Doctor Who Series 12: 10 Huge Questions After Spyfall Part 2
6. Are We Past Peak Human?
Doctor Who has always been at its very best when making sharp social commentary. Some of the best Pertwee stories played into fears and concerns of the time, from membership of the European Union (The Curse of Peladon), to nascent technophobia (The Green Death). In the latter story, the big bad is a megalomaniac mainframe computer called BOSS, playing into fears that the human workforce will be replaced and that computers will govern the world.
Today, technology, now more accessible than ever, continues to cause alarm and Chibnall uses such contemporary fears to good effect. How far are we being manipulated by big businesses through our gadgets? Are we all being spied on in order to make money out of us? Are we in control of our mobile phones and social media accounts or have they taken control over us?
It’s not all doom and gloom, of course. The mobile phone that puzzles both Ada and xxx turns out to be as much a part of the resolution of the crisis as is the morse code. At the same time, in the 21st century Ryan and co are smashing their phones in order to go dark.
With the Cybermen revealed to be returning in the series trailer, it would be surprising if a direct link is not made between this story and the cyborgs who are entirely driven by the need to upgrade. They could be the desired future for the likes of the frustrated Daniel Barton.