Single word titles are simple. They provide a basic idea of what the story is about, but it also makes the content more powerful. One word can mean so much. Such is true for Steven Moffat’s “Listen,” a tale about fear, suspense, but most importantly, what makes us human. And while many often argue over the quality of Moffat’s work, there is one thing that cannot be denied: He knows how to stir up a conversation.

“Listen” begins with Clara going on a disastrous first date with coworker Danny Pink. Immediately upon arriving home, The Doctor is waiting and whisks Clara away to investigate a mystery he’d been pondering while alone in the TARDIS. Enter the creepy tone. Is one ever really alone? Why do people fear what’s underneath their bed? Is there really something there? The Doctor uses Clara as a sort of guinea pig, tapping in to her childhood memories to locate a specific point in time when she was afraid of what’s underneath the bed. He tells her to focus on that and that alone. But of course fresh off the worst date ever, she can’t help but think of Danny instead and oops; they end up in Danny’s timeline. Clara, in the meantime, doesn’t think that there is much substance to The Doctor’s theory. But she soon finds out that the more she resists the fear, the more it surfaces.

“Listen” is jam-packed with a lot of different stories and plot points. And it seems like these things get a little muddled at times. The audience is immediately presented with a scary story and mystery. But just as quickly as it builds up to the climax, a shattering revelation obliterates all of the eeriness and ends with a heartwarming conclusion. Until then, the tone of the episode flips from on-the-edge-of-your-seat scared, to the awkwardness of Clara and Danny’s love lives. This is an episode that could have greatly benefited from a longer run-time in order to thoroughly work out the timing and flow of the story.

Another thing that slightly bothered me was the way Clara acted when she got involved in the Pink timeline. She’s witnessed the serious impact of meddling with one’s timeline first-hand. The Doctor even warns her when they land. One could argue it was necessary to ensure that everything worked out the way that it should (paradox and all). But she doesn’t come clean about knowing Danny and her near eagerness to use the experience as a way to use it in the future was bothersome. Historically, the effects of time travel seemed to have only worked positively for Clara, so it was good to see this backfire.

But one thing is certain about “Listen”: It is quite possibly the most ambitious episode that Steven Moffat has written. Moffat is famously inspired by a person’s natural fear of the unknown and the unseen (Weeping Angels, the Silence). The monster in “Listen” is a creation of the abstract – you can’t see it, and your imagination makes it much worse. During the space station scene, I was immediately reminded of the faceless antagonist in the Tenth Doctor story “Midnight.” The monster in “Listen” is even more nerve-wracking because it’s everywhere all throughout our lives. But what is it exactly? What was the monster? If you have to define it, it is fear personified. It is what our paranoia creates in our mind. Our fear is the kid hiding under Danny’s bedspread, the sinister noises that can’t possibly be normal wear and tear of a space station. Moffat tends to leave a lot of things in his stories to our imaginations. He freely admits that the audience is supposed to fill in the gaps. But we’ve never really experienced it so upfront until “Listen.” We are used to having a character become cleverly unraveled by the episode’s end but we are left to our own devices when defining this monster.

And these unanswered questions are understandably frustrating. Most of us like to have stories packaged into neat and orderly compartments. I was indifferent about the ending after it first aired, but looking back on it, I’m glad Moffat went with this ambiguous concept. The point of the episode is much bigger than figuring out who the bad guy is.

It all comes to fruition at the end when Clara contributes to yet another major event in Doctor Who history. The source of The Doctor’s fixation on fearing what’s under the bed becomes clear as it is revealed that he experienced the nightmare thanks to none other than his current companion hiding under his bed. Although it was real, Clara convinces the young Doctor that it’s all a dream – and comforts him about his fears in general. As Clara speaks to him, we see flashbacks to the War Doctor coming back to that same barn in “The Day of The Doctor” when he contemplates destroying Gallifrey. In his childhood, Clara says, “Because if you’re very wise, and very strong, fear doesn’t have to make you cruel or cowardly.” The Tenth Doctor himself quoted a part of that as his ideology in a scene with the War Doctor. Clara tells the Doctor and the viewer that being afraid is okay. And you can use it to your advantage. It is an extraordinary concept for the young audience and a comforting reminder to adults. Clara seems to have a serious penchant for rooting her influence in The Doctor’s life. While the significance of that can be argued, it is admirable of her to dive in and do what’s right.

“Listen” is an outstanding episode of Doctor Who because it is equal parts story and emotion. Steven Moffat delivers an episode that touches the chords of everyone: young or old, and from any part of the world. It encourages you to look at the bigger picture. To think, feel, and believe. It leaves you with an important lesson… if you’re willing to listen.