‘Doctor Who’ S12, E9: When Team TARDIS Met The Cybermen… ~ Digital Library

This article contains spoilers for “Ascension of the Cyberman,” episode nine of Doctor Who season 12. (And, possibly, for Parasite.)

I saw Parasite over the weekend*. And every time I thought the Oscar winner was going to zig, it zagged; Bong Joon Ho subverted every expectation to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Chris Chibnall, writer of Doctor Who‘s two-part finale, did not.

Following the chilling adventures of Villa Diodati (and Chibnall’s claims of a “properly epic” sci-fi story), for perhaps the first time all season, I was actually excited to dive into this episode.

Born In Wartime

Team TARDIS (Jodie Whittaker, Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill, Tosin Cole) to the rescue (via BBC)

Set in the aftermath of a Cyber war, a group of human refugees (led by guest star Julie Graham) are on the run from a “zealous Cyberman” determined to hunt down and eliminate the very last of humanity.

Enter Team TARDIS, armed with a plan and Cyber-clobbering technology—all of which is destroyed almost immediately by floating Cyberdrone heads.

The Doctor, wracked with guilt for (once again) putting her friends in danger, sends Yaz, Ryan, and Graham off to join the escaping humans while she tries to distract the Lone Cyberman herself.

All the while, flashbacks to period Ireland tell the story of abandoned baby-come-heroic police officer Brendan, who miraculously survives a gunshot and deadly fall, only to meet a grizzly fate upon his retirement.

The bizarre subplot hints at Brendan’s eventual transformation into the Lone Cyberman—whose human identity has not yet been revealed. (Though I suggested he may have been the Timeless Child we’ve heard so much about.)

Keep Calm and Carry On

They’re back! (via BBC)

The episode follows a classic Chibnall structure: Separate the Doctor and her companions, introduce them to new-yet-ultimately-meaningless characters, and send everyone on a heart-pounding romp.

Except this time, no one saves the world. At least not yet.

Yaz and Graham land with the remaining humans on a Cyber carrier ship: A step up from their ailing craft, sure. But also one ginormous ambush waiting to happen.

Meanwhile, the Doc and Ryan, piloting a stolen Cybership, find their way to the “Boundary”—a supposed gateway to some random part of the universe, guarded by Ko Sharmus (who’s giving off some very The Last Jedi Luke Skywalker vibes, sans green milk).

There’s No Glory in Being a Cyberman

Even futuristic technology is no match for the Doctor (via BBC)

Despite shifting between three interweaving stories, the episode generally manages to stay on track.

Sure, there are some confusing moments: Why is the Lone Cyberman making his brethren scream? And who are these spooks Brendan willingly follows to his presumed death?

There is no mistaking, though, that we’re in for something big—bigger than an endless Cyber army, bigger than the return of the Master, bigger than Gallifrey itself.

“You will get some answers,” showrunner Chibnall teased about next week’s 65-minute grand finale (longer with BBC America ad breaks). “But you will also be left with a whole load of new questions, in true Doctor Who style.”

I, for one, can’t wait to see what’s in store.

Missed Doctor Who episode eight? Check out our recap of “The Haunting of Villa Diodati.”

Doctor Who Glossary (for all your British-to-American English needs):

Bish-bash-bosh: Indicating the completion of a task with efficiency
Childminder: A person who looks after children in their own home for payment
Humbug: A boiled sweet, especially one flavored with peppermint
Have a go: To make an attempt; to try
Mad: Crazy
Cockney rhyming slang: Rhyming slang based on sound (i.e. “whistle and flute” = “suit”; “apples and pears” = “stairs”; “plates of meat” = “feet”)
Bloke: A man

Doctor Who airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ET on BBC America.

* You should, too: Parasite is an utter joy.

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