Twice Upon a Time Plot Summary:
The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) ends up in the South Pole, trying to escape regeneration. He stumbles into the original version of himself (David Bradley) who is also trying to regenerate. Meanwhile, a World War I soldier (Mark Gatiss) ends up being transported from the battlefield, to the feet of The Doctors. It’s now up to The Doctors to return him to his timeline, and discover what the mysterious group known as The Testimony is plotting.
‘Twice Upon a Time’ was the perfect farewell for Peter Capaldi.
Unlike, the finale for the previous two doctors (David Tennant, and Matt Smith), this was not a shoot-the-works finale. There was no doomsday clock. No seemingly unbeatable villain. No need for self-sacrifice in order to save the day. There was no hero’s monologue.
No, this finale perfectly encapsulated what Capaldi’s Doctor was all about — being kind, and doing what was right.
The Capaldi era of Doctor Who was at times unfortunate. It came off the heels of the mega-popular Matt Smith run — a run which saw the series hit new heights of fame from gracing international magazine covers and gaining legions of new fans (this writer included). Capaldi stepped in, and was unfortunately saddled with a persona of the “Scottish Doctor.” He was a cranky, acerbic Doctor, the polar opposite of Matt Smith’s charismatic “boyfriend Doctor.” This added to some questionable storytelling like the awkward kinda-sorta unrequited love between The Doctor and Clara (who he never seemed to jive with), caused many to sour on the series.
However, once the series made it past Capaldi’s first season, it found its footing. Capaldi brilliantly morphed his eternal crankiness into an endearing quality. He made The Doctor a complex character — wily, wry, eccentric, haunted, and cunning. But, most importantly Capaldi’s Doctor developed a through line, being kind.
It’s this mantra that caused The Doctor to succeed, and fail … and nearly destroy the universe. He wants to do what’s kind, and what’s right. And in his mind … what’s right is for him to die. This is why he does not want to regenerate. The kind thing to do would be to let himself expire. He’s lost too many (despite saving countless), and he’s grown weary of starting anew and losing more people.
This is perfect for Capaldi’s Doctor. He’s an emotional, and introspective Doctor. He’s a Doctor worn weary by battle, by the loss of his friends, and the loss of his previous identities.
‘Twice Upon a Time’ takes this thought and gives it a unique adventure by adding the original Doctor, who is having the same thoughts, to the mix. It’s a great parallel, and having frequent Who guest star David Bradley (Harry Potter, Hot Fuzz) stepping in for the original Doctor, William Hartnell (who died in 1975), was a perfect choice.
Bradley is a breathe of cantankerous air. It’s ironic that the initially cranky Capaldi is playing the calm, politically correct, and gentler Doctor. Capaldi and Bradley have terrific chemistry, and Bradley, as he always does, delivers a dead on, dead pan performance. He’s the perfect blend of Yoda, and that grandparent you need to keep in line at the dinner table. The parallel storytelling of both he and the current Doctor trying to escape regeneration is a brilliant touch — because even though you know Capaldi will regenerate into Jodie Whittaker — you wonder what will cause him to make up his mind.
Along for the ride is the returning Pearl Mackie. It’s a delight to see her as Bill Potts. Mackie and Capaldi had a crackling chemistry, and it’s a shame these two did not get at least one more year together. Mackie’s role adds a lot of mystery (and a wonderful bit of suspense) to the episode. Much like any previously deceased character who’s come back to the series (and it happens often), you have to wonder what’s brought them back, and is it malevolent?
Mark Gatiss, who has written numerous Who episodes, gives a terrifically understated performance as a mysterious WWI soldier. His true identity is a massive spoiler, so I’m not going to give it away. This role is a bit of a fresh take for Gatiss who has made his bones recently as duplicitous government heavies in Sherlock, Tom Hardy’s Taboo, and Kit Harrington’s Gunpowder.
The story/adventure in the episode is strong, a nice note for writer/show runner Stephen Moffat to go out on. However, it’s the end of the episode, where Capaldi gets his time to shine. He delivers an absolute tear-inducing, gut punch of a farewell speech. It’s about the acceptance of death (a constant theme of the episode), as well as a final declaration of what The Doctor should be, and what the heart of his Doctor was. Being kind. It’s just a devastating, beautiful, and perfect way to close out Capaldi’s run.
Then came the moment.
Peter Capaldi leaves us, and Jodie Whittaker joins us.
Quite terrifically we don’t get more than a moment with her because, as per usual, everything goes haywire … but in a way you aren’t expecting. It’s such a great way to end the episode, on a massive high note.
‘Twice Upon a Time’ will never be as amazing as Tennant’s send off, ‘The End of Time’ (no Who episode(s) probably ever will). However, it didn’t need to be a grandiose affair. Peter Capaldi’s Doctor was about emotion, kindness, and in the end, love. This episode stirred all those emotions, and let an actor who had a rough start, end on a brilliant high note.
Rating: 9 out of 10
