Finally, a brooding 13th Doctor.
Some say they missed returning monsters in series 11, others wanted more of a story arc, and many were just hanging out for two-parters. But it wasn’t the stripped back approach to storytelling that was the series’ most missed element so much as it was Chibnall’s decision to colour the Doctor a few shades too light, denying Whittaker the opportunity to explore the existential guilt of this ancient being. Without a heavy conscience, the 13th Doctor lacked the same nuance that made previous incarnations so compelling. In the first story of series 12, Chibnall takes the first few steps towards remedying this. Through a series of unexpected shake-ups, Whittaker is being allowed the space to probe the depths of the Doctor’s regret and loneliness.
After spies all around the world start winding up dead MI6 gets in touch with the Doctor and her friends, enlisting them to find the threat and put a stop to it. At the centre of this conspiracy is Daniel Barton, CEO of Google substitute, VOR. The ensuing adventure is a globe-trotting, time-trotting caper on a scale we haven’t seen in years. While Ryan and Yaz head off to VOR headquarters in San Francisco to investigate Barton’s shady plans, the Doctor and Graham travel to outback Australia to find ex-MI6 agent and ally of the Doctor, O.
Spyfall is overstuffed with plot points that it struggles to resolve in its two episodes, but now that Chibnall is setting his sights on bigger, more epic storylines, Doctor Who is starting to feel more like it did in the RTD era. The aliens at the centre of this story are largely shrouded in mystery, and though the intrigue around the Kasaavin propel the plot forward, their activities and Barton’s end goal of using human DNA as hard drives don’t quite tie up as neatly as one would have hoped.
As the end of part 1 draws to a close, Chibnall pulls out his biggest punch yet as showrunner, revealing O to be the latest incarnation of long-time Doctor Who villain, the Master. And if that wasn’t enough, by the end of part 2 Chibnall tops that by pulling out an even bigger punch, putting Spyfall on the level of The End of Time, The Day of the Doctor, and Hell Bent in terms of stories that have universe-changing ramifications on the future of the show.
The devious persona of Sacha Dhawan’s Master initially seems to renege Missy’s series 10 story arc, as he blatantly threatens the lives of the Doctor and her friends. He no longer has qualms with killing innocent civilians, going so far as to disguise himself as a Nazi soldier, which, as the Doctor laments, is low even for him. But gradually over the course of part 2, we realise that this change was set in motion by external forces. Upon returning to Gallifrey, he discovered a secret behind Time Lord society so devastating that he was driven to destroy their entire civilisation. In a single, swift move, Chibnall has made the Doctor and the Master the last of the Time Lords again.
The lie of the Timeless Child appears to be the story arc for series 12, though the meaning of this isn’t yet clear. It is something significant enough that the Master was forced to submit to his dark impulses, and this regeneration indeed seems to be the most rage-filled incarnation yet. Much like the Saxon Master and Missy he delights in chaos and small victories over the Doctor, but he also contains a simmering rage that he doesn’t have complete control over. Though the last we see of him he is trapped inside the Kasaavin’s home dimension, he will hopefully make another appearance before the end of this series, no doubt with barely an explanation as to how he escaped.
The impact of Gallifrey’s fall on the Doctor gives us a glimpse into her own personal arc for series 12, as she struggles to reconcile a returning feeling of solitude, the existential angst of her entire life being based on a lie, and her attempts to protect her companions from the darkness of her past. Keeping these separate may not be an option for much longer, since by the end of part 2 her friends start to question her true identity, realising that despite all the time they have spent together, she hasn’t once told them who she is. Whittaker’s Doctor is one of the most secretive incarnations of the character we have seen in the revival, and though the drama of this hasn’t been mined to its full potential yet, we are starting to see a slow erosion of trust between her and her friends that may eventually reach a breaking point.
Though Chibnall is attempting to address the fan complaints directed at series 11, he has swung a bit far in the opposite direction and has let the first story of series 12 become too wrapped up in its own unravelling plot threads. The ambition is there though, and his willingness to move outside his comfort zone is certainly more desirable than the alternative. This also gives Whittaker more substance to play with, and reveals an exciting emotional journey ahead of her this series and beyond. Though Spyfall isn’t the strongest start to a series, it sets up one of the most mysterious, intriguing story arcs that the show has had in years.
