Doctor Who: The Vanquishers Review - 4 Ups & 9 Downs

We’re pleased to say that this episode actually ended on a high note.

We actually don’t mind The Doctor holding onto the pocket watch and saving it until she is ready - she’s been through a lot recently, and quite frankly, so have we. We just hope that when the time does come to tell the story of The Doctor’s missing years, it isn’t a rushed, convoluted mess.

However, the real highlight of these closing scenes was the touching final moment between Thirteen and Yaz, with the Doctor finally opening up to a companion for the first time in her era, telling Yaz the truth and confessing she was wrong to push Yaz away. This is some solid character development for an incarnation of The Doctor who has always played her cards very close to her chest, and the moment is beautifully played by Jodie and Mandip. Also, if there were any doubts that a romance was being hinted at before, it’s difficult to deny now after that lingering shared look. Looking at Jodie’s remaining episode count, it doesn’t take a mathematician to work out that this probably isn’t going to end well for these two…

Regardless, this was a nice epilogue to the dissapointment that came before, so that’s something to take away, at least.