History YMMV / DoctorWhoS36E1ThePilot

* AssPull: Bill going on a random tangent about fancying a girl she's been serving chips to in the canteen, when the Doctor asks her why she's been going to his lectures despite not being a student, just feels like a half-assed way to let the viewers know right off the bat that Bill is a lesbian.

** Heather. Being Bill's girlfriend, she could have been a well-developed character just like Rory was to Amy. Instead, she only has about two scenes with Bill before she is consumed by the puddle, ruining any opportunity for her real personality to be fleshed out, and making her nothing more than a rarely speaking villain, and later, [[spoiler: [[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E12TheDoctorFalls a cheap plot device for Bill to be freed from her Cyber conversion]]]].

** Heather. Being Bill's girlfriend, she could have been a well-developed character just like Rory was to Amy. Instead, she only has about two scenes with Bill before she is consumed by the puddle, ruining any opportunity for her real personality to be fleshed out, and making her nothing more than a rarely speaking villain, and later in the season, [[spoiler: [[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E12TheDoctorFalls a cheap plot device for Bill to be freed from her Cyber conversion]]]].

** Heather. Being Bill's girlfriend, she could have been a well-developed character just like Rory was to Amy. Instead, she only has about two scenes with Bill before she is consumed by the puddle, ruining any opportunity for her real personality to be fleshed out, and making her nothing more than a rarely speaking villain, [[spoiler: [[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E12TheDoctorFalls and later, a cheap plot device for Bill to be freed from her Cyber conversion]]]].

** Heather. Being Bill's girlfriend, she could have been a well-developed character just like Rory was to Amy. Instead, she only has about two scenes with Bill before she is consumed by the puddle, ruining any opportunity for her real personality to be fleshed out, and making her nothing more than a rarely speaking villain, [[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E12TheDoctorFalls and later, a cheap plot device for Bill to be freed from her Cyber conversion]].

** People who have not seen nor hear about the Dalek-Movellan War from the classic series were probably at a loss when they saw the (in)famously mop-headed attempt from the 1970s at creating a rival species to the Daleks for the first time. Or, they were expecting the Doctor to pilot the TARDIS into the Time War from what he was insinuating, but did not realize the Time War is time locked and he was referring to ''another'' sufficiently violent Dalek conflict. Although this knowledge is unimportant from a plot perspective, the episode does make a big deal of Nardole not wanting to go to this planet, but no explanation is given.

** Heather. Being Bill's girlfriend, she could have been a well-developed character just like Rory was to Amy. Instead, she only has at least two scenes with Bill before she is consumed by the puddle, ruining any opportunity for her real personality to be fleshed out, and making her nothing more than a rarely speaking villain, [[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E12TheDoctorFalls and later, a cheap plot device for Bill to be freed from her Cyber conversion]].

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Bill's and Heather's relationship.

** Heather. Being Bill's girlfriend, she could have been a well-developed character just like Rory was to Amy. Instead, she only has at least two scenes with Bill before she is consumed by the puddle, ruining any opportunity for her real personality to be fleshed out, and making her nothing more than a rarely speaking villain, [[spoiler:[[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E12TheDoctorFalls and later, a cheap plot device for Bill to be freed from her Cyber conversion]]]].

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Bill's and Heather's relationship as the first lesbian couple seen on the show.

** Heather. Being Bill's girlfriend, she could have been a well-developed character just like Rory was to Amy. Instead, she only has at least three scenes with Bill before she is consumed by the puddle, ruining any opportunity for her real personality to be fleshed out, and making her nothing more than a rarely speaking villain, [[spoiler:[[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E12TheDoctorFalls and later, a cheap plot device for Bill to be freed from her Cyber conversion]]]].

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: The Movellians, returning aliens from the Classic Series, only appear for a few seconds in a cameo.

