Doctor Perseus Reviews: Doctor Who S10E12 "The Doctor Falls" · 12:07am Jul 13th, 2017
Sorry for taking so long to getting around to this. But, hey, it's been a while since I've been on time with reviews anyway. Better late than never. Anyway, let's talk about Peter Capaldi's best finale. Obviously, I loved this episode.
There was a trend throughout the Capaldi run where the first part of his finales were better than the second. And while I personally really liked Death in Heaven and Hell Bent (hell, Hell Bent featured my all-time favorite companion departure thus far), neither lived up to the quality set up by the set-up episodes: Dark Water and Heaven Sent. Thankfully, in my opinion, Series 10 managed to buck the trend because The Doctor Falls was even better than World Enough and Time.
First off, this episode featured some of Peter Capaldi's greatest moments as the Twelfth Doctor. From him slowly revealing to Bill that she's now a Cyberman to his truly gut-wrenching and powerful speech to Missy and the Master (more on them in a bit). Peter Capaldi really gave his all in this episode. Now, in fairness, that's not entirely new as, even in his worst episodes, Capaldi has always given a splendid performance as the Doctor. But this episode made me realize just how much I'm going to miss Peter Capaldi as the Doctor. Once his era ends, a whole new era will begin for me. You see, each Doctor of the modern era thus far has a significant role to me as a Whovian. David Tennant was the first Doctor I ever watched. Christopher Eccleston was the first Doctor whose era I watched from start to finish. Matt Smith was the current Doctor when I became a fan. And Peter Capaldi's era is the first era of the show that I fully watched as it aired. So once Peter Capaldi leaves, there will be no more big special roles for any of the succeeding Doctors. Maybe I'll find a new favorite along the way? I dunno. I know that Capaldi doesn't leave until Christmas but it already feels like the beginning of the end given the start of his regeneration at the end of the episode. Speaking of that, you could just feel the pain in Peter's performance as the regeneration started. It's been proven time and time again that Peter Capaldi is a huge Whovian. He's been a fan of the show since his childhood. If there's anyone who definitely deserved to be the Doctor, it was Peter Capaldi. And it's going to really hurt to see him go. But, hey, we've still got one more awesome special with him to look forward to.
Moving on, both Bill and Nardole got some great moments in this episode. I must admit that I am sad that neither will be continuing on to travel with the Thirteenth Doctor. But I'm happy with where their stories ended. I know some wanted Bill to die just for the sake of lasting consequences, but I'm satisfied with the happy ending Bill got. She's reunited with her watery love and now gets to continue traveling around the universe. Come to think of it, Bill's departure was almost like a spiritual sequel to Clara's. No wonder I liked it so much. Nardole's was a little bit bleaker with him still stuck on the ship and looking after the survivors whilst waiting to face more Cybermen who come up. But I suppose it's happy that he's found a new family. I also like how Moffat seems to have purposefully left the door open enough for Bill and Nardole's potential return in the future. The fates of Amy, Rory, River, and Clara have their endings etched in stone. Aside from maybe a future anniversary special or a flashback, we're most likely never going to see them again. Though there are rumors about Clara making a cameo appearance in the upcoming Christmas special (which I pray are true), so who knows?
I absolutely adored seeing Missy and the Master together. It was great seeing these two versions of the Master interact. Not to mention that it was just nice seeing John Simm again as the Master after seven freakin' years. It was nice to see this episode finally fill in that blank space of time that was once between Simm's and Gomez's incarnations. Though, there was some room left open for there to potentially be other incarnations between Simm and Gomez. I must say that one of the saddest moments of the episode was Missy finally deciding to stand with the Doctor only to be shot down by her past self. In the battle for Missy's soul, the Doctor won...and he'll never know. Though it is quite fitting that both Missy and the Master go out in a fit of laughter. And who really knows if Missy dies here? That current incarnation most likely does but the Master always finds a way to continue on. I suspect we'll see her or him again in the future, whether it's a new incarnation between Simms Master and Missy or another incarnation that survived after Missy. One negative I suppose is that Missy and the Master didn't do a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. They were only a threat for the first few minutes of the episode and were then just grudging tagalongs for the rest of the story. But I personally saw this episode as more of a character piece than an action epic (though the action we got to see was quite excellent). And, as a character piece, this was a great story for Missy and the Master.
The side characters were likable enough but with the larger-than-life main characters, they easily get pushed a bit into the sidelines. The return of Heather was also a nice twist. I know some people will see this as a deus ex machine of sorts, but at least she gave Bill a satisfying farewell and it was at least set up by the events of The Pilot.
And, of course, that epic final cliffhanger of the Twelfth Doctor encountering none other than the First Doctor; and both of them near the verge of regeneration. Christmas can't really get here fast enough. It really is a treat seeing David Bradley being able to play the First Doctor in canon after his fantastic performance as William Hartnell in An Adventure in Space and Time. Seeing the Twelfth and First Doctors together is going to be awesome!
Lastly, that little montage with the Doctor remembering his past companions was a great moment. Even Clara! This gives me hope that the Doctor will remember Clara before he regenerates. Though I do wonder why Rory and Strax were excluded from the montage.
Overall, I loved this finale. While it didn't manage to top my favorite finale, The Name of the Doctor, it still managed to sit happily in second place.
What did the rest of you think of The Doctor Falls?
There hasn't been a finale like this in a good long time, and really enjoyed it as well. There seemed to be a lot of references to Classic Who here. The Master now has a goatee kind of like Robert Delgado, who was The Master in the old series right. The Doctor offers that kid a jelly baby. The Mondasian Cyberman again. And of course, The First Doctor, the one who this all began with, showing up at the end. David Bradley was also Filch in the Harry Potter movies right. I thought he seemed familiar. I also liked how The Doctor quote his last two regenerations' last words as he's fighting his regeneration. It was quite a surprise for Heather to show up and release Bill from her suffering as a Cyberman. It kind of brings the story of Bill full circle. I imagine it's unlikely we'll be seeing Bill again. I think it's for the best, not that I disliked Bill. You'll see in my upcoming video. As for The Master and Missy, I guess it was a fitting end for them. I know this is Michelle Gomez's last time as Missy, but as you suggested, I doubt this is the last time we'll see The Master. I actually didn't consider that there could be other regenerations between them. That would certainly be interesting. I guess we just have to wait and see how The Master comes back.
Certainly this Christmas special going to be something. It's certainly fitting for Twelve and One to be together like this. Technically, Twelve is The Doctor's first regeneration as part of this new cycle of regenerations he was given in "The Eleventh Hour". So they're like two First Doctors. This Christmas special is the first time a prior regeneration of The Doctor will be played by a different actor. (Obviously as William Hartnell died like 42 years ago.) And as of today, it's the first time The Doctor will regenerate as a woman.
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Actually, it's the second, and for the same incarnation at that. During the Fifth Doctor's "The Five Doctors" special, the First Doctor was played by a different actor, Richard Hurndall, easily making him the Doctor played by the most actors at 3 (minus stunt doubles—I'm looking at you, Pertwee). The only real competition was when Sylvester McCoy played the Sixth Doctor for a few seconds during the regeneration scene Colin Baker refused to return for (he'd only do it if he got a third season, so the BBC cut their loses and put Seven in a wig).
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Well, I didn't know any of that.
Oh.
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Now you do, which is the reason I replied.
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And knowing is half the battle!