But I did take away some notable positives here.

Pearl Mackie’s Bill, again, steals the show. She’s just as much fun here as she was in The Pilot, opening with some critiques of the TARDIS design, and displaying the same savvy knowledge of sci-fi productions that continually save 30 seconds here and there of the script having to explain things for her character. Furthermore, the relationship between her and Capaldi’s Doctor feels fresh, interesting and entertaining, as they work each other out.

I liked too that there’s a sense of an old-school Doctor Who structure here. The first 15-20 minutes feels like a traditional Who episode one of old (modern Who has tended to blast through a lot of its set up work, that once upon a time would have been afforded an opening episode, pre-credits), and this was my favourite bit of Smile. Cottrell-Boyce’s script patiently sets up the story – this feels as relaxed and uncluttered as the opening of The Pilot – and affords The Doctor and Bill some quality time for a natter. All the while exploring why the colony of Gliese 581 D is empty. Modern Who stories that take their time with the set up do have a habit of rushing the ending, and there’s perhaps an element of that. But it still stands up, has internal logic, and works.

I did find myself wanting more Nardole – Matt Lucas’ companion is barely in this one – and the emoji robots didn’t really do it for me. But the story is good, the visual realisation of it is terrific, and the interplay between Capaldi and Mackie is both a treat and the highlight. Plus, there’s some fresh information about that Vault, that slowly continues to tease the bigger underlying narrative of the story.

I think Smile is going to get a much warmer reception than Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s previous Doctor Who, In The Forest Of The Night (a story that has more fans and people fighting its corner than it gets credit for). I also think it’s testament to the talents behind the show and the ambition for it that such a future world tale is both attempted and realised so well.