The Lie of the Land (TV story)

 was the eighth episode of the tenth series of Doctor Who produced by BBC Wales. The conclusion of a three-part arc in which the Twelfth Doctor was pitted against the Monks, it saw him enter the Vault to consult, revealing his endeavour to turn her from her destructive past to a path of "good".

Synopsis
The Monks have ruled the world since humanity took its very first baby steps towards the Sun. One problem... they haven't always been there. And only Bill Potts see the truth. But where is the Doctor? And how can Bill make the rest of the world see?

Plot
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Cast

 * The Doctor - Peter Capaldi
 * Bill - Pearl Mackie
 * Nardole - Matt Lucas
 * - Michelle Gomez
 * Mother - Emma Handy
 * Group Commander - Beatrice Curnew
 * Alan - Stewart Wright
 * Richard - Solomon Israel
 * Giant Monk - Jamie Hill
 * Bill's Mum - Rosie Jane

Crew
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Culture

 * The Monks propagate falsehoods through Bill, and have injected themselves into all of human history. The Monks take credit for humanity's achievements.
 * The Doctor suggests he'd make some modifications to history, like ending racism, and people who talk in cinemas.

Science
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Technology

 * The Vault is dimensionally transcendental, like some other Time Lord technology.
 * Missy asks for "toys" like a particle accelerator, a 3D printer and a pony, in return for her help.
 * The Monk statues around the world act as beacons for false propaganda.

Martial arts

 * Nardole performs a Tarovian neckpinch to knock out Alan. He's reached the level of brown tabbard in Tarovian martial arts.

Philosophy

 * The Doctor had Bill write a 3000 word essay on free will, which she never completed due to the Monk invasion.

Food and beverages
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Locations
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Species

 * Time Lords can apparently "fake" a regeneration.

People

 * Nardole won his current left hand gambling.

Music

 * Missy plays the Gnossienne No. 1 by Erik Satie and "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin.

Story notes

 * The read-through for The Lie of the Land took place on 11 January 2017, and filming took place between 16 January and 22 February.
 * Archive material from TV: Blink, Nightmare in Silver, Into the Dalek, and The Pilot is shown. By extension, Weeping Angels, Cybermen, Daleks and photos of Mrs Potts are shown in this capacity.

Ratings
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Filming locations
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Production errors
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Continuity

 * Citizens watch the Doctor's broadcasts in a Magpie Electricals shop. (TV: The Idiot's Lantern, et al.)
 * To gain Bill's trust, Nardole tells her they went to Australia on the run from "the Heather creature" (TV: The Pilot) and that space doors should go "shuck shuck". (TV: Oxygen)
 * Nardole mentions being contaminated by Raoultella planticola (TV: The Pyramid at the End of the World) and states it laid him up for six weeks.
 * The Doctor tells Bill about the creature under the Thames. (TV: Thin Ice)
 * The Doctor fakes a regeneration. (TV: The Impossible Astronaut, The Wedding of River Song)
 * previously scoffed at the idea that she had "turned good" when questioned by Clara Oswald. (TV: The Magician's Apprentice) As early as his seventh incarnation, the Doctor had vowed to one day save his friend after the Master was forced to revert following a temporary spell as the kindly John Smith. (AUDIO: Master)
 * Nardole continues to hint at a cybernetic nature (TV: The Return of Doctor Mysterio, The Pilot, The Pyramid at the End of the World) when he tells the group invading the pyramid that his left hand isn't his original hand but is one that he won in a game of some sort.

DVD releases
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Blu-ray releases
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Digital releases
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