Reborn is a spectacular start to Gallifrey IV!

This story almost reminds me of some of BF's later output, specifically Stranded and The Dimension Cannon, though with the focus here being on alternate Gallifreys rather than alternate earths, it's done in a way that, despite being older than the aforementioned series', feels so much more fresh and unique.

This alternate Gallifrey where futures are used as currency, and the high council is selling Time Travel for profit is beautifully bleak. There's many a dystopian story featuring an Earth that's fallen to a similar fate, but seeing it here happening to one of the most powerful peoples in the universe is something else. We don't need to hear the consequences this would have on the world, we know it from how we've seen the Time Lords avoid doing just that in the previous three seasons.

The heart of Gallifrey however is, and continues to be, our core cast: Narvin, Leela, Romana, Brax, and, of course, K9. Each and every one of them get something to do here and it's all brilliant. Leela becoming this world's leader, though more so she can be used as a scapegoat than for anything else, with K9 as Castallan (which was absolutely hilarious). Romana and Brax visiting this world's Romana, an excellent chance for exposition and character exploration, and even more than that a beautiful excuse to get Mary Tam back. And Narvin, poor Narvin, seemingly having his future regenerations stolen from him. You really feel for him, especially the way his story ends, the others not knowing what's happened and mocking him as usual, things being different this time, but he can't bring himself to tell them.

The villian here, Antonin, is the unfortunate weak point of this story for me personally, his links to Romana are interesting and bring about some great character moments for her, both of her, but overall I was personally much less interested in him, and more in everything that was going on in the rest of that Gallifrey. Still, his motivations, what he'd sacrificed for his place on that world, was interesting to hear.

Overall, sure I've got a minor gripe, but even then I overall enjoyed that bit, and even with it, this season has started off with a bang!