016]

I think it's safe to say that Listen is just typical Steven Moffat writing, a collaboration of clever ideas that play on your everyday experiences and emotional narratives involving interesting characters and situations. Listen works really well at face value, and it's only when you look a little deeper that you can see a few problems.

But let's focus on the good stuff: Listen has some really top-notch direction which is atmospheric and spooky at the same time, the scenes in the children's home are really nicely done, such as the scene with Clara under the bed, and the Doctor taking and caretaker's coffee.

Moffat's writing is truly brilliant, there are some lines that really pop and this writing works so well with the 12th Doctor. Peter Capaldi does a brilliant job with this script, bringing emotion and a great sense of energy to the role. Jenna Coleman does a great job too, with that wonderful sense of emotion in her eyes that she delivers in every scene. Samuel Anderson is great too, showing the sense of humour, wonder, and worry brilliantly throughout his performance.

I also love the premise that Steven Moffat develops throughout this story. The Doctor's on the hunt for a creature that is impossible to detect, and believes that the only possible way it can be sensed, is in those few moments when we talk to ourselves. I love this. This is a clever idea which is really well realised, and it makes for some very clever moments. The resolution is real nice too: there was never anything there, the Doctor was just afraid of the dark! This however leads me to some problems I have with this episode...

While Listen is very clever, it's also completely unoriginal. There is nothing in this episode that hasn't already been done several times in the revived series of the show. The Doctor and Clara head to the end of the universe, just like in Utopia, the creature under the bed, just like in The Girl in the Fireplace, what about the "Don't Look Round" line from The Impossible Planet, and the Doctor influencing someone's childhood just like Amy and indeed, Clara.

Also, the Doctor going back to influence Danny's timeline makes him feel less interesting than he could've been had he just been a soldier with an bad past. The fact that he's been reduced to the same level as so many other companions from the past, removes the chances of proper character development later on.

Steven Moffat has tried this story-telling technique several times in the past, and while it does usually work, and it makes for some nice moments here, I can't help but feel that it's getting old now. Moffat used to be really good at giving us a story full of interesting deep characters plenty of emotional weight that helps us connect to them. Now though, they seem to be instruments specifically designed to make an otherwise simple narrative artificially complex and awkward to follow.

Also, the revelation that the creature was completely in the Doctor's head is a good idea, and had it not been for the children's home scene, it would've worked, but the scene in the children's home with something sitting on Danny's bed shows us something completely non-human. Look at this creature under the blanket, it is not human, listen to the sounds it's making, the movements it's making, it is not human, and when it takes the blanket off even from the blurred image, you can tell it is not human.

As I say, I like Listen, but it has problems. Despite a lack of originality and the artificially complex narrative, Listen is visually entertaining and very well written. This is one of the most intelligent episodes of the series, with a few story problems sadly dragging it down.

Listen is good, but it could've been better.

A Giant Erection In A Boy's Bed And Other Ridiculousnesses

[pontram · 16 September 2014]

Sorry to the fans and to everyone who thinks this was Doctor Who at it's best. It wasn't. It was the worst, for me, as one who learned to love this show with the Matt Smith era.Of course I know that every person does expect his/her own things from this show. I expect to be thrilled, to be excited, to be amused, to be intelligently entertained etcetera etcetera. None of this happened, but why ?

Well, In the beginning, it went all fairly good. Besides, on a date, have you ever experienced, or even heard of two persons who both are destroying their date so perfectly, and are supposed to have a common future (as lovers) ? OK, it's a story, so it was at least a bit funny. But not much, because they fell into aggressive behavior against each other, which would lead to a lot of unedifying quarrel if they would come together as a couple after all (against all odds) in the show's future.

Next, The Doctor is suspecting something evil (or at least, scary) behind every person, a living nightmare that follows us when we are alone, or when we are children... Good ! Creepy ! What do we do to find out where the enemy hides ? - Right, traveling into Clara's past.

