Okay, just a couple episodes to go! Let's do the review of the first half of the two part finale of Doctor Who Series 12. Not much happened, but I liked the episode. I'm glad the Cybermen are back!
We follow the story thread form last week's episode: the Lone Cyberman's coming for the Doctor and the Fam, during the Cyber Wars. I loved all the new looks for the warrior class Cybermen, kind of a mix from the Classic-era look and the modern look from the Russell T. Davies era. Apart from the episode's ending, nothing that big happened. I liked the little callbacks to previous Cybermen stories and how threatening they feel. Graham and Yaz were wonderful, their characters are being developed and they now feel like a functional part of the TARDIS team. Yaz is confident and she's turning into a leader. Graham is becoming a more hopeful and optimistic lad, and they do feel as if they were family. Ryan is getting there, I think. But he's still the person in distress. They helped the human refugees escape, because life matters.
There are still a bunch of stuff to tie in. Like that other story from the episode… who is that Branden dude? Is he the Lone Cyberman? Where is Captain Jack? Why is Gallifrey at the other side of the portal? How (and why) did the Master escape from where he was? I'm excited!
Review by Aniela KrajewskaVIP 8BlockedParentSpoilers2020-02-23T20:19:53Z
Chibnall went all out on this one, didn't he? Loved it. So intense and that cliffhanger at the end makes me want to scream.
I don't fully understand how that Brandon dude fits into the whole thing, but I assume he is in some way connected to the Cybermen or the Timeless Child? It's an interesting storyline and it provided a nice contrast to all the futuristic space stuff. It seemed so lovely and quiant... and then it got weird. I hope next week we'll get all the answers because I'm currently pretty confused.
On another note, I truly hope we're getting rid of one or two companions (or maybe even the whole squad). I don't know if it's because there's three of them or if it's just bad writing, but despite the copious amounts of backstory we've gotten for them, they still feel paper thin. And their dynamic with the Doctor is pretty much nonexistent, I don't feel any connection there. I remember crying my eyes out over Twelve and Clara when she left (yes, I loved Clara, yes, I know I'm in the minority, leave me alone). I was sad for days. I still feel sad when I think about it and it's been 4 years! Give me that kind of relationship between Thirteen and a companion, I'm begging. Because right now, I don't think I'd bat an eyelash if any of these three left/died.
Still an awesome episode though! Can't wait for next week.