Doctor Who: Spyfall Part 1 review

[fardell24]

Spyfall Part 1
The first episode of series 12. The opening scenes, showing Yas, Ryan and Graham going about their normal lives was a very good way to start the episode. Yas and her family, and also with her superintendent, this was handled well. (Did the Doctor forge the secondments?) The same with Ryan and his friends, and Graham and the oncologist. But something else is happening. Aliens are attacking intelligence agents around the world. So, C, the head of MI6 calls the Doctor and her companions in.
The car chase on the Sheffield motorways was quite well done. C being assassinated was shocking, but not as shocking as what comes later. Yas and Ryan infiltrating VOR to investigate the CEO was done well. They may have the spy gear, but they don't have the experience. And those aliens, creepy... The Doctor and Graham join O, a former MI6 agent in the Australian outback. More on that below... Yas and Ryan interviewing the CEO was done well. However, while they investigate the office, Yas gets caught by one of the aliens.
And ends up in a place reminiscent of the Upside Down in Stranger Things (And the aliens are as creepy as the Demigorgon too). The design looks strange, but it was well done. The aliens attack O's house, but when the Doctor traps one, Yas appears in it's place. This sequence is appropriately done. The way Ryan comforts Yas regarding her experience afterwards is a very good scene, showing her vulnerability as a result of that experience. They then go to the CEO's birthday. Cue more 007 inspired humor.
(Which is quite well done.) However, the real shock isn't until the cliffhanger, wherein O reveals himself to be the Master! Whether before or after Missy may be beside the point, but the reveal is appropriately shocking. The ending, where the Doctor ends up in the Not Upside Down and the rest of Team TARDIS are on a crashing plane, is a very effective cliffhanger. Overall, a very suspenseful episode 9/10.