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{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image          = The Doctor Falls2.jpg
|image          = The Doctor Falls2.jpg
|scripturl      = http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/doctor-who-s10-ep12-the-doctor-falls.pdf
|series          = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|series          = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|season number  = Series 10 (Doctor Who)
|season number  = Series 10 (Doctor Who 2005)
|series episode number = 12
|series episode number = 12
|story number    = 275b
|story number    = 275b
|doctor          = Twelfth Doctor
|doctor          = Twelfth Doctor
|companions      = [[Bill Potts|Bill]], [[Nardole]]
|companions      = [[Nardole]], [[Bill Potts|Bill]]
|featuring      = {{Gomez}}
|featuring      = Missy
|featuring2      = {{Simm}}
|enemy          = [[Exodus Cyberman|Exodus Cybermen]]
|featuring3      = Heather (The Pilot)
|featuring4      = First Doctor
|enemy          = [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cybermen]], [[Patient (World Enough and Time)|The Patients]]
|setting        = [[Mondas]]ian [[Colony ship (World Enough and Time)|colony ship]]: [[Floor 1056]] and [[Floor 0507]]
|setting        = [[Mondas]]ian [[Colony ship (World Enough and Time)|colony ship]]: [[Floor 1056]] and [[Floor 0507]]
|writer          = [[Steven Moffat]]
|writer          = Steven Moffat
|director        = [[Rachel Talalay]]
|director        = [[Rachel Talalay]]
|producer        = [[Peter Bennett]]
|producer        = [[Peter Bennett]]
|broadcast date  = [[1 July (releases)|1 July]] [[2017 (releases)|2017]]
|broadcast date  = 1 July 2017
|network        = [[BBC One]]
|network        = BBC One
|format          = 1x60 minute episode
|format          = 1x60 minute episode;<br/>Part 2 of 2
|prev            = World Enough and Time (TV story)
|prev            = World Enough and Time (TV story)
|next            =  
|next            = Twice Upon a Time (TV story)
|made prev      =  
|made prev      =  
|made next      =  
|made next      =  
Line 35: Line 33:
|bts3            = Steven Moffat & Rachel Talalay - The Aftershow - Doctor Who The Fan Show
|bts3            = Steven Moffat & Rachel Talalay - The Aftershow - Doctor Who The Fan Show
|scene analysis  = Missy And The Master Dance Together - Doctor Who Series 10
|scene analysis  = Missy And The Master Dance Together - Doctor Who Series 10
}}
|epcount=1|featuring2=Saxon Master{{!}}the Saxon Master|featuring3=Alit|featuring4=Heather (The Pilot){{!}}Heather|featuring5=First Doctor}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the twelfth and final episode of the [[Series 10 (Doctor Who)|tenth series]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' produced by [[BBC Wales]]. It saw the departures of both [[Bill Potts]] and [[Nardole]], and the apparent end of [[the Master]]'s life.
'''''The Doctor Falls''''' was the twelfth and final episode of [[Series 10 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 10]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.


Expanding on the [[Twelfth Doctor]]'s [[regeneration]] teased in the [[World Enough and Time (TV story)|previous episode]], it saw him mortally wounded in battle against the [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cybermen]]. The regeneration would also begin twice, both of which he managed to postpone, however, as the Doctor refused to change, having grown accustomed to being in his current incarnation, mirroring the [[Tenth Doctor]]'s attitude towards the process. However, the Twelfth Doctor had also expressed he was sick of "always having to be someone else";
It saw the departures of both Bill and Nardole, and the events leading to the [[Saxon Master]]'s regeneration into [[Missy]], with the Master being mortally wounded by his female successor. However, he in turn kills her, bringing an apparent end of the Master's life. The episode also explained the different and conflicting origins of the Cybermen appearances, citing it to "[[parallel evolution]]".


The episode also shows the events leading to {{Simm}}'s regeneration into {{Gomez}}, with the male Master being mortally wounded by his female successor, and he in turn seemingly killing her, presenting how (unlike the Doctor who has teamed up with his past and future incarnations) the Master very rarely works with any of his past or future incarnations as he would eventually double-cross himself. With the mystery of how the Master had regenerated into Missy now being shown, this would mark the last appearance of [[John Simm]] as the "Harold Saxon" incarnation of the Master in his natural stream of events.
Expanding on the Twelfth Doctor's [[regeneration]] teased in the previous episode, {{cs|World Enough and Time (TV story)}} it saw him mortally wounded in battle against the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]]. However, the Doctor managed to postpone the change, expressing how he was sick of "always having to be someone else", leading into the arc of the next episode, {{cs|Twice Upon a Time (TV story)}}


The story featured several connections to the [[1966 (releases)|1966]] serial ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'', including a story featuring [[human]]s from [[Mondas]], and featured appearances by the [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cybermen]] from said [[planet]]. Most notably, the episode featured the unexpected return of the [[First Doctor]], now portrayed by [[David Bradley]], who had previously portrayed [[William Hartnell]] in the docudrama ''[[An Adventure in Space and Time (TV story)|An Adventure in Space and Time]]'', in a scene set during the events of ''The Tenth Planet'' itself.
Most notably, the final scene of the episode featured the unexpected return of the [[First Doctor]], now portrayed by [[David Bradley]], in a scene set during the events of {{cs|The Tenth Planet (TV story)}} itself, the first time an incarnation of the Doctor from the classic series had appeared since the series was revived in 2005 and not been played by his original actor. Bradley had previously portrayed [[William Hartnell]] in the docudrama {{cs|An Adventure in Space and Time (TV story)}}.


It also ended the confusion over the conflicting accounts on how the Cybermen were created; the Doctor explained it as "parallel evolution". This meant that though the Cybermen might be descended from Mondasians, they came into existence in different parts of the universe.
In 2023, despite ''The Doctor Falls'' together with ''World Enough and Time'' ranking as the most popular [[Twelfth Doctor]] TV story ahead of {{cs|Heaven Sent (TV story)}} in a poll by ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'',<ref name="dwm 594">[[DWM 594]]</ref>{{note|Polls by DWM are statistically invalid, as they do not feature a random sample of people. Respondents choose to participate on their own initiative, and are made aware of the poll because they subscribe to or at least frequently buy DWM. Thus, the poll is clearly weighted towards ''Doctor Who'' fans who are also residents of the United Kingdom. The views reflected almost certainly do not represent the "casual" viewer of ''Doctor Who'', non-English speaking fans, or other groups of fans who simply don't read or have access to DWM.}}, a later ''DWM'' poll that year with a shortlist of 37 finalists including the two aforementioned stories declared ''World Enough and Time''/''The Doctor Falls'' the second most popular TV story of the first 60 years of ''Doctor Who'', behind the winner, ''Heaven Sent''.<ref name="dwm 597">[[DWM 597]]</ref>
 
This also marks the first time since Series 4 that a companion has left the show after only one season, namely both Bill and Nardole.


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
As he struggles to resist [[regeneration|regenerating]], the [[Twelfth Doctor]] prepares to make a [[Battle of Floor 0507|last stand]] against the ever growing army of [[Cybermen (Mondas)|Cybermen]]. However, with [[Bill Potts|Bill]] still a Cyberman, and {{Gomez}} gradually turning to her old ways as {{Simm}} reminds her of who she used to be, can the Doctor convince his old friend to finally be good before he falls?
As he struggles to resist [[regeneration|regenerating]], the [[Twelfth Doctor]] prepares to make a [[Battle of Floor 0507|last stand]] against the ever-growing army of [[Cyberman|Cybermen]]. However, with [[Bill Potts|Bill]] still a Cyberman, and [[Missy]] gradually turning to her old wicked ways as {{Simm}} reminds her of who she used to be, can the Doctor convince his old friend to finally be good before he falls?


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
The episode opens to a group of [[farmer]]s, adults and children, on [[Floor 0507]] facing against the [[Patient (World Enough and Time)|prototypes]] from [[Floor 1056]], dubbed "scarecrows", shooting them down by night to then restrain them on wooden crosses by day. A school child is out in the field one morning when a [[shuttlecraft|shuttlepod]] blasts through the ground, crash landing near her. From the rubble, a [[Bill Potts|Cyberman]] walks out carrying an unconscious [[Twelfth Doctor]].
The episode opens on a group of [[farmer]]s, adults and children, on [[Floor 0507]] facing against the [[Patient (World Enough and Time)|prototypes]] from [[Floor 1056]], dubbed "scarecrows", shooting them down by night to then restrain them on wooden crosses by day. A school child named Alit is out in the field one morning when a [[shuttlecraft|shuttlepod]] blasts through the ground, crashing near her. As the smoke clears, a [[Bill Potts|Cyberman]] emerges from the wreckage carrying an unconscious [[Twelfth Doctor|Doctor]].
 
Sometime earlier, the Doctor awakes on top of the [[Hospital (World Enough and Time)|hospital]], now restrained in a [[wheelchair]], soon recalling how he was subdued by [[Missy]] and {{Simm}}, while Nardole fled. The Master and Missy dance and flirt, with him asking if she's his next incarnation; Missy guesses she is as she can't remember what caused her to regenerate. The Master is stunned: "I'm going to turn into a woman, and you can't remember it happening?" Missy wonders if she is a woman; the Master confirms it. Though the Master doubts it, the Doctor begins deducing what he's been up to since [[The End of Time (TV story)|he vanished while blasting Rassilon with his life energy]].
 
Upon getting back to [[Gallifrey]], the Time Lords, grateful for the Master's help in preventing Rassilon from executing [[Ultimate Sanction|The Final Sanction]], properly restored his body. With that done, the Time Lords kicked him off Gallifrey. However, the Master stole [[The Master's TARDIS|a TARDIS]] to go back into the universe; so he considers it a mutual being kicked out. After that, the Master landed on the colony ship, lived like a king and killed people at his leisure. However, the colonists eventually overthrew him and the Master attempted to flee. However, as [[The Master's TARDIS|his TARDIS]] was on the last level, too close to the [[event horizon]], it burned out his [[dematerialisation circuit]] and left him stranded. "You never could drive could you?" the Doctor asks.


[[File:The_Doctor_Falls_Any_Requests_Master.jpg|thumb|The Master and Missy side against the Doctor.]]
[[File:The_Doctor_Falls_Any_Requests_Master.jpg|thumb|Both Missy and the Master wonder how to punish the Doctor]]
Both the Master and Missy are insulted; she asks her earlier self if he has any requests as to how to torture the Doctor. The Master suggests dropping the Doctor off the roof; Missy is against the idea, saying that they'd be "up and down the stairs all night" because she doesn't know how many regenerations the Doctor has. Missy and the Master look over the roof, seeing people march like mindless sheep into the hospital to be turned into Cybermen. They taunt their old friend by telling him of their plan of the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] converting all the [[human]]s on the ship. Missy asks the Doctor if he's impressed. They mockingly call the Doctor "granddad", reminding him that Bill is now a Cyberman.


Sometime earlier, the Doctor awakes on top of the [[hospital]], soon recalling how he was subdued by {{Gomez}} and {{Simm}}. Once they teamed up,  [[Nardole]] fled. He deduces that the Master was exiled from [[Gallifrey]], after they fixed his "little problem", and has been hiding on the colony ship. The Doctor, now restrained in a [[wheelchair]], watches the two incarnations of the Master taunt him on the many deaths the Doctor has had and wanting to find out new ways to kill him. The Master and Missy dance and flirt with each other and gloat of their plan of the [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cybermen]] converting all the [[human]]s on the ship. They mockingly call the Doctor "granddad", reminding him that Bill is now a Cyberman.
The Doctor tells them that after all this time if they still think they're winning when he's in the room, they're missing something obvious. Hearing the Cybermen advancing, Missy looks over the ledge and quakes in horror; the Cybermen are coming for them. The Master is confused, as these Cybermen are primitive and shouldn't even be attempting to convert non-humans.


