Unfeathered Notes

Watched this again with my son last night as part of our latest rewatch (4th or perhaps 5th watching? Possibly 6th?) and we both agreed this is still one of the very best episodes of Doctor Who. Not just for the cleverness of the time-related plot, and the amazing make-up and acting of John Simm, and the gradual reveal of the Cybermen, but just for *everything*. There is nothing I don't like in this episode. It all fits together beautifully – beautifully crafted is perhaps the term. And the way it goes from the daft, off-beat beginning with Missy mucking around and teasing Bill and Nardole and the Doctor watching with his feet up, eating crisps and making sardonic remarks, to the full-on horror of what has happened on the ship (the "Pain. Pain. Pain." Cyberman has to be one of THE creepiest moments in DW) and what happens to Bill, and then the spine-tingling reveal of the Master and that final moment of Missy and the Master on either side of Cyber-converted Bill and the look of absolute horror on the Doctor's face.

Truly a masterpiece.

(My original review is here)

Did anyone else immediately think of Eleven and River dancing on the Thames to Stevie Wonder's performance? According to https://blogtorwho.com/blast-past-continuity-references-thin-ice/:

"River Song returned to her cell at the Stormcage Containment Facility having just visited 1814 the last of the Frost Fairs, presumably with the Eleventh Doctor. She told Rory that Stevie Wonder sang under London Bridge for her birthday (A Good Man Goes to War, 2011). Writer Sarah Dollard confirmed that a line of dialogue had referred to this happening, presumably simultaneously, further up the river. Sadly this reference was cut for time."

Would have been really cool if there'd been a glimpse of Eleven and River (even from the back, i.e. different actors) for the Doctor to double-take at, or even the odd strains of Stevie Wonder drifting in for Bill to double-take at!