The Witch's Familiar

254b – "The Witch's Familiar"
Doctor Who episode
Cast
Others
Production
Directed byHettie MacDonald
Written bySteven Moffat
Script editorDavid P Davis
Produced byPeter Bennett
Executive producer(s)Steven Moffat
Brian Minchin
Music byMurray Gold
SeriesSeries 9
Running time2nd of 2-part story, 48 minutes
First broadcast26 September 2015 (2015-09-26)
Chronology
← Preceded by
"The Magician's Apprentice"
Followed by →
"Under the Lake"
List of episodes (2005–present)

"The Witch's Familiar" is the second episode of the ninth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 26 September 2015.[1] It was written by Steven Moffat and directed by Hettie MacDonald, and is the second part of the story begun by "The Magician's Apprentice" on 19 September.

In the episode, Davros (Julian Bleach), the dying creator of the Dalek race, attempts to trick his enemy, alien time traveller the Doctor (Peter Capaldi), into using the Doctor's ability to regenerate to restore Davros and the Daleks on the planet Skaro. Meanwhile, the Doctor's former friend Missy (Michelle Gomez) and companion Clara (Jenna Coleman) attempt to enter the Daleks' city to save the Doctor's life. The episode received critical acclaim, with many praising Gomez' performance and the interactions between the Doctor and Davros.

Several different designs of the Daleks from across the series' history reappear in the episode, alongside their creator, Davros, and their home planet, Skaro.[2]

  1. ^ @DWMtweets (18 August 2015). "The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine, out this week, has a six-page preview of the new series... we can't wait!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Mulkern, Patrick (19 September 2015). "Doctor Who 'The Magician's Apprentice' Review – Steven Moffat plays new games with very old toys". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 September 2015.