[Doctor Who] #902 - The Witch's Familiar

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One thing Doctor Who can be quite proud of, is that it uses its time travel mechanics quite well while also constantly adding more and more to a 50 year mythology. We continue on the last episode’s cliffhanger exploring the relationship between the Doctor and Davros, which seems to be one that was born as a result of the darkest decisions the Doctor has ever made. Two men set on the same path, but were taken into different directions as a result of it. Furthermore, it offers us some of the most creative moments I have seen. As fast as the last episode went by, this one is quite an intriguing one that even answers an important question that was left open from the last season.

As always, be warned that you will be reading some spoilers from the episode. So, if you continue reading this than be aware that it will be filled with a variety of spoilers regarding the storyline.

We open the episode with Clara hanging upside down and Missy explaining how they both escaped their doom and in a way even her own death from the last season finale. It was well done by telling Clara indirectly with a black and white flashback that replaces a classic Doctor with our current one in a funny fashion. Their travels is actually one of the most interesting as we win a closer look at how the Daleks’ culture works, as it seems the oldest ones are simply thrown away into the sewers, as they share the same word for sewer and graveyard.

On the flip side, we actually get a closer look at who Davros is, which is quite touching for quite some time, but it ends up being an important part of quite an interesting twist, which in itself was even a build up to a funnier twist. Never underestimate the Doctor, but it was quite touching the way they shared some believes with each other. Echoing a question the Doctor asked Clara last season: “Am I a good man?” As much as it ended up being a ruse, I do hope that some of the things Davros stated were actually from the deep parts of his heart, or at least what he once had.

On the Clara and Missy Adventures, I loved the fact that we even get a little insight into the way Daleks function, as every kind of emotion it possesses is automatically turned or transformed into “Exterminate”. Their emotions control the way they function and it was quite intriguing as Missy sticks her into a Dalek giving us the closest look we ever had at the insides, besides the fact that we had an episode that actually has them shrink down into the internal organs of a Dalek. It was an interesting twist on that episode from last episode and when Missy tries to make the Doctor shoot her, it was quite interesting that Clara bringing a Dalek to state “Mercy” actually ties into a revelations the Doctor has in connection with Davros.

The only thing I thought was slightly disappointing is that I was hooping this would tie-in to a episode of the 11th Doctor, where we actually find poor Clara, or at the time “The Impossible Girl” having been transformed into a Dalek at the time. This entire subplot still feels a bit open in my opinion and I hope ties into her true departure from the Doctor during this season, which has already been confirmed by BBC. Missy is also quite delightful to follow as she is diabolical as usual, only it seems that she does want to tease the Doctor more. Their friendship hopefully gets more explored in the coming episodes, as she seems to be an important figure in this season.

Lastly, my personal favorite line was “Admit it, you all had this nightmare!” from the Doctor as he enters the room driving Davros’ Dalek suit. I confessed I was laughing pretty hard after seeing that and it was a great scene in general. The dialogue was quite great this time around between Missy and Clara, the Doctor and Davros, and pretty much any Dalek he came into contact with. It was overall a fantastic episode and with next week being more of a “monster of the week” storyline, it was great that this season was started with quite a heavy story that looks deep into the lore of the franchise and can’t wait to see what this season will offer us more.

Did you watch the episode? What did oyu think of it? Leave a comment below!

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