© BBC Pictures Episode: 10.06 "Extremis"
Directed by: Daniel Nettheim
Written by: Steven Moffat
Air date: 20 May 2017
Reviews so far:
Episode 10.01 - "The Pilot"
Episode 10.02 - "Smile"
Episode 10.03 - "Thin Ice"
Episode 10.04 - "Knock Knock"
Episode 10.05 - "Oxygen"
Let me start by saying that I love the idea for this episode. Almost an entire story turning out to be simply a simulation, but real enough to reach the actual world. I can honestly say I never saw this coming. Great concept, very good execution, certainly one of the best episodes of the season so far. Especially considering we finally get an answer to the question who's in the vault and the story behind the reveal is wonderfully done.
First, let's recap. The Doctor is struggling with the loss of his sight and recalls the events that led him to lock and guard Missy in the vault, now revealed to be a quantum chamber. Missy was sentenced to death and meant to be executed by the Doctor who spares her life after their short exchange and the arrival of Nardole. Instead he makes a vow to keep her locked in the chamber for one thousand years. We also get a confirmation that Nardole was sent by River Song to keep an eye on the Time Lord after she dies. As we watch the story in the flashbacks unfold the Doctor receives an impossible message. The message involves the simulation run by the aliens (disguised as the corpses of the Monks) for the entire planet. A simulation almost indistinguishable from the real world with people unaware of the situation. The story involves the Pope and Vatican where a recently-translated text called Veritas makes everyone who reads it commit suicide. As the Doctor, Bill and Nardole come to learn Veritas reveals the fact that everyone is only a part of the simulation and not the real world. Eventually Bill and Nardole disintegrate and the Doctor finds his way to "the Monk" in charge. The aliens are planning to attack the Earth and are learning everything about it through these simulations but the Doctor warns them that the world will be prepared for them and sends the message about their actions to his other self in the real world.
I like how these characters were exactly themselves in the simulation and we actually got to know more about them during this adventure that never happened. Starting with Nardole. In the flashbacks, he introduces himself as "the only person ... who is officially licensed to kick the Doctor's arse", by the request and with permission of his late wife, River Song. In the "other world" he proves to be a brave and loyal friend when he guides the Doctor without his sight and offers to protect Bill in case of need. He doesn't hesitate to confront the Time Lord or Bill, however, and expresses his opinion every time he doesn't agree with them. He has quite a unique attitude for a companion which makes his presence even more welcome and interesting to watch. He's a friend, a conscience and a comic relief at times. And that's quite a combination!
I don't think Bill really gets an opportunity to shine in the episode. She does however help the viewers discover the truth about the story, becoming our eyes first in Vatican library, then in a hub of portals, CERN and finally the White House where she meets up with the Doctor at the end. I like how genuine her reactions continue to be. She's clearly afraid but strong enough to carry on and trust the Doctor when it matters. She's unaware of his secret and misses all the signs, but then again, it's the truth she wouldn't really want to know. It's quite a wonderful episode for the Doctor, though. Even when he's only a simulation we get to see how much he's struggling with the loss of his sight. He's trying to act like nothing happened, but it's clear how much he depends on Nardole, the TARDIS and his glasses that keep him aware of the surroundings. The painful procedure he's willing to do to temporarily regain sight and read Veritas, even if it means the consequences for his future regenerations, gives us quite revealing insight into the Doctor and his state of mind. Peter Capaldi does a wonderful job throughout the episode. My favorite scene has to be the final confrontation between the Time Lord and "the Monk" when the simulation of the Doctor does what "everyone does when the world is in danger" - he calls the Doctor, the real Doctor for help.
Finally, let's talk about the clear highlight of this great episode - the return of Missy. The entire ceremony, on the planet of executioners, was really well done. The people there, talking about the precision of what they're doing with such pride and honor, sure make me wonder just who they are and whether we should expect to see them again, as friends or as foes. Regardless, I very much enjoyed the "without hope, without witness, without reward" speech shared between the Doctor and Missy. They have the most interesting interactions and we can never quite tell whether they're on the same side at the moment, as Missy's help comes and goes depending on the situation. I would like to see them as united front for an adventure, if only to see how much could these two achieve if they were working together. After all, the Master has always been the Doctor's oldest friend/foe. Peter Capaldi and Michelle Gomez have truly great dynamics so knowing they're both leaving the show soon is making all their scenes even more meaningful and memorable to me. I can't help but wonder what will become of these two in the future. For now, till the next time!
