Doctor Who Series 12: Ten Huge Questions After Can You Hear Me?
4. What Anniversary Were Yaz And Sonya Marking?
Yaz is annoyed at the Doctor for returning her to Sheffield several hours late as she was planning to mark an important anniversary with her sister, Sonya. We aren’t told at first what it is, but the sober tones tell us that it’s not a happy occasion. Added to the confusion is the fact that their parents have gone out and we aren’t told if they were marking the same event. Could it be the day their grandmother died? Or some other tragedy in the family we haven’t been told about?
Later we discover that Yaz and her sister have been keeping a secret. Probably one hidden even from their parents. Three years ago Yaz, sick of the bullying at school and deeply unhappy at home, had run away. Sonya called the police and an officer finds Yaz in the Pennines and talks her into facing her troubles by returning home. The implication is that the two sisters are marking the events of that day, but it does seem an odd thing to remember, especially now that Yaz has well and truly turned the corner, finding a career with the police of all things.
By deferring the reveal until later in the episode, the opening scene between the girls was robbed of much of its poignancy. This could have been an extremely revealing and touching moment that cements the bond between the sisters. If there is an implication that Yaz planned to commit suicide, then it has been deliberately obscured with younger viewers in mind. As shocking as it sounds, this would explain why the date was so significant for both girls. It is the day that Yaz came back from the brink.