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!

first of all, I love the concept of the Axis, and getting to see an alternate Gallifrey, and presumably more in the rest of s4 at least is so interesting, it allows for so many cool worldbuilding ideas. And how their relationships are shining here, I really hope this continues.

This one is amazing for Romana and Brax especially, starting, indeed, with that dream. I love that part it’s so interesting because it means not only is Brax in love with Romana (understandable, so am I), but he that in his ideal world, so are Leela and Narvin. And while I can absolutely see that happening in a far away future, they are so not there yet. Also I just adore Romana’s laugh. It’s pure happiness. I actually have listened to an outtake of this part before, probably even before I started to actually listen to the series at all, in which they all descend into laughter, and it makes me so happy. But I didn’t know it was from this, or that it was a dream! That surprised me. Lalla has such a beautiful laugh.

I adore the alternate Romana we get to see, first of all: Mary Tamm and then it is so interesting how she differs but remains the same, I was starting to think it was quite odd just how different she was until she revealed that she’d seen through them all immediately. It’s really interesting how she really isn’t any happier than our Romana, and also becomes President at the end. It appears that is an inevitability. How she got married to Andred of all people I can’t explain though. And Antonin! He reminds me a lot of the way Romana was when she declared herself Imperiatrix actually, I can see the resemblance.

Brax is very sweet to Romana throughout, I loved the way he comforted the alternate Romana but also that Romana is calling him out on the way he tricked them. And I can’t believe he’s leaving again he really can’t seem to stay in one place long.

Leela has an interesting role her, I think it’s very funny how they made her president here, I really think they should just try everyone at this point. And also very mean how they treated her. Loved her making K9 Castellan, that was amazing.

And Narvin. Oh Narvin. What are we going to do with you? He is so not made for this lol. He’s a coward and a terrible spy and I love him. Him losing his regenerations is so mean and the way he’s not telling the others at the end and reacting to Leela’s questions is heartbreaking. I’m very interested how that progresses, but also just, poor guy. I love him, he’s my poor little guy now. Also loved how they actually call him little at one point that’s so funny.