However the Master is stunned to see that the Cybermen are heading towards the building that they are perched on. The Doctor explains that when he was knocked down by Missy, he altered the signal of the Cybermen so they would convert [[binary vascular system|two-hearted]] beings as well, hence why they are now focusing on the [[Time Lord]]'s presence. The Masters panic, Missy frantically using her [[sonic umbrella]] to lock a [[metal]] [[door]] to hold back advancing Cybermen while the Master uses his [[laser screwdriver]] to destroy advancing Cybermen. The Doctor brags that he is the only one who is has able to stop so many Cybermen at once. Realising this, a conflicted Missy knocks the Master out and frees the Doctor from his restraints. The Doctor starts wondering which side she is on to which she admits her indecisiveness as she is confused and her other half is unconscious.
The Doctor explains that when he was knocked down by Missy, he altered the signal of the Cybermen so they would convert [[binary vascular system|two-hearted]] beings as well, hence why they are now focusing on the [[Time Lord]]'s presence. The Masters panic, Missy frantically using her [[sonic umbrella]] to lock a [[metal]] [[door]] to hold back advancing Cybermen while the Master uses his [[laser screwdriver]] to destroy advancing Cybermen. The Doctor brags that he is the only one who is able to stop so many Cybermen at once. Realising this, a conflicted Missy knocks the Master out and frees the Doctor from his restraints. The Doctor starts wondering which side she is on to which she admits her indecisiveness as she is confused and her other half is unconscious.


The Doctor uses his [[sonic screwdriver]] to contact Nardole, who reveals he has commandeered a shuttlecraft, lands near the roof to help escape, but the Doctor is grabbed and electrified by a Cyberman before he boards. Missy tries to save him using her other self's laser screwdriver but Bill, in her cyber form, intervenes first, destroying the Cyberman with a blaster based on her head. Missy and the Master try to convince Nardole to abandon the Doctor "The Doctor's dead; told me to say he always hated you." they both say. However, Bill prevents the shuttle from leaving, grabbing the ladders until they rescue him.
The Doctor uses [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|his sonic screwdriver]] to contact Nardole, who reveals he has commandeered a shuttlecraft. Nardole lands near the roof to help escape, but the Doctor is grabbed and electrocuted by a Cyberman before he boards. Missy tries to save him using her other self's laser screwdriver but Bill, in her cyber form, intervenes first, destroying the Cyberman with a blaster based on her head and the Doctor recognizes her before collapsing to the ground unconscious. Missy and the Master try to convince Nardole to abandon the Doctor "The Doctor's dead; he told me to say he always hated you," they both say. However, Bill prevents the shuttle from leaving, grabbing the ladder until they rescue him. The Doctor regains consciousness and promises Bill that he will find a way to return her to normal.


They escape to Floor 0507, where time moves slower. They find themselves on a [[solar farm]], the Master deducing such by the holographic sky, where some of the humans and a large number of children protect themselves from the early Cybermen prototypes from Operation Exodus. Nardole approaches the girl, declaring they will need her help. They spend two weeks there while the Doctor recovers from his injuries.  
They escape to Floor 0507, where time moves slower. They find themselves on a [[solar farm]], the Master deducing such by the holographic sky, where some of the humans and a large number of children protect themselves from the early Cybermen prototypes from [[Operation Exodus]]. Nardole approaches Alit, declaring they will need her help. They spend two weeks there while the Doctor recovers from his injuries.


[[File:The_Doctor_Falls_Cyberman_Mirror.jpg|thumb|left|Bill discovers her true appearance.]]
[[File:The_Doctor_Falls_Cyberman_Mirror.jpg|thumb|left|Bill discovers her true appearance.]]
Bill awakes in the barn, unsure why the villagers are scared of her, concerned why she can't see the Doctor. When given a [[mirror]] by Alit, she becomes horrified to discover she was converted into a Cyberman. Alit goes to run but bumps into the Doctor who thanks her for being [[kindness|kind]] to Bill, offering her a [[jelly baby]] as she leaves. The Doctor has somewhat recovered, though he still has a scar from where he was hit by the Master and is clearly in a lot of pain but trying to hide it.


Bill awakes, in the [[barn]], unsure why the villagers are scared on her, concerned why she can't see the Doctor. When given a [[mirror]] by a child, she becomes horrified to discover she was converted into a Cyberman. The girl goes to run but bumps into the Doctor who thanks her for being kind to Bill, offering her a [[jelly baby]] as she leaves. The Doctor has somewhat recovered, though he still has a scar from where he was hit by the Master.
Trying to console Bill, she gradually realises that though she thinks she is human, she is still a Mondasian Cyberman in appearance. She grows angry, the Doctor backing away as Bill accidentally triggers the blaster on her head, igniting the door on the barn, causing an explosion. Nardole, who has been preparing the town for the oncoming Cybermen despite one woman saying he has been working them too hard, passively tells the farmers not to worry; they have an upcoming war to focus on.


Trying to console Bill, she gradually realises that though she thinks she is human, she is still a Mondasian Cyberman in appearance. She grows angry, the Doctor backing away as Bill accidentally triggers the blaster on her head, igniting the door on the barn, causing an explosion. Nardole, who has been preparing the town for the oncoming Cybermen despite one women saying he has been working them too hard, passively tells the farmers not to worry; they have an upcoming war to focus on.
Bill sheds a tear when she realises the humans are frightened of her, and the Doctor wipes it away, noting it unusual. The Master tells the Doctor that he and Missy have been working on something, and pauses briefly to mock Bill, chastising the Doctor for still referring to her as a female and taunts how he hated the time he had to spend with Bill as "Razor". He stops because Bill claims he is not upsetting her, though she cries beneath her mask when he leaves. The Doctor finds it odd she is still able to shed tears. While traversing after the Master, the Doctor struggles to walk, limping heavily. He briefly stumbles against a tree, [[regeneration energy]] attempting to trickle from his hand (revealing that his electrocution by the Cyberman on the roof was fatal, and his body is preparing to regenerate). Wanting to not worry Bill, he draws up a stick and carries onwards but Bill is still distraught that the Doctor can't fix her current condition, the Doctor responding "where's there's tears; there's hope."


Bill sheds a tear when she realises the humans are frightened of her, and the Doctor wipes it away, noting it unusual. The Master tells the Doctor that he and Missy have been working on something, and pauses briefly to mock Bill, chastising the Doctor for still referring to her as a female and taunts how he hated the time he had to spend with Bill as "Razor". He stops because Bill claims he is not upsetting her, though she cries beneath her mask when he leaves. The Doctor finds it odd she is still able to shed tears. While traversing after the Master, the Doctor struggles to walk, limping heavily. He briefly stumbles against a tree, [[regeneration energy]] attempting to trickle from his hand. Wanting to not worry Bill, he draws up a stick and carries onwards but Bill is still distraught that the Doctor can't fix her current condition, the Doctor remarking there is still hope as she is strangely able to cry.
They soon reach the middle of a [[forest]], just after the Master and Missy theorise they can't retain their memories as their timelines are out of sync. Missy briefly displays empathy for Bill's condition, something the Master finds disgusting. Missy reveals she has discovered a camouflaged lift in the nearby forest, with which she suggests they can escape to [[Floor 0000]], using her sonic umbrella to call it. However, the Doctor declares that there will no doubt be a Cyberman in the lift waiting to find their floor, as the lift was taken to the bottom by them previously. Understanding this, Bill orders them to stand aside, the Doctor convincing the two Masters to do so.
 
They soon reach the middle of a [[forest]], just after the Master and Missy theorize they can't retain their memories as their timelines are out of sync. Missy briefly displays empathy for Bill's condition, something the Master finds disgusting. Missy reveals she has discovered a camouflaged lift in the nearby forest, which she suggests they can escape to the [[Floor 0000|bridge]], using her sonic umbrella to call it. However, the Doctor declares that there will no doubt be a Cyberman in the lift waiting to find their floor, as the lift was taken to the bottom by them previously. Understanding this, Bill orders them to stand aside, the Doctor convincing the two Masters to do so.  


The three Time Lords prepare behind Bill, drawing their respective devices. As guessed, the lift brings up an advanced Cyberman from the lower floor, Bill speedily firing on it with her cyber blaster, the Master following likewise with his laser screwdriver as the Doctor and Missy use their sonic devices to slow its advance with a barrier. After several seconds, they disable it.
The three Time Lords prepare behind Bill, drawing their respective devices. As guessed, the lift brings up an advanced Cyberman from the lower floor, Bill speedily firing on it with her cyber blaster, the Master following likewise with his laser screwdriver as the Doctor and Missy use their sonic devices to slow its advance with a barrier. After several seconds, they disable it.


The Doctor warns that (through the Cybernet) they will now have much more time to plan, given they now know what floor they reside on, so they must prepare for a battle. The Doctor returns to the village, revealing the alarm they now hear is the Cybermen's warning from the lower floors. Using a [[computer]], Nardole discovers that the floor below this one has many fuel pipes that he can detonate as weaponry against the Cybermen, briefly testing such by blowing up a wind mill, stunning the villagers; the Doctor remarks that they can use such to confuse the Cybermen and make them believe they are stronger than them. The Doctor finds a conduit to another solar farm on a higher floor that can be used to evacuate the children, having Bill blast it open, knowing this is a fight they will likely lose.
With their position given away, the Master and Missy both wish to use the elevator to go to the bridge and escape in [[the Doctor's TARDIS]], but the Doctor informs them that the time differential between top and bottom of the ship would give the Cybermen ample time to stop them, meaning there isn't a safe way to return to the TARDIS. The Doctor figures that the Cybermen will now have much more time to plan, given they now know what floor they reside on, they must prepare for a battle. He returns to the village, revealing the alarm they now hear is the Cybermen's warning from the lower floors. Using a [[computer]], Nardole discovers that [[Floor 0508|the floor below this one]] has many fuel pipes that he can detonate as weaponry against the Cybermen, briefly testing such by blowing up a windmill, stunning the villagers; the Doctor remarks that they can use such to confuse the Cybermen and make them believe they are stronger than them. The Doctor finds a conduit to another solar farm on a higher floor that can be used to evacuate the children, having Bill blast it open, knowing this is a fight they will likely lose.


Meanwhile, the Master and Missy decide to leave and plan to find [[the Master's TARDIS]] at the lowest floor, though the Master reveals he broke his TARDIS. Missy convinces her younger self to always keep a [[dematerialisation circuit]] on hand, revealing she now does. Night falls, the Doctor standing guard outside the house. Inside, a woman attempts to flirt with Nardole as he works on his computer, only to turn around and shoot at Bill, falsely thinking her a hostile Cyberman. She leaves distraught, going outside to the Doctor. The first wave arrives, Nardole and a girl preparing to combat them, successfully tricking them that an [[apple]] was capable of destroy an entire group of them. They retreat to the house, now understanding the Cybermen will likely return to outright destroy them next time rather than merely capture them for conversion.
Meanwhile, the Master and Missy decide to leave and plan to find the Master's TARDIS at the lowest floor, though the Master reveals he broke his TARDIS. Missy shoves convinces her younger self to always keep a [[dematerialisation circuit]] on hand. She recalls the time a woman shoved her against her a wall to convince her to carry the device on her at all times. While recalling the story she shoves the Master against the wall, revealing herself as the one to convince the Master to carry the circuit. The Master says "Is it bad that I.. er-" hinting at a slight sexual arousal of his future incarnation, but Missy just retorts that it's very wrong. Night falls, the Doctor standing guard outside the house. Inside, a woman attempts to flirt with Nardole as he works on his computer, only to turn around and shoot at Bill, falsely thinking her a hostile Cyberman. She leaves distraught, going outside to find the Doctor. The first wave arrives, Nardole and Alit preparing to combat them, successfully tricking them that an [[apple]] was capable of destroying an entire group of them. They retreat to the house, now understanding the Cybermen will likely return to outright destroy them next time rather than merely capture them for conversion.


Meanwhile, the Doctor notices the two Masters trying to leave and runs after them. He pleads for them to be by his side to help, as saving people would just be kind. The Master ridicules the idea, saying that he didn't listen to a word the Doctor said. However Missy was somewhat moved by the Doctor's speech, agreeing being the Doctor's friend was what she always wanted. However, after briefly grabbing each other's hand, she sides with her predecessor. At the lift, Missy tricks the Master into dancing with her and fatally stabs him, forcing his next regeneration, though she makes the wound "precise" so that the Master will have enough time to reach his TARDIS before regenerating.
Meanwhile, the Doctor notices the two Masters trying to leave and runs after them. He pleads for them to be by his side to help. He gives an emotional and passionate speech on why he helps people, since it isn't easy or always going to work, it is just the right thing to do, as saving people would just be kind. The Master ridicules the idea, saying that he didn't listen to a word the Doctor said. However, Missy was somewhat moved by the Doctor's speech, agreeing that being the Doctor's friend was what she always wanted. However, after briefly grabbing each other's hand, she sides with her predecessor. At the lift, Missy tricks the Master into dancing with her. She tells her past self that she enjoyed her time as him, however she pulls out a knife and fatally stabs him, forcing his next regeneration, though she makes the wound "precise" so that the Master will have enough time to reach his TARDIS before regenerating.


