The episode was written by Rona Munro, who also wrote the last serial prior to the program's decades long hiatus- "Survival" , featuring the seventh Doctor and Ace.
I mention it because this time out feels a lot like the professorial, mentoring seventh Doctor and his student companion.
The Doctor, here, is the quietly approving tutor, watching his best student hit all her marks. He's still the Doctor- irascible, head strong, and so forth. But Bill has come into her own, fully, as companion. She knows when to listen, when to strike out on her own, and when- as things become dire- to take matters into her own hands. Bill is no longer dependent on the Doctor- save in the obvious way, in that he controls the time machine. She is capable of diving into their little adventures and going off on her own. As he now trusts her to do.
She is the most adult companion- the most responsible and self motivated companion- that I think we have ever had, including late in the game Donna Noble.
Very good work from both actors, here. As has been showcased throughout the year.
The story, however... is by the numbers. There is a monster. The doctor figures out that not everyone fighting it is pure of thought or deed, and in the end, those fighting the thing overcome their differences and so forth and so on.
It's fairly well done- but nothing particularly memorable.
Until the end.
I haven't said this, I don't think, directly, but the last couple episodes have felt like we're being given something to do to fill our time before getting to Missy. Like that was their actual focus.
This one was no exception. Though it would seem to be, from the preview for next week, the last one to dick us around like that. The last two episodes seem to shift the focus directly onto her.
The whole adventure, this time, evaporated when, adventure over, the team got back to The Time Lady In The Box.
Not going to spoil. Desperate as I am to discuss it. Let's say that it takes the episode from a six of ten to a nine. To echo an earlier incarnation? Change has come. And it seems not a moment too soon.
Next week? A surfeit of Master.
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