Fitting that I watched this in time for tonight's episode - hopefully the Timeless Children is better than whatever the hell this was...

The Doctor is so out of character that it makes no sense - he's even more deceiving than his seventh incarnation! Ace would not approve. Despite this, Tom's performance is still fantastic, making the audience believe, even for a second, that he might be working to bring down the Time Lords, who challenges their morals on a daily basis. His reaction to Leela leaving is so hilarious, he's just so confused and concerned about where the hell this relationship sprang from! When I first watched this episode years ago, I thought there was a few hints to there being a bond between the two, but apart from Andred saving her a few times, there's literally nothing! Like were they thinking "Oh yeah, forgot Leela was leaving. Let's just make her fall in love with the random guard!" Leela's still great in this story, anyway, but why doesn't she know the Sontarans? I know she never met them in the TV series, but her first encounter with them was King of Sontar. Big Finish mucked up a bit there... Nevertheless, this story highlights how much she's developed over the course of her tenure, being savage, but only to help others. She's also very willing to sacrifice herself for the Doctor, always being there by his side. Leela's far better than I remember her to be, and she will be greatly missed.

The Vardans are human? How did the transduction barrier let part of them through but not all of it? Their inclusion creates a lot more questions which were never really answered, or maybe I wasn't paying enough attention. The Doctor's plan doesn't make much sense - Why didn't he just tell the Time Lords what was going on? It's not like the Vardans could stop him because, again, transduction barrier. But after four episodes of basically nothing about them, they get defeated, and the story ends-WAIT WHAAAAT?
The Sontarans are also weirdly in this story. I like the idea of them using "lesser" species to invade Gallifrey, but beyond that I really hate them in this. Why are they whispering? Stack, Varl, Lynx, Styre and Streng didn't. Also, this is probably my least favourite Sontaran design, it just looks so rubbish. It's a shame that the Sontarans were wasted this way after their masterful encounters previously.
I think there was one other really Great villain in this... I guess I don't have the Intelligence to work it out, but there was one dude who looked like he was from the Victorian era, just staring at the Doctor...hmm...

Gallifrey looked a lot better in the later episodes, but there were some scenes in Part 1 that looked like they were filmed in a town hall - There were green plastic chairs and random paintings! It's a shame because there were some great sets from The Deadly Assassin, but this new era just feels so much cheaper visual-wise, which is something I seem to be repeating, and I hope is improved upon for Season 16.

Bowlestrek would have a fit if he knew a WOMAN was bossing the Doctor about and repairing his TARDIS! What a shocker, there's an independent, strong, female character that's interesting! It's almost as if his criticisms of the show have no weight because these things have been here since the start of the show. I liked Rodan's character, she was no-nonsense and was very similar to the Doctor, but unique in her own ideals, and I would've loved to see her return as a proper companion. Instead, we got someone very similar - Romana (coming soon). The Castellan really got on my nerves - He just bowed down to whoever was around him, and got away with it at the end - He'd get on well with the people of Tivoli.

To conclude this series, we've got a story that fits the formula of so many others. It had the potential to be something, but just didn't hit the mark. It's a shame Leela's gone, but I'm excited to see what's in store for Season 16, one of the only series of Doctor Who I've not seen a single episode from!