The Magician's Apprentice / The Witch's Familiar
Directed by: Hettie MacDonald
Written by: Steven Moffat
Produced by: Peter Bennett
Episode: 2015-1 & 2 (was the second story produced, counting 2 parters as one story)
Production Block: Two
Original Transmission Detail
| Episode | Date | Time | Duration | Viewers | Audience App. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1: The Magician's Apprentice | 19th Sep 2015 | 7.44pm | 46'15" | 6.5m (13th) [BBC1/HD] 1.5m [iPlayer] 374k [Streaming] | 84% |
| 2: The Witch's Familiar | 26th Sep 2015 | 7.45pm | 47'48" | 5.7m (24th) [BBC1/HD] 840k [iPlayer] | 83% |
Both episodes repeated in special omnibus on 27 September 2015 on BBC One
International Air Dates:
United States: 19 September 2015 (1), 26 September 2015 (2)
Canada: 19 September 2015 (1), 26 September 2015 (2)
Australia: 20 September 2015 (1), 27 September 2015 (2)
New Zealand: 20 September 2015 (1), 27 September 2015 (2)
PLOT
'Where is the Doctor?' When the skies of Earth are frozen by a mysterious alien force, Clara needs her friend. But where is the Doctor, and what is he hiding from? As past deeds come back to haunt him, old enemies will come face to face, and for the Doctor and Clara, survival seems impossible.
Trapped and alone on the terrifying planet Skaro, the Doctor is at the heart of the evil Dalek Empire - no sonic, no TARDIS, nobody to help. With his greatest temptation before him, can the Doctor resist? And will there be mercy?
EPISODE ENDINGS
1.) The child Davros, still pleading with the Doctor not to leave, hears the TARDIS rematerialise behind him, and disbelievingly asks him how he has moved. The Doctor explains he's come from the future, and that he has to save his friend in the only way he can. Brandishing a severed Dalek gunstick, the Doctor glares towards the child, shouting "Exterminate!"
2.) The TARDIS has materialised on a nearby hillside outside the Dalek city and the Doctor and Clara are standing watching the city as it suffers damage. The Doctor wonders why the Dalek shell was able to say "mercy". He then realises what he must do. He returns to young Davros, shooting the Handmines with a Dalek gun, telling him it doesn't matter what side anyone's on so long as there's mercy. He then begins guiding Davros back home.
ROOTS
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
The Curse of Fatal Death
Sherlock
Monty Python
TV Century 21
The Beatles' Abbey Road
QUOTES
The Doctor: "Your chances of survival are about one in a thousand. So here's what you do: you forget the thousand and you concentrate on the one."
Colony Sarff: "Where is the Doctor?"
Ohlia: "Where he always is. Right behind you, and one step ahead."
Missy: "Okay, cutting to the chase, not dead, back, big surprise, never mind."
Clara: "Since when do you care about the Doctor?"
Missy: "Since always, Since the Cloister Wars, since the time he stole the Moon and the president's wife, since he was a little girl. One of those was a lie, can you guess which one?"
Clara: "He's not your friend, you keep trying to kill him."
Missy: "He keeps trying to kill me. It's sort of our texting."
Clara: "How did you know I was here? Did you see me?"
The Doctor: "When do I not see you?"
Clara: "What, one face in all of that crowd?"
The Doctor: "There was a crowd, too?"
Missy: "Well, apparently you think you're going to die tomorrow."
The Doctor: "Well, I've got some good news about that."
Missy: "Oh, yeah?"
The Doctor: "It's still today."
Colony Sarff: "Are you so dangerous, little man?"
The Doctor: "You want to know how dangerous I am? Davros sent you. You know how stupid you are? Hah. You came."
The Doctor: "Now, explain. Politely. Davros is my archenemy. Why would I want to talk to him?"
Missy: "No, wait, hang on a minute. Davros is your archenemy now?"
The Doctor: "Hush."
Missy: "I'll scratch his eye out."
Missy: "Doctor, listen to me. I know traps, traps are my flirting. This is a trap."
Clara: "How can you and the Doctor be friends?"
Missy: "Why shouldn't we be?"
Clara: "You spend all of your time fighting."
Missy: "Exactly."
Missy: "And the rest of the planet, the whole thing... is invisible."
Clara: "That's ridiculous."
Missy: "Well, yes, of course it is. I mean, how would you ever find your glasses, or the little girl's room? And what if you kissed an ugly?"
Clara: "Why are you sharpening that stick?"
Missy: "Well, I've no idea how long we're going to be stuck out here? Might have to go hunting."
Clara: "So why am I tied up?"
Missy: "In case there's nothing to hunt."
The Doctor: "I suppose the real question is, where did I get the cup of tea? Answer: I'm the Doctor. Just accept it."
The Doctor: (to Davros) "Well, they don't have much respect for you, do they? Your kids. Have you seen the state of this place? I mean, this is exactly where you dump a smelly old uncle. Slash family pet slash "genius scientist" who couldn't even invent legs. Seriously, how do you boys take it when everybody else has two eyes?"
