BBC
With news about Twice Upon a Time special hitting the internet, it’s finally time to do what we here at Doctor Who Watch do best. Speculate!
Well, a bit more than speculate. We know about the Twice Upon a Time, but there’s always things that teasers don’t show. Things we hope to happen in the episode.
The general plot line is that the Doctors get stuck in a moment in time, and it’s always assumed that things go wibbly-wobbly once that happens. Also, at least one companion of Twelve’s will be back – in a spectacular fashion, mind you. Bill, who left at the end of The Doctor Falls to travel with Heather, will make her way back to the Doctor.
It’s already assumed that this will be a fantastic episode to send off Twelve. But there are always things we hope will happen, and this episode is no exception. So here are five things that we hope will happen, be brought back, or be featured in the final episode of Twelve and Moffat’s era.
BBC
‘The Tenth Planet’ recreation
If you don’t know much about the Classic era, get ready, because I’m about to throw some knowledge at you. Despite the popularity of the Classics (I mean, we wouldn’t have Who now if it weren’t!), many of the episodes have been deemed “lost”. Many episodes of Patrick Troughton’s era have been lost, but probably the most known lost episode is the first Doctor’s regeneration episode.
As you may know, stories are divided into four episodes making a season, and for The Tenth Planet’s season, all the episodes are there except the last one. Yes, the very episode where the Doctor regenerates is lost. This could be because the BBC lost space, or because the Daleks came and took them, who knows. But it’s a well-known lost episode because…well, it’s the first regeneration.
Now, the regeneration itself has been found because it’s been used in other BBC specials. But everything in the episode leading up to it isn’t found. If you want to look for it, you have to use unconventional methods, and even then you can only find an audio of it.
So the one thing I’m hoping for is that they recreate some part of that final episode. It’s enough that it’s going to be in color, but if Moffat could use the audio available to give us a bit of what was lost, wouldn’t that be a great gift to Classic fans?
Ben and Polly with the SECOND Doctor (BBC)
An appearance of Ben, Polly’s husband
In the clip released by the BBC, we could see a girl helping the First Doctor while he regenerated. This girl is none other than Polly, the companion with the Doctor for his regeneration and with the second doctor for his first season.
While it was discovered that Lily Travers would play Polly, the companion to the Doctor when he regenerated, someone is missing. Ben, who travelled with the Doctor and Polly, has not been anywhere to be seen in the new Christmas special, despite having a rather big part — her partner.
I can tell you now that many fans will feel the absence of Ben. It would be the same as having Amy there, but not Rory for New fans. Even more so, the fact that the two came on together makes it even more of a reason for him to be in the Christmas special.
For a short history on the two: the characters actually met through the Doctor! They had chemistry, and it was eventually found out in an audio later they got married.
So you can see why this would be an incredibly important mistake to make by not including him.
BBC
Nardole
Listen, no one is more excited than I am for Bill’s return. But I have a lot of issues with the way Nardole was left! First of all, he was left on the Cyberman ship. The Doctor couldn’t stop the Cybermen completely, so isn’t Nardole safe. Not really.
I would really like to see Nardole come back in either the Christmas special or even the next season, even just for an episode to see him saved. Not only would this help end his story on a note that the character deserves, but it would also give a goodbye to a great character.
At first, Nardole wasn’t supposed to be any more than a two-dimensional character, but with the work of Matt Lucas, he quickly became a fan favorite. Some people even regarded him higher than they did Bill, the actual companion.
Between who he was at the beginning of the season, and who he became, Matt Lucas shone throughout season 10. He was comedic, just as he was expected to be, but also serious and heartfelt, really breaking our hearts.
I’m just saying, if we’re bringing back season 10 characters, Nardole should be on the list.
BBC
Clara Cameo
First off, I want to say that despite the fact that all signs point to this happening, I have no idea how it actually will. We know that her restaurant was used. We know that she was confirmed to have signed on by the Mirror. So there all signs point to a good old “first companion coming back” trope that we’ve always had.
However…how? He doesn’t remember Clara, so it’s not like she can show up in his head, like with Eleven and Amy. The episode could very well survive without it, with everything iconic already going on. No one thought that Pearl Mackie would be coming back, so it made sense to have Clara.
Truth is, Clara isn’t really needed in this episode.
Except for the fact that I desperately need the Doctor to remember her. We got a glimpse of the fact that he might remember her in the montage during The Doctor Falls, and we know that he remembers her in his subconscious somewhere by the painting he had. Is she really gone? Can something trigger it?
No matter what, I’d just really like to have this have a happy ending. Clara meant so much to both Doctors she was with, and I hate that he doesn’t remember her. Even with the absolute cop-out ending.
BBC
The Proper Goodbye Bill Deserves
Every companion always gets a goodbye. Even Clara, when the Doctor forgot her, still got a goodbye in Face the Raven. However, Bill never really got a goodbye. She was able to save him with her tear, the same way Heather saved her, but that’s it. And now, she’s coming back.
Since she explores the universe on her own now, it’s not too surprising that she found the Doctor again. However, it’s great to see her name in the teaser. Now, we have to deal with what every companion gets: a goodbye.
Since Bill never clung on to some of the alien parts of the Doctor, it should happen before. Let’s save the day, say goodbye to Bill, then regenerate. Let’s keep everything as impossibly happy as we can for as long as possible before we have to say goodbye. But no matter what, Bill deserves a goodbye.
A happy one. One where she chooses to go and spend her days with Heather rather than the Doctor. And the Doctor understands, because all he’s wanted his for Bill to be happy, and she finally is.
We saw a lot in Bill. She gave us a different side to our Doctor. Was she the best companion? Depends. But it’s undeniable that she changed him for the better.
Next: SDCC: What we learned about the Christmas Special at Comic Con
These are only five of the many things we hope to see in the Christmas special. There are still many things that are likely to come out, and that could spawn a whole new list! Who knows! But for now, in the early stages, these are what we’re hoping to see happen on Christmas Day.