The annual stories do sometimes take on a more childlike approach, but it’s done in a sloppy way here. Horrendous writing, especially the endless exposition and back references. No stakes, other than The Doctor telling you that there are stakes. When faced with danger his immediate response feels remote and unlikely. “I haven’t been this angry since Demons Run!” Everything is wrapped up abruptly and ineloquently.

The core idea ofa race of shapeshifters pretending to be Time Lords to extort a vulnerable race, is a strong one though. Could be used to good effect elsewhere!

A fun, if inconsequential story about a bird-like species who represent Earth mythological figures attempting time travel experiments and being conned by fraudsters posing as Time Lords. I really like the way this plays with the Doctor pre-Day's grief at being the last of the Time Lords, and it's clever the way this unexpectedly ties into Torchwood: Children of Earth at the end. That totally took me by surprise.