The Doctor Falls is the second part of the 10th story of Series 10 (or Season 36). It is the 12th Doctor's 32nd Story, Bill's 9th, Nardole's 8th (proper), Missy's 4th and Saxon Master's 3rd. It features the last appearance of Nardole, Bill Potts, Missy and the Master. The 12th Doctor starts to regenerate after being electrocuted by a Cyberman and later shot by it. This episode features the death of the Master. The episode features the 17th story of the Cybermen and the second to feature the Mondasian Cybermen. It features the reappearance of the current version and the Lumic version of the Cybermen. The episode also features the reappearance of the Sentient Pool and the 1st Doctor.
Well after the disappointing finale of Hell Bent I was anxious. I have to say that this was a let down as I will discuss below but it was a pleasing story. I feel that Simm was underused in this story. If he featured more as the Master proper in the last episode it would have been okay but he wasn't so I don't think he got the treatment of Davros from Witch's Familar. Of course that was because this episode had to see the depart of three characters plus the Doctor from a certain point of view - so its a tuffy isn't it
Pros
Nardole's exit - Despite being the most pointless character of the series (that's not to say I don't like him because I did) he got the most satisfying exit that I can't fault. It was also emotional to see him go. It's also sad because I found him very funny and I wish that this TARDIS trio went on for longer because I think, of the top of my head not really thinking, that this is my favourite TARDIS team of new who. Nardole is also unlikely to reappear also so that is upsetting.
Missy and the Master's exit - I think the way they went, killing each other was perfect. However I do believe they weren't used effectively as I will discuss below. It was also incredibly sad that Missy died without the Doctor knowing that she did side with him in the end.
The Acting - Excellent acting for everyone. Best episode for Capaldi and best acting for Lucas for the series
The Master and Missy dynamic - I think Missy being torn between good and evil was excellent and just a shame that it wasn't a major focus of the story. The Master wasn't all that he should have been but I partially liked how he was not moved one little bit by the Doctor's speech even though it was incredibly mooving
Bill as a Cyberman - When I saw Bill in that barn I thought Moffat's done a Clara. But it wasn't the case. It was really well directed by Rachel Talay and I thought it was done incredibly effectively. Just a shame Bill didn't end up as a Cyberman in the end.
1st Doctor - This was heavily rumoured and I liked the cameo and I'm not going to lie I am looking forward to the Christmas episode. However I am a little concerned that the episode will focus on the Doctor One and not Doctor Twelve when it should be on Twelve as it is is last episode. However also I don't want the episode to focus on 12 and leave 1 as a random inclusion, like Simm who did nothing to the plot other than kill Missy in this episode alone
Continuity Nods - The amount of references here were immense. From the companion visions to the Cyber converted planets. I think Capaldi had something to do with that.
Conclusion to an arc - The hybrid arc was a complete mess to end with but at least Missy's redemption came to the perfect end.
The Rengeration - The Doctor regenerated in a nice simple way, not grand like Matt Smith. He was electrocuted by a cyberman. It makes them more scary in that respect.
Characters unknown fates - What's so tragic about this episode is that the Doctor doesn't know that Missy died for the Doctor and did change. He still thinks that she just left. Bill doesn't know that the Doctor is alive and the Doctor presumes Bill is dead. Nardole believes that the Doctor and Bill both died as well. This is incredibly sad and nicely done.
Cons
Child Grenade - On odd con to start off with but why on earth did the Doctor allow a child to throw a grenade?
Bill's exit - This is certainly the biggest issue I have with the episode. I know that Moffat wanted a happy ending but it was almost identical to Clara's exit. Both Clara and Bill were pulled from a difficult, supposed irreversible situation to then go off travelling with another woman through time and space for a indefinite time. Now Clara's exit has been one that I have been angry with for a long time. I liked the raven end because it showed how not everyone can be the Doctor. However I see that Moffat wanted a happy ending to the character. Clara leaving with Ashilda was at least panned out. I think what annoyed me most about that episode is it was the Clara Show. It was all about Clara's exit and not Gallifrey. Gallifrey was effected like Simm was in this episode but in a much greater extend. Bill's exit would have been fine if two things changed. Firstly, Clara had not left in a similar fashion and secondly if the Sentient Pool was expanded more. A little bit more foreshadowing because it felt incredibly random and rushed. I think perhaps the pool should have appeared more throughout the series when Bill started to cry. I think a better exit for Bill would have been for her to have sacrificed herself by blowing the floor up.
Missy and the Master - The story should have focused on them as well as the Cybermen. The arc of this series was Missy's redemption and that was concluded well I have to say rather well. However he is what I would have done differently. I would have had the Master and Missy on the side of the Cybermen for the whole story. Missy would then have a change of heart after a similar confrontation with the Doctor before being killed by the Master, only to then be killed himself by Missy. The Doctor not witnessing this would have been great. I feel that the Master and Missy should have featured in a lot more scenes.
The Mad Saxon Master - This is basically a repeat of the above but I think that John Simm's Master didn't do anything particularly evil, largely because he was on the side of the Doctor. I think that Simm's Master is again very different to his last two, which is fine because the Series 3 finale Master was different to the End of Time Master but I feel that the insanity was lost. Simm was used more than Gomez which I like because it marks his return, but being very hypocritical, I think Gomez should have had a lot more focus, it being her last story. The trailers certainly seemed to suggest that the episode would focus on her and her conflicting views. That's why perhaps Simm's return should have occurred in an earlier episode but then again you couldn't have had the perfect Missy ending. Steven Moffat has a hard job I'm not going to argue with that.
