*Spoilers*
I didn't write much about last week's episode because I really didn't like it that much. I've mentioned before that I prefer self-contained smaller scale stories to big story arcs and the whole planet mobilising against a threat. I particularly don't like the idea of the Doctor being made President of Earth.
Anyway, tonight's episode picked up events six months later, and our hero has apparently turned into a sort of modern day Lord Haw-Haw, broadcasting about how the wonderful Monks have always been there, shaping humanity's progress. I wonder how they got on with the Fendahl, Fenric, Scaroth and all the other aliens who have been guiding humanity over the millennia?
Ha! Trick question! Because of course they didn't get on with them at all, as they weren't really there. It is all a lie. Martha still knows this, but struggles to keep her grip on reality. Of course the Doctor must be a prisoner, and being forced to help the Monks, mustn't he?
Until the end of the scene on the prison ship, the episode promises much. But having thrown everything at what turns out to be a gigantic fan wind-up, it rather runs out of steam after that. There are some obvious parallels between this episode and Last of the Time Lords. Both start from a point where the earth had been taken over by aliens at the end of the previous episode, and the action starts some months later with the companion, the being in the aliens' power. The ultimate resolution, using the alien's telepathic gizmo against them, is also the same. And they both feature the Master (or Mistress.) The one significant difference here is that Missy is not responsible, and having (almost) turned over a new leaf, she provides the Doctor with the clue to the Monks' weakness.
All in all, despite great performances from Pearl Mackie, Peter Capaldi and Michelle Gomez, I found this rather dull.
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