Despite the Rani's assertions, this episode merely serves as an introductory setup, with the main event unmistakably held in reserve for the finale's second half. At present, the narrative is anchored in our collective attempts to navigate this bizarre, wished-into-being realm—a challenge our characters are gradually grappling with as well. This installment of Doctor Who finds the Doctor spending nearly the entirety of his screen time oblivious to his true identity. Such a scenario has unfolded before ("Human Nature" and "The Family of Blood" come to mind), but this iteration introduces a twist: the Doctor's current companion has likewise forgotten who he really is. Moreover, his other earthly friends aren't quite up to the heroics of Martha Jones in "Last of the Time Lords." Ruby and Shirley strive to resist the confusion, yet they struggle even to recall the basics of iPads. Were it not for the incessant exposition delivered by the Rani(s) and Conrad, I'd be utterly lost—Omega himself couldn't save me. Even so, a plethora of questions linger, which I eagerly anticipate will be answered next week.
Let's rewind to the opening scene, which clarifies the peculiarities of 2025. The Rani appears in Bavaria in 1865 to abduct a newborn, who we later discover is Desiderium, the mightiest deity in the Pantheon—the god of wishes. This seventh son of a seventh son's seventh son is "the wellspring of a cosmic force transcending our universe," the Rani elucidates, as she bestows kisses upon the godling's brow, transforming his mother into violets, his siblings into ducks, and his father into an owl.
Meanwhile, the Doctor and Belinda find themselves back in London on May 23, 2025, the eve of a grand May Day celebration. Our last glimpse of these two saw the TARDIS door careening towards them amidst an explosion—a harrowing sight! Yet, the Doctor's heteronormative portrayal might be even more disturbing. Apparently, he and Belinda are now a cheerful, heterosexual married couple, parents to Poppy from "Space Babies." Their exuberance is almost cartoonish, as if they're on the brink of waving and greeting with a cheerful, "Hi, Barbie!"
The ground rules of this perplexing new world become apparent almost immediately. Firstly, Conrad Clark dominates everyone's TV screens, delivering weather forecasts and reciting from a storybook laden with insights about Time Lords and Gallifrey. Secondly, whenever doubt creeps in, a "slip" occurs—mugs literally slide and shatter, even when securely placed on a table. Despite the frequency of these incidents, filling trash cans with shards, it's clear that slipping is a negative occurrence; the Doctor, under the delusion that he's John Smith, cautions Poppy to avoid doubting too much. He fails to recognize Ruby when she appears at his doorstep, and her recognition of him is tenuous at best. Ruby offends Belinda by denying that the Doctor has a daughter, revealing a third rule of this world—when in doubt, call the police. Ruby flees. What becomes of individuals arrested for expressing doubt remains unclear, but it's safe to assume it's far from pleasant.
As the Doctor clocks in at UNIT, now rebranded as the Unified National Insurance Team, the hallmarks of Conrad's dystopian dreamscape become all too apparent. Women are expected to aspire solely to the roles of mothers and wives. Kate Lethbridge-Stewart's employment is deemed "undignified," making it scarcely surprising that Susan Twist finds herself serving snacks rather than shining as Susan Triad, the tech-savvy Chief Executive Officer.
The Doctor's missteps multiply – he inadvertently stirs Colonel Ibrahim's homophobia while attempting to play cupid, and then astounds his colleagues by openly wondering about the identity of the Rani as she soars towards the Bone Palace, now a menacing presence hovering above London. Meanwhile, at home, Belinda grapples with her own turmoil. During a visit where her mother and aunt gleefully perpetuate archaic gender stereotypes, Belinda is struck by the realization that she has no memory of giving birth to Poppy. Following the crash of a mug to the floor, Belinda dashes into the forest, her screams echoing through the trees.
