Like the Witchfinders, this is another otherwise great adventure hamstrung by the same issues that plague this whole era.

There are legitimately fun elements of this story: the overall homage to James Bond is a fun idea for Doctor Who and little moments, like the tuxedo glow-up, "The name's Doctor. The Doctor," and the finale car-chase really lean into that. But it could have leaned in more, and incorporated other elements better. We get a classic-Bond/weird-gadget scene before we're even given a mission, for example. And it would have been nicer if the cinematography leaned into the Bond aesthetic more as well. We get a quick shot of each companion and the Doc playing casino games, but these moments are not shot in the visual language of the Bond films. There's no tension, no staredown. The dialogue surrounding these games features no clever double entendre.

These moments just happen and nothing is gained. Why do Graham and Ryan win big? I was expecting a reveal that the Doctor rigged it so they'd blend in or something, but no. It just happens and we move on. Because in Bond they do casino games, you see.

The episode is also dragged down by other problems that infect the rest of the Chibnall era. The dialogue is boring and descriptive but it's delivered like we're supposed to think it's snappy or clever. Characters just describe what's happening; at best, they go, 'oh wow, this is happening.' They don't say things that reveal their character or make us smile or laugh or build tension or really add to what we're already seeing in any way. This is a problem with most Chibnall-era episodes but it's particularly glaring here where we're being asked to think about another franchise known for its punchy dialogue.

The 13th Doctor is once again awkward and passive, which remains a strange direction to take this character. And again, it's particularly glaring when we're being asked to compare her to Bond, who is the polar opposite.

For example, once the Doctor and fam are abducted, C's driver is taking them to MI6. The characters talk briefly, just to establish that none of them know where they're going. It's not hard to imagine, say, Capaldi's Doctor in this same situation taking the opportunity to be humorous and rude, maybe insulting the driver for just following orders. You can hear Capaldi's accent calling the driver "stupid," maybe even goading him into telling the crew where they're headed (12 could follow up by calling him "not a very good agent" after he reveals this information). In the episode we get, it's just a dead moment where we could have had humor or character (and would have had, in a previous era). That said, turning the car ride into an action set piece is very Bond, and the Doctor's quick thinking with the rearview is clever and well-done.

I like the idea of the Spymaster and Sacha Dhawan is an excellent actor. If anything, the reveal could have been drawn out more. It would also have been nice to base that reveal on some hint dropped earlier in the episode, instead of just a slip of the tongue at the last moment. But a lovely twist all the same, and Dhawan's little details completely sell us. The way he flicks away the shrunken agent who's life he stole is such a great flourish. Evil, callous, funny, dangerous, all in a moment. You almost have to forgive the episode its faults for reintroducing the Master in style. Almost.

I think this review is getting too long, so I'll save some thoughts for Spyfall, Part 2. Particularly, the problems with reintroducing the Master at all, and the way Ryan and Yaz are handled. But it seems more fair to address those in Part 2 since this episode is clearly setting up more for that hour.