Do you want the good news, or the so-good-Im-still-grinning-about-it news?
The good news is that the second part of the series nine opener doesnt let down the first.
The really good news?
Not a drop of the momentum built in the final third of The Magicians Apprentice is wasted.
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Nor is much else.
Not that it feels underpopulated.
The locations are few, but theyre distinct and high in contrast.
What Steven Moffat and Hettie Macdonald do inside that frame is characteristically clever and ideas-led without feeling overcrowded.
The story digs into a bit ofWhohistory, both modern and classic, giving fresh insight into old enemies.
An unsolved question is answered, and a couple of tantalizing new mysteries are set up.
Capaldis terrific, flitting convincingly between genius and humility, imperiousness and compassion as the script requires.
Hes back running circles around the competition, stumbling in and out of traps as he does so.
Missy accents this cleverly assembled episode with sour and sharp notes.
Shes rapidly proving to be the secret sauce of series nine.
All told, The Magicians Apprentice and The Witchs Familiar are a great advert for theDoctor Whotwo-parter.
A whole line of adventures and a Christmas Special is queued up right behind them ready to go.
Its like getting pudding before dinner.
No wonder Im still grinning.
Simon Brew will be back onWhoduties when it returns to BBC One…
The Magicians Apprentice airs on BBC One at 7.40pm on Saturday the 19thof December.
The Witchs Familiar follows on Saturday the 26thof September.