* ContinuityLockout: This is one of ''Doctor Who'''s periodic attempts to [[AvertedTrope avert]] this for potential new viewers or those catching up (especially important as it's also the show's first regular episode since 2015). Although it carries over a previously established Doctor, Nardole is a relatively new companion and Bill is all-new, with the story being told from her perspective as she learns how the Doctor and his "world" works. In addition, the Doctor himself is primed for a fresh start. Having lost Clara Oswald and his memories of her ''and'' tied off his relationship with River Song, he needs a new, eager Earthling in his lives to show the universe to, even as he's trying to hold himself to the mystery of what's in the vault and a promise he has made to someone not to invite someone else into his life. Additionally, the monster of the episode is an entirely new threat rather than a returning foe (a cameo by the Daleks notwithstanding). The DoubleMeaningTitle emphasises all this, as "pilot" is a term often used for the first-ever episode of a TV show.

** However, there is still a major lockout at the end of the episode as the entire ending - the Doctor's attempt to wipe Bill's memory, his relenting, and then his decision to travel with Bill - relies on knowledge of the fate of Donna Noble from Series 4 (2008), as well as the fate of Clara Oswald from Series 9 (2015) and in the case of the latter, the only clue given is a snippet of her {{Leitmotif}} which again was last heard in Series 9. Granted, new viewers could easily assume it's ''just'' Bill's suggestion that the Doctor wouldn't like being in her position that convinces him; knowing he ''has'' been isn't necessary to make it plausible that he'd relent.
** The significance of the photographs is lost on those unfamiliar with the show. In particular the fact the young woman in one of them is his granddaughter, not his daughter as might be assumed. Related to this the fact the TARDIS is alive and communicates with the Doctor after he changes his mind about mind-wiping Bill, and again the significance of Clara's theme being heard, and the fact River Song, the other person in the photos, is dead (as is technically Clara), are points that are lost on newcomers.

** People who have not seen nor hear about the Dalek-Movellan War from the classic series were probably at a loss when they saw the (in)famously mop-headed attempt from the 1970s at creating a rival species to the Daleks for the first time. Or, they were expecting the Doctor to pilot the TARDIS into the Time War from what he was insinuating, but did not realized the Time War is time locked and he was referring to ''another'' sufficiently violent Dalek conflict. Although this knowledge is unimportant from a plot perspective, the episode does make a big deal of Nardole not wanting to go to this planet, but no explanation is given.

** The significance of the photographs is lost on those unfamiliar with the show. In particular the fact the young woman in one of them is his granddaughter, not his daughter as might be assumed. Related to this the fact the TARDIS is alive and communicates with the Doctor after he changes his mind about mind-wiping Bill, and again the significance of Clara's theme being heard, and the fact River Song, the other person in the photos, is dead, are points that are lost on newcomers.
** People who have not seen nor hear about the Dalek-Movellan War from the classic series were probably at a loss when they saw the (in)famously mop-headed attempt from the 1970s at creating a rival species to the Daleks for the first time. Or, they were expecting the Doctor to pilot the TARDIS into the Time War from what he was insinuating, but did not realized the Time War is time locked and he was referring to ''another'' sufficiently violent Dalek conflict.

** The significance of the photographs is lost on those unfamiliar with the show. In particular the fact the young woman in one of them is his granddaughter, not his daughter as might be assumed. Related to this the fact the TARDIS is alive and communicates with the Doctor after he changes his mind about mind-wiping Bill, and again the significance of Clara's them being heard, and the fact River Song, the other person in the photos, is dead, are points that are lost on newcomers.

