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TV REVIEWS: FTN Reviews Doctor Who Season 10 Episode 6: Extremis

May 21st, 2017 by Todd Black Comments

Let me ask you a question…what is real? Going into Doctor Who’s latest episode, that probably wasn’t the biggest question on your mind, but leaving “Extremis”, it’ll probably be one of the ONLY questions on your mind. And oh, how that question came to be.

People can question what Stephen Moffat has done since he arrived on Doctor Who, but when he hits, he HITS. With the Doctor blind, and fearing what could happen next, you had to wonder what would be the next adventure for him given his state. Most ironically, and quite unexpectedly, the Pope himself came and asked for his help. So, what could the Pope want with the Doctor? Well…

Apparently (and I’m sure conspiracy theorists will jump at this), there is an ancient book that is kept secret in the Vatican, anyone who reads it…dies. But not through fear per se, but of their own accord. They kill themselves. So, what was it that killed these holy men that translated this ancient text? Well, that was the mystery, one that only grew when we learned that non-holy men and women did the same act upon reading the Veritas. What was going on?

Now, in true Moffat fashion, there was a great bait-and-switch in that the Doctor COULDN’T read the text, and yet tried to cheat himself in order to see just enough to read the text. But, surprise, surprise, it didn’t work. So…how were we to find out?

Well, by Nardole and Bill of course, who went to Cern (who also read the book) and found out something was very wrong. They could all somehow read each others minds when it came to deciphering what number they would “randomly” choose. Which lead to the shocking reveal…that they were in the Matrix! Which is when Keanu Reeves showed up and…ok…that last part didn’t happen, but oh man if it did!

That’s right, the majority of this episode took place in a “shadow world”, a perfect replica of Earth. And when people found out they weren’t real, they decided to get out the only way they knew how, by killing themselves. But wait a minute, where was our Doctor? And Bill? Sure this whole series isn’t inside a hologram! Well…it wasn’t, just this episode for the most part, and when the Doctor found out, and realized that the bad guys (whoever they were) were using this simulation to plan an invasion of Earth, he did the only thing he could…he emailed himself! So now they REAL Doctor knows an invasion is coming, and there may only be one person he can trust to help him…

Which brings us of course to the answers to ALL of the vault questions. Who is in it? Missy! CALLED IT!!! Why is she in there? Well, she was slated for execution, and the Doctor spared her but promised to put her in the vault and watch over her for 1000 years, hence, his Oath. But…with an invasion coming, that may not be an option.

It was great seeing Missy, and whether you think she was faking it or something, I truly believed this pleas for mercy, because of all else…The Master never wants to die. That would ruin everything for him/her. But, will Missy help the Doctor? Guess we’ll have to see.

“Extremis” was another great chapter in this “Season of Fears”, with “are we really real?” being the fear that was thrust upon us this time. Where will it all end? We’re going to hopefully find out soon. Time is running out.

4.5 out of 5 nerds

Todd Black is reader of comics, a watch of TV (a LOT of TV), and a writer of many different mediums. He's written teleplays, fan-fictions, and currently writes a comic book called Guardians (guardians-comic.com). He dreams of working at Nintendo, writing a SHAZAM! TV series, and working on Guardians for a very long time!