What Happened to Who?

Doctor Who just finished airing its third episode in the strangely misnamed "Robot of Sherwood".

I have to admit, I am not thrilled with the direction this show is going this season.

First off, Peter Capaldi is still wonderful in the role of our title character.

We also have the same people involved with the show as we have for the past eight seasons.

But, something just seems off somehow.

Saturday's show was more of a fun-filled romp to visit Robin Hood.

I certainly don't have a problem with the fun episodes, and there were moments I enjoyed, but overall it just didn't work.

First off, the title gives the impression that Robin Hood is going to be a robot, but he's not.

Instead there appear to be many "Robots" of Sherwood rather than the one.

Purposeful misdirection aside, writer Mark Gatiss showed us a Robin Hood which was exactly like the legend including the stereotypical Merry Men.

The doctor admits to Robin Hood that he is forgotten in history and relegated to myth or legend.

Which isn't true.

Apparently the legend is spot on to the historical facts.

Robin Hood is Robert of Loxley who along with Little John, Will Scarlett and Friar Tuck robs from the rich and gives to the poor because of the oppression of the Sheriff of Nottingham,.

In fact, the whole thing was so unbelievable, the Doctor spent more than half the episode trying to disprove it.

Then there was the horrible ending which had the Doctor, Robin Hood and Clara teaming up to stop the robots taking their ship to "The Promised Land".

I think Gatiss and showrunner Steven Moffat failed to take advantage of an incredible opportunity.

In 1963, when Doctor Who was created as a children's show, the time machine was a plot device.

The TARDIS traveled back in time to teach kids about events in the past.

What was eventually dubbed "True Historicals" had the Doctor and his companions traveling to the French Revolution or ancient Rome or the OK Chorral.

These shows had no robots, aliens or spaceships, they just told the story of what historians believe happened.

Eventually the science fiction elements got added starting with the Meddling Monk in 1965.

The last True Historical of Doctor Who in my recollection was 1982's Black Orchid, a two part episode with the fifth doctor and companions traveling to the 1920s.

Gatiss and Moffat had an opportunity to do the same here.

If we suppose that Robin Hood, his Merry Men and the Sheriff were really this way, why add the robots and the spaceship.

All the elements were there, and the adventure could have ended with Robin Hood defeating the Sheriff like he did in Saturday's show.

Also, we could have done without that absolutely horrid ending with the gold arrow.

Overall I feel like Doctor Who is in a slump as everyone tries to figure out where the Doctor is headed.

I will continue to watch and have high hopes for this weekend's fourth episode: "Listen"

So what do you think of the season so far? Let me know in the comments...