Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctor: Review

There will be some frustrated by the overstuffed breathless swansong for Jodie Whittaker's 13th Doctor.

And there will be others delighted by a 90 minute special that includes some wonderful nods to the show's past as it readies itself for its future.

In the The Power of the Doctor showrunner and headwriter Chris Chibnall sets off at rocket speed early on and barely takes time to breathe 

Opening with a bullet train hurtling through space that's under attack by one of the Doctor's oldest foes, The Power of the Doctor wastes no time setting out its stall - this is a rollicking romp that's FX heavy and head dizzingly determined to keep you guessing.

In the finale, Whittaker's Doctor is taunted once again by Sacha Dhawan's Master, who warns her this is the day she's wiped from existence. With Daleks and Cybermen seemingly aligning themselves with the Master across varying time periods and worlds, it seems the Doctor has more on her plate than she realises - and time is running out.

Much of The Power of the Doctor is down to its breakneck speed.

But as a result, there's much within it that feels somehow rushed and somewhat unfulfilled.

A farewell to a recent companion comes out of the blue within moments of the show, there's little to no resolution of either the mysteries of the Timeless Child or Yaz and 13's much-hinted at relationship - and disappointingly, the regeneration feels tacked on at the end, almost as if the writers had forgotten it needed to happen.

There's also one extremely over-the-top moment involving Sacha Dhawan's Master that is going to polarise many - but if you're in the right frame of mind, it's utterly amusing and ludicrous in its excess.

And yet, if you've been a fan of this show from the beginning, there are some wonderful nods to the series' past, some silly wordplay of a key 12 part serial from way back when and there are some great surprises just when you think the episode is done - to say they're breathtaking is understating it.

Sophie Aldred's Ace and Janet Fielding's Tegan's reappearances are delightful, both dripping with a poignancy and heartache at companions gone before and who left. To say more is to spoil the surprises within, but it's a thrill to hear Ace referring to Whittaker's Doctor as Professor, and Tegan demanding one more trip in the Tardis. (There's also a Yvonne Hartman-ish moment that will shock many in its horror too).

In fairness to Chibnall, he has a lot to rip through and juggle in the 90 minutes run time, and while some of the threats fall by the wayside or are summarily dismissed and some loopholes or excesses creep in, it's no mistake to say that this finale belongs to Whittaker, Gill and Dhawan, who are utterly committed and exceptional in their last appearances.

The Master's never felt more deranged, more dangerous, more playful and more menacing than he does in Dhawan's hands (and has since Spyfall) - and the actor seizes his opportunity and exploits it to the fullest. He's been one of the better incarnations of the Doctor's nemesis, and here Dhawan leaves an indelible - and welcome - mark on the show. (And a reminder of the King's Man too).

Equally, Gill's Yaz has really matured and come into her own in the role. Building on what was portrayed in Flux and The Legend of the Sea Devils, Gill's Yaz is a strong role model and leader who knows what's best for all - even when it's her own heart that's left breaking. But it's in the silent moments toward the end of the show that you realise how much Gill has made the role her own, and how in the quieter moments, the actor excels.

Finally, this is Whittaker's moment, and she doesn't let the sun set on Thirteen without a fight, bravado and above all, heart. There's much demanded of her here, and not once does she let the show down, nor sell her own legacy short. Sure, the script may have its ups and downs, but Whittaker never demonstrates any of that, and while in truth her regeneration feels calm and hopeful, unlike others in the reboots since which have felt urgent and destructive, there's a playfulness to Whittaker's final and words and a hope for the show that's reassuring.

There's much to be said about The Power of the Doctor that's too steeped in spoilers to discuss here, but the end to this era feels big-hearted and earnest - and while not every story has been successful, or every moment as well executed as it could have been, there's no denying Whittaker and Gill's presence on screen will be sorely missed as the future unfolds.