DOCTOR WHO Season Finale Recap: (S02E08) The Reality War

Geek Girl Authority

2 days ago

Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 8, 'The Reality War,' packs so much into one hour. It's insane. Russell T Davies chaotically ties this overarching narrative into a bow, puts the May 24 mystery to bed, takes out the Rani, banishes Omega back to the Underverse and makes the Fifteenth Doctor regenerate into Billie Piper. I'm not entirely convinced she's the next Doctor (yet). Jury's still out on that. Regardless, Ncuti Gatwa is easily one of my favorite Doctors. I wish he had a longer run, but boy, did he knock his tenure out of the park. What a powerhouse performer he is. He infused so much joy into his Doctor.
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Doctor Who episode, 'Wish World'
Doctor Who, 'The Reality War'
We open with the Doctor (Gatwa) on the balcony that the Rani (Archie Panjabi) severed from the Bone Palace. He, like the rest of the world, is seemingly falling into the Underverse. Thankfully, Anita (Steph de Whalley), whom we last saw in 'Joy to the World,' swoops in just in time to save him. She's now a manager at the Time Hotel. Suddenly, time resets, taking everyone back to May 23. Belinda (Varada Sethu) and Ruby (Millie Gibson) wake up in their respective bedrooms. Belinda calls out for 'John.'
Meanwhile, Anita pulls the Doctor into the Time Hotel in 4202. We learn she's pregnant and with a man called Ricardo. Anita admits that, while rising through the Time Hotel ranks, she's searched for our titular Time Lord. We see her pop in while the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) plays chess. She also spots the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) in quite a predicament with the Daleks. Lastly, opens another door and watches Fifteen dance with Rogue (Jonathan Groff). It's abundantly clear she carries a torch for our Doctor.
A Perpetual Reset
Anita asks why May 23 keeps resetting itself. The Doctor reveals that the Rani needs that day to get 'thinner and thinner until it snaps.' Once she breaks reality, the Rani can see underneath it to the Underverse, where Omega dwells. In the Bone Palace, the Rani and Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson) take note of the portal Anita opened. The Rani claims they can't wait for another midnight. Mrs. Flood counters that they don't have to — the Seekers have located Omega in the Underverse.
RELATED: TV Review: Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 4, 'Lucky Day'
Later, Anita takes the Doctor to Poppy's room. Anita explains that every time the world resets and relives May 23, it gets bumpier. More glitches. However, everyone makes do with it. The Doctor changes from his John Smith getup into his signature outfit. He greets Belinda and Poppy (Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps) before taking them to the Time Hotel. There, Belinda remembers who she is and that John Smith is the Doctor.
After this, Anita opens a door to UNIT headquarters. Kate (Jemma Redgrave), Susan Triad (Susan Twist) and Colonel Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient) are still unaware of their identities. Thankfully, Anita keeps the door open to the Time Hotel, causing the two realities to converge before actual reality takes the wheel. Mel's (Bonnie Langford) memory is restored while disposing of a 'slip' outside. Shirley (Ruth Madeley) also remembers who she is. Kate activates their biochips, along with Ruby's, to trigger their memories. They all return to UNIT headquarters.
Restore Reality
And guess who rematerializes? Rose Noble (Yasmin Finney). The Doctor reunites with everyone. Elsewhere, the Rani persuades Conrad (Jonah Hauer-King) to locate the Doctor for her. After all the reunions at UNIT, the Doctor informs everyone of who they're up against — the Rani. Mel is quite familiar with her. She's using Desiderium, the god of wishes, and Conrad to bring back Omega.
RELATED: TV Review: Doctor Who Season 2 Premiere
The Rani appears for more exposition. Not that I'm complaining; Archie Panjabi kills it as the Rani. We learn that the Rani biologically sidestepped her seemingly inevitable demise as the Time Lords — and Gallifrey — were wiped out. Now, how did she escape if the Doctor has the last TARDIS in existence? A fancy Time Ring. The Rani tells the others about her grand plan to rebuild Gallifrey and restore the Time Lord race. Well, a race of Time Lords who are more appreciative of her talents.
Next, the conversation pivots to Poppy. The Doctor has repeatedly expressed that his daughter is pretty damn special. Why? Because Time Lords cannot procreate. She's literally a miracle. The Rani urges the group to step aside and let her revive Gallifrey. She vows to leave Earth untouched. The Doctor counters that if this happens, the wish world would disintegrate and Poppy would cease to exist. The Rani insists, much to Belinda's ire, that Poppy isn't real.
Stay With the Beasts Below
After this, the Rani gives our eponymous Gallifreyan an ultimatum: Stand with her and usher forth the new Time Lord race or remain 'with the beasts below.' The Doctor declares his intent to stop her. He brandishes his sonic screwdriver. At the same time, the Rani trains her sonic on him, but the charge from hers knocks his out of his hand. She vanishes.
