I’m only halfway through Moffat/Capaldi’s 1st season and so I’m still kind of processing my thoughts. The change of tone is definitely something I struggled with the first time. And the doctor is like a rebellious, angsty teenager? Some of his choices and reasons make sense after the fact, like Mummy on the Orient Express. But, he continuously comes across as a jerk, especially to Clara. The Doctor has always been a jerk in some form, but he was always a softie at heart. It’s weird that he seems completely oblivious to certain things when he’s had thousands of years of experience and interaction with human kind.

I think I can see the direction they were going with him. He’s meant to be the angry doctor (hence the Scottishness) and says what’s on his mind. But, I think that’s what came across as jarring when I first watched it. Every episode is basically some conflict, The Doctor being a dick, Clara gets upset, tells him he’s being a dick, some story later, Doctor still a dick, resolution with no real apology for his demeanor, and she forgets all the dickish-ness because he saved the day and thus justifies him being a dick. Rinse and repeat.

I think the production and stories as well felt a little off. As you said, there are really strong ones like Listen and then the rest are just fairly okay. I remember not liking the Robot of Sherwood at all the first time I watched it. I think it’s still pretty weak for the 3rd episode into a new Doctor’s tenure. This time around I didn’t mind it as much, but I still feel like sub-par writing and show direction didn’t give Capaldi justice.

I think that’s my current thoughts on my second watch, whilst trying to be as brief as possible without repeating myself.