So we come to the end of Series 12 with what must rank as the most polarising story since The Deadly Assassin (there are still fans that don’t like its decision to make the timelords very beauracratic and corrupt), I like the Timeless child stuff but even without that I think it’s a pretty good 2 parter. The Cybermen seem genuinely threatening and relentless despite the flying heads looking absurd and you do feel that humanity has been worn down by this unstoppable foe and are on their last legs. Once Graham and Yaz are separated from The Doctor there is a genuine sense that they may not survive especially once on the Cyber ship, I did wonder if we were going to see The Cybermen claim another companion’s life. I like the warrior class Cyber design too, a lovely blend of old and new, The idea of the human hiding in Cyber suits is a good one too and gives us Cybergraham! Jodie again gets a good confrontation with the Lone Cybermen, she is always good at channelling The Doctor’s righteous anger, it’s such a shame that after being the main villain he’s got rid of almost as an afterthought in Part 2, He’s such a good concept and I wish he had escaped to fight another day
The first episode Irish detour does jar on first watch as you try to work out the connection but it makes a nice contrast to the Cyber story and on rewatch it gels with what we learn about the Timeless child and is explained in Part 2 as The Master’s doing though it could maybe have been made clearer that The Doctor was seeing it too, intresting that even before The Doctor became the Doctor we know they had to be brainwashed, maybe underlining that the morality of the character was always there
The Master reappearing is a good thing, Sacha is such a good Master bringing the right mixture of insanity, ruthlessness and charm. I know some fans think he can’t be after Missy because of her change of heart before her end but clearly learning about the Timeless child tipped them back over the edge and like The Doctor regeneration changed their persona so maybe Missy wouldn’t have reacted quite the same. Whilst I don’t like the way he gets rid of such a good villain in Lone Cybermen his mad idea of Cyber-Timelords is suitably bonkers and very Masterish and obviously without his death there wouldn’t be the death particle solution for The Doctor to carry out though it seems The Master escaped as always.
The Timeless Child/Tectaun/Division stuff isn’t as terrible concept as some think, It adds not subtracts from the mythos and adds some mystery back, It also isn’t disrespectful to William Hartnell as many suggest, he is still the first actor to play The Doctor and guarantee the success of the show, this reveal just adds more fiction to the character and to be fair only follows up on what we saw in 1976 when it was first mooted there were Doctors before Hartnell (go and watch Brain of Morbius- no way are those faces anyone else but The Doctor’s). Doctor Who has never had one creator’s vision or a show bible like many others- it has always been a relay race between creative people doing what they wanted, to me that is its charm. The Timelords being started in a corrupt manner rather than natural fits in with what we know about them and The Doctor being the timeless child makes sense of why they’re not like other Timelords to me, their morality and sense of justice makes them stand out from all others we have met so now we have a reason and the mystery of who The Doctor really is is back in a way it hasn’t been since 1969, also for everyone complaining the story hasn’t been fully resolved yet so at least wait. As you may be able to tell I love it and hope it isn’t overwritten. The Division also feels a natural Timelord organisation and the thought of multiple unknown Doctors is exciting, so good to see Jo Martin’s Doctor and the big flashback scene is lovely, I know some didn’t like Jodie being trapped and explained to but it felt necessary to convey the information but she wins and shows strength to break free and defeat The Master.
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