[[File:Missy_Dies_The_Doctor_Falls_2.jpg|thumb|Missy seemingly dies from the Master's strike.]]
[[File:Missy_Dies_The_Doctor_Falls_2.jpg|thumb|Missy seemingly dies from the Master's strike.]]
Gradually dying, the Master compliments her, glad they haven't lost their touch. Missy tells her proud past self that he deserved nothing less than her best. After helping him into the elevator, Missy announces she will return to help the Doctor, turning to walk away as her predecessor shouts at her to not go. Missy tells her past self that this is where all the scheming, killing and egomania has led them: standing with the Doctor.


Gradually dying, the Master compliments her, glad they haven't lost their touch. After helping him into the elevator, Missy announces she will return to help the Doctor, turning to walk away as her predecessor shouts out for her to not go. Unable to accept that his future self will side with the Doctor, the Master draws and fires his laser screwdriver at full blast, causing Missy to collapse on the ground, fatally wounded. He claims the strike has disabled her regeneration, commenting that it is the perfect ending, with them both shooting themselves in the back. They both laugh as the Master descends in the lift and Missy seemingly dies.
Unable to accept that his future self will side with the Doctor, the Master draws and fires his laser screwdriver at full blast, causing Missy to collapse on the ground, fatally wounded. He claims the strike has disabled her regeneration, commenting that it is the perfect ending, with them both shooting themselves in the back. They both laugh as the Master descends in the lift and Missy seemingly dies.


An initial wave of Cybermen arrive, but using Nardole's tricks with the explosives, they are able to make the humans appear more powerful, forcing the Cybermen to retreat and develop a new plan, giving the humans more time. Back at the house, and against Nardole's protests, the Doctor downloads the plans for the floor into his [[sonic screwdriver]] and sends him to help evacuate the children, intending to stay alone to fight the Cybermen. Nardole resists, having deduced the Doctor is going to commit [[suicide]] by detonating the entire floor in a last ditch attempt to destroy as many Cybermen as possible. The pair argue over who really should die, Nardole reasoning he can't given how he was before meeting the Doctor even though the Doctor tries to reason that he should stay as he is already dying. The Doctor eventually convinces Nardole that helping the children will be his penance for the crimes he committed before they met, as he is the stronger of the pair. Nardole jokes he will name a farm after him. Bill also insists on staying with the Doctor despite Nardole trying to tell her otherwise. As he leaves with the humans, Nardole admits that he will never be able to find the words for Bill and the Doctor's sacrifice.
An initial wave of Cybermen arrive, but using Nardole's tricks with the explosives, they are able to make the humans appear more powerful, forcing the Cybermen to retreat and develop a new plan, giving the humans more time. Back at the house, and against Nardole's protests, the Doctor downloads the plans for the floor into his sonic screwdriver and sends him to help evacuate the children, intending to stay alone to fight the Cybermen. Nardole resists, having deduced the Doctor is going to commit [[suicide]] by detonating the entire floor in a last-ditch attempt to destroy as many Cybermen as possible. The pair argue over who really should die, Nardole reasoning he can't, given how he was before meeting the Doctor even though the Doctor tries to reason that he should stay as he is already dying. The Doctor eventually convinces Nardole that helping the children will be his penance for the crimes he committed before they met, as he is the stronger of the pair. Nardole jokes he will name a farm after him. Bill also insists on staying with the Doctor despite Nardole trying to tell her otherwise. As he leaves with the humans, Nardole admits that he will never be able to find the words for Bill and the Doctor's sacrifice.


[[File:The_Cybermen_attack_the_Doctor_(The_Doctor_Falls).jpg|thumb|left|The Mondasian Cybermen killing the Doctor with their energy beam. ]]
[[File:The_Cybermen_attack_the_Doctor_(The_Doctor_Falls).jpg|thumb|left|A Mondasian Cyberman killing the Doctor with its energy beam. ]]
With all the humans evacuated, the Doctor and Bill prepare for a last stand, each deciding to charge into opposite ends of the forest. Bill says one last goodbye to the Doctor, even joking briefly about her sexuality, assuring him she had still retained her humanity. They face the oncoming wave. The Doctor ignites several of the Cybermen, listing the numerous times he has defeated them while doing so. However, he is inevitably surrounded and receives a full strike from one Cyberman's laser beam. He declares he is the Doctor but the Cybermen retort they have no need for a doctor anymore, firing at him again. Falling to his knees, he prepares to ignite the floor but is struck again, the blast proving fatal enough that his body attempts to regenerate. Refusing to give in, he holds it back and ignites all the pipes below the floor, engulfing it all in a wave of destruction, destroying all the Cybermen.


With all the humans evacuated, the Doctor and Bill prepare for a last stand, each deciding to charge into opposite ends of the forest. Bill says one last goodbye to the Doctor, even joking briefly about her sexuality, assuring him she had still retained her humanity. They face the oncoming wave. The Doctor ignites several of the Cybermen, listing the numerous times he has defeated them while doing so. However, he is inevitably surrounded and receives a full strike from one Cyberman's laser beam. He declares he is the Doctor but the Cybermen retort they have no need for a doctor anymore, firing at him again. Falling to his knees, he prepares to ignite the floor but it struck again, the blast proving fatal enough that his body attempts to regenerate. Refusing to give in, he holds it back and ignites all the pipes below the floor, engulfing it all in a wave of destruction, destroying all the Cybermen.
Above on floor 0502, Nardole waits outside of one of the lifts, hoping the Doctor and Bill will return, however, Alit convinces him to move on and focus on living with them now, mentioning that Hazran has a crush on him to which Nardole smiles and retorts 'Well she's only human...'


Above on floor 0502, Nardole waits outside of one of the lifts, hoping the Doctor and Bill will return however, the children convince him to move on and focus on living with them now.
Back downstairs, the floor is now a wasteland scattered with destroyed Cybermen. Bill, barely functioning but with her personality mostly restored, finds the Doctor severely wounded. She mourns over the Doctor's body but suddenly finds herself out of the Cyberman suit, seemingly human. She looks up and sees [[Heather (The Pilot)|Heather]], emerging from a nearby puddle. To prove to Bill that she isn't dead, she and Heather share a passionate kiss, when Heather reveals she converted Bill to a form of being like her. At Bill's request, they take the Doctor's body to his TARDIS, and Heather, as the Pilot, sets the controls for the TARDIS heading to a new location, while offering Bill the choice to return to her old life or to live out a new one with her, travelling the universe. Before leaving, Bill sheds a tear on the Doctor, but does not wipe it away, saying "Where there's tears, there's hope." She walks over to Heather and the reunited lovers walk out of the TARDIS into space, off to travel the stars.


Back downstairs, the floor is now a wasteland scattered with destroyed Cybermen. Bill, barely functioning, finds the Doctor severely wounded. She mourns over the Doctor's body, but suddenly finds herself out of the Cyberman suit, seemingly human. She looks up and sees [[Heather (The Pilot)|Heather]] (from ''[[The Pilot (TV story)|The Pilot]]'') who found her by her tears and changed her into a being like Heather. To prove to Bill that she isn't dead, Heather kises her, after which they take the Doctor's body to the TARDIS, and Heather, as the Pilot, sets the controls for the TARDIS heading to a new location, while offering Bill to live out a different life, travelling the universe with her and Bill accepts. Before leaving, Bill sheds a tear on the Doctor, but does not wipe it away, saying "Where there's tears, there's hope." She walks over to Heather and the pair of them walk out of the TARDIS into space, off to travel the universe.  
The Doctor's wounds heal as he dreams of [[Bill Potts|Bill]] and [[Nardole]], yelling for him. He then dreams [[Rose Tyler]], [[Martha Jones]], [[Captain Jack Harkness]], [[Donna Noble]], [[Madame Vastra]], [[Jenny Flint]], [[Sarah Jane Smith]], [[Amy Pond]], [[Clara Oswald]] and [[River|River Song]] calling out his name. Twitching, the Doctor then dreams [[Missy]] saying his name and he awakes, gasping for air. Seeing that he's begun [[regenerating]], a confused Doctor mumbles some of the last words of his other incarnations. Yelling "No!" with all his might, the Doctor suppresses the complete regeneration. "I can't keep on being somebody else" the Doctor cries out as the TARDIS lands.


[[File:The_Doctor_Falls_First_Doctor.jpg|thumb|The Doctor meets [[First Doctor|a mysterious figure]] in the arctic.]]
He tells his TARDIS that it doesn't matter where it's taken him; he won't listen to whatever kind of lesson that it's trying to teach him. The Doctor steps outside into an arctic landscape. Out in the snow, the Doctor resists the process screaming and shoves his fists into the snow, again stating he will not change.


The Doctor, after dreaming of some of his previous companions, wakes up and starts [[regenerating]]. He tries fighting it off, recalling the last words of some of his previous incarnations in his confusion. He manages to control the regeneration, angrily stating that he does not want to change again, hating the fact that he must become someone else. The TARDIS lands in an arctic landscape and the Doctor steps outside, declaring to the TARDIS it doesn't matter where it's has taken him, he won't listen. Out in the snow, yet again his regeneration attempts to start. The Doctor forces back screaming and stops the regeneration by shoving his fists into the snow, again stating he will not change. Suddenly, in the distance hears a voice stating the same words of not changing, finding the idea ridiculous. The Doctor calls out to the person. The stranger asks for the Doctor's identity, which he confirms. The stranger states that while the Doctor may be a Doctor, he "is ''the'' Doctor, the original you might say". Much to the Doctor's shock and surprise the stranger is revealed to be his [[First Doctor|first incarnation]].
[[File:The_Doctor_Falls_First_Doctor.jpg|thumb|The Doctor meets [[First Doctor|a familiar face]] in the arctic.]]
Suddenly, in the distance hears a voice stating the same words of not changing, finding the idea ridiculous. The Doctor calls out, asking for the person to identify himself. The stranger asks for the Doctor's identity, which he confirms. The stranger replies that while the Doctor may be ''a'' Doctor, he is "''the'' Doctor. The original, you might say". Much to the Doctor's shock and surprise, the stranger steps forth to reveal himself as his [[First Doctor|first incarnation]]...


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[Twelfth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Peter Capaldi]]
* [[Twelfth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Peter Capaldi]]
* [[Bill Potts|Bill]] - [[Pearl Mackie]]
* [[Bill Potts|Bill]] - [[Pearl Mackie]]
* [[Nardole]] - [[Matt Lucas]]
* [[Nardole]] - [[Matt Lucas]]
* {{Gomez}} - [[Michelle Gomez]]
* [[Missy]] - [[Michelle Gomez]]
* {{Simm|c}} - [[John Simm]]
* {{Simm|n=The Master}} - [[John Simm]]
* [[Hazran]] - [[Samantha Spiro]]
* [[Hazran]] - [[Samantha Spiro]]
* [[Alit]] - [[Briana Shann]]
* [[Alit]] - [[Briana Shann]]
Line 111: Line 114:
* [[Rexhill]] - [[Simon Coombs]]
* [[Rexhill]] - [[Simon Coombs]]
* [[Heather (The Pilot)|Heather]] - [[Stephanie Hyam]]
* [[Heather (The Pilot)|Heather]] - [[Stephanie Hyam]]
* Voice of the [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cybermen]] - [[Nicholas Briggs]]
* Voice of the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] - [[Nicholas Briggs]]
:and
* [[First Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[David Bradley]]
* [[First Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[David Bradley]]
=== Uncredited ===
* [[Bill Potts|Bill]] (as a [[Cyberman]]) - [[Liam Carey]]{{Fact}}


