Another reason to hate ISIS: they messed up the latest "Doctor Who" episode (spoilers)

[Nye Bevan]

A robot being beheaded that was quite significant to the plot was edited out because of ISIS:

However, it was a real shame for the narrative of the episode. Even in action-packed Doctor Who, beheadings aren’t an everyday occurrence. So unsurprisingly, in the original unedited version of the episode – which, in common with other journalists, I had been allowed to preview before the edit was made – that beheading scene was crucial to the plot.

In the edited version, the climactic fight scene sees Robin Hood (Tom Riley) and the Sheriff of Nottingham (Ben Miller) have a sword fight. Eventually Robin tricks the Sheriff up on to a high beam, and neatly boots him over the edge to a fiery death.

In the unedited version, things were more complicated than that. Partway through the sword fight, the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and Clara (Jenna Coleman) threw a large cloth over the Sheriff’s head. Unable to see, the Sheriff became easy prey for Robin, who beheaded him with his sword.

The Sheriff’s head rolled across the floor, but then carried on talking: it turned out that it was the Sheriff, not Robin as the Doctor had suspected, who was a robot. At least, partly a robot. The now-decapitated robot Sheriff took Clara hostage, with the head on the floor threatening her life unless Robin gave in.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/neilmidgley/2014/09/06/review-doctor-who-episode-803-the-crucial-plot-that-was-edited-out-with-the-beheading/

Hopefully one day we will get to see the unedited scene.

[mr blur]

1. It was a pretty awful episode though.

Reminiscent of the recent bad spell with the dreadful, hopelessly-wrong David Tennant, I thought.

[Nye Bevan]

2. I actually liked it.

And I really, really like Capaldi in the role. I hope he sticks around.

[get the red out]

5. Me too!!!!

Love Capaldi as Dr. Who!

[MurrayDelph]

10. Hated the episode

Really like Capaldi, when I can hear him.

Maybe after Christmas, when it stops being The Clara and her friend with the magical Box show, they'll turn down the background noise and let The Doctor be clever again.

[Dr. Strange]

7. Hopelessly wrong David Tennant?

I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. But welcome to Ignore!

[blogslut]

3. Probably for the best

It was a very fluffy/fun episode and including that ugly bit would have been more of a bummer than necessary. As I told blogslut jr., it's important for such a show to break up the darkness with some silliness. I'm very much digging Mr. Capaldi and (OMG) the inclusion of Michelle Gomez makes me all kinds of happy.

[Nye Bevan]

4. Well... it was a robot being beheaded, not a person. Whose head continued to talk

after being cut off. I agree that a human, or even any living alien, being beheaded would have been too ugly to show, but I would think a robot would be OK.

[blogslut]

6. I suppose.

Considering recent events, including the scene would have caused outrage.

I don't think taking out the bit harmed the episode. I wasn't confused. Had I not read this post I would have never questioned the sheriff being human as opposed to a robot. But then, I gladly suspend disbelief when I'm watching a fantasy story.

[NightWatcher]

8. Meanwhile the Saudis lop off the heads of people on the regular

19 in the first half of August alone in a place they call "chop chop square". Since July they have averaged more than one beheading a day and often more.

[randome]

9. Steven Moffat's been messing up Dr. Who for a long time.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]All things in moderation, including moderation.[/center][/font][hr]

[Nye Bevan]

12. He has his faults (cough River Song cough) but I prefer him to Russell T Davies.

And The Day of the Doctor was pure genius.

[Enrique]

11. this aggression will not stand

this might be ISIS's fatal mistake.