Doctor Who Series 10: 7 Big Questions We're Asking After 'World Enough And Time'
2. WIll Bill's Cyber-Conversion Be Reversed?
It’s not looking good for Bill. Somehow she’s managed to
survive having a hole blasted through her chest, but death would have been a
mercy. The idea that she has been converted into a Mondasian Cyberman is truly
horrifying. In the Q and A session following the episode Moffat appeared to
confirm that the conversion is total. But will Bill completely lose her
individuality to become an anonymous member of the cyber army?
Publicity for The Doctor Falls indicate that Cyber-Bill could still be the Doctor's ally, and the fact that the left side of her chest plate is lit up like a candle flame over her heart is perhaps a symbol of a greater hope. Moffat isn't averse to killing off his characters. Clara’s death is a fixed point in time, however much she tries to fight it, and Danny Pink rejected the chance to cheat death. For both however, death was heroic and redemptive. Bill’s moment of heroism is almost certainly still to come.
The only real question then is how will Bill be saved? The jeopardy and the impact of World Enough and Time would be severely compromised if it turns out that the Doctor is using one of the Monks simulations to test Missy, and though we should not rule out a return for the Monks either next week or in the Christmas Special that particular resolution is far too obvious. A reset of time as in the The Last of the Time Lords would also feel like a cop out and undermines the extent of the Doctor’s fall.
One possibility worth considering is hidden in plain sight in the character of Nardole. If the Doctor could rebuild him, why not Bill also? Another option, albeit a sentimental one, would take Bill’s journey with the Doctor full circle. Could the Pilot return for Bill?