This is a superb episode which gave Series 8 a huge boost following on from a very weak episode, Kill the Moon. This is the first really top class Capaldi episode for me.
The story begins with Clara not wanting to travel with the Doctor anymore because of his actions in that previous story's silly conclusion. She decides to go on 'one last trip' and thank goodness writer Jamie Mathieson wrote this absolutely brilliant episode to depict their trip on a space Orient Express where a mysterious, legendary Mummy is killing people.
This story manages to make the Moffatt era's depressing obsession with the dark side of the Doctor work in a clever way at last and that creates an added deeper theme. Even without that though this is a very intelligently scripted, thrilling story with great, believable, engaging characters. It finally affords Peter Capaldi material that is worthy of his greatness and demonstrates his perfection for the role. If only more episodes were of the tremendous quality of Mathieson's writing here and in Flatline, the next episode which he also wrote and is also an absolute cracker.
Capaldi is awesome, Frank Skinner is a superb guest character and the rest of the guest cast are excellent with the Captain and the Professor providing further top quality characters. Clara is depicted far better than she was in Kill the Moon or some other episodes too.
The Mummy itself is very well depicted managing to be properly menacing and the ideas behind it all make sense.
The dialogue is terrific and the themes are all presented thoughtfully and very interestingly. Even the musical number is great. The whole episode is absorbing, exciting, clever and exactly the kind of Doctor Who magic I want to see.
My Rating: 10/10.
Series 8 Episode Ranking: 2nd out of 12.