Jenna and Peter’s comic timing in this story is flawless, and Jenna once again proves herself to be utterly charming. Comedies work particularly well in this era because they provide a relief from the generally darker tone. Capaldi is excellent as a fish out of water and plays this role quite differently from Matt Smith’s in The Lodger and Closing Time. Instead of being bumbling and well-meaning, he is uncompromising—he understands what humans are like but doesn’t aspire to be like them.

Due to the heavy lifting done by Danny Pink and Clara’s storyline, there is no need for a big alien menace to dominate the narrative. The alien element serves as a plot device to draw Danny into the Doctor’s world rather than acting as a substantial villain. In some ways, the Skovox Blitzer feels more like something from K-9 than Doctor Who, but it doesn’t need to be more complex than that.

The main flaw in this story is The Doctor’s harshness and brutality when speaking about soldiers and to Danny Pink. It ventures into the realm of bullying, which feels excessive, even for Capaldi’s Doctor. It’s particularly odd given The Doctor’s own experiences, which should make him more compassionate. The dynamic improves significantly when Danny begins standing up for himself, presenting The Doctor as an officer archetype, which works well. Once this shift occurs, it allows for interesting conversations about the nature of The Doctor. However, it might have been better if Danny had stood up for himself sooner, as it would have made the interactions more balanced from the start.

The episode also features some brilliant side characters. The Matt Smith stand-in, whom the Doctor egotistically assumes is Clara’s boyfriend, is a great touch. Courtney Woods is another highlight—a delightful character whose reaction to space travel feels authentic and engaging. Watching the Doctor bond with a so-called disruptive influence is particularly enjoyable and adds to the fun of the episode.

The downsides are significantly outweighed by the success of the comedy in this story. I was smiling throughout.