Doctor Who
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But with a series thats been running for this long, building upon the existing canon becomes more complicated.
Just to go on this adventure, were being asked to say, Well, thats all right then!
and suspend at least some of our sense of disbelief.
Last weeks episodeended with present-day Earth engulfed in violence and chaos.
Traveling on the TARDIS also seems to have put companions like Donna and Melanie (!)
out of sync, so theyre immune.
But Earths leaders have all been affected.
Fourteen steps in to give UNIT permission to shoot the satellite down with the Galvanic Beam.
The shop owner who has been pulling the strings?
None other than the Toymaker, who made onscreen debut with the First Doctor in 1966.
This time, instead of Chinese garments, hes put on some atrocious European accents.
Despiteapparentlyhaving no knowledge ofDoctor Whobefore being cast, Neil Patrick Harris nails the theatrical absurdity of this classic-era villain.
(Its a shame the Toymaker is obsessed with such twisted games.
Why couldnt it have been, like,Animal CrossingorWii Bowling?)
The final match takes place back in 2023.
UNIT is introduced to the Toymaker through an unhinged dance sequence to Spice Up Your Life.
The Toymaker turns down an invitation to join the Doctor as a companion.
He doesnt want to leave the ultimate playground that is humanity.
The first time this Doctors face was about to regenerate, he said he didnt want to go.
This time, he says the opposite:allons-y.
Were about to see David Tennant disappear again.
Except … no, were not.
Ncuti Gatwas Fifteen splits off Fourteens still-intact body.
Anyway, Mel tells Fifteen hes beautiful.
As a winner, Fourteen declares his prize is that the immortal Toymaker will be banished from existence forever.
In a cute heart-to-heart (hearts-to-heart?
), Fifteen comforts his younger self and even gives him a tender forehead kiss.
The pair head back into the TARDIS with Donna.
To quote Azealia Banks:So, what now?
Fourteen seems to think the show might be about to turn intoDoctors Who.
But while therearetechnically two Doctors, only one of them has the capacity to keep being the Doctor.
Earlier in the episode, Fourteen was questioning himself: Im all sonic and TARDIS and Time Lord.
Take that away, take away the toys … What am I?
What am I now?
But Fourteen has too much unprocessed trauma to take care of the universe.
He needs to stop and take care of himself first.
Im fine because you fix yourself, Fifteen explains.
Were doing rehab out of order.
As an added bonus, Fourteen doesnt even have to give up the TARDIS.
Since Fifteen also won the ball game, he gets a prize, too.
Hey, the domain of play was active during his bi-generation.
All signs point to this Doctor being a bit more playful.
Theres a little full-circle moment here.
The past has been catching up to the Doctor for a long time.
It wouldve felt jarring to transition straight from a postFlux Thirteen into this Fifteen.
Cut for Time (Lord)
This episode leaves us with some intriguing loose threads.
We dont know whose painted nails picked up the gold tooth The Master was sealed in.
(And that camera angle was strange!)
Meanwhile, the Meep referenced an unnamed boss …
The social commentary is not subtle.
This episode is packed with callbacks, from Logopolis to Sabalom Glitzs cause of death.
Martha saved the world; couldnt she get a little shoutout or invite to one of Donnas family dinners?
In episode commentary, RTD floated the idea that the Doctors entire timeline bi-generated.
It feels like were being pitched a UNIT spinoff with Kate, Shirley, Donna, and Mel.
