Doctor Who season 12 episode 7 preview: “Can You Hear Me?”

Doctor Who season 12 continues with “Can You Hear Me?”, an apparently literal nightmare tale about a mysterious force stalking the Doctor.

With just four episodes left to go in Doctor Who season 12, it feels like it might be time to start getting us back to the larger story that was promised earlier this year. Particularly following “Praxeus,” which was actually a very entertaining hour, even if it didn’t answer any questions or deal with the emotional fallout of the episode that immediately preceded it.

On paper, the season’s seventh installment, entitled “Can You Hear Me?”, sounds as though it might be more connected to season’s larger questions and themes. The official synopsis mentions something “stalking” the Doctor and her friends. Now, given that Thirteen herself has mentioned something “coming for [her]” in the wake of Jack’s return, the appearance of the Ruth Doctor and other strange timey wimey convergences that seem to be happening with greater regularity as the season continues.

Could this unseen force have something to do with those things, too?

The official synopsis is actually rather lengthy for once, and provides some significant context for the episode we’ll see this weekend. Which, by the way, appears to encompass multiple times and places across its story.

"From ancient Syria to present day Sheffield, and out into the wilds of space, something is stalking the Doctor and her friends. As Graham, Yaz and Ryan return home to see friends and family, they find themselves haunted by very different experiences. Who is the figure calling from beyond the stars for help, and why? And what are the fearsome Chagaskas terrorising Aleppo in 1380? To find the answers, Team Tardis embark on a mission that forces them to face their darkest fears."

Ominous, huh?

The teaser trailer offers very little additional information, but does give us a look at what appears to be a creepy nightmare monster stalking well, everyone. Or at least Team TARDIS. Who are they? What do they want?

The hint that our TARDIS crew are all stopping off at home for a bit is an interesting one as well. I’ve wondered for some time now whether Doctor Who might be considering going down to two or even one companion for future seasons. Because as much as I love Yaz, Ryan and Graham, the show seems to really struggle to give them all equivalent amounts of screentime and story.

Yaz, for example, has really stepped up and come into her own this season, leading her own investigations and standing up to the Doctor when she disagrees. This is a big turnaround from last season, when Yaz got few lines, let alone anything like character development. But, on the flip side, this season it often feels like Graham is an afterthought in most of the stories.

How long is a three-companion model sustainable? Beyond this season? We don’t know yet. (And of course, a lot of that will depend on what happens during this season, and whether those events could encourage one of our current companions to take a break. We’ll have to see.

Doctor Who continues Sunday at 8pm ET on BBC America.