Daniel Barton and the Master’s schemes seem to be destined for success… but have they calculated on the Doctor’s new allies?

There will be spoilers ahead…

As mentioned online, just about every point I wanted to make about the first part of Spyfall was raised in Nick Joy’s review (click here), so it made sense to hold fire and review the two parts together. As with many Who two-parters of the 21st century, they’re two very different kinds of story – the first, a 2020-based spy romp, with some great action sequences and effects, ending in a surprising cliffhanger or two. The second is quite a bit more complex (actually, getting close to being muddled), no doubt throwing many of those who were expecting separate stories this season set in the 19th century with Ada Lovelace and the 20th during the Second World – nope, it was all part of the Doctor’s long way back to save the day.

The three regular companions were not served as well by this second half as the “companions of the week”, Ada and Noor Inayat Khan (whose fate the show only vaguely hints at with the Doctor’s final “bonne chance”), who were nicely played and given some decent moments. The scenes with Ryan, Yaz and Graham felt like a replay of The Sound of Drums at times – even more noticeable given that this was a Master story – and they were effectively parked for the final part of the plot, pretty much only used for comedy relief. Even Lenny Henry’s Barton felt a little bit like an extra this time around – big speechifying followed by nothing.

But the story belongs to Jodie Whittaker and Sacha Dhawan as the latest Doctor/Master pairing – the scene on the Eiffel Tower counterpointing nicely with the manic behaviour on display during the gallery sequence. I didn’t think for a moment watching episode 1 that this would finish with a ruined Gallifrey shot – and Whittaker’s Doctor showing the pain of having gone to such great lengths to save the place only for it to be devastated… and then learning who was responsible. Hopefully it’s a season arc that will take into account the fact that the Doctor really is being left with no roots – Gallifrey has gone, UNIT is gone… will the TARDIS be next?

The cinematography, design, direction and music were of the same high standard as the opener – Segun Akinola’s score departing from the minimalism of Series 11 to good effect – even if it felt at times as if everything bar the kitchen sink was being thrown into the plotting. Hopefully the rest of Series 12 will veer closely to Part 1 rather than Part 2.

Verdict: Not as slick or as strong as the opener, the episode was definitely saved by the Doctor/Master sparring. 7/10

Paul Simpson