Flying Mondasians - This was more bearable than I thought as these weren't the same Cybermen that come from Mondas but it still didn't look right. I have no problem unlike other fans with the current version flying because it shows evolution.
No Rory but Clara - Rory was a full-fledged companion and one who stayed with the Doctor for a long time. He was completely absent from the great companion showing. Vastra and Jenny however were present. Why?. Clara was also present despite the Doctor not remembering him.
Doctor Rating
12th Doctor: 10/10 - Perfect. Some say his best performance, which I would say in terms of the series it is but I wouldn't say overall
1st Doctor: 8/10 - Low you might say, hmmm. Well I am a little sceptical of this inclusion. Multi-Doctor stories should only be for special occasions. I also think that Bradley was a little forceful of the Hartnell traits, but he is a great actor and certainly the one I would have chosen for the role so in that regard - good
Companion Rating
Bill Potts: 9/10 - Excellent acting from Mackie and nicely played as a cyberman. Certainly made me emotional. However the exit does make the score go down by a point
Nardole: 8/10 - Best Nardole ever. I was incredibly saddened by his goodbye to the Doctor. I hope he has a happy life farming those humans!
Enemy Rating
The Master: 8/10 - Never could I have predicted giving John Simm an 8. Well this is because I think he wasn't evil enough not wasn't evil enough. 10/10 otherwise.
Cybermen: 9/10 - The cybermen were effective and still creepy. I thought due to the marketing that they would play a back-seat to the Master and be a bit pointless like they were in the Series 8 finale however they were done really well. I suppose they ended up being the focus and Simm was pushed to the side. I actually would have preferred moaning about the Cybermen disappointment than Simm. I really like how the Doctor's regeneration started because of one Cyberman. Although the Cybermen have been in a regeneration story before (and I suppose they wont be in the next one) they have never ended the Doctor. I suppose the Daleks haven't really either only doing so with the David Tennant mark 1 Doctor.
Story Notes
Story: 7/10 - Good score for the first multi-master story however very similar to the Time of the Doctor and resolved in a bad way
Seriousness: 9/10 - The Doctor is regenerating in an almost impossible situation and Bill is a Cyberman. Unitl of course the end which results in a loss of a point.
Scariness: 8/10 - The cybermen were creepy but not quite up to scratch with last week. Although that would have been pretty hard
Humour: 7/10 - A few funny bits here and there but the lack of humour is okay for the type of story.
Continuity: 8/10 - Difficult one because there were so many nods to the past which were great but the Mondasians flying and Clara appearing in the visions were not pleasing.
Rest of Cast
Missy: 9/10 - If she was the focus it would have been an excellent 10/10, however she was not. Excellently acted and a fitting end to the character
Hazran: 7/10 - Good actress
Alit: 6/10 - An alright child actress but that grenade bit really annoyed me!
Sentient Puddle: 6/10 - Sorry but the entrance was cop-out. Good actress though which results in a more than five score.
Total: 119/150
1. Return of the Doctor Mysterio = 72%
2. The Pilot = 74%
3. Smile = 71.66%
4. Thin Ice = 73%
5. Knock Knock = 74.29%
6. Oxygen = 73.07%
7. Extremis = 80.77%
8. The Pyramid at the End of the World = 78%
9. The Lie of the Land = 70%
10. Empress of Mars = 75.33%
11. The Eaters of the Light = 72.30%
12. World Enough and Time = 85.71%
13. The Doctor Falls = 79.33%
The Doctor Falls slots in to third place by this method. My opinionated ranking will be out shortly.
1. Return of the Doctor Mysterio = 72%
2. The Pilot = 74%
3. Smile = 71.66%
4. Thin Ice = 73%
5. Knock Knock = 74.29%
6. Oxygen = 73.07%
7. Extremis/The Pyramid at the End of the World/The Lie of the Land = 76.26%
8. Empress of Mars = 75.33%
9. The Eaters of the Light = 72.30%
10. World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls = 82.52%
The two part finale still manages to be the best story overall, so well done Moffat.
Return of the Doctor Mysterio: 7/10
The Pilot: 7/10
Smile: 6/10
Thin Ice: 6/10
Knock Knock: 7/10
Oxygen: 8/10
Extremis: 8/10
Pyramid at the End of the World: 8/10
Lie of the Land: 7/10
Monk Trilogy: 8/10
Empress of Mars: 7/10
The Eaters of the Light: 6/10 (-1)
World Enough and Time: 9/10
The Doctor Falls: 8/10
The Finale: 9/10
The Doctor Falls does not match the excellent first part but it was still good enough. It could have been a lot better though. As you may of noticed the finale manages to secure another 9 out of 10. This means Capaldi manages to have two 9's and possibly three if I am satisfied by the Christmas Special then it could mean three. I was originally going to give it an 8 on first watch but my view of the second episode was much better on second watch. I though the ending was cop-out but then I thought that my favourite serious finale, the Series 4 one, had a much bigger cop-out ending. Therefore I thought it does deserve a 9.
Join me for the Christmas Special review in December and remain refreshed on the main page for a lot more content.
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