Doctor Who gave off a lot of Black Mirror vibes tonight
Last week's premiere of Doctor Who's 10th season wasted no time in hitting all the right notes and introducing us to a new companion in Bill (Pearl Mackie) who turned out to be a much-needed breath of fresh air for the series.
But Moffat isn't about to rest on his laurels after a pretty positive debut in his last series as showrunner, and so along came tonight's episode, 'Smile', which turned out to be a creepy, chaotic instalment that unashamedly put the Doctor, Bill and their new friendship in the driving seat.
Related: Doctor Who – Watch our video review of 'Smile'
Packed as it was with intriguing sci-fi ideas, emoji-bots and the classic Doctor Who staple of an eerie, abandoned human colony proving to be more threatening that you first thought, 'Smile' gave a lot of people a lot of Black Mirror vibes – 'Hated in the Nation'? 'Nosedive'? A mix of the two? – and after a bumpy start it still managed to impress us.
But how did it go down with all you lovely viewers? We turned to Twitter to find out.
Smile. The Emojibots will see you now...#DoctorWho #TimeForHeroes pic.twitter.com/BVpk4MpWBP
- Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) April 22, 2017
The Black Mirror comparisons were rolling in:
Someone's been watching Black Mirror #DoctorWho
- Grace Power (@GraceyPower) April 22, 2017
Loving #DoctorWho. Does it remind anyone else a bit of Black Mirror- first episode of season 3?
- Tommy Brown (@tommy_e_brown) April 22, 2017
Ooh. This is very Black Mirror. #DoctorWho
- James (@Postajam) April 22, 2017
#DoctorWho loving the emoji robot in utopia & it reminds me a bit of Black Mirror tonight.
- Gretel Armstrong (@GretelSugar) April 22, 2017
Weaponised emojis narrative presumably rejected by Black Mirror? #doctorwho
- Chris Blohm (@chrisblohm) April 22, 2017
Black Mirror rip-off? #DoctorWho
- Catdragon🐲 (@heasgarnich) April 22, 2017
The elusive thing that happened that led to the Doctor making a promise has certainly piqued interest:
HE MADE A PROMISE #DoctorWho
- bea (@dutiesofcare) April 22, 2017
HE MADE A PROMISE TO CLARA #DoctorWho
- αℓe 👸🏼 (@xvparrilla) April 22, 2017
And Nardole continues to divide opinion:
Bill calls Nardole little fella 😂 #DoctorWho
- Laura (@amessof_fandoms) April 22, 2017
They're sneaking around Nardole I'm crying #DoctorWho 😂😂
- Shu 🍁 | DW spoilers (@FrostWells) April 22, 2017
Can Nardole just leave please? #DoctorWho
- Glyn//#ThankYouTaker (@WolfieKun) April 22, 2017
I love Nardole 😂 #DoctorWho
- Laura (@amessof_fandoms) April 22, 2017
Nardole is my favourite #DoctorWho
- jess bb (@jescurr) April 22, 2017
They legit just set this up so that Nardole could not be in ANY of the future episodes #DoctorWho
- Josh-ooh-ahh (@24hoursayear) April 22, 2017
The Doctor's emoji-patch had a rather familiar – and much appreciated – feature:
TWELVE AND HIS EYEBROW EMOJI BADGE 😂😂😂😂 #DoctorWho
- NEAAZ! Mysterio🎩🦅 (@spaceshoup) April 22, 2017
DID YOU SEE THE EYEBROWS ON TWELVE'S EMOJI PATCH IM CRYING #DoctorWho
- Megan ✨ DOO WEE OOOO (@Twelveslapels) April 22, 2017
#DoctorWho I love how the emoji has Capaldi eyebrows *would insert emoji but I'm too afraid to*
- Nat The 221B Whovian (@nat_temporis) April 22, 2017
And Bill and Twelve's relationship is still a major highlight:
Weekly 'i love bill potts' tweet 💕#DoctorWho
- emma ☆ (@_campwxlfe) April 22, 2017
"Why are you Scottish." Bill asking all the key questions. #DoctorWho
- Naari (@Naariii_) April 22, 2017
Okay the more i see bill . The more she my fab compainon 😀 ❤ #DoctorWho
- Amy Marie 🎗 (@Iliketrains_93) April 22, 2017
#DoctorWho Twelve and Bill are great together, calling it for the umpteenth time in just one episode.
- Agent P (@lifeinthejungle) April 22, 2017
I love Bill and The Doctor together. They make a great double act #DoctorWho
- LeanneNorthumberland (@leauk84) April 22, 2017
I like how this is basically just Pearl and Capaldi. They are fantastic together. #DoctorWho
- Gavin Perkins (@I_Pink_Elephant) April 22, 2017
Loooove the doctor & bill's dynamic #DoctorWho
- Morgan S. Thomas (@Mr_Goomantash) April 22, 2017
The ending was one The IT Crowd's Roy would be proud of:
"Hello IT. Have you tried turning it off and on again?"#DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/aTStjDGY1X
- FagWithASonic🏳️🌈 (@GreatWhiteLuis) April 22, 2017
"He turned it off and on again" #DoctorWho
- Shannon (@GlitterQuake) April 22, 2017
#DoctorWho i think the doctor got advice from the IT crowd
- Geoffrey Gibson BSc (@geoffreygibson1) April 22, 2017
#DoctorWho yes have u switch it off and on again love it
- mark weir (@hammer_upton) April 22, 2017
Turn it off and on again 😉 #DoctorWho
- Emily 🐇 (@HolbysUCOS) April 22, 2017
HE TURNED IT OFF AND ON AGAIN, DIDN'T HE #DoctorWho
- charlie🥀 (@_chaligula) April 22, 2017
Still works in the future! XD #DoctorWho
- (Tr)eat my a$ (@MelodyPond122) April 22, 2017
"I pressed the reset button"
"Eh?"
"He turned it off and on again"
😄 Ha ha #DoctorWho #BBCOne #BBC- Melissa (@SnugbugsLtd) April 22, 2017
But overall, it was another great outing for the Doctor:
#DoctorWho I'm loving tonight's episode. Bill is so perfect, I love her. 😍❤️👌🏻
- Emily (@xalwaysreadingx) April 22, 2017
THIS EPISODE IS SOOO GOOD #DoctorWho
- ㅤdavid 💥 (@hrIysquinns) April 22, 2017
Series 10 is amazing and I'm sad that Capaldi is leaving #DoctorWho
- Ifan Barber (@ifantweets) April 22, 2017
Peter Capaldi gets better and better. #doctorwho
- Mary Glen (@smaglens) April 22, 2017
Excellent.... Another good #DoctorWho episode... #nospoilers 😊
- Sal (@MirandaKitten) April 22, 2017
That was amaaaaazinggggg #DoctorWho
- Benji Clifford (@la_bonj) April 22, 2017
Just remember to smile. You know, to be on the safe side:
😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁 Just to be on the safe side. #DoctorWho #Smile
- Diane ☣ (@Brassylassy) April 22, 2017
Lol can't stop smiling because Bill and Twelve are smiling 😂😁 #doctorwho
- Michelle 💁🏻 (@Mikarlsson) April 22, 2017
"How would massacring hundereds of humans make me happy 😊." #DoctorWho
- Lizzie (@LizzieHolmesx) April 22, 2017
Remind me not to go there on holiday #DoctorWho
- Amy Marie 🎗 (@Iliketrains_93) April 22, 2017
Doctor Who returns next Saturday (April 29) at 7.20pm on BBC One, with the episode 'Thin Ice'.
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