Davros: "Still you play the fool."
The Doctor: "Well, by now that should make you nervous."
Boy: "Which side are you on? Are you the enemy?"
The Doctor: "I'm not sure any of that matters. Friends, enemies. So long as there's mercy. Always mercy."
CONTINUITY
Missy refers to the Cloister Wars, the Doctor stealing the moon, and the President's wife. Missy mentions she had a daughter. She has a pendant made of a dark star alloy, which was a gift from the Doctor. Missy claims that three bullets to each of a Time Lord's hearts and two bullets to their brain stem simultaneously could prevent regeneration. Missy says that murdering Daleks is like golf to Time Lords. Missy said that Cybermen suppress emotion whereas Daleks channel it through their gunsticks.
Missy tells Clara Oswald a story about the Doctor that happened a long time ago, and told it didn't matter to her which incarnation it was, as they were all the Doctor, but told Clara to imagine "the eyebrows" (Twelfth Doctor).
The inside of the Dalek-casing has a button that can open and close it. The Dalek sewers connect to the Dalek City via Lower Level Thirteen.
The Doctor can play the electric guitar. The Doctor reveals that he has replaced his traditional sonic screwdriver with a pair of sonic sunglasses. The Doctor claims that an enemy is "just a friend you don't really know yet" (Prologue). The Doctor is wearing plaid trousers and a worn out Label Lab Misty Mountain graphic t-shirt (The Doctor's Meditation).
Davros mentions the shame that brought the Doctor to him. Clara previously noticed he was ashamed.Davros likens the Doctor's compassion to a cancer that grows stronger in him and that will kill him in the end. Davros has a Skarosian chair. Davros, as a child, thinks that the Doctor might be a Thal. Davros mentions how he swore to protect his own people.Davros says that regenerative energy is "The ancient magic of the Time Lords", and describes it as "The blood of Gallifrey."Daleks have one genetic flaw that Davros was unable to eliminate; respect towards him.
The Dalek sewers connect to the Dalek City via the Lower Level Thirteen. Daleks are unable to say anything that betrays their basic function of hatred. The Supreme Dalek mentions that the Doctor is against the use of weapons.
UNIT has a "Doctor Channel".
LOCATION
London, 2010s
The Maldovarium
Karn
Essex, 1138
Skaro
UNTELEVISED ADVENTURES
Clara claims that Jane Austen was a "phenomenal kisser".
LINKS
The BBC Episode Guide homepage for The Magician's Apprentice / The Witch's Familiar; The Magician's Apprentice / The Witch's Familiar Omnibus.
TECHNOBABBLE
Missy uses a time stop to stop all of the planes of the Earth in mid-air. Missy shows Clara the Confession dial of the Doctor and explains what it is.
GOOFS
When Colony Sarff is leaving Karn, the glow of a hoverboard, used to make him appear to slither along the ground, can be seen under his robes.
After Missy opens the door to the cell she and Clara are in, the snake binding Clara's hands disappears without an explanation.
Because of a reflection in the sonic sunglasses, a camera can be seen.
When the Daleks corner Missy at the end of the episode, none of their dome lights flash as they threaten her.
Some of the original Daleks seen in this serial have bright blue shoulder sections, whereas behind the scenes imagery confirms them to have been a greyish colour in the original 60s productions. Oddly enough, the Black-Domed Guard Dalek has the correct colours.
DOCTOR WHO IS REQUIRED?
Colony Sarff tells Ohila that "the Doctor is required." This echoes WOTAN's line "Doctor Who is required" (The War Machines).
THE SOUFFLÉS THAT DIVIDE ME SHALL BE UNDONE
The scene where Clara is being put into the Dalek mirrors a scene from her debut episode, Asylum of the Daleks as the Splinter copy of Clara, Oswin Oswald.
MISSY ME AT THE SHOP?
Missy, the female incarnation of the Master returns. Missy mentions "giving" Clara to the Doctor.
THE HYBRID IS COMING
Davros attempted to transform some of his Daleks into Time Lord hybrids by granting them regeneration energy taken from the Doctor, intending to fulfill an ancient Gallifreyan prophecy which warned of a Dalek-Time Lord Hybrid that would conquer Gallifrey.
