DW Speculation: Can Cyberman Bill be undone?
BBC
At the end of an exhausting episode, our hearts broke as we found out that Bill had been turned into a Mondasian Cyberman. Whether or not this is the last death to come of the series is unknown, but it is certainly one that has the fandom confused.
Mostly: Will Bill come back? Will the Cyberman process be able to be undone?
Many fans believe that there will be a rewind, such as when Clara was brought back from the dead. But would that be the best way to go? Is it better, even if it’s a heartbreaking ending, to leave it as it is? Some people think it was a cop-out to let Clara live and go on with Ashildr, and don’t want to see it again.
The universe can only be redone so many times.
And to add to that, the Cybermen have taken characters before. Specifically, Danny Pink at the end of Season 8. They didn’t revive Danny because they couldn’t. Once a Cyberman, always a Cyberman. The only character that was ever able to undo it was Craig Owens, but before you get excited, the process was completely different…I wouldn’t be too keen to compare the two.
It’s also important to remember that Bill wasn’t just turned into a Cyberman – she has a hole in the middle of her chest. No matter what, she’s more than just part of the Genesis of Cybermen, she’s dead without the robotics. It’s twisted, but being a Cyberman is saving her.
But it’s Doctor Who! Doctor Who doesn’t kill people!
Well, yes and no. In the New Era, none of the companions have suffered a death. We have one in a parallel world, one who completely forgot the Doctor, two turned back in time by the Weeping Angels, and one killed but brought back. (Martha is hopefully living a great life with Mickey.)
Yes, the New Era tried very hard to keep the happy endings as best they can, while breaking our hearts in the process. But in the Classic era, there were a couple of times that a companion did die a tragic death – and there was no reboot to fix it.
Since this is a nod to the Classic era with the Mondas Cybermen, Bill might not be so lucky. It’s possible that, like Danny Pink, she’ll suffer the same fate.
But…but…Pearl Mackie is in the next episode!
Again, speculatively, I would say that’s more likely a flashback than her coming back to life. I hope I’m wrong, but I really think that Cyberman Bill is here to stay.
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