Wow. Just wow.

Disassembled is a masterclass in this form of storytelling, I absolutely adore it.

Last time, we had 'what if Gallifrey were capitalist', this time it's a classic 'what if they were fascists', and in the Spirit of Inferno, you can't help but love to see what our core cast would become in that environment. Seeing these time lords being fully in on intervening is terrifying, the story opening on just such casual use of the De-mat Gun really does just set the stakes for this story, and the danger our core cast are in.

The alternate versions of cast we see as well are just great. Our Romana has had moments where it seems she might take the darker path, but she never quite falls to it, and even when she does, it's always done with the best of intentions, meanwhile the one we see here has fully fallen into the 'ends justify the means' mindset. Our Leela was able to find a home on Gallifrey as herself, the Interrogater General modifed her life on Mordee so that she fit in better here, while no longer a 'savage', her actions are more savage than our world's Leela ever was.

And then there's Lord Burner. I love the misdirection we get with him initially helping our crew, finding his way back to the Axis. The fact we think the paradox is happening from the Interrogator General being in the Axis alongside Narvin, whom she killed on her world (which is another thing they do that I love), but then the eventual reveal about what the title of Lord Burner truly means, Brax confiding the history of the position of Romana, and the lore implications of what he says. I absolutely adore that Brax was the burner, and I love his mention of the refusal to kill The Doctor, instead killing the president and making it look like an accident. Brax has already somewhat been built up as this all powerful all knowledgable figure, but this moment really does just bring it to the forefront, and makes you question the danger a person like him could pose.

I also love Brax and Burner's confrontation, Brax's line as he falls into the portal paralleling The Master in Planet of Fire, with the implication here being very clear. And then the bit at the end, with Brax meeting Benny for the first time (in his timeline) makes me want to listen to her stories more than I think anything else I've seen her in has done.

Overall, yeah, this story was incredible, and once again I'm so so glad I started listening to this series.