RELATED: Doctor Who: 11 Easter Eggs in 'Boom'
Upon the Rani's return to the Bone Palace, she and Mrs. Flood provoke the Bone Beasts — those skeletal dinosaur-type creatures — to attack UNIT. Kate orders her team to prepare for battle. Meanwhile, the Doctor escorts Belinda and Poppy to a lower level in the building, where Susan Triad has constructed a Zero Room. They'll lock Poppy in the Zero Room, a place untouched by space and time. That way, should they reverse the wish world and restore reality, Poppy might be spared. She might not fade away.
Belinda refuses to leave her daughter's side. She plans to be locked in the Zero Room with Poppy. The Doctor warns Belinda that if they lose, she and Poppy will remain locked there for eternity. They won't starve — they'll simply be. Belinda is prepared to take that risk.
Infiltrating the Bone Palace
Elsewhere, Rose assists Ruby with the Indigo Device, which she can use to teleport into the Bone Palace. The plan is to have her confront Conrad and get him to destroy the wish world. The Doctor will try to reason with the Rani. Remember when the Rani overpowered the Doctor's sonic screwdriver? He copied her codes. Now, he has access to her flying scooter (that's what I'm calling it).
RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Doctor Who's Ruby Sunday
After summoning said scooter, the Doctor flies into the Bone Palace. Kate and the UNIT team continue firing on the Bone Beasts. Ruby teleports into Desiderium and Conrad's room in the Bone Palace. Conrad points a gun at her. He claims he knew she was coming. The Doctor reminds the Rani and Mrs. Flood that Omega is a baddie. The Time Lords of Omega were tyrants and murderers. Omega was known as a Mad God — the Titan.
The Rani encourages the Doctor to rebuild the Time Lord race with her. Mrs. Flood asks if he'd like to see 'The Almighty One.' The trio stands before Omega's tomb, asylum or prison — pick your poison. Ruby compliments Conrad on his wish world. She expected it to be sh*ttier than it actually is. Conrad remarks that he fulfilled the Doctor's parameters for humanity. They want to be safe, warm and fed, so Conrad honored that with his wish world. Ruby added that Conrad tried to give everyone a family. She asks about his father before reminding him of their time together. Some of it was real, right?
The One Who Is Here
At the same time, the Seekers chant Omega's name before the first Time Lord and creator of the Time Lord race emerges. He looks quite different, though. The Doctor tells the Rani and Mrs. Flood that Omega went to a place that's the stuff of legends, so he became a legend, as it were. He looks like a massive talking skeleton. Omega just wants to eat Time Lords, y'all. He's uninterested in the Rani's vision.
RELATED: 6 Doctor Who Episodes That Show the Eleventh Doctor's Personality
Sure enough, Omega consumes the Rani. So long to a queen. Mrs. Flood grabs the Rani's Time Ring and blips the hell out of there. She's not sticking around to become dinner. The Doctor grabs the Vindicator from the massive clockface — a device of his creation — and blasts Omega with it. It boasts the power of a billion supernovas. He blasts Omega back through the door from which he came.
Meanwhile, Ruby uses the Indigo Device to teleport behind Conrad. She grabs Desiderium. Then, she kisses the baby before wishing Conrad a happy life. He vanishes. After this, Ruby plants a smooch on Desiderium again. This time, she wishes to 'end the wish.' Reality is now restored. We see Ruby is actually standing in the TARDIS with Desiderium. The Doctor reunites with Ruby in the TARDIS. He kisses Desiderium and wishes for 'no more wishes.'
Joe Sunday
Next, the Doctor, Ruby and Desiderium land in the lower level of UNIT, where the Zero Room is. Thankfully, Belinda and Poppy emerge unscathed. The space erupts into cheers. Later, the Doctor and Ruby give Desiderium to Carla (Michelle Greenidge) and Cherry (Angela Wynter). They can take him in. Cherry decides on Joseph, naming the child after her late husband. Joe Sunday has a lovely ring to it.
RELATED: Doctor Who: 8 References From the Russell T Davies Specials in 'Space Babies' and 'The Devil's Chord'
Ruby joins the Doctor and Belinda aboard the TARDIS. There's a crib near the console for Poppy. Belinda and the Doctor are so excited about traversing the stars with their child. After removing Poppy's jacket, Belinda folds it before passing it to the Doctor. Then, he, too, folds it, handing it to Belinda. They pass it back and forth while chatting, the jacket getting smaller and smaller with each folding. Eventually, it disappears. Ruby watches this in bewilderment.
Then, Ruby notices Poppy is gone. She asks our titular Time Lord and Belinda about their now missing baby. Unfortunately, neither of them knows who Poppy is. After this, our trio returns to UNIT. The world is restored, although there are some differences — teal is now more blue. Ernest Borgnine is alive. The border between Norway and Sweden has moved seven miles east. However, at least they finally made it to May 24, 2025, and there are no Bone Beasts or ancient Time Lords. And guess what? Conrad is happy, and no one remembers his incel troll days.