© BBC Pictures Episode: 10.07 "The Pyramid at the End of the World"
Directed by: Daniel Nettheim
Written by: Peter Harness and Steven Moffat
Air date: 27 May 2017
Another strong episode in what's probably the best season of the Twelfth Doctor. I was already surprised by the twist at the end of the previous episode and then we spent half of the hour in this one to once again only set up the events. But considering the lengths these "Monks" went to in order to take over Earth it makes sense to see the story continue in yet another hour. The Doctor being able to solve the issue and send the aliens away so quickly, though probable, could have undermined the impact of the simulation in "Extremis" and portrayed "the Monks" as less formidable opponents than they actually are. And what an impression they already made...
To quickly recap, Bill and the Doctor, known as the President of the Earth in time of crisis, are called to help by the Secretary-General of the United Nations when a 5000 year old pyramid shows up overnight right in the middle of an area of Turmezistan where American, Russian and Chinese forces are placed against each other. "The Monks" who are residing in the pyramid make it clear that the events that would lead to the extinction of mankind have already begun and the only chance the people have to survive is to ask for their help and give a pure consent for the aliens to rule the planet. After seeing the fate of the Earth in the simulation created by "the Monks" the humans representing the armies of US, Russia and China, as well as Secretary-General of the United Nations decide to give their consent. They are immediately killed by the invaders as their consent is not honest but made out of fear or strategy, not love. In the meantime the Doctor discovers the true reason of the crisis on Earth and joins forces with Erica, one of the scientists responsible for accidentally creating the bacterium capable of destroying all life on the planet. Even though he's still blind, the Doctor finds a way to stop the bacterium from spreading, thus saving the world but is left trapped in the room where the explosion is about to take place. The only way out is to enter the 4-digit code to open the door and set himself free but he's not able to see it. It leads him to the decision to finally admit to Bill that he's blind which causes her to make a deal with "the Monks". They return the Doctor's sight but the planet is theirs to rule. As Bill's request is honest and comes out of love, they accept it and we're left with their warning for the Doctor who is now able to see again - Earth being taken over by the aliens.
Bill, oh Bill... It's only episode seven of Bill's story and she's already faced with an impossible choice. What makes her quite different from the other companions is not the fact that she chooses to save the Doctor, but the fact she doesn't hesitate to follow her heart. She's taking an emotional approach with her decision and she puts her faith in the Time Lord to fix everything. She's aware of the gravity of the situation but still acts in the most human way possible. She puts the Doctor's life first in that moment because he means something to her but also because she knows him enough to understand that he's worth saving, that he can still make things right and save the world. She doesn't just give up the Earth as one might assume when she's making the deal. Instead Bill's making sure the Doctor is alive and well so that he can come to the people's rescue. Also, it's clear how much their relationship has grown in these past few episodes. Even "the Monks" confirm that Bill's consent comes out of love, as that's the only thing they can accept. I continue to really enjoy Ms. Potts' story and Pearl Mackie is doing a wonderful job as the new companion. Her performance in that last scene of the episode was brilliant. Bill's reaction when she finally learns the Doctor is still blind says it all. She's hurt, shocked, scared and feels partially responsible. Despite all the emotions she's able to clear her mind and find a solution, just like the Doctor's friend would. Really enjoying these two together so far.
