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“DARK GALLIFREY: MISSY – PART 2: THE MASTER’S FAVOURITE DOCTOR”

The second chapter of Dark Gallifrey: Missy takes an ambitious leap backwards as Missy steps into the past of Opus Toolie to seek out the one Time Lord she finds most… entertaining: the Seventh Doctor. After stealing the crown jewels and usurping planetary rule in Part One, this instalment sees Missy hunting down a version of the Doctor that predates her meeting with Twelve. Of course, when you’re Missy, timelines are more of a polite suggestion than a law.

Michelle Gomez is once again deliciously delightful, effortlessly commanding the audio as Missy revels in mischief, manipulation, and malevolence. And when her chaos is offset by Sylvester McCoy’s calculating, enigmatic Seventh Doctor, sparks fly – sometimes literally, thanks to the steam-powered warships blasting cannon fire in the background.

SEVEN AND MISSY: A SINISTER SYMPHONY

The real strength of this episode lies in the interplay between Gomez and McCoy. Their chemistry crackles with wit, resentment, and mutual fascination. Missy is forced to interact without revealing her true identity – not because of courtesy, but because she isn’t meant to be here. The Seventh Doctor, of course, sees through her façade almost immediately, and it’s a joy to hear him coldly, calmly picking apart her act with those famously probing silences and clipped questions.

Missy’s admiration for Seven is entirely believable: she sees in him a fellow manipulator, someone not afraid to make morally murky decisions. Their philosophical debate – particularly Missy's reflection on surviving the Time War and the loneliness of her existence – offers rare emotional depth amid the usual barbed banter. It's a chilling moment of shared trauma and divergent evolution.

THE PIRATE PLANET REDUX (SORT OF)

Setting the story back during the events of the Doctor’s original arrival on Opus Toolie allows for a steampunk-flavoured redux of the fight against Malevolence. The atmosphere is vividly realised, with thundering cannons, driving rain, and clanking engines painting a world caught in perpetual war. There's a distinct pirate-adventure aesthetic here, albeit filtered through brass gears and Time Lord politics.

It also means the return of Mortimer and Klank – and in this past timeline, their dynamic is still whole. Klank, especially, gets some added depth, showing loyalty and wit in equal measure. These two remain comic highlights, though they're used sparingly enough to avoid stealing focus from the central Time Lord duel.

A PLANET WITH ITS OWN RULES

The worldbuilding gets a boost as well. We finally get some answers about this strange realm: Opus Toolie exists in a pocket universe with its own laws, detached from normal Gallifreyan chronology. That key detail adds ominous weight to the final act, where Missy takes full advantage of the lack of Time Lord restrictions.

Indeed, the finale is as chilling as it is bold. With no timeline constraints to hold her back, Missy chooses to do what she rarely can – kill the Doctor. Not in a metaphorical sense or as part of some cosmic dance, but literally. She traps Seven in a chamber and watches him burn, unable to regenerate. It’s a harrowing moment, bleak and unexpected, and it serves as a stark reminder of just how dangerous Missy can be when unbound.

📝 VERDICT: 84/100

Part Two of Dark Gallifrey: Missy thrives on character-driven tension, steampunk spectacle, and the dazzling chemistry between Michelle Gomez and Sylvester McCoy. It's a smart time-twisting story that takes full advantage of Missy’s chaotic potential while respecting the nuance of her character. With witty repartee, cannon-blasted action, and a shockingly grim ending, this episode not only deepens Missy's character but elevates the series as a whole. Missy might claim she doesn’t have favourites – but after this, we know Seven’s got a special place in her scorched little heart.