Extremis
- Episode aired May 20, 2017
- TV-PG
- 48m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
5.1K
YOUR RATING
The Doctor is called by the Vatican to solve the mystery of a text called the Veritas, that when someone reads it dies soon after. But something is dwelling in the Vatican, and doesn't want ... Read allThe Doctor is called by the Vatican to solve the mystery of a text called the Veritas, that when someone reads it dies soon after. But something is dwelling in the Vatican, and doesn't want the Veritas to be read.The Doctor is called by the Vatican to solve the mystery of a text called the Veritas, that when someone reads it dies soon after. But something is dwelling in the Vatican, and doesn't want the Veritas to be read.
Simon Carew
- Guard
- (uncredited)
Helena Dennis
- CERN Engineer
- (uncredited)
Clem So
- Rafando's Guard
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaA repeating musical motif in this episode is the first and most recognizable 6 notes of the main theme from the James Bond film, "Thunderball (1965)", first heard at the beginning of "Dr. No" (1962).
- GoofsIt is well established that the Tardis can translate any language, written or spoken into the language of the observer/listener, however the when the Pope speaks, he needs one of the Cardinals to translate for him.
- Quotes
The Doctor: Assume nothing. Assumption makes an ass out of you... and umption.
- ConnectionsReferences Super Mario Bros. (1985)
Featured review
An intriguing and creepy set up to what looks like an incredible 3-parter
Going into EXTREMIS I had high hopes after a brilliant and consistent first 5 episodes... and my god did it meet them!
I have to say, Moffat has pulled it out of the bag here with not only the best episode of Series 10 (which is saying something) but also one of the best of the revived series. The episodes overall quality was superb and even my uncle, who has never seen Doctor Who before, really enjoyed this episode and wanted to begin watching the entire show (oh dear that is a lot of catching up he has to do!)
Yes, 'Extremis' was confusing at the start but as the credits rolled my brain clicked and I suddenly understood it - but it still left me with lots of questions (as with any first-parter of a larger story). Why was Missy being executed? Who are these Monks? etc.
So a certain someone was in the Vault, and yes it was rather underwhelming but it wasn't as we'd all have expected. Like Richard Lazarus once said, "nothing is ever exactly like you expect". Yes Missy was in the Vault but the reason is rather beautiful: she was there because the Doctor didn't want to kill his oldest friend, which emulates Tennant and Simm, the way The Doctor couldn't kill The Master at the end of the Series 3 finale, even after his horrific deeds.
Matt Lucas shone in his role as Nardole today and everyone now must surely love him - even Bill said that 'he is a badass' in one of Extremis's best quotes. He took the role as the leader after the Doctor stayed behind and Nardole was written to perfection. You could see the glee in his face as he wandered about place to place with Bill looking for clues to the Veritas.
Extremis was a lot darker than recent episodes with one of the main story lines being a book that makes you want to kill yourself. This is a family show! But Moffat handled it very well by yes making it dark but not too dark that thousands of parents would complain that their kids couldn't sleep due to the horrors.
The production quality was at its highest level of the series. The Haereticum looked terrific with the costumes of the guards and the Pope's disciples as well on point. But of course, the highlight of these visuals were of course the Monks who looked terrifying. If you thought that Oxygen was creepy... well lets just say some young souls won't be getting to sleep for a while tonight.
One could argue what the point was of most of it if it didn't actually happen but then one could say the same for Last Christmas or that 10 minute scene in Dark Water. Extremis did serve a purpose, and a pretty important one too, as it was a steady but climactic build up to a surely fantastic 'The Pyramid at the End of the World' written by Peter Harness (The Zygon two-parter) and 'The Lie of the Land' written by the amazing Toby Whithouse (Under the Lake/Before the Flood).
Overall, Extremis was a superb and intriguing piece of story-telling with its slow-pace but enthralling plot(s) making this episode one of the best of the Capaldi era. Yes it was difficult to understand at the beginning but, with most Moffat stories, he manages to clean it up at the end. This 'shadow world' was just a practise one for these weird-looking monks as their greater plan is to conquer the Earth setting us up for an epic two more episodes of this. Acting was incredible and a particular stand-out was Matt Lucas portraying Nardole to absolute hilarious and 'badass' perfection.
I loved this episode of my favourite show ever.
10/10
I have to say, Moffat has pulled it out of the bag here with not only the best episode of Series 10 (which is saying something) but also one of the best of the revived series. The episodes overall quality was superb and even my uncle, who has never seen Doctor Who before, really enjoyed this episode and wanted to begin watching the entire show (oh dear that is a lot of catching up he has to do!)
Yes, 'Extremis' was confusing at the start but as the credits rolled my brain clicked and I suddenly understood it - but it still left me with lots of questions (as with any first-parter of a larger story). Why was Missy being executed? Who are these Monks? etc.
So a certain someone was in the Vault, and yes it was rather underwhelming but it wasn't as we'd all have expected. Like Richard Lazarus once said, "nothing is ever exactly like you expect". Yes Missy was in the Vault but the reason is rather beautiful: she was there because the Doctor didn't want to kill his oldest friend, which emulates Tennant and Simm, the way The Doctor couldn't kill The Master at the end of the Series 3 finale, even after his horrific deeds.
Matt Lucas shone in his role as Nardole today and everyone now must surely love him - even Bill said that 'he is a badass' in one of Extremis's best quotes. He took the role as the leader after the Doctor stayed behind and Nardole was written to perfection. You could see the glee in his face as he wandered about place to place with Bill looking for clues to the Veritas.
Extremis was a lot darker than recent episodes with one of the main story lines being a book that makes you want to kill yourself. This is a family show! But Moffat handled it very well by yes making it dark but not too dark that thousands of parents would complain that their kids couldn't sleep due to the horrors.
The production quality was at its highest level of the series. The Haereticum looked terrific with the costumes of the guards and the Pope's disciples as well on point. But of course, the highlight of these visuals were of course the Monks who looked terrifying. If you thought that Oxygen was creepy... well lets just say some young souls won't be getting to sleep for a while tonight.
One could argue what the point was of most of it if it didn't actually happen but then one could say the same for Last Christmas or that 10 minute scene in Dark Water. Extremis did serve a purpose, and a pretty important one too, as it was a steady but climactic build up to a surely fantastic 'The Pyramid at the End of the World' written by Peter Harness (The Zygon two-parter) and 'The Lie of the Land' written by the amazing Toby Whithouse (Under the Lake/Before the Flood).
Overall, Extremis was a superb and intriguing piece of story-telling with its slow-pace but enthralling plot(s) making this episode one of the best of the Capaldi era. Yes it was difficult to understand at the beginning but, with most Moffat stories, he manages to clean it up at the end. This 'shadow world' was just a practise one for these weird-looking monks as their greater plan is to conquer the Earth setting us up for an epic two more episodes of this. Acting was incredible and a particular stand-out was Matt Lucas portraying Nardole to absolute hilarious and 'badass' perfection.
I loved this episode of my favourite show ever.
10/10
helpful•2512
- abedein7
- May 20, 2017
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Filming locations
- Cardiff Metropolitan University - Llandaff Campus, Cardiff, Wales, UK(CERN - in Cardiff School of Management)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime48 minutes
- Color
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