The Doctor continues to struggle with losing his sight in the episode. For the first time he seems to be unsure, scared to make a move, not as confident about himself as he normally is. His idea to have all three armies coordinating an attack, a show of force against the aliens, certainly didn't seem like the Doctor. But fortunately what followed was very much him. The Time Lord doesn't know what "the Monks" are truly planning. Not knowing the consequences is clearly a good reason to wait and consider all the choices and the Doctor chooses his path well, opting to find the solution to solve the crisis on Earth instead of just giving power away to the aliens disguised as the human corpses. Somebody who knows that a disaster is about to happen and is able to prevent it but doesn't want to unless asked for help and getting something in return, is not someone that can be trusted. So I was happy to see the Doctor showing us once again just how clever he can be by locating the right place, using "the Monks", and figuring out how to save the world. Even being "lost in the dark" he's still the Doctor, so he finds the solution. With one significant difference. Though the Time Lord can still protect people, he can't take care of himself like he used to. His life ends up being on the line, leaving Bill with the impossible choice. The Doctor always needed his friends but not quite like this before. I'm glad he was able to face his fear and tell his companion the truth when it mattered. Now his eyes are back, so time to save everyone again.
And then there's Nardole. His role has certainly increased from the moment the Doctor turned blind. He became the Time Lord's eyes and guided him throughout the episode. Like in the simulation we can see the confidence and strength in the character, and we also learn that despite not being human, he's quite similar to them. That leads him to get in trouble in the end, collapsing and not being able to help the Doctor when he's trapped in the site of the blast. I hope it's just a temporary loss of consciousness, placed there specifically to force Bill to action, and that Nardole will be fine in the next episode. His presence took me by surprise but he's growing on me with each hour and his relationship with the Doctor is unlike any of the other friendships the Time Lord has made with his companions in the past, making it very interesting to see.
I'm expecting the story of "the Monks" to finish next week and I think only then I'll be able to fully process and rate the entire plot. I certainly enjoyed the new approach the writers are taking with this one. The Doctor's sight being lost was such an unexpected event and everything that followed felt like the uncharted waters for this long time running series. Peter Capaldi and the rest of the cast are certainly making the most of it and the season is shaping up as one of the best in years. Can't wait to see what's next.
Whovian notes and questions:
1. Missy's officially in the vault. Looks like we're half right with this one. I'm still wondering whether she will leave the vault as the Master or his appearance is a surprise we won't see coming. Any thoughts?
2. What do you make of Bill's choice in "The Pyramid at the End of the World"? Do you think she was right, selfish, fully aware of her actions?
3. Is it just me or is this season sometimes reminding you of season 3? There's the knocking, the Master's return, the planet being taken over after a long preparation for what appears to be a while (6 months) with the Doctor's companion having a significant role in the fight against the invaders...?
4. Happy to see the Doctor's sight being restored or would you prefer to take more time with this plot? What are your general thoughts on how it was handled?
5. What do you think about "the Monks"? Who are they and what might be their ultimate plan? Where would you place them on the list of the Doctor's enemies?
6. The President of the Earth and the country of Turmezistan. Two more references but this time to not-so-distant past. I didn't place it at first but had to check after watching. Especially interesting, though, would be the reference to the Doomsday Clock, the symbol which actually exists in real life. Last set to two and a half minutes to midnight.
Memorable quotes:
1. Alien: "What are you doing?"
The Doctor: "What everyone does when the world is in danger - calling the Doctor!"
2. Nardole (from River Song's diary): "Goodness is not goodness that seeks advantage. Good is good in the final hour, in the deepest pit, without hope, without witness, without reward. Virtue is only virtue in extremis. This is what he believes, and this is the reason above all I love him, my husband. My madman in a box. My Doctor."
3. Missy: "I have to say it... the truth. Without hope, without witness, without reward. I am your friend."
4. The Doctor: "The end of your life has already begun. There is a last place you will ever go, a last door you will ever walk through, a last sight you will ever see. And every step you ever take is moving you closer. The end of the world is a billion, billion tiny moments and somewhere unnoticed in silence or darkness it has already begun."
5. Monk: "Without our help, planet Earth is doomed."
The Doctor: "Yes! Well, it’s been ‘doomed’ before! And guess what happened? Me!"
6.The Doctor: "Hello, I’m the Doctor, saving the world with my eyes shut!"
What did you think about "Extremis" & "The Pyramid at the End of the World"? Any favorite scenes, quotes or theories? Feel free to let us know in the comments. Check out the press release & promo for the next episode "The Lie of the Land". As always, thanks for reading!
