The Doctor makes a catastrophic error of judgment…

For obvious reasons, there are huge parts of this episode that you can’t discuss in a preview – Steven Moffat puts his characters through the wringer, and foreknowledge in this case (apart from the stuff that’s in last week’s throwforward) is not an advantage. Right from the pre-credits onwards, it’s clear that everything is in a crescendo towards the end of Peter Capaldi’s time as the Doctor, with the return of John Simm’s Master just one piece of the puzzle.

It’s a dark and grim episode, with elements that will remind you of the harsher things that Moffat has done to previous companions, and very little humour once things start to go downhill. Capaldi and Pearl Mackie are separated for much of the time, and the lack of their characters’ easy repartee makes for a noticeable shift in tone. Mackie isn’t out on her own though: her particular plotline brings her into contact with various grotesque characters who feel as if they wouldn’t be out of place in the League of Gentlemen. Michelle Gomez has manic fun with the early scenes, reminding me most of her appearance in the series 8 finale, while Capaldi’s Doctor is a bit more reactive than of late.

Director Rachel Talalay ensures that the tension is maintained throughout, with moments where the way she shoots scenes ensuring that the audience is the necessary steps ahead of the characters. The episode throws up a great many questions, few of which are answered – so hopefully the season finale and then the Christmas special will wrap things up.

Verdict: Not easy watching but an episode that tees up what should hopefully be a stunning end of year. 8/10

Paul Simpson