The Boss Says Hi
Anita bids farewell to the Doctor before Kate tries to poach her for UNIT. A door to the Time Hotel could be mighty beneficial for UNIT. (Side note: I'd watch the hell out of a Time Hotel-themed miniseries.) Before she goes, Anita informs the Doctor that 'The Boss' says hello. The Doctor decides to file that away for later.
RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Doctor Who's Belinda Chandra
Ruby urges the Doctor and Belinda to stay put before they jet off to Neptune. She asserts that something is still wrong. Poppy has vanished. Nobody in the room knows who that is, though. Ruby reminds the Doctor that he's always gone out of his way to save one person. He brought Ruby back into existence. He saw Belinda's entire life, even saving her as a child from getting hit by a car. Susan Triad adds that the Doctor saved her, too. Every life matters to our Time Lord. Everyone is important.
Upon learning he and Belinda have a daughter and she's missing, the Doctor steps into his TARDIS. Kate offers UNIT's vast wealth of resources. However, the Doctor wants to embark on this mission alone. Time has shifted by one degree. There is only one force in the universe strong enough to shift time — the last of the Time Lords.
A Familiar Face
Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor laments losing this face. He's quite fond of it. He sees the past versions of himself flash across the screen on the console. The Doctor smiles before muttering that he was 'the best.' Suddenly, the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) appears. She corrects him — he was the best male. Admittedly, this made me squeal. So happy Thirteen is back. Fifteen remarks that he's surprised it's not 'the other guy.' He's always showing up. David Tennant (lovingly) catching strays here.
RELATED: Doctor Who: Our Favorite Easter Eggs From 'Lux'
Fifteen wonders why Thirteen is here. Thirteen reveals she's been popped out of her timeline. A great time schism is on its way, caused by Fifteen. Fifteen explains what he's about to do. Time must be shifted, so he plans to punch a ton of regeneration energy into the vortex to jolt it a bit. A tiny degree. Thirteen reminds him that if he ruptures the Time Vortex, he could damage all of creation. She's not here to stop him, though.
She embraces Fifteen before complimenting his gorgeous face (it truly is beautiful). Fifteen adds that it could be their last face if he gets this wrong. There's no chance of bi-generation, to be sure. Everything's too timey-wimey for that. Thirteen asks Fifteen if he's scared before advising him not to go in fear, but with that lovely smile. Suddenly, the TARDIS lights flicker. Thirteen remarks that they're stretching the timeline too thin.
Punching the Vortex
Before they part ways, Fifteen tells Thirteen that he loves her. Thirteen replies that they don't say that. However, perhaps she should confess her love to Yaz. Fifteen informs her that she doesn't tell Yaz she loves her, but Yaz knows. Aww. I love this whole scene. Now alone, the Doctor punches a lot of regeneration energy into the Time Vortex, as promised. Suddenly, the TARDIS cracks like a mirror. After the mirror shards fall away, the Doctor wakes up in Belinda's mother's backyard. His TARDIS looms behind him. He notices the regeneration process is starting in his hands, but he shakes it off for now.
RELATED: Doctor Who: 'The Interstellar Song Contest' Ending, Explained
Thankfully, his regeneration energy trick worked — Belinda and Poppy are alive and well. He meets her mom, Lakshmi (Nila Aalia). He spends a bit of time with Belinda and Poppy. We learn that Belinda has always had a daughter. That's why she was trying to get home. We see scenes from past episodes, when our time-traveling duo returned to the TARDIS. The dialogue is amended, though, to include mentions of Poppy. Apparently, Poppy was erased from the Doctor's memory.
He also forgot that Ritchie Akingbola is Poppy's father. You can see the weight of this truth crush the Doctor. He doesn't have a daughter, after all. Belinda thanks the Doctor for everything. It's been a mad adventure. She asks if he'll take her to the stars after Poppy's grown. He hopes to see her again. However, if they do reunite, he won't have the same face. Belinda doesn't understand what he means by this. The Doctor tells Belinda and Poppy that he loves them.
Joy to the World
Now back in the TARDIS, the Doctor admits he doesn't want to do this alone. He opens the doors and gazes out into space. He sees Joy shining brightly from afar. 'Joy to the world!' He calls out before revealing that this whole experience has been 'an absolute joy.' Oh, this Doctor would go out with joy.
RELATED: Read our Doctor Who recaps
Suddenly, the regeneration energy takes over. The Doctor looks like a star himself. Then, he regenerates … into … Billie Piper! Well, Rose? The Moment? The Sixteenth Doctor? 'Oh, hello,' she says gleefully.
Doctor Who Season 2 is now streaming on Disney+ and on BBC iPlayer in the UK.