CAST
The Doctor - Peter Capaldi
Clara - Jenna Coleman
Kate - Jemma Redgrave
Missy - Michelle Gomez
Colony Sarff - Jami Reid-Quarrell
Davros - Julian Bleach
Jac - Jaye Griffiths
Mike - Harki Bhambra
Bors - Daniel Hoffman-Gill
Boy - Joey Price
Kanzo - Benjamin Cawley
Mr Dunlop - Aaron Neil
Ohila - Clare Higgins
Voice of the Daleks - Nicholas Briggs
Shadow Architect - Kelly Hunter
Alison - India Ria Amarteifio
Ryan - Dasharn Anderson
Newsreaders - Stefan Adegbola, Shin-Fei Chen, Lucy Newman-Williams
Daleks - Barnaby Edwards, Nicholas Pegg
Soldier - Jonathon Ojinnaka
CREW
Written by - Steven Moffat
Directed by - Hettie MacDonald
Produced by - Peter Bennett
Stunt Coordinators - Crispin Layfield, Gordon Seed, Lucy Allen
Stunt Performers - Sarah Lochlan, Belinda McGinley, David Grant, Nicholas Daines, Dani Biernat, Rob Jarman
1st Assistant Director - Dan Mumford
2nd Assistant Director - James DeHaviland
3rd Assistant Director - Danielle Richards
Assistant Directors - Gareth Jones, Chris Thomas
Unit Drivers - Sean Evans, Kyle Davies
Location Manager - Iwan Roberts
Unit Manager - Iestyn Hampson-Jones
Production Manager - Adam Knopf
Production Coordinator - Sandra Cosfeld
Production Secretary - Hannah Jones
Production Assistants - Siôn Crowle, Jamie Shaw
Assistant Accountant - Justine Wooff
Art Department Accountant - Bethan Griffiths
Script Supervisor - Nicki Coles
Script Executive - Lindsey Alford
Script Editor - David P Davis
Camera Operator - Mark McQuoid
2nd Camera Operator - Steve Rees
Focus Pullers - Jonathan Vidgen, Matthew Lepper
Grip - John Robinson
Camera Assistants - Cai Thompson, Scott Waller
Assistant Grip - Sean Cronin
Sound Maintenance Engineers - Tam Shoring, Christopher Goding
Gaffer - Mark Hutchings
Best Boy - Andrew Gardiner
Electricians - Andrew Williams, Bob Milton, Gareth Sheldon, Gawain Nash, Matt Wilson
Supervising Art Directors - Tristan Peatfield, Dafydd Shurmer
Stand by Art Director - Julia Challis
Set Decorator - Adrian Anscombe
Production Buyer - Sarah Frere
Prop Buyers - May Johnson, Vicki Male, Rosy Pearce
Draughtperson - Kartik Nagar
Prop Master - Paul Smith
Props Chargehand - Kyle Belmont
Standby Props - Liam Collins, Ian Davies
Prop Hands - Scott Howe, Nigel Magni, Matt Watts
Storeman - Jamie Southcott
Concept Artist - Chris Lees
Graphic Artist - Matthew Clark
Motion Graphics - Tom Munday
Storyboard Artist - Mike Collins
Standby Carpenter - Paul Jones
Rigging - Shadow Scaffolding
Practical Electricians - Christian Davies, Austin Curtis
Props Makers - Alan Hardy, Jamie Thomas
Props Driver - Gareth Fox
Construction Manager - Terry Horle
Construction Chargehand - Dean Tucker
Chargehand Carpenter - John Sinnott
Carpenters - Tim Burke, Lawrie Ferry, Matt Ferry, Chris Daniels, Julian Tucker, George Rees, Dan Berrow, Keith Richards, Campbell Fraser - Construction Driver
Jonathan Tylke - Head Scenic Artist
Clive Clarke - Scenic Painters - Steve Nelms, Matt Weston, Paul Murray
Assistant Costume Designer - Georgie Sayer
Costume Supervisor - Simon Marks
Costume Assistants - Andie Mear, Ian Fowler, Jenny Tindle
Make-up Supervisor - Sara Angharad
Make-up Artists - Megan Bowes, James Spinks
Unit Medic - Glyn Evans
Casting Associate - Alice Purser
Assistant Editors - Becky Trotman, Steve Waltham
VFX Editor - Dan Rawlings
Dubbing Mixer - Tim Ricketts
ADR Editor - Matthew Cox
Dialogue Editor - Darran Clement
Effects Editor - Harry Barnes
Foley Editor - Jamie Talbutt
Foley Artist - Julie Ankerson
Titles - BBC Wales Graphics
Title Concept - Billy Hanshaw
Assistant Online Editor - Christine Kelly
Online Editor - Geraint Pari Huws
Colourist - Gareth Spensley
Music Conducted & Orchestrated By - Ben Foster
Music Mixed By - Jake Jackson
Music Recorded By - Gerry O'Riordan
Original Theme Music - Ron Grainer
Daleks & Davros created by - Terry Nation
Kahler created by - Toby Whithouse
Skullions created by - Gareth Roberts
Hath created by - Stephen Greenhorn
Blowfish created by - Chris Chibnall
Judoon, Ood & Sycorax created by - Russell T Davies
Casting Director - Andy Pryor CDG
Head of Production - Gordon Ronald
Post Production Supervisor - Samantha Price
Production Accountant - Ceredig Parry
Sound Recordist - Deian Llŷr Humphreys
Costume Designer - Ray Holman
Make-up Designer - Barbara Southcott
Music - Murray Gold
Visual Effects - Milk
Special Effects - Real SFX
Special Creature Effects & Prosthetics - Millennium FX
Editor - Selina MacArthur
Production Designer - Michael Pickwoad
Director of Photography - Ali Asad
Line Producer - Tracie Simpson
Executive Producers - Steven Moffat, Brian Minchin
