The Doctor Falls

"There's only ever been one way to stop that many Cybermen. Me."

Writer: Steven Moffat
Format: TV
Broadcast: 1st July 2017
Series: 10.12

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Bill, Nardole

Synopsis

As he struggles to resist regenerating, the Twelfth Doctor prepares to make a last stand against the ever-growing army of Cybermen. However, with Bill still a Cyberman, and Missy gradually turning to her old wicked ways as the Master reminds her of who she used to be, can the Doctor convince his old friend to finally be good before he falls?

Verdict

The Doctor Falls concluded the story already started in World Enough and Time in a decent way but honestly, despite how good it was, I still can't help but feel a little let down. It was emotional and was probably Peter Capaldi's best outing of the series, but I just think things could have been utilised better. You had a golden chance for evil here with two incarnations of the Master but the relationship between him and Missy was too much based upon innuendo and just not what it should have been. Michelle Gomez and John Simm were delightful together but I just hoped we saw more of them in action against the Doctor. Instead we just got a little flashback which was a big shame. We also had the Mondasian Cybermen in all their glory alongside the two latest versions and they were just wasted as their presence was the only real threat they provided for most of the episode. The main focus of the episode was on Bill being a Cyberman and the emotion garnered from that was fantastic. She couldn't understand why she was invoking fear into so many people until she saw a mirror. She was horrified by that and she couldn't comprehend what she had become. She waited ten years for the Doctor and he couldn't save her. The line from the Master about how he was two hours too late must have destroyed the Doctor. The Master influencing Missy was intriguing and I always prefer when the evil ones stay evil but the prospect of Missy standing by the Doctor's side has mightily intrigued me. The idea of the two incarnations going off together in their TARDIS was superb but what followed was hugely unexpected. An incredible speech from the Doctor about doing what he does because it's right and kind was followed by complete dismissal from the Master, perfectly in line with this incarnation of the character, but it was clear that the thoughts were resonating with Missy. She even went as far as stabbing her past self and causing the regeneration, that sadly we didn't get to see, from the Master into Missy. It explained how she wasn't sure how she came to be brilliantly but the Master was having none of it. He would never stand with the Doctor and shot Missy did, seemingly beyond regeneration. The Master will return one day, no doubt about that, but just how will now be very tricky to resolve. But the idea of the Master, someone who fears death so much, killing himself was quite something. Now, back to the Doctor and his defence of human life which was just wonderful. Nardole would stay on the colony ship to protect these people once the Doctor had blown up most of the Cybermen. His postponing of regeneration was intriguing but I loved how it came at the hands of a Mondasian Cyberman. He took the Cybermen to kingdom come with him but still Bill showed that where there were tears there was hope. She went off with Heather which was nice but I just wish she stayed dead to sell the impact. The ending was intriguing with the TARDIS taking the Doctor right back to the beginning and his first impending regeneration. The First Doctor emerged, in the form of David Bradley, and we had quite the cliffhanger. Overall, an episode that had immense quality but one I still can't help but feel a little let down by. I'd give this an 8 and its first part perfection so as a whole, the rating reflects what was still a superb finale.

Rating: 9/10