Because she is distracted during the process, they do not meet Clara herself as a child, but her date, her teacher colleague Mr. Pink, in his childhood. And from this point on, the story, the actors, the dialogs and every struggle to make a good episode, all are utterly wasted.

Something is on the boy's bed, something scary. It's erecting...standing up... and I had to laugh so much, because it looks like a big big erection, a gigantic morning wood, despite it happens in the evening. That took most of the atmosphere for me at this moment, but it is followed by an all painful ...nothing. Nothing at all but empty sentences, like "fear is a superpower" and so on.

Was this an episode for children ? - Maybe it's a try to help them, but children do not fear the dark, that is from an other time (I for myself do fear it, but none of my children, for example, they do fear getting up early in the morning). And the Doctor, being very old, he feared the dark as a child, too. He was full of fears. And he suppressed or forgot his fears, until now. So, grown ups are full of fears, too. Yes.

But instead of perpetuating this idea, instead of giving it a substance, a Lovecrovtian "something is luring behind that edge", or whatever makes a Dr. Who episode exciting, the writers refused to do anything about, but led us to nothing, in a complete non-exciting way.

I was very rarely ever bored with Doctor Who, except for the stale Dalek theme. This episode bored me nearly to death. Sorry.

Orson Welles

[hoytyhoyty · 2/10 · 14 September 2014]

You'll notice I've given it two stars - yes, I'm being generous for once.

Nawwww, it came soooooo close to being good, then became soooooooooo crap.

For the first half both my partner and I were sitting forward, doing an "Ally oop! This one might actually be *good* ....!" Could it be? At last!? It built beautifully, it became macabre, it became down right spooky... It pulled the most ridiculous time-travel plot device out of its rear-end - we gritted our teeth and persisted...

It went splat.

During the - ho ho - 'ending', I felt fast-forward-frenzy, but my partner wouldn't let me, it was more fun to laugh at Clara's absolutely idiotic monologue.

Orson Welles suffered a major problem in his work. He did all his best material at the start of his career - then simply ran out of ideas. After that, his output was mediocre to rubbish.

Stephen Moffat, sadly, is obviously an artist who has suffered the same fate. The bright ideas in Coupling, the dark fable of Jekyll, the handful of good Who's ... that was his lot. There are no more envelopes and restaurant napkins in his bottom drawer.

Of course, this happens to the best of us. And the thing to do is to immerse oneself in a different place, a different crowd, to knock brains with those from different artistic streams. To go out and see the world, and come back with a swag of notions.

It appears that the BBC will not let this happen. In its new, hyper-insular corporate form, all it seems to be able to do now is stifle talent and punish genius.

As this series gently writhes on its death-bed, I can hear it faintly calling out: "Philip Hinchcliffe... Robert Holmes... Chris Boucher... for gods sakes Charlie Brooker... all come save me, save me please..."

Or maybe I was mistaken, and it was just ...

"Rosebud"

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Update: Episode 5, 'Time Heist'

Oh wowy wow... It took 5 episodes but we finally got one bordering on GOOD! Hope hope hope hope hope....

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Update: nope, we're back to the crap. Oooh, take a look at the haters on this post! The BBC's hack department must be flat-out on every review channel it can find. "Oh god, Stephen's written another clanger. Quick, everybody on deck, maximum overtime and no weekends until further notice - get out there and tell everyone how good it is before they realise how bad it is!"

Best 12 Episode

[caraince · 10/10 · 28 June 2023]

Without a shadow of a doubt, Listen is Peter Capaldi's and Moffat's best episode. It is absolutely terrifying, so we'll written and performed. Even after seeing it countless times, I get goosebumps. However, for me, this episode was it. Nothing could top it, and while some other 12 eps are good, they don't come to this level. I've always favoured the opinion that 13 isn't that good of a Doctor, and that changing Clara's character and storyline was one of the worst mistakes that Doctor Who ever made, and I've never quite forgiven them for it. But this episode? Yeah, it's cool, it's good, it gives you nightmares.