== Crew ==
== Crew ==
Line 165: Line 170:
|2ndAD = James DeHaviland
|2ndAD = James DeHaviland
|3rdAD = Christopher J Thomas
|3rdAD = Christopher J Thomas
|AD = Rhun Llewelyn
|AD2 = Lauren Pate
|AD2 = Lauren Pate
|AD = Rhun Llewleyn
|AD3 = Kieran Hayhow
|AD3 = Kieran Hayhow
|ScriptSupervisor = Nicki Coles
|ScriptSupervisor = Nicki Coles
Line 183: Line 188:
|Electrician2 = Bob Milton
|Electrician2 = Bob Milton
|Electrician3 = Sion Davies
|Electrician3 = Sion Davies
|Electrician4 = Andrew Williams
|Electrician4 = Andrew Williams (electrician)
|SupervisingArtDirector = Dafydd Shurmer
|SupervisingArtDirector = Dafydd Shurmer
|ArtDirector = Tim Overson
|ArtDirector = Tim Overson
Line 220: Line 225:
|GraphicsAsst = Jack Bowes
|GraphicsAsst = Jack Bowes
|Draughtsperson = Matt Sanders
|Draughtsperson = Matt Sanders
|Carpenter2 = Keith Richads
|Carpenter2 = Keith Richards (carpenter)
|Carpenter = Tim Burke
|Carpenter = Tim Burke
|Carpenter3 = Matt Ferry
|Carpenter3 = Matt Ferry
Line 250: Line 255:
|PostProdSupervisor = Samantha Price
|PostProdSupervisor = Samantha Price
|PostProdCoOrdinator = Hannah Jones
|PostProdCoOrdinator = Hannah Jones
|AsstEditor = David Davies
|AsstEditor = David Davies (assistant editor)
|OnlineEditor2 = Christine Kelly
|OnlineEditor2 = Christine Kelly
|OnlineEditor = Geraint Pari Huws
|OnlineEditor = Geraint Pari Huws
Line 272: Line 277:
}}
}}


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
=== Culture ===
=== Culture ===
* Nardole shouts "Remember the [[Alamo]]" when getting the farmers to work.
* Nardole shouts "Remember [[the Alamo]]" when getting the farmers to work.
* When the Doctor hands [[Alit]] an apple, he refers to it as "tempting", a reference to Humanity's first sin according to the [[Bible]].


=== Cybermen ===
=== Cybermen ===
* The expedition to [[Floor 0507]] appear to be used as [[scarecrow]]s.
* The expedition to [[Floor 0507]] are used as [[scarecrow]]s.
* The very first original [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Mondasian Cybermen]] can [[electricity|electrocute]] people by hugging them tight, and shoot death rays via their head lamps on their [[emotional inhibitor]].
* The original [[Cyberman|Mondasian Cybermen]] can [[electricity|electrocute]] people by hugging them tight, and shoot death rays via their head lamps on their [[emotional inhibitor]].
* Nardole tells the farmers about [[Operation Exodus]].
* Nardole tells the farmers about [[Operation Exodus]].


=== Technology ===
=== Technology ===
* The Doctor changes the encoding in the Cybermen's system from reading one [[heart]] life forms to reading two[[Binary vascular system| hearts]].
* The Doctor changes the encoding in the Cybermen's system from reading one [[heart]] life forms to reading [[Binary vascular system|two hearts]].
* The Doctor says that [[parallel evolution]] is the reason for various civilisations evolving Cybermen.
* The Doctor says that [[parallel evolution]] is the reason for various civilisations evolving Cybermen.
* Missy says Bill is doomed to live as a [[bio-mechanics|bio-mechanic]] psycho-[[zombie]].
* Missy says Bill is doomed to live as a [[bio-mechanics|bio-mechanic]] psycho-[[zombie]].
* The Doctor mentions [[sewage]] and [[smartphone]]s as inevitable.
* The Doctor mentions [[sewage]] and [[smartphone]]s as inevitable.
* The Doctor says the [[internet]] and [[cyberspace]] are a result of people plus technology minus humanity.
* The Doctor says the [[internet]] and [[cyberspace]] are a result of people + technology - humanity.
* The Doctor says it took the Cybermen a while to update the [[neural net|net]] to track two-hearts instead of one-hearts.
* The Doctor says it took the Cybermen a while to update the [[neural net|net]] to track two-hearts instead of one-hearts.
* The Master and Missy use their [[laser screwdriver]] and [[sonic umbrella]], respectively.
* The Master and Missy use their [[laser screwdriver]] and [[sonic umbrella]], respectively.
* The Doctor can use his [[sonic screwdriver]] as a [[microphone]].
* The Doctor can use [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|his sonic screwdriver]] as a [[microphone]].
* Nardole pilots a shuttle labelled [[SL-16]].
* Nardole pilots a shuttle labelled [[SL-16]].
* Nardole uses a [[computer]].
* Nardole uses a [[computer]].
* Missy carries a [[dematerialisation circuit]] because of a scolding she gave herself.
* Missy carries a [[dematerialisation circuit]] because of a scolding she gave the Master.
* Nardole says that under the floor of the farm there are [[fuel line]]s and [[fusion turbo]]s.
* Nardole says that under the floor of the farm there are [[fuel line]]s and [[fusion turbo]]s.
* The Doctor mentions the farm's [[cryogenic chamber]].
* The Doctor mentions the farm's [[cryogenic chamber]].


=== Biology ===
=== Biology ===
* The Master and Missy talk about their [[regeneration]].
* Nardole again implies he is a [[cyborg]].
* The Doctor again displays a degree of control over his regenerative ability.
* Nardole implies he is a cyborg.


=== Food and beverages ===
=== Food and beverages ===
* Missy calls the Doctor a "silly [[sausage]]".
* Missy calls the Doctor a "silly [[sausage]]".
* The Doctor offers [[Alit]] a [[jelly baby]].
* The Doctor offers [[Alit]] a [[jelly baby]].
* The [[apple]]s are [[grenade]]s.
* [[Apple]]s are used as [[grenade]]s in the deception.
* Heather mentions [[chips]].
* Heather mentions [[chips]].
* Bill mentions [[tea]].
* Bill mentions [[tea]].
Line 312: Line 316:
* [[Heather (The Pilot)|Heather]] the [[Sentient oil|oil creature]] returns for Bill and removes her from her Cyber-suit.
* [[Heather (The Pilot)|Heather]] the [[Sentient oil|oil creature]] returns for Bill and removes her from her Cyber-suit.
* Missy puts on [[lipstick]].
* Missy puts on [[lipstick]].
* Missy calls the Doctor [[Mister Volcano]], because he's internalising.
* Because he's internalising, Missy calls the Doctor [[Mister Volcano]].
* Missy calls the farmers [[Walton family|the Waltons]].
* Missy calls the farmers [[Walton family|the Waltons]].
* Nardole was a [[black market]] dealer once.
* Nardole was once a [[black market]] dealer.
* The Doctor uses [[mathematics]] to conclude he can't go to the TARDIS
* The Doctor uses [[mathematics]] to conclude he can't get to the TARDIS ahead of the Cybermen.
* The Doctor mentions [[Donald Trump]] as inevitable.
* The Doctor mentions [[Donald Trump]] as inevitable.
* The Doctor likens Bill's strong resisting mind to a [[perception filter]].
* The Doctor likens Bill's strong resisting mind to a [[perception filter]].
Line 321: Line 325:
* The Master and Missy [[Waltz|dance with each other]].
* The Master and Missy [[Waltz|dance with each other]].
* The Master practises applying [[eyeliner]].
* The Master practises applying [[eyeliner]].
* The Master thinks about getting inappropriate with his older female self.
* The Master calls Bill [[Robo-Mop]].
* The Master calls Bill [[Robo-Mop]].
* The Master calls Missy "sis" and "Lady Version".
* The Twelfth Doctor meets the [[First Doctor]].
* Missy creates two [[Temporal paradox|bootstrap paradoxes]]; one by telling her former self to always carry a spare dematerialisation circuit, two by creating herself by killing her predecessor.
* Missy creates two [[Temporal paradox|bootstrap paradoxes]]; one by telling her former self to always carry a spare dematerialisation circuit, two by creating herself by killing her predecessor.


=== Species ===
=== Species ===
* The Doctor refers to [[the Monks]]' [[Monk invasion|invasion]].
* The Doctor says that [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] have [[monkey]] brains.
* The Doctor says that [[Cybermen]] have [[monkey]] brains.
* Nardole says he will name a [[pig]] after the Doctor.
* Nardole says he will name a [[pig]] after the Doctor.


Line 335: Line 335:
* [[Floor 1056]] has already been converted and invaded by Cybermen.
* [[Floor 1056]] has already been converted and invaded by Cybermen.
* The Doctor remembers being knocked out in the [[Conversion Theatre]].
* The Doctor remembers being knocked out in the [[Conversion Theatre]].
* The Doctor recalls the Master on his way to [[Gallifrey]].
* The Doctor recalls the Master being on his way to [[Gallifrey]] the last time he saw him.
* The Master says the hospital has been turned into the [[Cyber Foundries]].
* The Master says the hospital has been turned into the [[Cyber Foundry|Cyber Foundries]].
* The Doctor mentions [[Mondas]], [[Telos]], [[Earth]], [[Planet 14]], [[Marinus]], [[Voga]], [[Canary Wharf]] and [[the Moon]].
* The Doctor mentions [[Mondas]], [[Telos]], [[Earth]], [[Planet 14]], [[Marinus]], [[Voga]], [[Canary Wharf]] and [[the Moon]] as places where he has defeated the Cybermen.
* [[Floor 0507]] is a [[solar farm]].
* [[Floor 0507]] is a [[solar farm]].
* The Doctor, Nardole and Cyber-Bill protect a village on Floor 0507.
* The Doctor, Nardole and Bill protect a village on [[Floor 0507]].
* The Cybermen are seen flying past [[Floor 0900]].
* The Cybermen are seen flying past [[Floor 0900]].
* The Doctor says there's another solar farm on [[Floor 0502]].
* The Doctor says there's another solar farm on [[Floor 0502]].
* The TARDIS takes the Twelfth Doctor to a snowy landscape to deal with his change, along with his first incarnation who doesn't want to change either.


=== TARDIS ===
=== TARDIS ===
* The Master drove his [[The Master's TARDIS|TARDIS]] too fast towards the [[black hole]] and ended up getting stuck on [[Floor 1056]] of the [[Colony ship (World Enough and Time)|colony ship]].
* The Master drove his [[The Master's TARDIS|TARDIS]] too fast towards the [[black hole]] and ended up getting stuck on [[Floor 1056]] of the [[Colony ship (World Enough and Time)|colony ship]]. The [[dematerialisation circuit]] of [[the Master's TARDIS]] was burnt out as a result.
* The Doctor says that his [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] would never be able to properly function because it is too close to the black hole at [[Floor 0000]].
* The Doctor says that [[The Doctor's TARDIS|his TARDIS]] would not be able to properly function because it is too close to the black hole at [[Floor 0000]].


=== Music ===
=== Music ===
* The song heard when Missy and the Master are dancing on the rooftop is "[[Midnight, the Stars and You]]" by [[Al Bowlly]].
* The song heard when Missy and the Master are dancing on the rooftop is "[[Midnight, the Stars and You]]" by [[Al Bowlly]], a song made famous by its use in [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s [[The Shining]].


