You Only Die Twice

"Being a Time Agent is all about making the touch decisions."

Writer: Fio Thretheway

Format: Audio

Released: March 2024

Series: Twelfth Doctor Chronicles 3.03

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor

Synopsis

This time it's personnel. 

Verdict

You Only Die Twice was a great episode to conclude the third series of Twelfth Doctor Chronicles that it shares its title with! I’ve really enjoyed this little foray into the life of the Twelfth Doctor whilst begrudgingly offering his services to the Time Agency and gaining a new friend in the form of Kiera. I’ve been a big fan of her since she appeared in the previous series and she’s filled in the companion role very nicely here. I wouldn’t consider her a traditional companion but I also wouldn’t argue massively against her being considered. Judging by how things concluded here I get the feeling her story has some more chapters, but the one with the Doctor has now finished. At least in this incarnation. I liked the eery atmosphere that came with the alternative timeline that had the Discordia in place as the Imperial Time Agency. This was almost a universe on its last legs and only remnants of Time Agency technology were usable. Kiera’s blaster came in handy there. I thought it was intriguing that the Doctor was travelling with a version of Kiera he thought was not the real article, so the twist of the double agent and her actually being the genuine person was a nice twist! I liked the way they addressed typical story twists and turns in a fashion almost like Scream by almost mocking. The Doctor enjoyed the bit where Kiera got to the explanation, and to be honest so did I! She played it well and the fact she was pretending to be her own copy was brilliant. She was convincing! I thought the new Time Marshall of the Discordia was a strong character and villain, but I could’ve done with a little more of a presence for them. I did enjoy exploring the desolated universe and the build to Kiera’s turn and the Doctor’s use of the keystone, but after the build up I would have enjoyed a bit more from them. The Doctor trying to save Kiera by trying to rescue her from a timeline that no longer existed didn’t sound like an enviable task, but if anyone could do it then it was him! It was nice to get something of a more honest Twelfth Doctor when it came to the departure between him and Kiera. He admired her and knew she could do good things and even considered her a friend, but he didn’t want to have to come rescuing her again! He was a busy guy. And on another note, if this is the last we hear of Jacob Dudman as the Doctor then he has gone out on a high. Following this is a nice little anecdote to his emphatic Eleventh Doctor Chronicles range which has been incredible, and I do hope it’s a goodbye but not forever. He’s very talented and whilst we don’t have Peter Capaldi reprising the role, he’s a fine substitute. But as a whole, this has been a thoroughly entertaining finale to what has been another strong story in the Chronicles range! And I wouldn’t be against the Discordia returning either, in fact I’d bet on it. Overall, a great episode!

Rating: 8/10