I wasn’t going to join the throng of people posting about the news of Peter Capaldi’s swan-song encounter with the Mondas Cybermen (Original Mondasian Cybermen return to Doctor Who!) then noticed most commentators were only covering the Capaldi angle. I think there is more to say.

First of all is the symmetry between Hartnell’s departure of the role as First Doctor and now Capaldi’s leaving the Twelfth Doctor behind. Some people are also speculating on an origin story (in the vein of Spare Parts perhaps?) I wonder how far this will parallel Tenth Planet. I also not the BBC news item (link above) includes:

The Mondasian Cybermen – Peter Capaldi’s long-time favourite foe – will return in episodes 11 and 12 of the series, alongside Capaldi as the Doctor, Pearl Mackie as Bill Potts, Matt Lucas as Nardole and Michelle Gomez as Missy.

So, Missy (perhaps she might regenerate as well?!), Pearl Mackie still there as Bill Potts (note the surname, which I hadn’t noticed before) and therefore not obviously dying before this (some speculation from the new trailer in various places wondered if she might die) and Nardole is there as well. I’m surprised at Nardole making it for a whole season ; I know Matt Lucas is a massive fan of the show, so well done him.

Missy and Cybermen echoes the end of Dark Water / Death in Heaven, but I could do without another massively complex Missy setup. Maybe she creates the Cybermen? Anyway, not long now!