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
[[File:An Explosion of Cybermen - Doctor Who Series 10|thumb|Explosions in [[Caerwent]], and [[Cybermen]] on [[trampoline]]s.]]
{{video|An Explosion of Cybermen - Doctor Who Series 10|thumb|Explosions in [[Caerwent]], and [[Cybermen]] on [[trampoline]]s.}}
[[File:Steven Moffat & Rachel Talalay - The Aftershow - Doctor Who The Fan Show|thumb|This episode's ''Aftershow'' on ''[[Doctor Who: The Fan Show]]''.]]
{{video|Steven Moffat & Rachel Talalay - The Aftershow - Doctor Who The Fan Show|thumb|This episode's ''Aftershow'' on ''[[Doctor Who: The Fan Show]]''.}}
* The [[read-through]] for ''The Doctor Falls'' took place on [[18 July (production)|18 July]] [[2016 (production)|2016]]. The final segment of the episode—the [[Twelfth Doctor]] with the [[First Doctor]] in the snow—was filmed only two weeks before ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'' aired, as part of filming of the [[Christmas special]]. Post-production on that scene was completed in the short time left; a week before ''The Doctor Falls'' aired, [[Steven Moffat]] stated<!--on the ''[[The Fan Show#The Aftershow|Aftershow]]''--> that the final version was still being worked on. The Doctor's near-[[regeneration]] outside the TARDIS had to be completed in time for ''World Enough'', a week beforehand.
* The final segment of the episode, where the [[Twelfth Doctor]] meets the [[First Doctor]] in the snow, was filmed only two weeks before ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'' aired, as part of filming of the [[Christmas special]]. Post-production on that scene was completed in the short time left; a week before ''The Doctor Falls'' aired, [[Steven Moffat]] stated<!--on the ''[[The Fan Show#The Aftershow|Aftershow]]''--> that the final version was still being worked on. The Doctor's near-[[regeneration]] outside the TARDIS had to be completed in time for ''World Enough and Time'', a week beforehand.
* This marks [[David Bradley]]'s first appearance as the [[First Doctor]] in a DWU television story. Bradley previously portrayed a fictionalised version of [[William Hartnell]], the original actor to portray the First Doctor, in the non-DWU docudrama ''[[An Adventure in Space and Time (TV story)|An Adventure in Space and Time]]'', in which Bradley reenacted scenes from several First Doctor serials. Bradley becomes the fourth actor to play the First Doctor in a televised story following original actor Hartnell, [[Richard Hurndall]], who played him in [[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'', and the uncredited child actor who played him in [[TV]]: ''[[Listen (TV story)|Listen]]''. He also becomes the fourth actor, following [[Colin Baker]], [[David Tennant]] and [[Peter Capaldi]], to play the Doctor after having previously played another character in the franchise (in Bradley's case, [[Solomon (Dinosaurs on a Spaceship)|Solomon]] in [[TV]]: ''[[Dinosaurs on a Spaceship (TV story)|Dinosaurs on a Spaceship]]'', as well as providing the voice of [[Azure of the Claw Shansheeth]] for [[TV]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]'' on ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'').
* The Doctor's mention of [[Marinus]] as a [[planet]] on which the Cybermen originated ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The World Shapers (comic story)|The World Shapers]]'') is another rare instance of the TV series [[List of references to other DWU media in live-action BBC stories|directly referencing non-televised material]].
* The Doctor's mention of [[Marinus]] as a [[planet]] on which the Cybermen originated ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The World Shapers (comic story)|The World Shapers]]'') is another rare instance of the TV series directly referencing non-televised material.
* This episode removes any contradiction that had previously revolved around the various Cybermen origin stories, by having the Doctor call all instances [[parallel evolution]].
* This episode removes any contradiction that had previously revolved around the various Cybermen origin stories, by having the Doctor call all instances [[parallel evolution]].
* This episode wraps up the stories of several recurring characters;
* On original broadcast on {{w|BBC Scotland}} HD, a technical fault led to sound problems which rendered the dialogue inaudible for the final five minutes: from Bill leaving the TARDIS to the end credits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/doctor-who/news/a832232/doctor-who-bbc-apologises-after-the-sound-cut-out-the-doctor-falls/|title=BBC apologises to Doctor Who viewers after the sound cut out during finale broadcast|author=Tomlin, Jack|date of source=3 July 2017|website name=Digital Spy|accessdate=3 July 2017}}</ref>
** [[Bill Potts|Bill]] and [[Heather (The Pilot)|Heather]] begin their own travels through time and space, Bill leaving the Doctor behind in the TARDIS.
* The use of the [[Floor 0507|number 507]] is a nod to [[Russell T Davies]], who often invoked the number 57 in his writings,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac7pl1lI8FU |title=[[The Fan Show#The Aftershow|Steven Moffat & Rachel Talalay - The Aftershow]] |date of source=1 July 2017 |website name=[[Doctor Who: The Fan Show]] |accessdate=6 July 2017}}</ref> such as in [[TV]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]'', when the [[Eleventh Doctor]] claimed to [[Clyde Langer]] that he could regenerate 507 times.
** [[Nardole]] stays behind on the Mondasian ship to help Hazran and her children escape the Cybermen.
* This is the first season finale in the revived series and the only episode of Series 10 to feature no scenes on present-day [[Earth]].
** {{Simm|c}} is forced to regenerate by Missy after she stabs him. Both agree that he then regenerates into Missy, in his own TARDIS, and he forgets the whole adventure. However, his actual change is not shown on screen.
* When the Doctor is dreaming of his recent past companions calling him, he sees [[Clara Oswald]]. Though fans assumed it meant his memories of her were back, it was later revealed that he didn't have them back properly until the [[Testimony]] restored them as a gift before his regeneration.
** {{Gomez}} is killed by her previous incarnation, left unable to regenerate. In their own words, they were shot in the back by themselves.
* All three season finales during Peter Capaldi's tenure as the Doctor featured Cybermen.
* On original broadcast on {{w|BBC Scotland}} HD, a technical fault led to sound problems which rendered the dialogue inaudible for the final five minutes: from Bill leaving the TARDIS to the end [[credits]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/doctor-who/news/a832232/doctor-who-bbc-apologises-after-the-sound-cut-out-the-doctor-falls/|title=BBC apologises to Doctor Who viewers after the sound cut out during finale broadcast|author=Tomlin, Jack|date of source=3 July 2017|website name=Digital Spy|accessdate=3 July 2017}}</ref>
* This episode, along with its previous part, was ranked as ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' readers' favourite [[Twelfth Doctor]] story in their 60th anniversary poll of [[2023]]. <ref name="dwm 594"/> The same set of polls, however, ranked the two-parter the readers' second favourite in a list of 37 finalists.<ref name="dwm 597"/>
* The use of the [[Floor 0507|number 507]] is a nod to [[Russell T Davies]], who often invokes the number 57 in his writings,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac7pl1lI8FU |title=[[The Fan Show#The Aftershow|Steven Moffat & Rachel Talalay - The Aftershow]] |date of source=1 July 2017 |website name=[[Doctor Who: The Fan Show]] |accessdate=6 July 2017}}</ref> and who once had the [[Eleventh Doctor]] claim to [[Clyde Langer]] that he could regenerate 507 times ([[TV]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]'' - the only Eleventh Doctor story written by Davies).
* On original broadcast, before the end credits began, a caption "THE DOCTORS WILL RETURN AT CHRISTMAS" appeared. It has been removed on all version, except the Series 10 Part 2 DVD.
* A flashback sequence features the Doctor remembering virtually all of his 2005-present companions, including [[Jack Harkness]] and [[Sarah Jane Smith]], both of whom appear on screen for the first time in the [[Steven Moffat]] era (projected images of [[Martha Jones]], [[Donna Noble]] and [[Rose Tyler]] had appeared in [[TV]]: ''[[Let's Kill Hitler (TV story)|Let's Kill Hitler]]'', with [[the Moment]] taking Rose's form in ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'').
* Archive footage from two moments in ''[[The Pilot (TV story)|The Pilot]]'' are used in the episode.
* This episode marks the last appearance of [[Missy's Theme]].


=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
* 3.75m (UK overnight figures)
* 3.75 million (UK overnight figures)
* 5.32m (UK final)
* 5.32 million (UK final)<ref>[http://guide.doctorwhonews.net/info.php?detail=ratings&type=date Ratings DW]</ref>


=== Filming locations ===
=== Filming locations ===
* [[Caerwent]], [[Wales]] - [[Floor 0507]] farmland
* [[Caerwent]], [[Wales]] - [[Floor 0507]] farmland.


