Rate & Discuss: Sleep No More
This terrifying story is assembled from footage discovered in the wreckage of Le Verrier Space Station.
So far this series we’ve had Daleks, ghosts, Zygons and the malevolent return of a certain renegade Time Lady (we didn’t forget about you, Missy, we swear!) but tonight Doctor Who stripped it back to the basics to give us an episode that was unlike any we’ve seen before…
Mark Gatiss’ previous contribution to the Twelfth Doctor’s adventures saw our beloved Time Lord locking swords – well, spoons – with Robin Hood himself, but Sleep No More couldn’t have been further away from Sherwood Forest if it tried, and that’s not only because it was based on a Space Station! The terrifying tale was assembled from footage discovered in its wreckage and the result was one of the show’s most innovative, and not to mention pulse-racing, stories to date. See, 52 years later and it’s still full of surprises. Not too shabby, eh?
But what did YOU think of Series 9’s latest offering? Were you hooked from start to finish, or was the style and pace unrecognisable beyond recognition? Now that we’ve entered the final countdown (just THREE episodes left, folks!), what does the imminent future hold for the Doctor and Clara? Spoilers: it’s not rainbows and puppies. In the meantime, you must not share your reactions to Sleep No More by voting, rating and commenting below…
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NOTE: This discussion will NOT be spoiler monitored so please do not read the comments if you haven’t seen Sleep No More. You have been warned!
Confusing wasn’t it, plus something was missing, no spoilers you will eventually notice
There are no words I can use to describe how much utter garbage this episode was.
Actually, I tell a lie, there ARE words, but I can’t use them on a public forum.
The BBC really do need to stop indulging Mark Gatiss. Or at least stop him from writing any further episodes of Doctor Who. Aside from The Unquiet Dead and Cold War, his episodes have been incredibly average, and last night’s was easily the worst.
Yes, even worse than Night Terrors and Robot of Sherwood.
The “found footage” aspect just didn’t work and the lack of the opening titles was odd. Even the questionable explanation for the footage existing didn’t save the day.
I know Gatiss is a huge fan, Doctor Who advocate and supporter, and that is great but unfortunately his love of the programme just doesn’t translate to his stories.
Maybe it will get better on a second viewing but I doubt. So far its the worst episode in a strong season!
So this is Steven Moffatt setting up his pet favourite writter – Mark Gatiss! This was the worst episode this year. No titles at the start,drawn out, confusing, poor story line. However Peter C has to work with what he is given. I have a horrible feeling, that we are heading for Mark G as the next head writer! Sigh!!!
This was the weakest episode of the series for me. However, the series has been very strong, for me, so I can live with one that’s slightly under par. I didn’t hate it and I approve of them trying out new ideas. I’ll probably get more from it on a second viewing. I got the fact that Gatiss was having a go at work-obsessed people and those who deprive themselves of sleep to spend more time using social media. I enjoyed the Doctor and Clara’s banter.
What can I say about Sleep No More …..
Well, until I read about it, I didn’t realise that the titles weren’t shown as I put the Recorder on late and assumed I missed them. I guess they were experimenting with not breaking the tension they were TRYING to build.
The Sandmen were, only in my opinion, more amusing than scary. Carnivorous Monsters made from the stuff in your eyes after you sleep? OK, creative and random, but threatening? No. They were one step away from creating monsters made of drier lint. The threat also reminded me of the Vashtra Nerada, though I think the Vashtra Nerada were more of a threat.
I was able to follow the constantly changing perspectives, although I didn’t really like it. I also found it generic, until it wasn’t cameras but the monster that was watching. Mixed it up a bit from the normal found footage idea.
The grown clone was making the same point as The Flesh and was an otherwise unremarkable part of the episode.
Otherwise, there’s not much to say about this episode. Experimental, but otherwise a throwaway episode.
My other issue, having watched it again was the “Doctor Who and Clara Oswald” titles at the start. – Please can someone tell the BBC and that idiot Moffatt, it is called Doctor Who and has been called Doctor Who since 1963 for a reason!
I found this episode the most confusing Who ever! It was one of those stories that make you think you had to be either in a Purple Haze or completely zonked out to make sense of! Does anyone remember when Doctor Who was more about great stories rather than massive writers’ egos?