Girl Power!

"My general advice would be to kill all men."

Writer: Jacqueline Rayner
Format: Short Story
Released: February 2018
Printed in: The Missy Chronicles

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Nardole, Missy

Synopsis

The world would be a better place with women in charge, and Missy goes online with the past to prove it...

Verdict

Girl Power! was a phenomenal short story to continue my reading of The Missy Chronicles! I was always confident that Jacqueline Rayner would deliver as she is a favoured writer of mine and I was not let down. The format of the story being told purely through communication online was simply delightful and refreshing and just downright brilliant. It was so easy to read and just so unique which was a big bonus. I loved how it allowed for a lot more humour and the messages between Nardole and the Doctor regarding Missy's requests of orders for the Vault was magnificent. Nardole was getting more and more worried with each request but the Doctor simply approved her requests. Even when he knew she was up to something, he wanted to see what. His curiosity really did get the best of him. I really liked the Series 10 setting and the idea of Missy contacting women throughout history because of how badly they were treated was terrific. She got the likes of Boudica, Joan of Arc and Agatha Christie in an online group and it was all to kill men. Quite often through the form of stabbing. Missy was quite intent on that method. I really loved how different Missy is as a woman but she is still completely recognisable as the Master which is crucial to the character. When she was conversing with the Doctor, the reminiscing of the past was simply delightful. The way the likes of The King's Demons were ridiculed because of the Master's disguise was superb and I just loved how Missy yearned for the Doctor's reaction when the disguise was no more and her/his presence was revealed. The Doctor believing that with all of the Tudor women present, she was hoping to thwart the Stuart regime from coming of age and that would have prevented St. Luke's University, the location of the Vault, from being built and may aid her escape. She, of course, did voluntarily place herself in the Vault and she was genuinely trying to do good. She didn't quite grasp the non-interference with history part, but the Doctor seemed so happy and proud that her intentions were good as she wanted to stop the oppression of women. I mean, that did involve keeping men as toys but hey, she's new to all this. The history of the Master getting explored and getting a distinct number for Missy's incarnation (that's 19 for all of you keeping track) was an unexpected bonus. After her attempt at MADAM being formed failed due to the Doctor revealing the sexism of many English phrases, she now turned to rats to rise up. How wonderfully bonkers. Overall, easily the best story of the collection!

Rating: 10/10