The Trial of a Time Lord Part Fourteen

The one where the Doctor tries to prevent the catharsis of spurious morality...

So here we are, the grand finale of both the story and the season. The Trial Inquiry of a Time Lord was the first time Doctor Who tried making an entire series all one story (although it's actually four stories), but it wouldn't be the last. The problem with trying to have one continuing story is that you have to keep it varied, which is why Season 23 was made up of disparate parts, and Series 13's Flux was such a jumbled menagerie of ideas. Doctor Who has yet to prove it can do one series-long narrative story well - you know, like most other television series do! - but I admire the ambition.

Before delving into the episode, I'd like to praise Dominic Glynn's version of the theme one last time. It's not my favourite - that's been and gone - but I can't help liking the ethereal mystery conjured by the Season 23 theme. I like its synthy beat, which puts me in mind of certain 1980s songs like Limahl's Never-Ending Story, Bucks Fizz's The Land of Make Believe, and Oakey and Moroder's Together in Electric Dreams. In fact, I think that's the key to why I like it so much: it sounds like something Giorgio Moroder might have produced.

The Trial of a Time Lord Part Thirteen

The one where the Valeyard turns out to be the Doctor...

The shit hits the fan in this episode. Big time. With all of the evidence dealt with, it's time for conclusions to be drawn, but before anybody can sum up, there are a few twists in the tale first. There's the strange fact that the Matrix has a Keeper who walks around with Rassilon's Key buttoned to his robes 24/7. This Time Lord, played by James Bree (wasted in the role), reckons it is impossible to meddle with the Matrix, and the only way to get into it is using his trusty key. As the Doctor points out, it is possible to copy keys, which is exactly what THE MASTER did.

I'm sorry, the what-who?! Yes, the Master, played with unusual insouciance by Anthony Ainley, looking down on the courtroom from his day-glow disco within the Matrix. It's a fabulous twist to have the Master rock up this late in the story, but it's rather disappointing that he doesn't really do anything. He just sits there letting out his little amuse-bouche secrets bit by bit, a smug smile on his face, but his presence doesn't add the elevated danger that it should. It's almost like a cosy reunion.