Oh... this one started so well. I mean really amazing! I mean, something the Davis era did right was have stakes and in the series 3 finale, they were certainly never higher. The Master ruled the world and was turning it into his own planet sized warship! The human race was enslaved and The Doctor was aged to the point of irrelevancy. With all that was going for it, how did this episode become one of the most disappointing finales of the Russel T. Davis era?
I like a quote from Alasdair Wilkins who wrote an article for tv.avclub.com. He wrote "Depending on one’s perspective or even just one’s mood, every last thing that happens in this story is the best or the worst, the smartest or the dumbest, the most triumphant or the most cringe-worthy thing in all of Doctor Who history." Obviously this says a lot, but it captures the right idea. The show had a major theme that time lords were these incredible beings that stood above everyone else. Bringing the Master back was a double dose of epic which struck every kind of viewer. Fans of the old show can be blown away by the return of the classic nemesis of the doctor and new fans can be equally engrossed by the introduction of a second time lord. It was really well done too. Utopia (the first of this three part finale) is by far the best episode. I mean it's really really good. Go watch it again, trust me.
The problem begins with the next part The Sound of Drums. We just got a full episode of set up that was perfectly delivered. We are now ready for the conflict. The Master and The Doctor going head to head again. Unfortunately this does not happen. Don't get me wrong, we get an amazing scene with the two of them talking over the phone and The Doctor reminiscing of Gallifrey. John Simm's master is terrifyingly mad and delivers at being threatening. Again, we have stakes which means we can get invested.
The problem does not come from the villain but the hero. The Doctor was a bit of a disappointment this episode. From a plot perspective he simply reacts to the Master and makes no powerful moves of his own. The one thing he tries to do is put the perception filter around the Master's neck which he fails to do. A very lackluster performance by the Oncoming Storm. This episode should have been a mix of set up for the finale and clever conflicts between The Doctor and his old enemy. Instead we get two episodes of set up. The first is welcomed exposition which gets us excited for what's to come. The second fails to deliver on anything satisfying. Well, hopefully part three will give us the climax that we need.
The majority of Last of the Time Lords is spent learning more about the Master's evil plan and how Martha has been dealing with being a fugitive for an entire year. Notice how the setting has changed again. Utopia and The Sound of Drums had to each take time to establish setting. Even if they didn't need to explain where events were taking place they had to describe what The Master and other people around him were doing. The third episode is also burdened by having to discuss what happened to the world over the previous year, and further delay any satisfying conclusion for the audience.
We also cannot expect much from The Doctor in this episode. He has been made irrelevant in his old age and despite any hopes for him to make a move, he fails to deliver an satisfaction. His small mutiny against the Master was pitiful at best. I kinda hope it was yet another distraction from the real plan instead of another loss for The Doctor.
Now skip to the end of the episode. Martha reveals the big plan! and it makes no sense. Most everything with the conclusion is good. Great even. The Doctor had a plan the whole time, so we don't have to lose faith in him. It was fairly convoluted in execution but simple in principal. The plan is to take control of the Valiant and destroy the paradox machine. Without the paradox, the last year would not have happened and everything would be set right. Even the idea that Captan Jack Harkness needed to use his immortality to get past the near invincible Toclafane was a great idea.
Then we get to execution. It simply make no sense how absorbing the telepathic energy from the Arcangel Network would have reversed the Doctor's age. It could have if we have been introduced to this concept in either of the other two parts. Instead we are left scratching our heads. Also, did they really need The Doctor to be revived to destroy the paradox machine? Maybe? He did distract The Master at the end, so maybe that was vital. Everything else is a solid conclusion that came about an episode late. The time reversing aspect is a little bit of a cop out, but is plausible in terms of established laws in the show. The biggest flaw in these three episodes is that all satisfaction is meant to be received in the last few minutes. It is a problem in newer Doctor Who episodes as well. All the build up for a nice quick rap up at the end. It is especially bad when it is stretched over three episodes, and even worse when it doesn't make much sense.
I will leave you with a question. When The Doctor says "I forgive you" to The Master, is he referring to the events of the finale? or to when The Master abandoned the Time Lords during the Time War? Let me know what you think.
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