Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! 

“TWICE UPON A TIME: TWO DOCTORS, ONE FAREWELL”

Twice Upon a Time marks the end of an era, serving as both Peter Capaldi’s swansong and Steven Moffat’s final script as Doctor Who showrunner after steering the ship since 2010. Originally broadcast on Christmas Day 2017, this special also functions as a multi-Doctor story, taking place in the final moments of The Tenth Planet (1966). The First Doctor—played here by David Bradley, who previously portrayed William Hartnell in An Adventure in Space and Time (2013) and later took on the role of the First Doctor in Big Finish audio dramas—finds himself on a final adventure with his future self, as both struggle to accept their impending regenerations.

The cold open is a fantastic hook, seamlessly blending clips from The Tenth Planet with a modern reimagining of its final moments. This effectively introduces the idea that, much like Twelve, the First Doctor initially resists regeneration, buying himself some extra time with one last adventure between leaving the Snowcap Base and returning to the TARDIS. It’s a clever use of a narrative gap—very much in the style of Big Finish—to slot in an untold story without contradicting existing continuity.

A MEETING OF MINDS (AND EGO)

Time itself is unravelling at the South Pole, freezing snowfall in mid-air while a First World War officer, Captain Archibald Hamish Lethbridge-Stewart, is inexplicably pulled from the trenches. Mark Gatiss gives a strong performance in the role, though the later reveal that he’s the Brigadier’s grandfather edges into fan service territory. His presence mostly serves as comic relief, playing the bewildered third wheel to two Doctors bickering over who’s in charge.

The interplay between One and Twelve is a highlight of the episode. Though vastly different in demeanour, they share a core stubbornness, each reluctant to acknowledge the other as their future self. Their back-and-forth banter is reminiscent of the best multi-Doctor stories, filled with playful jabs and one-upmanship. Yet beneath the humour, there’s genuine poignancy as they slowly come to terms with their fates.

THE TESTIMONY – A FRAGMENTED THREAT

The episode’s central mystery revolves around the Testimony, a crystalline race from the far future that harvests the memories of the dying, preserving them in digital afterlife form. It’s an eerie and intriguing concept, tying neatly into the special’s meditation on death and remembrance. However, the Testimony ultimately feel underdeveloped, taking a backseat for much of the runtime. Their role in the narrative is overshadowed by an obligatory Dalek detour that, while visually striking, doesn’t add much beyond padding the episode’s length.

A more successful emotional thread comes with the return of Pearl Mackie’s Bill Potts. Though technically a construct of the Testimony rather than the original Bill, her presence is instrumental in guiding both Doctors towards accepting their destinies. The story also revisits the Christmas Truce of 1914, a rare moment of peace in wartime that thematically reinforces the Doctor’s ethos of hope and reconciliation.

THE BRADLEY DEBATE – A QUESTIONABLE CHARACTERISATION

David Bradley is a fine actor, and his take on the First Doctor works in broad strokes. However, his portrayal deviates noticeably from William Hartnell’s original, coming across as overly gruff and anachronistically chauvinistic. While The Tenth Planet did depict One as a bit crotchety, he had mellowed significantly by that point—certainly not to the extent of making outdated comments about Polly cleaning the TARDIS. It feels like an exaggerated caricature designed to highlight how much the character has evolved, but it does a disservice to Hartnell’s legacy.

That being said, One’s criticism of Twelve’s reliance on technology—echoing the War Doctor’s jabs at Ten and Eleven’s “sonic screwdrivers” in The Day of the Doctor (2013)—is a nice touch, showcasing how much the Doctor has changed across regenerations.

A CINEMATIC SEND-OFF

Visually, Twice Upon a Time is stunning. The icy South Pole landscape, the eerie halls of the Testimony ship, and the war-torn ruins of Villengard are beautifully realised. Rachel Talalay’s direction ensures a grand, cinematic feel, fitting for Capaldi’s final bow.

The episode also serves as a bookend to the Twelfth Doctor’s journey, with echoes of his earliest episodes and the resolution of his unfinished business with Bill. His farewell scene, where he briefly recalls Clara, mirrors Eleven’s emotional send-off in The Time of the Doctor (2013).

Capaldi’s final monologue inside the TARDIS is heartfelt, though it does linger a little too long. Then, in an explosive regeneration scene reminiscent of The End of Time (2010), we get our first glimpse of Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor—just in time for her to be unceremoniously thrown from the TARDIS, ending the Capaldi era on a literal cliffhanger.

📝VERDICT: 8/10

A sentimental and reflective send-off, Twice Upon a Time succeeds as an emotional farewell to Peter Capaldi, even if its plot is somewhat meandering. The interplay between One and Twelve is engaging, and the Christmas Truce provides a fittingly hopeful note to end on. However, the Testimony feel underused, the Dalek sequence adds little, and Bradley’s First Doctor is an exaggerated take that may irk long-time fans. Visually stunning and thematically rich, but a bit uneven in execution.