=== Production errors ===
=== Production errors ===
Line 380: Line 375:
* After Bill blows up the barn, a cameraman is visible on the edge of the shot.
* After Bill blows up the barn, a cameraman is visible on the edge of the shot.
* In the forest scenes, several pieces of camera equipment are somewhat visible, such as a dolly and a tripod.
* In the forest scenes, several pieces of camera equipment are somewhat visible, such as a dolly and a tripod.
* When the perspective changes away from Bill as she approaches the lift, showing her as a Cyberman again the typical stomping sound of the Cybermen is absent.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* Bill carries the Doctor's unconscious body in much the same manner that the [[Eleventh Doctor]] and [[Rory Williams]] once carried [[Amy Pond]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Asylum of the Daleks (TV story)|Asylum of the Daleks]]'', ''[[The Girl Who Waited (TV story)|The Girl Who Waited]]'') This isn't the first time the Twelfth Doctor has been physically carried in such a manner by a companion, as [[Clara Oswald]] also previously carried him this way, though he was not unconscious. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Clara Oswald and the School of Death (comic story)|Clara Oswald and the School of Death]]'')
* The expedition to Floor 507 that "Razor" talked about during ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'' are being used as [[scarecrow]]s.
* Companions have previously departed in a Cyberman story, notably [[Rose Tyler]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]'')
* The Master and Missy admit to not knowing how many regenerations the Doctor has left after his regeneration cycle was restored. Both [[the Doctor]] and [[Rassilon]] previously wondered the same thing. ([[TV]]: ''[[Kill the Moon (TV story)|Kill the Moon]]'', ''[[Hell Bent (TV story)|Hell Bent]]'')
* The expedition to 507 that "Razor" talked about are being used as [[scarecrow]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'') They, however, walk free at night and attempt to attack the village, but are shot down with rifles. ([[TV]]: ''[[Human Nature (TV story)|Human Nature]]''/''[[The Family of Blood (TV story)|The Family of Blood]]'')
* The Master mocks the Doctor about leaving Bill alone with him for ten years. ([[TV]]: ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'')
* The Master laughs maniacally. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
* The Doctor recalls last seeing the Master heading to [[Gallifrey]] during ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'', deducing that the [[Time Lord]]s cured his "little condition" before kicking him out.
* The clock on the hospital is seen ticking towards one o'clock (or thirteen), away from twelve, shortly before the Doctor is severely injured. Clocks have previously been seen as an indication of the Doctor's impending regeneration. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'')
** This is likely referring to the Master's fluctuating energy state as a result of his botched resurrection, but may also refer to the drumbeat in his head. ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'', et al.)
* The Master and Missy admit to not knowing how many regenerations the Doctor has. Both [[the Doctor]] and [[Rassilon]] previously wondered this. ([[TV]]: ''[[Kill the Moon (TV story)|Kill the Moon]]'', ''[[Hell Bent (TV story)|Hell Bent]]'')
* The Doctor notes the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] have risen naturally from [[Mondas]], as seen in ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'' and ''[[Spare Parts (audio story)|Spare Parts]]'', [[Telos]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Cybermen (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Cybermen]]'') [[Pete's World|Earth]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)|Rise of the Cybermen]]'', ''[[The Age of Steel (TV story)|The Age of Steel]]'') [[Planet 14]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion (TV story)|The Invasion]]'') and [[Marinus]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The World Shapers (comic story)|The World Shapers]]'')
* The Master mocks the Doctor about leaving Bill alone. ([[TV]]: ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'')
* The Doctor recounts his various victories over the Cybermen on [[Telos]], where he sealed them into their "[[ice]] [[Cyber-tomb|tombs]]" during ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen (TV story)|The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'', as well as his encounter with them on [[Voga]] in ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'', in [[Canary Wharf]] during ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]'', on [[Planet 14]] as referenced in ''[[The Invasion (TV story)|The Invasion]]'', and the Moon in ''[[The Moonbase (TV story)|The Moonbase]]''.  
* The Doctor recalls last seeing Missy's predecessor heading to [[Gallifrey]], deducing that the [[Time Lord]]s cured his "little condition" before kicking him out. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
* The Doctor reminds Bill how she remembered the truth during the reign of the [[Monk (species)|Monks]] in ''[[The Lie of the Land (TV story)|The Lie of the Land]]''.  
* The Master gloats over his dominion to a [[wheelchair]] bound Doctor just as he did with the aged [[Tenth Doctor]] during [[the Year That Never Was]], even calling him "Granddad", ([[TV]]: ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'') and to a restrained Doctor upon the rise of the [[Master Race]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
* The Doctor notes the [[Cybermen]] have risen naturally from [[Mondas]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Spare Parts (audio story)|Spare Parts]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'') [[Telos]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Cybermen (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Cybermen]]'') [[Pete's World|Earth]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Rise of the Cybermen (TV story)|Rise of the Cybermen]]'' / ''[[The Age of Steel (TV story)|The Age of Steel]]'') [[Planet 14]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion (TV story)|The Invasion]]'') and [[Marinus]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The World Shapers (comic story)|The World Shapers]]'')
* The Doctor recounts his various victories over the Cybermen: on [[Telos]] where he sealed them into their [[ice]] [[Cyber-tomb|tomb]]s, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen (TV story)|The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'') [[Voga]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]''), [[Canary Wharf]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts (TV story)|Army of Ghosts]]'' / ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]'') and [[Planet 14]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The World Shapers (comic story)|The World Shapers]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion (TV story)|The Invasion]]'') He states: "Every single time, you lose, even on the Moon". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Moonbase (TV story)|The Moonbase]]'').
* The Doctor was previously electrically shocked by a Cyberman. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'')
* The Doctor reminds Bill how she remembered the truth during the reign of [[the Monks]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Lie of the Land (TV story)|The Lie of the Land]]'')
* The Doctor reiterates his dislike of [[gun]]s, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sontaran Stratagem (TV story)|The Sontaran Stratagem]]'', ''[[The Doctor's Daughter (TV story)|The Doctor's Daughter]]'', ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]'', ''[[The Curse of the Black Spot (TV story)|The Curse of the Black Spot]]'') despite having used them several times. ([[TV]]: ''[[Day of the Daleks (TV story)|Day of the Daleks]]'', ''[[The Invasion of Time (TV story)|The Invasion of Time]]'', ''[[Hell Bent (TV story)|Hell Bent]]'')
* Nardole reminds Bill that he is still allowed to "kick [her] [[arse]]". ([[TV]]: ''[[Extremis (TV story)|Extremis]]'') Bill tells him he will have to go down to the hospital to find it then. ([[TV]]: ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'')
* Nardole reminds Bill that he is still allowed to "kick [her] [[arse]]". ([[TV]]: ''[[Extremis (TV story)|Extremis]]'') Bill tells him he will have to go down to the hospital to find it then. ([[TV]]: ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'')
* Nardole mentions how he used to be a [[black market]] dealer before meeting the Doctor, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Husbands of River Song (TV story)|The Husbands of River Song]]'') and further indicates he is a cyborg. ([[TV]]: ''[[Oxygen (TV story)|Oxygen]]'', ''[[The Eaters of Light (TV story)|The Eaters of Light]]'', ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'')
* Nardole states that Hazran is "only human", something the Doctor has said numerous times. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'', ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'')
* Missy is able to provide the Master with a [[dematerialisation circuit]] by telling him to always carry a spare, similar to how the [[Tenth Doctor]] told the [[Fifth Doctor]] how he could stop the TARDIS exploding. ([[TV]]: ''[[Time Crash (TV story)|Time Crash]]'')
* Missy is able to provide the Master with a [[dematerialisation circuit]] by telling him to always carry a spare, similar to how the [[Tenth Doctor]] told the [[Fifth Doctor]] how he could stop the TARDIS exploding. ([[TV]]: ''[[Time Crash (TV story)|Time Crash]]'')
* Missy telling her previous incarnation she loved being him also mirrors a sentiment of the Tenth Doctor, as he expressed such to his fifth incarnation. ([[TV]]: ''[[Time Crash (TV story)|Time Crash]]'')
* The Doctor reiterates River's words that Nardole once spoke to him from her diary during ''[[Extremis (TV story)|Extremis]]''.
* The Doctor reiterates River's words that Nardole once spoke to him from her diary. ([[TV]]: ''[[Extremis (TV story)|Extremis]]'')
* Missy recalls when the [[Fourth Doctor]] fell to his death in ''[[Logopolis (TV story)|Logopolis]]''.  
* Bill is reunited with [[Heather (The Pilot)|Heather]] in the form of [[sentient oil]]. She is also recalls the moment she asked her to come back for her. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pilot (TV story)|The Pilot]]'')
* Bill chooses the TARDIS as the Doctor's final resting place. In an [[Alternate timeline (The Name of the Doctor)|alternate timeline]], the [[Eleventh Doctor]] was interred in the TARDIS after his death on [[Trenzalore]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Name of the Doctor (TV story)|The Name of the Doctor]]'')
* Bill telling the two Masters to stand aside so she can fire at the upcoming Cyberman echoes when the Tenth Doctor told the Master to do likewise when he had a revolver and vice versa as the Master prepared to attack [[Rassilon]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
* When waking up in the TARDIS, the Doctor says "[[Sontaran]]s! Perverting the course of human history!". These were the first words of the [[Fourth Doctor]] after regenerating in ''[[Robot (TV story)|Robot]].'' He previously said the same thing after waking up from being knocked out by flying objects due to air pressure. ([[TV]]: ''[[Listen (TV story)|Listen]]'')
* Missy uses her [[sonic umbrella]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'')
* As he begins regenerating, the Doctor says "I don't want to go", the same words his [[Tenth Doctor|tenth incarnation]] said before regenerating in ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]''. He also reiterates the last lines of his [[Eleventh Doctor|eleventh incarnation]]; "when the Doctor was me" from ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]];'' as well saying "it's starting. I'm regenerating", the words the [[Tenth Doctor]] stated before his aborted regeneration. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]'') He also shouts "no!" repeatedly while his regenerative energy flairs up, which was what the [[Second Doctor]] said as the Time Lords sent him away to exile. ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'')
* The Master asks the Doctor if he has ever burned to death. Although the Doctor hasn't, the Master has. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of Fire (TV story)|Planet of Fire]]'') Missy says that she knows the Doctor has literally fallen to his death as the [[Fourth Doctor]] regenerated as a result of falling off the [[Pharos Project]]'s [[radio telescope]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Logopolis (TV story)|Logopolis]]'') The Master asks if the Doctor has ever drowned, which he did while fighting the [[Racnoss]] in an alternate timeline. ([[TV]]: ''[[Turn Left (TV story)|Turn Left]]'') Missy asks if the Doctor has ever felt the blade, with something similar actually happening to him. ([[TV]]: ''[[Doctor Who (TV story)|Doctor Who]]'') This last statement foreshadows Missy stabbing the Master with a knife.
* Missy severely injures one of her previous incarnations. The Master previously played a part in one of his own past regenerations due to the manipulations of the [[Cult of the Heretic]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Two Masters (audio story)|The Two Masters]]'') He also once killed [[The Master (android)|an android]] with his identity, and all his memories, once done with him. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Oseidon Adventure (audio story)|The Oseidon Adventure]]'')
* The Master uses a modified [[laser screwdriver]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]''/''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'')
* The Master is killed by a woman for the third consecutive time. The first time was by [[Chantho]] in ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'' and the second time was by [[Lucy Saxon]] in ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]''.
* The Master reveals to Bill that he was Mr. Razor and that he hated the 10 years they spent together on [[floor 1056]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'')
* The Master (seemingly) once again refuses to listen to the Doctor. ([[TV]]: ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'') However, Missy does, in the end, turn back to join him, as she has progressively had a change of heart. ([[TV]]: ''[[Extremis (TV story)|Extremis]]'' et al.)
* Bill chooses the TARDIS as the Doctor's final resting place. In an alternate timeline, the [[Eleventh Doctor]] was interred in the TARDIS after his death on [[Trenzalore]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Name of the Doctor (TV story)|The Name of the Doctor]]'')
* The Doctor has a brief recall of some of his past companions from his [[Ninth Doctor|ninth incarnation]] onwards, just before his body attempts to regenerate. The [[Fourth Doctor|Fourth]] and [[Fifth Doctor]] similarly had this occur to him. Likewise, the last face he sees is the Master's. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Caves of Androzani (TV story)|The Caves of Androzani]]'', ''[[Logopolis (TV story)|Logopolis]]'')
** He recalls [[Rose Tyler]] from [[TV]]: ''[[Bad Wolf (TV story)|Bad Wolf]]'', [[Martha Jones]] from [[TV]]: ''[[Daleks in Manhattan (TV story)|Daleks in Manhattan]]'', [[Donna Noble]] from [[TV]]: ''[[Partners in Crime (TV story)|Partners in Crime]]'', [[Jack Harkness]] from ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'', [[Vastra]] from [[TV]]: ''[[The Name of the Doctor (TV story)|The Name of the Doctor]]'', [[Jenny Flint]] from [[TV]]: ''[[The Crimson Horror (TV story)|The Crimson Horror]]'', [[Sarah Jane Smith]] from [[TV]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]'', [[Amy Pond]] from [[TV]]: ''[[The Impossible Astronaut (TV story)|The Impossible Astronaut]]'', [[River Song]] from [[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'', and even [[Clara Oswald]] from [[TV]]: ''[[Last Christmas (TV story)|Last Christmas]], ''despite having her wiped from his memories. ([[TV]]: ''[[Hell Bent (TV story)|Hell Bent]]'') He also recalls Missy from [[TV]]: ''[[The Witch's Familiar (TV story)|The Witch's Familiar]]'')
* When waking up after his pre-regeneration flashbacks, the Doctor says "[[Sontaran]]s! Perverting the course of human history!". They were the first words of the [[Fourth Doctor]] after regenerating. ([[TV]]: ''[[Robot (TV story)|Robot]]''). He previously said the same thing after waking up from being knocked out by flying objects due to air pressure. ([[TV]]: ''[[Listen (TV story)|Listen]]'')
* As he begins regenerating, the Doctor says "I don't want to go", the same words his [[Tenth Doctor|tenth incarnation]] said before regenerating. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'') He also reiterates the last lines of his [[Eleventh Doctor|eleventh incarnation]]; "when the Doctor was me"; ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'') as well saying "it's starting. I'm regenerating", the words the [[Tenth Doctor]] stated before his aborted regeneration. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]'') He also shouts "no!" repeatedly while his regenerative energy flairs up, which were the final words of the [[Second Doctor]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'' - before expanded media showed the true circumstances of his regeneration in [[COMIC]]: [[The Night Walkers (comic story)|''The Night Walkers'']])
* The Doctor resists regenerating. He has previously done this when nearing the end of his [[Fifth Doctor|fifth]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Caves of Androzani (TV story)|The Caves of Androzani]]'') [[Ninth Doctor|ninth]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Parting of the Ways (TV story)|The Parting of the Ways]]'') and tenth incarnations. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
* The Doctor offers people [[jelly babies]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]'', ''[[Robot (TV story)|Robot]]'', et al.)
* The Master refers to the Doctor as "Doc". The Doctor's first incarnation had previously taken umbrage at being addressed like that ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Meddler (TV story)|The Time Meddler]], [[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]''), as did his sixth ([[TV]]: ''[[The Twin Dilemma (TV story)|The Twin Dilemma]]'', ''[[The Ultimate Foe]]'') and tenth. ([[TV]]: ''[[Dreamland (TV story)|Dreamland]]'')
* It was revealed [[Heather (The Pilot)|Heather]] gave her tears to track Bill, explaining how Bill was still able to cry despite being a Cyberman. ([[TV]]: ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'')
** The cyber-converted [[Yvonne Hartman]], who had managed to retain her free will after conversion, also displayed the ability to cry; however, she cried oil rather than actual tears like Bill. ([[TV]]: ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]'')
* The Doctor meets his [[First Doctor|first incarnation]]. He has met this version of himself on numerous previous occasions. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]'', ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'', ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'')
* The Doctor and Bill both recite the line "while there's tears, there's hope" at different points in the story. A similar line, "while there's ''life'', there's hope," served as the final words of the [[Third Doctor]], while trying to console a crying [[Sarah Jane Smith]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of the Spiders (TV story)|Planet of the Spiders]]'')
* As the Doctor leaves the TARDIS the [[cloister bell]] is heard ringing. ([[TV]]: ''[[Logopolis (TV story)|Logopolis]]'' et al.)
* The Twelfth Doctor, and later the First Doctor, describe themselves as "''the'' Doctor, the original you might say." The First Doctor previously said this exact phrase to [[Tegan Jovanka]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'').
* Missy severely injures one of her previous incarnations. The Master previously did it to himself. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Two Masters (audio story)|The Two Masters]]'')
* Bill was strong enough to survive the cyber-conversion process while retaining her humanity, largely in part due to the strong attachment she had to her [[Bill Potts' mother|deceased mother]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pilot (TV story)|The Pilot]]'' et al.)
** [[Yvonne Hartman]] and [[Mercy Hartigan]] were also able to retain their consciousness following their conversions. ([[TV]]: ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]'', ''[[The Next Doctor (TV story)|The Next Doctor]]'')
** The Doctor had previously encountered a version of [[Clara Oswald]] who had been strong enough to survive a [[Dalek]] conversion process and retain her humanity, she too had few memories of the conversion and believed she was still human. ([[TV]]: ''[[Asylum of the Daleks (TV story)|Asylum of the Daleks]]'')
** [[Craig Owens]] had previously been able to resist a [[Cyber-conversion]] due to his strong love for [[Alfie Owens|his son]] overpowering a damaged cyber-ship's conversion equipment. ([[TV]]: ''[[Closing Time (TV story)|Closing Time]]'')
* The Master being stranded by a malfunction, or by [[The Master's TARDIS|his TARDIS]] otherwise being unavailable to him has happened to him several times. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Claws of Axos (TV story)|The Claws of Axos]]'' et al., [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Sympathy for the Devil (audio story)|Sympathy for the Devil]]'' et al.)
* The Doctor comments that it's a pity there are no stars in view when he seemingly dies, echoing an affection voiced earlier in his life: "the deep, lovely dark; you'd never see the stars without it." ([[TV]]: ''[[Listen (TV story)|Listen]]'')
* Missy carries a spare [[dematerialisation circuit]] because she remembers telling her previous incarnation to always carry one, in much the same way the [[Tenth Doctor]] once remembered how to get out of a predicament because his [[Fifth Doctor|fifth incarnation]] saw how he did it and remembered. ([[TV]]: ''[[Time Crash (TV story)|Time Crash]]'')
* The Masters discuss how an earlier incarnation cannot clearly remember what they learn from meeting a future one. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'')
* Heather mentions Bill's job of serving [[chips]] at [[St Luke's University]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pilot (TV story)|The Pilot]]'', ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'')
* Heather mentions Bill's job of serving [[chips]] at [[St Luke's University]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pilot (TV story)|The Pilot]]'', ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'')
* The Doctor faces Mondasian Cybermen that can fire energy beams from their headframe. He already did so during his [[Eighth Doctor|eighth incarnation]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Flood (comic story)|The Flood]]'')
* This is the second time that Mondasian Cybermen cause the Doctor to regenerate. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet (TV story)|The Tenth Planet]]'') Interestingly, the Twelfth Doctor ends up meeting [[First Doctor|the incarnation from said event]] after their respective encounters with the Cybermen. ([[TV]]: ''[[Twice Upon a Time (TV story)|Twice Upon a Time]]'')
* It's once again explained that two versions of the same Time Lord meeting results in their timelines being out of sync, and so the younger version won't retain their complete memories of the encounter. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor]]'')
* The Doctor previously said 'You may be a doctor, but I am the Doctor. The genuine article you might say' during his [[Fourth Doctor|fourth incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Robot (TV story)|Robot]]'') He also said 'The original you might say' during his [[First Doctor|first incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'')


== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
=== DVD releases ===
===DVD & Blu-ray releases===
''to be added''
 
* This episode was included in the Series 10, Part Two DVD and Blu-ray boxsets in region 1/A on [[12 September (releases)|12 September]] [[2017 (releases)|2017]], in region 2/B on [[24 July (releases)|24 July]] 2017 and in region 4/B on [[16 August (releases)|16 August]] 2017.
* This episode was also released as part of the Complete Tenth Series DVD and Blu-ray boxsets in region 1/A on [[7 November (releases)|7 November]] 2017, in region 2/B on [[13 November (releases)|13 November]] 2017 and in region 4/B on [[29 November (releases)|29 November]] 2017.


=== Blu-ray releases ===
===Digital releases===
''to be added''


=== Digital releases ===
* In the United Kingdom, this story is available on [[BBC iPlayer]].
''to be added''


== External links ==
== External links ==
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== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==
=== Notes ===
{{Notelist}}
=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}
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{{DWTV}}
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{{Master stories}}
{{Saxon Master stories}}
{{Missy stories}}
{{Cyberman stories}}
{{Cyberman stories}}
{{Regeneration stories}}
{{Regeneration stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{cat|Doctor Who (2005) television stories}}
{{cat|Doctor Who (2005) television stories}}
{{cat|2017 television stories}}
{{cat|Twelfth Doctor television stories}}


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[[Category:Series 10 (Doctor Who) stories]]
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[[Category:Regeneration television stories]]
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[[Category:First Doctor television stories]]
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[[de:302 - The Doctor Falls]]
[[es:The Doctor Falls]]
[[he:הדוקטור נופל (סיפור טלוויזיה)]]

Latest revision as of 10:42, 4 September 2024

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The Doctor Falls was the twelfth and final episode of series 10 of Doctor Who.

It saw the departures of both Bill and Nardole, and the events leading to the Saxon Master's regeneration into Missy, with the Master being mortally wounded by his female successor. However, he in turn kills her, bringing an apparent end of the Master's life. The episode also explained the different and conflicting origins of the Cybermen appearances, citing it to "parallel evolution".

Expanding on the Twelfth Doctor's regeneration teased in the previous episode, World Enough and Time [+]Loading...["World Enough and Time (TV story)"] it saw him mortally wounded in battle against the Cybermen. However, the Doctor managed to postpone the change, expressing how he was sick of "always having to be someone else", leading into the arc of the next episode, Twice Upon a Time [+]Loading...["Twice Upon a Time (TV story)"]

Most notably, the final scene of the episode featured the unexpected return of the First Doctor, now portrayed by David Bradley, in a scene set during the events of The Tenth Planet [+]Loading...["The Tenth Planet (TV story)"] itself, the first time an incarnation of the Doctor from the classic series had appeared since the series was revived in 2005 and not been played by his original actor. Bradley had previously portrayed William Hartnell in the docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time [+]Loading...["An Adventure in Space and Time (TV story)"].

In 2023, despite The Doctor Falls together with World Enough and Time ranking as the most popular Twelfth Doctor TV story ahead of Heaven Sent [+]Loading...["Heaven Sent (TV story)"] in a poll by Doctor Who Magazine,[1][nb 1], a later DWM poll that year with a shortlist of 37 finalists including the two aforementioned stories declared World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls the second most popular TV story of the first 60 years of Doctor Who, behind the winner, Heaven Sent.[2]

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

As he struggles to resist regenerating, the Twelfth Doctor prepares to make a last stand against the ever-growing army of Cybermen. However, with Bill still a Cyberman, and Missy gradually turning to her old wicked ways as the Saxon Master reminds her of who she used to be, can the Doctor convince his old friend to finally be good before he falls?

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

The episode opens on a group of farmers, adults and children, on Floor 0507 facing against the prototypes from Floor 1056, dubbed "scarecrows", shooting them down by night to then restrain them on wooden crosses by day. A school child named Alit is out in the field one morning when a shuttlepod blasts through the ground, crashing near her. As the smoke clears, a Cyberman emerges from the wreckage carrying an unconscious Doctor.

Sometime earlier, the Doctor awakes on top of the hospital, now restrained in a wheelchair, soon recalling how he was subdued by Missy and the Saxon Master, while Nardole fled. The Master and Missy dance and flirt, with him asking if she's his next incarnation; Missy guesses she is as she can't remember what caused her to regenerate. The Master is stunned: "I'm going to turn into a woman, and you can't remember it happening?" Missy wonders if she is a woman; the Master confirms it. Though the Master doubts it, the Doctor begins deducing what he's been up to since he vanished while blasting Rassilon with his life energy.

Upon getting back to Gallifrey, the Time Lords, grateful for the Master's help in preventing Rassilon from executing The Final Sanction, properly restored his body. With that done, the Time Lords kicked him off Gallifrey. However, the Master stole a TARDIS to go back into the universe; so he considers it a mutual being kicked out. After that, the Master landed on the colony ship, lived like a king and killed people at his leisure. However, the colonists eventually overthrew him and the Master attempted to flee. However, as his TARDIS was on the last level, too close to the event horizon, it burned out his dematerialisation circuit and left him stranded. "You never could drive could you?" the Doctor asks.

Both Missy and the Master wonder how to punish the Doctor

Both the Master and Missy are insulted; she asks her earlier self if he has any requests as to how to torture the Doctor. The Master suggests dropping the Doctor off the roof; Missy is against the idea, saying that they'd be "up and down the stairs all night" because she doesn't know how many regenerations the Doctor has. Missy and the Master look over the roof, seeing people march like mindless sheep into the hospital to be turned into Cybermen. They taunt their old friend by telling him of their plan of the Cybermen converting all the humans on the ship. Missy asks the Doctor if he's impressed. They mockingly call the Doctor "granddad", reminding him that Bill is now a Cyberman.

The Doctor tells them that after all this time if they still think they're winning when he's in the room, they're missing something obvious. Hearing the Cybermen advancing, Missy looks over the ledge and quakes in horror; the Cybermen are coming for them. The Master is confused, as these Cybermen are primitive and shouldn't even be attempting to convert non-humans.

The Doctor explains that when he was knocked down by Missy, he altered the signal of the Cybermen so they would convert two-hearted beings as well, hence why they are now focusing on the Time Lord's presence. The Masters panic, Missy frantically using her sonic umbrella to lock a metal door to hold back advancing Cybermen while the Master uses his laser screwdriver to destroy advancing Cybermen. The Doctor brags that he is the only one who is able to stop so many Cybermen at once. Realising this, a conflicted Missy knocks the Master out and frees the Doctor from his restraints. The Doctor starts wondering which side she is on to which she admits her indecisiveness as she is confused and her other half is unconscious.

The Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver to contact Nardole, who reveals he has commandeered a shuttlecraft. Nardole lands near the roof to help escape, but the Doctor is grabbed and electrocuted by a Cyberman before he boards. Missy tries to save him using her other self's laser screwdriver but Bill, in her cyber form, intervenes first, destroying the Cyberman with a blaster based on her head and the Doctor recognizes her before collapsing to the ground unconscious. Missy and the Master try to convince Nardole to abandon the Doctor "The Doctor's dead; he told me to say he always hated you," they both say. However, Bill prevents the shuttle from leaving, grabbing the ladder until they rescue him. The Doctor regains consciousness and promises Bill that he will find a way to return her to normal.

They escape to Floor 0507, where time moves slower. They find themselves on a solar farm, the Master deducing such by the holographic sky, where some of the humans and a large number of children protect themselves from the early Cybermen prototypes from Operation Exodus. Nardole approaches Alit, declaring they will need her help. They spend two weeks there while the Doctor recovers from his injuries.

Bill discovers her true appearance.

Bill awakes in the barn, unsure why the villagers are scared of her, concerned why she can't see the Doctor. When given a mirror by Alit, she becomes horrified to discover she was converted into a Cyberman. Alit goes to run but bumps into the Doctor who thanks her for being kind to Bill, offering her a jelly baby as she leaves. The Doctor has somewhat recovered, though he still has a scar from where he was hit by the Master and is clearly in a lot of pain but trying to hide it.

Trying to console Bill, she gradually realises that though she thinks she is human, she is still a Mondasian Cyberman in appearance. She grows angry, the Doctor backing away as Bill accidentally triggers the blaster on her head, igniting the door on the barn, causing an explosion. Nardole, who has been preparing the town for the oncoming Cybermen despite one woman saying he has been working them too hard, passively tells the farmers not to worry; they have an upcoming war to focus on.

Bill sheds a tear when she realises the humans are frightened of her, and the Doctor wipes it away, noting it unusual. The Master tells the Doctor that he and Missy have been working on something, and pauses briefly to mock Bill, chastising the Doctor for still referring to her as a female and taunts how he hated the time he had to spend with Bill as "Razor". He stops because Bill claims he is not upsetting her, though she cries beneath her mask when he leaves. The Doctor finds it odd she is still able to shed tears. While traversing after the Master, the Doctor struggles to walk, limping heavily. He briefly stumbles against a tree, regeneration energy attempting to trickle from his hand (revealing that his electrocution by the Cyberman on the roof was fatal, and his body is preparing to regenerate). Wanting to not worry Bill, he draws up a stick and carries onwards but Bill is still distraught that the Doctor can't fix her current condition, the Doctor responding "where's there's tears; there's hope."

They soon reach the middle of a forest, just after the Master and Missy theorise they can't retain their memories as their timelines are out of sync. Missy briefly displays empathy for Bill's condition, something the Master finds disgusting. Missy reveals she has discovered a camouflaged lift in the nearby forest, with which she suggests they can escape to Floor 0000, using her sonic umbrella to call it. However, the Doctor declares that there will no doubt be a Cyberman in the lift waiting to find their floor, as the lift was taken to the bottom by them previously. Understanding this, Bill orders them to stand aside, the Doctor convincing the two Masters to do so.

