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“THE LAST: A BLEAK AND CIRCULAR NIGHTMARE”

The Last drops the Doctor, Charley, and C’rizz into a desolate war zone, where the remnants of a once-powerful government continue their propaganda efforts from an underground bunker. The world above is a ruin, but Excelsior, the self-absorbed and increasingly unhinged leader, remains blissfully unaware. Played with unsettling intensity by Carolyn Jones, Excelsior dominates the story, transitioning from vain and superficial to a chillingly ruthless tyrant.

The atmosphere in the opening episode is strong, evoking the political chaos of The War Games mixed with the grim inevitability of Genesis of the Daleks. Yet, despite the bleakness, the first half is quite minimalist, focusing on political bickering and slow-build tension rather than immediate action.

CHARLEY SIDELINED, C’RIZZ TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT

The TARDIS team is quickly split up—C’rizz bonds with a supposed survivor, Charley gets trapped under rubble, and the Doctor engages with the ministers of War and Peace. Charley’s paralysis, revealed as the Part 1 cliffhanger, might have been shocking at the time, but knowing it won’t last removes much of the impact. More significantly, it sidelines her for much of the story, confining her to a passive role while C’rizz steps up. This allows for more development between him and Charley, as well as a growing tension as the Doctor and C’rizz question the reality of the world around them.

Despite this, Charley’s fate provides some of the most harrowing moments in the story. The Part 3 cliffhanger, where C’rizz discovers her lifeless body, is particularly chilling. This leads into the emotionally charged climax, where the Doctor and C’rizz confront Excelsior, only for her to coldly dismiss Charley’s death—before killing C’rizz as well. McGann’s performance here is excellent, simmering with disgust and fury.

A RESET BUTTON ENDING, BUT STRONG THEMES

While the first two episodes build a slow, creeping unease, the second half ratchets up the tension. Excelsior’s realisation that she has been misled—that her world is already dead—pushes her further into madness. The moment she strangles Charley, claiming it as an act of mercy, is one of the story’s most chilling sequences. The setting, with its nuclear winter, ruined buildings, and claustrophobic bunkers, adds to the oppressive sense of despair.

However, the story ultimately falls into a predictable reset-button ending. The revelation that the war-torn world exists in a loop, with one survivor always left standing, is a compelling concept, but it also makes the companion deaths feel like a temporary inconvenience rather than a true dramatic climax. While it provides an interesting moral dilemma for the Doctor, it also undercuts the weight of the preceding events.

📝VERDICT: 7/10

The Last succeeds in creating an immersive, apocalyptic atmosphere, with strong performances and moments of genuine horror. Excelsior is a fantastic villain, and the interplay between the TARDIS team allows for some solid character moments—particularly for C’rizz. However, the slow start, Charley’s sidelining, and the predictable reset ending prevent it from reaching its full potential. It’s a haunting and ambitious story, but one that never quite lands with the impact it seems to be aiming for.