* ContinuityLockout: This is one of ''Doctor Who'''s periodic attempts to [[AvertedTrope avert]] this for potential new viewers or those catching up (especially important as it's also the show's first regular episode since 2015). Although it carries over a previously established Doctor, Nardole is a relatively new companion and Bill is all-new, with the story being told from her perspective as she learns how the Doctor and his "world" works. In addition, the Doctor himself is primed for a fresh start. Having lost Clara Oswald and his memories of her ''and'' tied off his relationship with River Song, he needs a new, eager Earthling in his lives to show the universe to, even as he's trying to hold himself to the mystery of what's in the vault and a promise he has made to someone not to invite someone else into his life. Additionally, the monster of the episode is an entirely new threat rather than a returning foe. The DoubleMeaningTitle emphasises all this, as "pilot" is a term often used for the first-ever episode of a TV show.
** However, there is still a major lockout at the end of the episode as the entire ending - the Doctor's attempt to wipe Bill's memory, his relenting, and then his decision to travel with Bill - relies on knowledge of the fate of Donna Noble from Series 4 (2008), as well as the fate of Clara Oswald from Series 9 (2015) and in the case of the latter, the only clue given is a snippet of her {{Leitmotif}} which again was last heard in Series 9. Granted, new viewers could easily assume it's ''just'' Bill's suggestion that the Doctor wouldn't like being in her position that convinces him; knowing he ''has'' been isn't necessary to make it plausible that he'd relent.

* {{Moe}}: Heather. Not so much when she's attacking Bill, but otherwise she looks really sad and in need of a hug. The constantly-soaked (and consequently teary-eyed) look adds to it.

** However, there is still a major lockout at the end of the episode as the entire ending - the Doctor's attempt to wipe Bill's memory, his relenting, and then his decision to travel with Bill - relies on knowledge of the fate of Donna Noble from Series 4 (2008), as well as the fate of Clara Oswald from Series 9 (2015) and in the case of the latter, the only clue given is a snippet of her {{Leitmotif}} which again was last heard in Series 9.

* ContinuityLockout: This is one of ''Doctor Who'''s periodic attempts to avert this for potential new viewers or those catching up (especially important as it's also the show's first regular episode since 2015). Although it carries over a previously established Doctor, Nardole is a relatively new companion and Bill is all-new, with the story being told from her perspective as she learns how the Doctor and his "world" works. In addition, the Doctor himself is primed for a fresh start. Having lost Clara Oswald and his memories of her ''and'' tied off his relationship with River Song, he needs a new, eager Earthling in his lives to show the universe to, even as he's trying to hold himself to the mystery of what's in the vault and a promise he has made to someone not to invite someone else into his life. The DoubleMeaningTitle emphasises all this, as "pilot" is a term often used for the first-ever episode of a TV show.

* ContinuityLockout: This is one of ''Doctor Who'''s periodic attempts to avert this for potential new viewers or those catching up (especially important as it's also the show's first regular episode since 2015). Although it carries over a previously established Doctor, Nardole is a relatively new companion and Bill is all-new, with the story being told from her perspective as she learns how the Doctor and his "world" works. In addition, the Doctor himself is primed for a fresh start -- having lost Clara Oswald and his memories of her ''and'' tied off his relationship with River Song, he needs a new, eager Earthling in his lives to show the universe to. The DoubleMeaningTitle emphasises this, as "pilot" is a term often used for the first-ever episode of a TV show.

* [[Moe]]: Heather. Not so much when she's attacking Bill, but otherwise she looks really sad and in need of a hug. The constantly-soaked (and consequently teary-eyed) look adds to it.

* ContinuityLockout: This is one of ''Doctor Who'''s periodic attempts to avert this for potential new viewers or those catching up (especially important as it's also the show's first regular episode since 2015). Although it carries over a previously established Doctor, Nardole is a relatively new companion and Bill is all-new, with the story being told from her perspective as she learns how the Doctor and his "world" works. In addition, the Doctor himself is primed for a fresh start -- having lost Clara Oswald and his memories of her ''and'' tied off his relationship with River Song, he needs a new, eager Earthling in his lives to show the universe to. The DoubleMeaningTitle emphasises this, as "pilot" is a term often used for the first-ever episode of a TV show.

* ContinuityLockout