The three Time Lords prepare behind Bill, drawing their respective devices. As guessed, the lift brings up an advanced Cyberman from the lower floor, Bill speedily firing on it with her cyber blaster, the Master following likewise with his laser screwdriver as the Doctor and Missy use their sonic devices to slow its advance with a barrier. After several seconds, they disable it.

With their position given away, the Master and Missy both wish to use the elevator to go to the bridge and escape in the Doctor's TARDIS, but the Doctor informs them that the time differential between top and bottom of the ship would give the Cybermen ample time to stop them, meaning there isn't a safe way to return to the TARDIS. The Doctor figures that the Cybermen will now have much more time to plan, given they now know what floor they reside on, they must prepare for a battle. He returns to the village, revealing the alarm they now hear is the Cybermen's warning from the lower floors. Using a computer, Nardole discovers that the floor below this one has many fuel pipes that he can detonate as weaponry against the Cybermen, briefly testing such by blowing up a windmill, stunning the villagers; the Doctor remarks that they can use such to confuse the Cybermen and make them believe they are stronger than them. The Doctor finds a conduit to another solar farm on a higher floor that can be used to evacuate the children, having Bill blast it open, knowing this is a fight they will likely lose.

Meanwhile, the Master and Missy decide to leave and plan to find the Master's TARDIS at the lowest floor, though the Master reveals he broke his TARDIS. Missy shoves convinces her younger self to always keep a dematerialisation circuit on hand. She recalls the time a woman shoved her against her a wall to convince her to carry the device on her at all times. While recalling the story she shoves the Master against the wall, revealing herself as the one to convince the Master to carry the circuit. The Master says "Is it bad that I.. er-" hinting at a slight sexual arousal of his future incarnation, but Missy just retorts that it's very wrong. Night falls, the Doctor standing guard outside the house. Inside, a woman attempts to flirt with Nardole as he works on his computer, only to turn around and shoot at Bill, falsely thinking her a hostile Cyberman. She leaves distraught, going outside to find the Doctor. The first wave arrives, Nardole and Alit preparing to combat them, successfully tricking them that an apple was capable of destroying an entire group of them. They retreat to the house, now understanding the Cybermen will likely return to outright destroy them next time rather than merely capture them for conversion.

Meanwhile, the Doctor notices the two Masters trying to leave and runs after them. He pleads for them to be by his side to help. He gives an emotional and passionate speech on why he helps people, since it isn't easy or always going to work, it is just the right thing to do, as saving people would just be kind. The Master ridicules the idea, saying that he didn't listen to a word the Doctor said. However, Missy was somewhat moved by the Doctor's speech, agreeing that being the Doctor's friend was what she always wanted. However, after briefly grabbing each other's hand, she sides with her predecessor. At the lift, Missy tricks the Master into dancing with her. She tells her past self that she enjoyed her time as him, however she pulls out a knife and fatally stabs him, forcing his next regeneration, though she makes the wound "precise" so that the Master will have enough time to reach his TARDIS before regenerating.

Missy seemingly dies from the Master's strike.

Gradually dying, the Master compliments her, glad they haven't lost their touch. Missy tells her proud past self that he deserved nothing less than her best. After helping him into the elevator, Missy announces she will return to help the Doctor, turning to walk away as her predecessor shouts at her to not go. Missy tells her past self that this is where all the scheming, killing and egomania has led them: standing with the Doctor.

Unable to accept that his future self will side with the Doctor, the Master draws and fires his laser screwdriver at full blast, causing Missy to collapse on the ground, fatally wounded. He claims the strike has disabled her regeneration, commenting that it is the perfect ending, with them both shooting themselves in the back. They both laugh as the Master descends in the lift and Missy seemingly dies.

An initial wave of Cybermen arrive, but using Nardole's tricks with the explosives, they are able to make the humans appear more powerful, forcing the Cybermen to retreat and develop a new plan, giving the humans more time. Back at the house, and against Nardole's protests, the Doctor downloads the plans for the floor into his sonic screwdriver and sends him to help evacuate the children, intending to stay alone to fight the Cybermen. Nardole resists, having deduced the Doctor is going to commit suicide by detonating the entire floor in a last-ditch attempt to destroy as many Cybermen as possible. The pair argue over who really should die, Nardole reasoning he can't, given how he was before meeting the Doctor even though the Doctor tries to reason that he should stay as he is already dying. The Doctor eventually convinces Nardole that helping the children will be his penance for the crimes he committed before they met, as he is the stronger of the pair. Nardole jokes he will name a farm after him. Bill also insists on staying with the Doctor despite Nardole trying to tell her otherwise. As he leaves with the humans, Nardole admits that he will never be able to find the words for Bill and the Doctor's sacrifice.

A Mondasian Cyberman killing the Doctor with its energy beam.

With all the humans evacuated, the Doctor and Bill prepare for a last stand, each deciding to charge into opposite ends of the forest. Bill says one last goodbye to the Doctor, even joking briefly about her sexuality, assuring him she had still retained her humanity. They face the oncoming wave. The Doctor ignites several of the Cybermen, listing the numerous times he has defeated them while doing so. However, he is inevitably surrounded and receives a full strike from one Cyberman's laser beam. He declares he is the Doctor but the Cybermen retort they have no need for a doctor anymore, firing at him again. Falling to his knees, he prepares to ignite the floor but is struck again, the blast proving fatal enough that his body attempts to regenerate. Refusing to give in, he holds it back and ignites all the pipes below the floor, engulfing it all in a wave of destruction, destroying all the Cybermen.

Above on floor 0502, Nardole waits outside of one of the lifts, hoping the Doctor and Bill will return, however, Alit convinces him to move on and focus on living with them now, mentioning that Hazran has a crush on him to which Nardole smiles and retorts 'Well she's only human...'

Back downstairs, the floor is now a wasteland scattered with destroyed Cybermen. Bill, barely functioning but with her personality mostly restored, finds the Doctor severely wounded. She mourns over the Doctor's body but suddenly finds herself out of the Cyberman suit, seemingly human. She looks up and sees Heather, emerging from a nearby puddle. To prove to Bill that she isn't dead, she and Heather share a passionate kiss, when Heather reveals she converted Bill to a form of being like her. At Bill's request, they take the Doctor's body to his TARDIS, and Heather, as the Pilot, sets the controls for the TARDIS heading to a new location, while offering Bill the choice to return to her old life or to live out a new one with her, travelling the universe. Before leaving, Bill sheds a tear on the Doctor, but does not wipe it away, saying "Where there's tears, there's hope." She walks over to Heather and the reunited lovers walk out of the TARDIS into space, off to travel the stars.

The Doctor's wounds heal as he dreams of Bill and Nardole, yelling for him. He then dreams Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, Captain Jack Harkness, Donna Noble, Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint, Sarah Jane Smith, Amy Pond, Clara Oswald and River Song calling out his name. Twitching, the Doctor then dreams Missy saying his name and he awakes, gasping for air. Seeing that he's begun regenerating, a confused Doctor mumbles some of the last words of his other incarnations. Yelling "No!" with all his might, the Doctor suppresses the complete regeneration. "I can't keep on being somebody else" the Doctor cries out as the TARDIS lands.

He tells his TARDIS that it doesn't matter where it's taken him; he won't listen to whatever kind of lesson that it's trying to teach him. The Doctor steps outside into an arctic landscape. Out in the snow, the Doctor resists the process screaming and shoves his fists into the snow, again stating he will not change.

The Doctor meets a familiar face in the arctic.

Suddenly, in the distance hears a voice stating the same words of not changing, finding the idea ridiculous. The Doctor calls out, asking for the person to identify himself. The stranger asks for the Doctor's identity, which he confirms. The stranger replies that while the Doctor may be a Doctor, he is "the Doctor. The original, you might say". Much to the Doctor's shock and surprise, the stranger steps forth to reveal himself as his first incarnation...

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Uncredited[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics

Movement

Casting

General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.


Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Culture[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Nardole shouts "Remember the Alamo" when getting the farmers to work.
  • When the Doctor hands Alit an apple, he refers to it as "tempting", a reference to Humanity's first sin according to the Bible.

Cybermen[[edit] | [edit source]]

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

Biology[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Nardole again implies he is a cyborg.

Food and beverages[[edit] | [edit source]]

People[[edit] | [edit source]]

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor says that Cybermen have monkey brains.
  • Nardole says he will name a pig after the Doctor.

Locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

TARDIS[[edit] | [edit source]]

Music[[edit] | [edit source]]

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

▶︎
YouTube
Explosions in Caerwent, and Cybermen on trampolines.
▶︎
YouTube
This episode's Aftershow on Doctor Who: The Fan Show.
  • The final segment of the episode, where the Twelfth Doctor meets the First Doctor in the snow, was filmed only two weeks before World Enough and Time aired, as part of filming of the Christmas special. Post-production on that scene was completed in the short time left; a week before The Doctor Falls aired, Steven Moffat stated that the final version was still being worked on. The Doctor's near-regeneration outside the TARDIS had to be completed in time for World Enough and Time, a week beforehand.
  • The Doctor's mention of Marinus as a planet on which the Cybermen originated (COMIC: The World Shapers) is another rare instance of the TV series directly referencing non-televised material.
  • This episode removes any contradiction that had previously revolved around the various Cybermen origin stories, by having the Doctor call all instances parallel evolution.
  • On original broadcast on BBC Scotland HD, a technical fault led to sound problems which rendered the dialogue inaudible for the final five minutes: from Bill leaving the TARDIS to the end credits.[3]
  • The use of the number 507 is a nod to Russell T Davies, who often invoked the number 57 in his writings,[4] such as in TV: Death of the Doctor, when the Eleventh Doctor claimed to Clyde Langer that he could regenerate 507 times.
  • This is the first season finale in the revived series and the only episode of Series 10 to feature no scenes on present-day Earth.
  • When the Doctor is dreaming of his recent past companions calling him, he sees Clara Oswald. Though fans assumed it meant his memories of her were back, it was later revealed that he didn't have them back properly until the Testimony restored them as a gift before his regeneration.
  • All three season finales during Peter Capaldi's tenure as the Doctor featured Cybermen.
  • This episode, along with its previous part, was ranked as Doctor Who Magazine readers' favourite Twelfth Doctor story in their 60th anniversary poll of 2023. [1] The same set of polls, however, ranked the two-parter the readers' second favourite in a list of 37 finalists.[2]
  • On original broadcast, before the end credits began, a caption "THE DOCTORS WILL RETURN AT CHRISTMAS" appeared. It has been removed on all version, except the Series 10 Part 2 DVD.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • 3.75 million (UK overnight figures)
  • 5.32 million (UK final)[5]

Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.
  • After Bill blows up the barn, a cameraman is visible on the edge of the shot.
  • In the forest scenes, several pieces of camera equipment are somewhat visible, such as a dolly and a tripod.
  • When the perspective changes away from Bill as she approaches the lift, showing her as a Cyberman again the typical stomping sound of the Cybermen is absent.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Home video releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

DVD & Blu-ray releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This episode was included in the Series 10, Part Two DVD and Blu-ray boxsets in region 1/A on 12 September 2017, in region 2/B on 24 July 2017 and in region 4/B on 16 August 2017.
  • This episode was also released as part of the Complete Tenth Series DVD and Blu-ray boxsets in region 1/A on 7 November 2017, in region 2/B on 13 November 2017 and in region 4/B on 29 November 2017.

Digital releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • In the United Kingdom, this story is available on BBC iPlayer.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ Polls by DWM are statistically invalid, as they do not feature a random sample of people. Respondents choose to participate on their own initiative, and are made aware of the poll because they subscribe to or at least frequently buy DWM. Thus, the poll is clearly weighted towards Doctor Who fans who are also residents of the United Kingdom. The views reflected almost certainly do not represent the "casual" viewer of Doctor Who, non-English speaking fans, or other groups of fans who simply don't read or have access to DWM.

Citations[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 DWM 594
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 DWM 597
  3. ↑ Tomlin, Jack (3 July 2017). BBC apologises to Doctor Who viewers after the sound cut out during finale broadcast. Digital Spy. Retrieved on 3 July 2017.
  4. ↑ Steven Moffat & Rachel Talalay - The Aftershow. Doctor Who: The Fan Show (1 July 2017). Retrieved on 6 July 2017.
  5. ↑ Ratings DW
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