Doctor Who: Series 9, Episode 6 – “The Woman Who Lived” (2015)

Well, after a shakier showing last week, this episode is a significant improvement.  I wouldn’t exactly call “The Girl Who Died” / “The Woman Who Lived” a two-parter – more of a couplet, two separate adventures that follow one another.  Kind of like “A Good Man Goes to War” and “Let’s Kill Hitler,” although “Let’s Kill Hitler” isn’t nearly this good.  In order to say anything about this episode, I need to spoil last week’s ending in a big way, so be advised.

Given Clara’s extreme part-time companion status (although it’s been less emphasized this season,) it was only a matter of time before we saw Twelve on a solo adventure.  I think this may actually be the first time a Doctor with a current companion has an episode without them – after Sarah Jane, Four has “A Deadly Assassin,” Ten has a few stories between companions (including his final stretch of specials,) and Eleven’s “Closing Time” comes after he’s taken Amy and Rory home for what he assumes is the last time.  But here, Clara isn’t gone, just absent.  It’s interesting to see the Doctor on his own in this capacity.

But anyway, on to the story.  At the end of “The Girl Who Died,” the Doctor’s efforts to save Ashildr/bring her back to life result in her having “lost the ability to die.”  She’s not indestructible, but she’s incredibly hardy and eternal youthful, and her longevity has given her ample time to hone every skill needed to keep her going.  So, she’s still very much alive when the Doctor accidently runs into her in the 17^th century, 800 years after he saved her.  Immortality hasn’t been kind to her – centuries of losing everyone she cares for she made her close herself off, her memory isn’t equipped to handle her unending life and she’s forgotten so much of who she once was, and over the years, she’s found Earth to be far too limiting for her.  As the Doctor faces the consequences of saving Ashildr, he tries to help her reconnect with her humanity and rediscover herself.

It’s not the first time the Doctor has been taken to task for making an impact on someone’s life and then not sticking around to deal with the fallout.  As such, that part isn’t as interesting, although Peter Capaldi plays the Doctor’s regret and compassion for Ashildr spectacularly.  However, I really, really love what this episode has to say about immortality.  Again, this is nothing new – it’s a topic the Doctor has wrestled with numerous times, not to mention Jack, and this is well-trod ground for many stories (Buffy is the first to come to mind) – but it’s done so well.  Ashildr’s characterization is richly complex, and Maisie Williams plays the full weight of her loss, ennui, and desensitization.  She’s stunning on her own, but pair her with the Doctor and it’s just amazing.  The Doctor is better equipped biologically for that kind of life, since his people are supposed to be long-lasting, but he’s been all but alone for ages now, and we again see signs that he isn’t quite sure about his second regeneration cycle.  While he doesn’t often wear this age on his sleeve, he lets the persona drop for Ashildr’s sake.  I don’t want to say that the Doctor isn’t genuinely energetic/enthusiastic/universe-loving/caring/curious/etc., because he is, but I think he sometimes uses all that to distract others (and himself) from everything he carries with him, and here, he reaches out beautifully to a person who hadn’t counted on being immortal, understanding her perspective but endeavoring to show her the importance of seeing the small picture.  The line, “I know their lives are short.  I understand.  But those lives do matter,” is just gorgeous and reminds me all over again how extraordinary the Doctor is, to see that and to remember that he needs “the mayflies” to keep him mindful of the value of life.