The Master has come in several different shades of villain. He's been the smooth calm Moriarty type before, so there's really no reason why The Rani couldn't devolve into something crazy.

That said, I think this is a good fit. The actress is bringing a whole new, slightly more literal, brand of bat-shit insane to the Master.

 

Rassilon is the likeliest to return, as he was actually in the new series. That said, Timothy Dalton is probably too expensive, so he'd need to be recast.

 

Recasting an established character is a breeze in Doctor who, specially they are time lords/ladies.

 

Nothing like a happy ending, is there?

 

Missy was so great that I'm 100% sure she didn't die.

Clara's departure felt a bit abrupt too.

 

Well, that was depressing, only to end on an unexpected and promising note.

 

I don't really have anything to say about that episode other than that I want moar missy.

 

Crazy Mary Poppins was creepy and highly entertaining. The 'I'm going to kill you in a minute' scene was one of my favorite moments of the series. The Doctor beating on the Tardis in despair was incredibly moving.

The Cybermen were actually pretty well done and weren't a cheaper knock off Daleks like they they are portrayed as most series since its revival.

The Doctor/Master relationship has been the most entertaining thing since the series was revived and the only thing that I think it got right every time.

One last thing, Missy's face when Danny was making his speech is exactly how I felt about that scene.

 

Clara demanding he off The Master pissed me off. She's become a bit of a cow this season, although I suppose that's her "control freak" shit going down. Missy was awesome. All kinds of awesome. She better be back in the form of Michelle Gomez. The Brigadier was a nice touch. I liked Danny's speech, it was a good send off for a character who deserved better than he got.

 

Sincerely hope Missy comes back for more, by far the best part of this series so far. It makes me sad, in a way -- the writers nailed her lines/tone far better than anyone's written Twelve so far.

EDIT: in response to the above post, what irritated me more than Clara constantly demanding things of him was his complete willingness to cave.

 

I was more happy with these episodes than I have been with the whole series, but I'm never happy.

1. Missy.

Still not sold on a female Master, mostly because it seems that they made him a female JUST BECAUSE. They had already said that it was possible (ie. The Corsair), but it just stunk of slapping it in our faces and rubbing it in, like a dog who's pissed on the hardwood. Also, no explanation of how the Master was even able to show up. Or a potential second TARDIS just sitting around on Earth somewhere. Just 'oh yeah, I'm the Master. Peace out, bitches.' And then she "died" again, and will be mysteriously brought back to life by some other means yet to be pulled out of someone's ass.

Having said that, Michelle Gomez makes a great Master, still managing to match the Doctor without overpowering her character. A bit too flighty and manic, but still really nicely done.

In summation: the Master seems to be a girl because shut up, and Moffat y u no explain shit.

2. The Cybermen.

Why? Seriously, just why. Ignoring the overarching plot of the whole season (stop that shit, btw), the season finale could have been an awesome two hours of the Doctor fighting the Master somehow for some reason. Instead there was the Cybermen, who were really there just for shock value for that one scene during the last episode. Also, the dark water doesn't make any sense then, because it's supposed to show organic stuff, and Danny still had skin, so it should have shown the bodies with faces. And holes where the implants are/were. Or am I just nitpicking.

Speaking of nitpicking, the last Cyberman standing gestures to his left, which makes the Doctor and Clara turn around and run away from the Cyberman. Makes total sense. Which brings me to:

3. What Is Supposed To Be The Bridgadier.

Nice idea, but it should have stayed an idea. You dig up the ghost of poor Nicholas Courtney for a cheap phone-in. The portrait was a classy touch. The end... not so much.

4. Clara.

What. A. Cunt. This whole season, her characterisation has been pants. First, despite knowing about regeneration, she freaks out when he regenerates and it's not omgsokyoot Matt Smith anymore. Fuck, woman. You know the dude changes his face every now and again. And then Clara's penchant for being overbearing just got to be so god damned annoying. Even more annoying was the Doctor bending over backwards. Hey, remember when this dude called Adam tried to change history for personal gain? He got an implant that opened a direct view to the brain? Downloaded a bunch of information and tried to use it for his betterment? Yeah, he got ditched at home with a little head window. He was told: fuck you and your punishment is that if anybody knows about this you'll be a science experiment. You wanted to be famous? Here's your chance.

Clara wants her boyfriend back. Sounds like a bunch of personal gain to me. Betrays the Doctor to his face, steals the keys to his house and throws them in molten rock. OH YEAH LOL I WAS JUST TESTING YOU LET'S GO CHANGE HISTORY. Nope. Ditch her and carry on, son.

Dunno why it double-posted, lol. Connection interrupted.

 

Well on the bright side we can look forward to someone new next season right?

 

I don't think that it's actually been confirmed she'll be leaving during the Christmas special. I hope she does.

I'm hoping for an alien companion again. Or a robot. Or at least something cooler than a generic human girl from the 21st century.

 

So what? I hear this comment about everything, and quite frankly, I'm not sure what exact standard has to be met before someone isn't a female "just because".

I am a NuWho only fan so my opinion is colored by that but I feel as if there's really anything about the Master's portrayal in this current series that makes his maleness distinct enough to require explanation before it is shed. Why does the sex change of an alien race require some sort of explanation that goes above and beyond?

You see this come up in other historic works and there too there's some magic standard proposed, when I suspect that the character was originally a man "just because" as well, because male was the default.

That said, I agree that Clara should go. She's been ruined with her boring and irrational bullshit.

 

Even a generic human girl from the 20 century would be a nice change by now. Though I would like either someone like Reinette (to be amazed by our time) or Romana (the Doctor's equal if less experienced in travels).

 

Clara really was an insufferable bitch this season. I'm glad she's gone. She is OFFICIALLY the worst companion ever.

 

It was also pointed out to me that Danny has a direct descendant (Orson Pink) in 'Listen' earlier this series, where it was hinted that Clara and Danny were his great-grandparents. So either that was a red herring, Clara is pregnant, or there's going to be some seriously bullshit deus ex machina bringing Danny back.



Am I the only one who really likes/liked Clara as a companion? I kind of prefer the morally iffy thing she has going on to most of the past companions in the reboot. Certainly to all of the recent companions.

 

Martha and Rose were both generic. As was Donna really.

The problem is that Doctor Who as a series is centered around fellating the human race, so "generic human girl" ends up being "supposedly generic human girl with the magical power of love/humanity/sentimentality/etc." and ends up saving the Doctor because...magic normals.

Clara is essentially like Rose and Martha in that regard. And, like Rose, that disappeared as soon as the plot demanded and she became a generic moron again. You'd think that someone who visited the Doctor's entire timeline would know better than to threaten to lock away the Tardis.

You can get away with being an asshole if the work didn't go too far THEN vindicate you.

The Kill the Moon shit was completely WTF on everyone's parts, including the Doctor. Threatening to lock the Tardis is just too far, sorry. As an audience member I don't care WHY it happened. Unless you were possessed it cannot be forgotten.

There's certain lines that it's advisable not to cross cause it's hard to bring the character back from that