Yet, this sea of uncertainty is meticulously orchestrated. It is being monitored within the Bone Palace, where Mrs. Flood, channeling the bitterness of "The Substance," grouses about her counterpart who revels in her role as the primary Rani (a being technically spawned from her own essence). At the Rani's behest, Mrs. Flood prepares a sandwich for Conrad, visibly exhausted from the exertions of thought and conversation – a characteristically self-absorbed gesture. She informs Conrad that he was selected because he yearns for a better world. They gaze upon Desiderium, whose maniacal giggles to the tune of "The Giggle" render him both awe-inspiring and terrifying, capable of sustaining this elaborate fantasy.
The Rani attaches the vindicator to a colossal clock and initiates a countdown... towards an unspecified objective. A trap lies in wait, poised to be triggered by the amplification of the Doctor's doubts. Its consequences promise to be fatal. The Rani laments the necessity of human sacrifice (an unexpected display of compassion, suggesting a nuanced character development). However, she is resolved to uncover The One Who Is Lost tonight, marking the commencement of "the great work."
Meanwhile, the Doctor intently watches Conrad during tonight's broadcast. When Conrad hints at an "ancient" and "horrendous" secret buried deep within Time Lord history, the Doctor's granddaughter, Susan, suddenly flickers across the TV screen. Subsequently, the Doctor's long-lost lover, Rogue, materializes and cautions, "Tables don't behave thus." He expresses his longing and love for the Doctor before vanishing into thin air. The Doctor begins to ponder seriously about how mugs could possibly fall through tables and shatter. Awakened by the sound of his experiments, Belinda finds herself calling the police on him when he mentions Rogue... only to discover that her mother had beaten her to it. Consequently, both Mr. and Mrs. Smith find themselves under arrest.
At this juncture, Ruby bumps into Shirley on the street. They faintly recognize each other, prompting Shirley to lead Ruby to a tent city where "the disabled, the dispossessed, and those who don't conform" reside. The inhabitants occasionally catch glimpses of another realm and realize that something is amiss. For instance, Shirley, seemingly living by begging, is doing well without her medication and possesses a state-of-the-art wheelchair. Ruby's mother might have called the police on her for this, but her doubts are embraced here. In fact, her skepticism towards Conrad elicits cheers from Shirley and her friends. Ruby is convinced that seeing Conrad in person will jog her memory, something that his omnipresent image on signs and screens has failed to do. This emerging resistance group aims to block the signal and lure him out of the Bone Palace, yet they seem devoid of a concrete plan while Belinda and the Doctor are led inside.
Inside the Bone Palace, the Rani monologues to the Doctor about matters he can't recall, dancing with him as she asks if he remembers if the rumor of their romance was true. "The tragedy is that we were never adversaries," she laments, then reveals her identity. The Doctor is already chanting "no" when Mrs. Flood steps forward. In unison, like a pair of Australian twins, they declare, "We are both the Rani."
The Rani elucidates that this entire world is a mere wish and blames the Doctor for stirring the Pantheon and awakening ancient powers. The impact of Conrad's subsequent grand reunion with the Doctor is diminished by the Doctor's obvious lack of recollection. Furthermore, he's preoccupied with comprehending the notion of a baby god. Admittedly, the mechanics are somewhat bewildering. Despite being the most potent being in the Pantheon, the god of wishes doesn't possess infinite power, which is why the Rani needed the vindicator for an additional boost.
The objective was to ensnare the Doctor in Conrad's unsustainable vision of society. For while ordinary doubts can crack open a world, a Time Lord's all-consuming doubt can rip open reality and unveil the Underverse. As the city begins to crumble, the Rani finally reveals that she's searching for Omega (and Conrad helpfully reminds viewers that Omega is the creator of Time Lords, "the greatest and most terrifying Time Lord of all"). Belinda vanishes as she's pulled back over the Bone Palace threshold. The Doctor's memories of his past selves—including the Fugitive Doctor!—are restored, but the Rani hurls him onto a balcony to prevent interference. As the Rani and Mrs. Flood toast to their scheme, the Doctor shouts, "But don't you comprehend? I have a daughter. Poppy is real. Don't you understand what that entails?" And honestly? No, I don't. Is Poppy Susan's mother, or what? I'm utterly perplexed. The Doctor continues to plummet alongside the city as the clock strikes midnight. It finally feels as though this finale is unfolding.
