Death in Heaven

"How can you win a war against an enemy that can weaponise the dead?"

Writer: Steven Moffat 

Format: TV

Broadcast: 8th November 2014

Series: 8.12

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Clara

Synopsis 

With the Master now a woman and in command of an army of Cybermen converted from the dead, is there anything the Doctor, Clara and UNIT can do to prevent the extinction of the human race?

Verdict 

Death in Heaven was a superb conclusion to the outstanding story already set up following Dark Water. What a prospect we were given following that penultimate episode of the series. The Master was back as a woman! The Cybermen had returned. Danny was dead. The afterlife was realised and visited. Not too bad. I liked the immediate switch in the story though with the introduction of UNIT. Kate waltzing in to confront Missy and the Cybermen was fantastic and it was great to see her return after her successful previous episode. The reference to the Doctor's regeneration was magnificent. I loved how Osgood also returned and coined the Eleventh Doctor's phrase about bow ties being cool. Since Nightmare in Silver, the Cybermen really have had quite the upgrade! I'm not sure where I stand on their ability to fly but the ability to harness the dead and even convert them is something I am a fan of. What a frightening concept! As the Doctor said, how do you win a war against an enemy that can weaponise the dead? Michelle Gomez was simply superb as Missy and despite the gender change, she plays the Master wonderfully well. I can't wait for her return in the next series' opener. She really is bananas and it's brilliant. The Doctor being drafted in as President of Earth was a lovely idea and I loved his reaction also! It was nice how he still wanted Clara by his side despite having the command of every single nation's armed forces. When Earth was faced with a full scale invasion, who better to be in charge than the Doctor? The plane was good and I liked the tribute paid to the Brigadier with the painting. Kate was following in her father's footsteps ever so well. Clara pretending to be the Doctor was very good but it's almost worrying how much she knows about her best friend! The reference to The Doctor's Daughter was surprising and I do wonder how that cropped up in conversation, as well as the four wives mentioned! I liked the momentary belief that Clara might just be the Doctor being given extra credibility by the modification of the opening credits and it was sublime to see Jenna Coleman's eyes light up our screens. The Cybermen refusing to believe that they were wrong and that Clara Oswald was just a story was good but ultimately Clara had saved her life. She was then emotionally saved by a Cyberman who'd escaped control of Missy, later revealed to be Danny. The scenes in the graveyard with Clara and Cyber-Danny were very emotional and I think it was the first time in the entire series that I actually cared about their relationship. Missy escaping her handcuffs on the plane was devious and wonderful and the way she killed Osgood, just after the Doctor had offered to show her all of time and space, was typically excellent of the Master. She even told Osgood to expect and was courteous enough to give her a countdown. She even put lipstick on for the big event. Then, in cold blood, she just murdered her. Missy meant business. The Cybermen crashing the plane and Missy seemingly killing Kate as well was incredible. I thought the plane scene was sublime and I loved the determination of the Doctor to hone in on the TARDIS and get to safety, knowing that Clara was trying to inhibit Danny's emotions which would surely mean her death. Missy wasn't impressed, killed Seb instantly and then in Mary Poppins style descended on the graveyard to meet the Doctor and his friend. The revelation that she was the woman in the shop from The Bells of Saint John and the person responsible for the advert in Deep Breath was great. I'll say it again, Michelle Gomez truly is wonderful. The Doctor allowing Clara to inhibit Danny's emotions so he could connect to the hive mind and reveal how to stop the Cyber pollen clouds was slightly surprising but he simply had to know. Something else that pleasantly surprised me was Missy's motive for building a Cyber army out of the dead. She gave it to the Doctor to command. He could decide every war's outcome with an army spanning billions. The dead had risen from their graves and now the Doctor was commanding them. Missy wanted to show the Doctor that despite everything, they weren't all that different. I loved the Doctor's mocking remark to her about ruling the world, and I loved what Missy had given him here. But Danny was not anticipated and finishing off a theme of the entire series, including flashbacks, Danny took command of the Cybermen and basically ordered their destruction in wiping out the pollen clouds. The dead returned to their graves. The scene with Kate having been saved was most brilliant. The Brigadier got a stunning tribute. He was Cyber Leader and he finally got a salute from the Doctor. A very touching moment. Missy was thought dead at his hands, saving the Doctor from doing so. Clara's reference to the Doctor possibly allowing her to live making these events his fault set my mind back to a comment in A Town Called Mercy which I loved. The Doctor setting the coordinates for Gallifrey and finding that once again the Master had lied was tough to watch. It wasn't quite as tough as Clara and the Doctor both lying to each other in what was seemingly their goodbye. Danny let the boy he killed as a soldier return to normally instead of himself but Clara didn't tell the Doctor the truth. She wanted him to go home whilst he wanted her to stay with Danny. It's sad how they both didn't realise what they needed most was each other. Overall, a sensational two part finale! 

Rating: 10/10