The Pyramid at the End of the World

The monks make their demands without moving their lips, who knew aliens could be such great ventriloquists, as they show what will happen if misunderstood, and monkeys of the world see a future not good. Capitulation is the name of the monastic game, as the world's simians demonstrate why they're so pathetic and lame, like the blind leading the blind and getting their just deserts, there's only one person now to stop enslavement and avert.

A Pyramid appears from nowhere and Earth's military forces are powerless to stop a countdown to the end of the world

This reminded me in some ways of the 1971 story The Claws of Axos where an alien race offer a solution to Mankind's problem but you know there's going to be a catch. Axos isn't considered an especially good story from the period but the reason I liked it was because Michael Ferguson directed the script with directorial flourish and imagination. Here with this 2017 episode director Daniel Nettheim just brings a journeyman style to the proceedings. To be fair to all the directors who have worked on the show DOCTOR WHO isn't really something to bring in auteur aspects but even so I do wish directors would try and bring an element of risk and their own hallmark to the stories

Narrative wise Pyramids is no great shakes and if you're an old school fan like me you'll be irritated how NuWho works . The UN call on "President Doctor" who turns up spouts innumerable lines giving away plot mechanics and exposition and more often than not the problem is easily resolved , too easily in fact . There's also the gut instinct that the Monks feature in a three episode story that will almost certainly have been better told as one 45 minute episode . Time will tell but there's a feeling here that the season is deteriorating slightly after a fairly good low key start

The question had to be how could the possibly build on last week's Extremis, this episode promised so much, and for the most part I felt it delivered. You can't watch it without being incredibly aware of the huge political message being driven, the possibility of World War Three.

OK, the Monks made a good adversary, I liked them, creepy, measured, and a matter of fact element to them, no shouting or berating, just a clear message, domination. I loved their illuminated strands that could tell the future, and there's also a question mark hanging over the possibility that we're actually in another simulated world.

Absolutely loved Erica, played by the brilliant Rachel Denning, how nice would it be to see a return from her. Pearl Mackie was excellent as always, but I wasn't too convinced about the mix of Generals and Colonels.

Elements of the story have been done to death, the countdown timer, the viral bacteria, so it loses a couple of marks for originality (lack of)

I know the FA cup final was on, but they've started changing the broadcast time every week again, come on BBC, that's not on.

A little down on par compared to the very high standard set this season, but it still has a quality, I am left with a sense of intrigue as to how the trilogy concludes, and what impact Missy has.

Continues the tradition of building up for a let down in the end. I'm not going to give it away, but this is yet another in a long line of Who episodes with great stories, ruined by a plot twist in the last 5 minutes.

Overall the production is very good. Photography and lighting are well done. The monster of the week is pretty well rendered. There is a lot going on visually with these bad guys. Which hints at a backstory which we never get. I kind of like that. It lets our imagination have room to fill in the blanks. Which is preferable to some awkward exposition.

This episode uses a "doomsday clock" as a plot device. It's vaguely defined and kind of messy how it's done, but it works. It helps to increase tension.

The story continues from the previous, "extremis". With the same bad guys. So you would need to watch that episode to be briefed on this one. I like when Who works big like this. Not a season long story arc with coy little hints building to penultimate episode and a finale/denouement. But story that involves the same good guys and bad guys across several episodes, telling a feature length story. No coy hints and ham handed attempts to do another "Bad Wolf".

Where this episode falls apart for me are in the casting and the last 5 minutes of the plot.

First the "leaders of the most powerful armies in the world" are simply not believeable. The American character is somewhat believable. But the Russian and Chinese generals appear far too young and lack any air of leadership or military character. Especially the Russian guy. It was like they kidnapped a valet and put Russian military uniform on them.

Now without giving away the end I want to talk about it.

We spend most of the episode avoiding the bad thing. Some characters try to embrace the bad thing but are not successful. But we are understanding it would have been bad if they had succeeded.

Then at the end they throw it away to help a single character. And if you think about it, these people have not been acquainted long enough to care this much for each other. And in other stories they would be more likely to expect them to take care of themselves despite the long odds.

Plainly it makes no sense. Rather they wrote themselves into a corner and needed things to be in place for the next episode.

This is what happens when you begin with an outline and just start writing dialogue. Get to the end of the 2nd part of a 3 part story and just do whatever.

There are a number of ways they could have arrived at the same conditions for the third part. But they went with lazy writing.

So despite liking most of this episode I gave it a mediocre rating. I am inclined to rate it even lower but I enjoy Mat Lucas' Nardole so much. Especially the interactions with Bill. Who is a wonderful companion.

It also gets a little boost for being part of a three parter. Which I would love to see more of. I just do not appreciate being taken for granted by Moffat and whomever else wrote on this episode.

I have to say, Erica needs to be the next companion. Rachel Denning was funny, smart, capable, and just a wonderful screen presence, in my opinion. She was the highlight of the episode and (after watching the whole series) one of the highlights of the whole season.

Nardole was also great and Matt Lucas was hilarious.

Lots of plot holes conveniences though. Monks were weak villains. Peter Harness has written better. Kill the Moon was fantastic.