Season 8 of "Doctor Who," the first to feature Peter Capaldi as the 12th Doctor, premieres this Saturday, August 23. The BBC has released the episode titles, writers and directors for all 12 of the new episodes. We've also got plot descriptions for the first two eps, and some notes of interest on a few others.
Don't worry, there are no spoilers.
As revealed by the BBC, here's everything we know about Season 8.
8.01: "Deep Breath" written by Steven Moffat directed by Ben Wheatley
When the Doctor arrives in Victorian London, he finds a dinosaur rampant in the Thames and a spate of deadly spontaneous combustions. Who is the new Doctor and will Clara's friendship survive as they embark on a terrifying mission into the heart of an alien conspiracy? The Doctor has changed. It's time you knew him.
• The Paternoster Gang (Vastra, Jenny & Strax) guest stars in this episode.
• "Deep Breath" is an extra-long episode at 80 minutes long.
8.02: "Into the Dalek" written by Phil Ford and Steven Moffat directed by Ben Wheatley
A Dalek fleet surrounds a lone rebel ship, and only the Doctor can help them now... With the Doctor facing his greatest enemy, he needs Clara by his side. Confronted with a decision that could change the Daleks forever, he is forced to examine his conscience. Will he find the answer to the question, "am I a good man?"
• This is the episode that introduces new series regular Samuel Anderson as secondary companion (and rumored love interest for Clara Oswald) Danny Pink.
• Co-writer Phil Ford has a long history with "Doctor Who," even though he's only written one other episode — the excellent David Tennant special "The Waters of Mars." Ford has also written for "Torchwood," "The Sarah Jane Chronicles," the 2009 animated miniseries "Doctor Who: Dreamland" and several Doctor Who video games.
8.03: "Robot of Sherwood" written by Mark Gatiss, directed by Paul Murphy
8.04: "Listen" written by Steven Moffat, directed by Douglas Mackinnon
• This episode and the next having the same writer(s) and director could indicate that they're a two-parter.
8.05: "Time Heist" written by Stephen Thompson and Steven Moffat, directed by Douglas Mackinnon
8.06: "The Caretaker" written by Gareth Roberts and Steven Moffat, directed by Paul Murphy
• The involvement of co-writer Gareth Roberts means this episode could be something outside of business-as-usual. During David Tennant's run, he wrote the episodes where the Doctor met William Shakespeare and Agatha Christie. For Matt Smith, he wrote both comedic episodes that guest starred James Corden as the Doctor's "ordinary guy" friend Craig.
8.07: "Kill the Moon" written by Peter Harness, directed by Paul Wilmshurst
• This is the first work ever on "Doctor Who" for both the writer and the director.
8.08: "Mummy On the Orient Express" written by Jamie Mathieson, directed by Paul Wilmshurst
8.09: "Flatline" written by Jamie Mathieson, directed by Douglas Mackinnon
8.10: "In the Forest of the Night" written by Frank Cottrell Boyce, directed by Sheree Folkson
• This is the first time prolific screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce has written for "Doctor Who."
8.11: "Dark Water" (Part 1 of 2) written by Steven Moffat, directed by Rachel Talalay
• The Cybermen are known to play a major part in this two-part season finale.
• Rachel Talalay has directed for both TV and film, and is known for injecting horror sensibilities into her work. Her best known film is probably 1995's "Tank Girl."
8.12: "Death in Heaven" (Part 2 of 2) written by Steven Moffat, directed by Rachel Talalay
