Doctor Who, series 9, episode 7 – The Zygon invasion

There was a moment in time when there were 3 Doctors (the tenth, the eleventh and the War Doctor) and two Osgood (the real one and the Zygon copy) and there were a peace treaty about to be signed between the humans, represented by Kate Stewart and the UNIT, and the Zygons. Of course, that moment is The day of the Doctor. And they did it: the treaty was signed, 20 millions Zygons were allowed to live on Earth, disguised like humans, while Osgood remained in duplicate to ensure the treaty. A nice trick to get her back, of course, and a very good way to start an action packed dense episode!

We all have known for some time about Osgood’s return, but we did not know many things about it. It was chosen the hybrid variant, one quite often recently: Ashildr introduced us another type a hybrid two weeks ago. A reason good enough to change a little the Zygon rules: until now they need the original alive to be drained by information and to keep intact the exterior look they copied. But these rules seem obsolete.

Returning to this episode: the treaty has been untouched for two years (from the special episode in 2013), until the moment a radical Zygon group started to act against their own species and the humans on Earth. They wanted the entire planet in order to live without hiding and they did not hesitate to do anything and to kill anyone to get that. The political message is very subtle as clear as a sledgehammer in the head.

You will have to discover yourself how they did it (if you haven’t done it already) and the conclusion of this invasion in the second part of the adventures with aliens metamorphis, next week. Kate Stewart and UNIT, Osgood and Clara, the Doctor – they will all be there (probably), involved, if they survive until then.

Directed by Daniel Nettheim, written by Peter Harness. Cast: Peter Capaldi (The Doctor), Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald), Ingrid Oliver (Osgood), Jemma Redgrave (Kate Stewart), Jaye Griffiths (Jac), Cleopatra Dickens (Claudette), Sasha Dickens (Jemima), Rebecca Front (Walsh), Abhishek Singh (Little boy), Samila Kularatne (Little boy’s mum), Todd Kramer (Hitchley), Jill Winternitz (Lisa), Gretchen Egolf (Norlander), Karen Mann (Hitchley’s Mum), Aidan Cook (Zygon).

Next time on Doctor Who: The Zygon Inversion, the eighth episode of Series 9, written by Peter Harness & Steven Moffat. It premieres Saturday 7 November on BBC One, 8 pm to 8:50 pm.

Shapeshifting Zygons are everywhere in the UK, and there is no way of knowing who to trust. With UNIT neutralised, only the Doctor stands in their way. But how do you stop a war? And what can the Doctor do to save his friends?