Doctor Who: Here’s what we know about ‘Extremis’
After leaving the Doctor blind, this week’s episode doesn’t seem likely to give the Doctor a break. What can we expect from one of the most expected episode, Extremis, of the season?
In all my time of watching Doctor Who, in everything that I’ve seen happen and have heard from Classic Who friends that happened before the reboot, I think it’s safe to say that no one quite knows anything. We don’t really know anything about this game changing episode. We can speculate, but I’m pretty sure that anything we guess is going to be wrong. Is it 9 PM yet?
According to our friends over at Culturess, this episode will do more than just knock our socks off. In case you missed it, episodes six, seven, and eight connect, allowing for a three part story, with a new villain as well — The Monks. Missy is set to appear in episodes six (Extremis), and episode eight (The Lie of the Land).
Just in case you’re wondering, here is the synopsis for the episode:
"In the Haereticum – the Vatican’s secret library of blasphemy – there is an ancient book known only as The Veritas. Throughout history, anyone who has ever read it has immediately taken their own life. Now a new translation is online, and the danger is spreading. The Vatican appeals to the Doctor. Will he read The Veritas? But can even the Doctor survive the ultimate truth?"
Let’s look at some things that have popped up:
Blindness
I will say that if Moffat wants to go out with a bang, consider the bang already happening. Leaving the Doctor blind? Talk about an absolutely unprecedented thing to do. And actually, it’s kind of confusing. We know the Doctor can use regeneration energy to help other people — 11 used his to help River’s wrist and 12 used his to help Davros. This kind of leaves the question: why can’t he use it right now on him?
Interestingly, though, the blindness comes at ironic time. The next episode focuses on the truth, and in literature, people who are blind are often considered wise. Knowing Steven Moffat, I’m going to suspect this was not a coincidence. Will the Doctor’s blindness have more effect on the episode than we’re anticipating?
The Vault
So we know that the Doctor is blind, and that’s going to play a huge part of the next episode. We also know that Missy will finally appear for the beginning of a multi episode arc, leading up to a two part episode where Capaldi will exit. However, based on this scene released by the BBC, Missy was never in the vault.
It seems as though everything we learn, we lose something as well. Now, who’s in the vault? After Pearl Mackie’s interview on This Morning, people are starting to believe that the Doctor’s Granddaughter would be here. This would also support the theory of why Game of Throne’s alumna Samantha Spiro would be on Doctor Who, striking a resemblance to the original actress.
The truth is, we have no idea.
River Song’s Diary
The final missing piece of the puzzle? River. Above you’ll see Missy make yet another mention about her, as well as the teaser trailer also showed him reaching for what could be either his or her diary. Since no announcement has been made that Alex Kingston will return (at least not in the thirteen episodes), most likely we’ll only see her through pictures. But what could the Doctor need the diary for?
Credit: BBC
Even if that is his, it still means that River is involved somehow. River was an archaeologist, maybe she goes to the site to read the book. Maybe they did it together. Could this possibly bring us to the planet that Silence of the Library was set in? That’s the last place River left her diary.
Next: Pearl Mackie Talks Future On Doctor Who