Surprisingly, this is the first episode of the entire Chibnall era where I can safely say I actually didn't mind it at all in the slightest? Beggars belief & it's taken long enough but he may have potentially crafted a screenplay which makes for enjoyable viewing...
Apprehensively, I will concede this did remarkably feel like "Doctor Who".
Of course, a cynic would encourage me to reserve my judgement until further rewatches - & they'd be right to do so but based upon first impressions, this refreshingly wasn't that bad!
Yes, Chris has flagrantly disregarded an entire beautifully written season's worth of character development crafted by Moffat in his final series & he's unapologetically given absolutely no explanation as to how Missy survived her inescapable demise - or even at what point in the Master's life this version is currently at - so we've only the presumptuous assumption that his story's continued after the events of S10... But I genuinely don't care because one of Spyfall Part 2's saving graces is its ending.
Gallifrey - an immediate point of contention that's often mired my viewing experience of the 50th anniversary special; in 2005, Russell T. Davies (an extraordinary talent) reinvented & reinvigorated the brand by introducing the narrative of "The Time War", revivifying the Doctor's character with a complex PTSD survivor's guilt arc which was threaded thematically throughout his entire tenure as Head Writer, Showrunner & Executive Producer. With this, Christopher Eccleston & David Tennant's incarnations were explorations as to how one would continue with the knowledge that they were the last of their kind - the sole survivors... And thus, this richness of storytelling was robbed disrespectfully & rather callously of its impact & meaningfulness when Steven Moffat made the questionable decision to rewrite the events so that the Time Lords & their home planet evaded this calamity unscathed, inadvertently rendering the last 8 years of progression beforehand utterly pointless.
Previously before his departure from the position, Russell foreshadowed how the Doctor's arrogance & willingness to change fixed points in time could lead to catastrophe in one of his closing installments "The Waters of Mars" (a lesson he clearly forgot he learned during the events of "Day of The Doctor") so to finally see none other than Chris Chibnall (of all people) reasserting this vital rule by re-destroying Gallifrey only helps to solidify this previous showrunner's legacy again - depicting the futility of resistance; they may fight time but in the end, it will only find a way to eventually reassert itself & Gallifrey's destiny is always to burn.
With this, Jodie Whittaker's Doctor has been taken in a new & promising direction - she will forever be alone... And instead of battling the inevitable - as Matt Smith's did - her character is forced in to submission & a state of reluctant acceptance, reminded of her opposition's capabilities should she be possessed with those same fantasies & notions of heroism in the future. Her previous regenerations may have thought themselves above the laws of time but actions have consequences & I'm happy she's finally been confronted with hers once more.
That's not to say the rest of Part 2 is perfect but when such a pleasing bold statement has been made regarding the future of the show & its history, the faults (eg. laser shoes, inexplicable villain's regression) are somewhat overshadowed & deemed increasingly forgiveable in the grand scheme of things.
I'm content!
Apprehensively, I will concede this did remarkably feel like "Doctor Who".
Of course, a cynic would encourage me to reserve my judgement until further rewatches - & they'd be right to do so but based upon first impressions, this refreshingly wasn't that bad!
Yes, Chris has flagrantly disregarded an entire beautifully written season's worth of character development crafted by Moffat in his final series & he's unapologetically given absolutely no explanation as to how Missy survived her inescapable demise - or even at what point in the Master's life this version is currently at - so we've only the presumptuous assumption that his story's continued after the events of S10... But I genuinely don't care because one of Spyfall Part 2's saving graces is its ending.
Gallifrey - an immediate point of contention that's often mired my viewing experience of the 50th anniversary special; in 2005, Russell T. Davies (an extraordinary talent) reinvented & reinvigorated the brand by introducing the narrative of "The Time War", revivifying the Doctor's character with a complex PTSD survivor's guilt arc which was threaded thematically throughout his entire tenure as Head Writer, Showrunner & Executive Producer. With this, Christopher Eccleston & David Tennant's incarnations were explorations as to how one would continue with the knowledge that they were the last of their kind - the sole survivors... And thus, this richness of storytelling was robbed disrespectfully & rather callously of its impact & meaningfulness when Steven Moffat made the questionable decision to rewrite the events so that the Time Lords & their home planet evaded this calamity unscathed, inadvertently rendering the last 8 years of progression beforehand utterly pointless.
Previously before his departure from the position, Russell foreshadowed how the Doctor's arrogance & willingness to change fixed points in time could lead to catastrophe in one of his closing installments "The Waters of Mars" (a lesson he clearly forgot he learned during the events of "Day of The Doctor") so to finally see none other than Chris Chibnall (of all people) reasserting this vital rule by re-destroying Gallifrey only helps to solidify this previous showrunner's legacy again - depicting the futility of resistance; they may fight time but in the end, it will only find a way to eventually reassert itself & Gallifrey's destiny is always to burn.
With this, Jodie Whittaker's Doctor has been taken in a new & promising direction - she will forever be alone... And instead of battling the inevitable - as Matt Smith's did - her character is forced in to submission & a state of reluctant acceptance, reminded of her opposition's capabilities should she be possessed with those same fantasies & notions of heroism in the future. Her previous regenerations may have thought themselves above the laws of time but actions have consequences & I'm happy she's finally been confronted with hers once more.
That's not to say the rest of Part 2 is perfect but when such a pleasing bold statement has been made regarding the future of the show & its history, the faults (eg. laser shoes, inexplicable villain's regression) are somewhat overshadowed & deemed increasingly forgiveable in the grand scheme of things.
I'm content!
