Doctor Who Opinion: How ‘The Doctor Falls’ explored a fear of change
By James Aggas
Sometimes, change can be scary. Sometimes it should be fought, and sometimes it should be accepted. We look at how ‘The Doctor Falls’ explored the very fear of change.
Well. That was quite the announcement, wasn’t it?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, fan reaction has been shown to be considerably…divisive, to say the least. The announcement of a new Doctor is usually greeted with some caution, to put it mildly. But, it has to be said, this is definitely a more significant announcement.
Thinking about the Series 10 finale, The Doctor Falls, I wonder if we should have seen it coming. Not because of hints of an upcoming female Doctor, although there were one or two lines that referenced it.
No, what I’m reminded of was a rather strong theme throughout the episode. Specifically, a fear of change. Particularly with three key characters: Bill, the Master and the Doctor. Their fear of it can be summed up with one quote by Bill:
"I don’t want to live if I can’t be me anymore."
Let’s look at each of these characters one by one, and how they needed to face their fears.
Bill
BBC
Out of all three characters facing change, Bill’s fear was, without a doubt, the most justified. As a Cyberman, Bill hadn’t just changed physically. She was losing her emotions, too. Bill was essentially afraid of a change where nothing would be left but a walking corpse.
She even tried to deny that a change had happened at all. Not even consciously, but she still saw herself as the woman that she had once been. Of course, refusing to accept it entirely was dangerous to her own safety, as she learned when she got shot when mistaken for a regular Cyberman.
By the end, Bill was lucky. Because of Heather and her abilities, she had once again changed, but this time, for the better. She was no longer human, but she was still, essentially, herself. And Bill was ready to embrace that.
The Master
BBC
The Master’s fear was very different. He wasn’t afraid of change by itself. In fact, he seemed to be really, really into who he would become. So he wasn’t afraid of change physically, at least.
But he was afraid of the future, and the choices that he would one day make. He didn’t care what body he wore, or even what his surface personality was. But he was afraid of changing so much through the choices that he/she would one day make, that he wouldn’t be “the Master” anymore. At the very least, he didn’t want to stop being proudly evil. Of being the Doctor’s arch-enemy.
Missy had “killed” him, but he could understand that. Even respect it. After all, it would only be a simple regeneration. He would still go on. But he loathed the very idea of ever becoming someone who would stand with the Doctor. To the point where he would literally kill his own future.
Out of all three cases, this is probably the most tragic. As Missy, the Master would finally at least try to find some redemption for all the evil they’ve committed in all their lives. Perhaps inevitably, Missy’s own past literally couldn’t allow that. Even if Missy did regenerate or found some way to survive (which she most likely did – this is the Master we’re talking about, after all), getting killed by her earlier self would probably stop her from ever trying to stand with the Doctor ever again.
The Doctor
BBC
The Doctor’s fear of change was the most interesting. On my initial viewing, it seemed like his fear of regeneration had come completely out of nowhere. But then I re-watched the episode, and it started to fit.
The best hint of this was his reaction to Bill’s quote about wanting to die if she couldn’t be her. It’s very easy to miss, but the look in his eyes shows that he completely understands. He really isn’t ready to change once more.
It was also clear when we kept seeing hints of him starting to regenerate throughout the entire episode, before he held it back. In fact, he was more willing to die for such a small battle than regenerate once more.
However, it was only at the very end of the episode, when Bill wasn’t around, that he started more openly trying to fight it. For one reason or another, the Doctor is more afraid of change than he’s ever been. And then, of course, he meets someone else who’s afraid of change – his first incarnation. Could each of them be ready to convince the other to accept it?
Personally, even with all the build-up I’ve mentioned, I think more could’ve been added about why he’s so afraid of change. Why he’s more prepared to die than he is of becoming someone else. Because in some ways, this feels like the least understandable fear out of all three characters. But it was nice to catch at least some build-up on re-watch, and besides: we’ve yet to watch his final episode. I think how that finishes Twelve’s story could affect how well his rage against it works here.
Acceptance
No matter what I think of those final minutes, overall, I really enjoyed how well The Doctor Falls explored the fear of change. Sometimes, it’s terrible and worth fighting against. Sometimes, it’s destructive to deny it. And sometimes, it’s important to embrace it.
With the show about to make possibly the most significant change since the casting of Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, it’s perhaps more important than ever to remember this.
Next: Opinion: Why do the BBC need to announce the new Doctor?